Cambodia
Phnom Penh travel guide
Phnom Penh is a city in Cambodia, home to about 2,129,000 people.
- Nearest airport
- KTI23 km · Techo International Airport
- Currency
- KHRriel
- Time zone
- Asia/Phnom Penh
- Language
- Khmer
About
About Phnom Penh
Phnom Penh is the capital and most populous city of Cambodia. It has been the national capital since 1865 and has grown to become the nation's primate city and its political, economic, industrial, and cultural centre.
Phnom Penh was largely depopulated during the Khmer Rouge regime, with most of its population deported to camps in the countryside. It was liberated from the Khmer Rouge by the Vietnamese in 1979, and has long remained a bit rough. Things have improved; however, some roads remain shabby, traffic is persistently chaotic, and electricity is occasionally strained (never mind your precious internet). But on the whole, the city is reasonably modern. The city has gained high-rise buildings and traffic lights.
Wikipedia and Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Things to do
What to see and do in Phnom Penh
See
France's Cambodian colony was acquired late and largely neglected. Historic colonial architecture was limited to start with and has largely decayed. The Grand Post Office Building, Central Market and Raffles Le Royal Hotel are notable exceptions. Generally, any building in good condition, old or new, will be behind a big wall and security guards. There are also sites related to the brutal Khmer Rouge regime, three of which were added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2025: the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum housed in the former prison S-21, the Killing Fields at Choeung Ek, as well as the former M-13 prison west of Phnom Penh.
- The National Museum of Cambodia
- The Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda
- Sisowath Quay
- Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum (S-21 Prison)
- The Killing Fields of Choeung Ek
- Former M-13 Prison
- Independence and Liberation Memorials
- Olympic Stadium
- Wat Botum
- Wat Phnom
- Wat Ounalom
- Wat Langka
Do
- Mekong River Cruises
- Meta House
- Institute Francais
- Hash House Harriers
- NagaWorld Casino
- Thunder Ranch Shooting Range
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Where to stay
Which part of Phnom Penh to stay in
A good range of accommodation is available around the city. The budget traveller area was area known as Lakeside, near the now filled in Beoung Kak lake. The colony of guesthouses has been decimated, but not eradicated. Remaining businesses are desperate for clients, which makes prices very cheap. Guesthouses 10 and 11 still exist and offer rooms from US$4/night and US$3/night respectively. Services include such laundry, Internet, money exchange, ATMs, and restaurants, including an excellent Indian restaurant.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
When to go
The best time to visit Phnom Penh
Phnom Penh has no month that is both mild and dry by the measure used here. April is the warmest month, with average highs of 35 °C; September is the wettest, with about 273 mm of rain.
Comfortable means average daytime high between 18 °C and 29 °C and under 80 mm of rain in the month. Averages for 1991–2020 over the surrounding area, a grid square about 50 km across, so a coast or a nearby mountain can make the town itself warmer or cooler. Data: CRU TS v4.10, Climatic Research Unit, University of East Anglia (Open Database License).
Getting there
Getting to Phnom Penh: airports and arrival
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Techo International Airport (KTI), about 23 km from the city centre in a straight line.
Getting in
Other stops along the way according to the timetable include Preak Treng Beach, Holy Hill, Veal Renh, Kompong Trach, Toukmeas, Tani, Komareachea, and Broteas Lang, but it's not clear whether the train actually stops there. Other stops along the way are Bom Nak, Romeas as of May 2025. The return journeys for Sihanoukville and Battambang leave in the morning at 07:00 and 06:40, respectively.
Getting around
Phnom Penh's main streets are in good shape. Some smaller streets and footpaths are rutted and potholed, clogged with garbage, stagnant water, parked motorbikes, sleeping people, and building materials. Street signage is clear and Phnom Penh is logically laid out (see orientation) and navigating is not too difficult. Motorbikes (but not self-drive cars) can be rented for US$5–6 per day, sometimes through guesthouses. Traffic is chaotic and dangerous, even by SE Asian standards. Wear a helmet and drive carefully. Two rental shops are on Monivong Blvd: Lucky Bike Rental and New Bike Rental.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
KTI · Techo International Airport
Local knowledge
Eating, drinking and staying safe in Phnom Penh
Eat
Phnom Penh offers some interesting culinary treats not found elsewhere in the country. These include French-influenced dining and Thai, Vietnamese, and Indonesian dishes. Pizzas, banana pancakes, and fried rice are always easy to find. The recent influx of Chinese capital in Phnom Penh has brought with it an influx of Chinese cuisine as well, including a significant number of regionally focused restaurants.
Drink
The coffee scene in Phnom Penh has exploded in the last few years with several global chains present all around. But there are also numerous small and independent coffee shops to be found.
Stay safe
As in any big city, be wary when walking alone at night. Daytime phone and bag snatching is not uncommon. Women are the main targets. When riding in a tuk-tuk keep your phone and bag toward the middle of the tuk-tuk to protect against snatching. When on a motorbike taxi, keep your belongings between you and the driver or in front of the driver. Do not carry or wear your bag on your back! Scammers and con men sometimes work the tourist areas such as the riverfront, Hun Sen Park and the Sorya Mall. One example: a group of men start a conversation, make friends, claim to have a relative who is soon moving to your country of origin, and invite you to dinner at their house.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Questions
Phnom Penh: questions travellers ask
When is the best time to visit Phnom Penh?
Phnom Penh has no month that is both mild and dry by the measure used here. April is the warmest month, with average highs of 35 °C; September is the wettest, with about 273 mm of rain.
Which airport is closest to Phnom Penh?
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Techo International Airport (KTI), about 23 km from the city centre in a straight line.
What currency is used in Phnom Penh?
riel (KHR).
Nearby
Destinations near Phnom Penh
Sources: city facts from Wikidata and Wikipedia; airports from OurAirports; climate from CRU TS v4.10 (University of East Anglia Climatic Research Unit), 1991–2020 monthly means, 0.5° grid; places to stay, guest scores and amenities from each operator's own public pages. How this guide is made.