Phnom Penh
Phnom Penh is a capital on three rivers, with a royal palace, a riverside promenade and Khmer Rouge sites that make a short trip worth planning.
We may earn a commission. It never decides our picks.
Phnom Penh sits on the Tonlé Sap, Mekong and Bassac rivers in south-central Cambodia. It is the country's capital and largest city, and the Royal Palace is here. The city is known as the Pearl of Asia for its French colonial, New Khmer and Art Deco buildings. Its tallest skyscraper, the 188-meter Vattanac Capital Tower, dominates the skyline.
Start with the Royal Palace, the riverside walk along the five-kilometer Sisowath Quay, and Wat Phnom, a hill temple at the north end of central Phnom Penh that is tied to the city's name through Lady Penh. Set aside time for Tuol Sleng prison and Choeung Ek, the Khmer Rouge sites that help explain the city's recent past. The dry season, December to April, is the cooler time to visit, with nights near 22 °C. From May to November, the wet season brings high heat, humidity and flooding along the rivers.
Phnom Penh in five
- Visit Tuol Sleng and Choeung Ek on one dayThe prison museum and the killing fields are about 15 km apart. The audio guides are worth taking; plan a quiet afternoon after.
- Dress for the Royal PalaceShoulders and knees must be covered at the palace and the Silver Pagoda. Go in the morning; it closes over lunch.
- Fly into Techo InternationalThe city's new airport replaced the old one in 2025 and sits well south of the center. Allow about an hour into town.
- Use ride-hailing appsGrab and PassApp give a fixed fare for tuk-tuks and cars, which saves haggling on every ride.
Things to do in Phnom Penh
See all attractions in Phnom Penh
Need to know
- Airport
- Techo International (KTI), about 1 hour by road
- Getting there
- Buses from Siem Reap about 6 hours, from Kampot about 3 hours
- Getting around
- Tuk-tuks booked by app; walking along the riverfront
- Best base
- The riverside near the palace, or BKK1 for cafés
- Time needed
- 2 days
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Best
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryClear4 rainy daysHigh32°Low23°Dry, pleasantJanuaryClear
Best
- High
- 32°
- Low
- 23°
- Precipitation
- 22 mm
- Rainy days
- 4
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry, pleasant
- FebruaryClear3 rainy daysHigh34°Low23°DryFebruaryClear
Best
- High
- 34°
- Low
- 23°
- Precipitation
- 19 mm
- Rainy days
- 3
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry
- MarchClear7 rainy daysHigh36°Low25°HotMarchClear
Mixed
- High
- 36°
- Low
- 25°
- Precipitation
- 47 mm
- Rainy days
- 7
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot
- AprilRain14 rainy daysHigh36°Low27°HottestAprilRain
Mixed
- High
- 36°
- Low
- 27°
- Precipitation
- 113 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hottest
- MayRain26 rainy daysHigh34°Low27°Rains startMayRain
Poor
- High
- 34°
- Low
- 27°
- Precipitation
- 216 mm
- Rainy days
- 26
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Rains start
- JuneRain24 rainy daysHigh33°Low26°WetJuneRain
Poor
- High
- 33°
- Low
- 26°
- Precipitation
- 179 mm
- Rainy days
- 24
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Wet
- JulyRain24 rainy daysHigh32°Low25°WetJulyRain
Mixed
- High
- 32°
- Low
- 25°
- Precipitation
- 205 mm
- Rainy days
- 24
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Wet
- AugustRain25 rainy daysHigh33°Low26°WetAugustRain
Poor
- High
- 33°
- Low
- 26°
- Precipitation
- 216 mm
- Rainy days
- 25
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Wet
- SeptemberRain28 rainy daysHigh32°Low25°WettestSeptemberRain
Poor
- High
- 32°
- Low
- 25°
- Precipitation
- 333 mm
- Rainy days
- 28
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Wettest
- OctoberRain26 rainy daysHigh31°Low25°Rain easingOctoberRain
Poor
- High
- 31°
- Low
- 25°
- Precipitation
- 350 mm
- Rainy days
- 26
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Rain easing
- NovemberRain16 rainy daysHigh31°Low24°Water festivalNovemberRain
Mixed
- High
- 31°
- Low
- 24°
- Precipitation
- 172 mm
- Rainy days
- 16
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Water festival
- DecemberPartly cloudy7 rainy daysHigh31°Low23°Dry, pleasantDecemberPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 31°
- Low
- 23°
- Precipitation
- 44 mm
- Rainy days
- 7
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry, pleasant
Average daily high and low in Phnom Penh, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Phnom Penh
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
25
- Feels like
- 31°
- Humidity
- 92%
- Wind
- 0 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 98%
Phnom Penh
06:25 AM
Tuesday, November 3
- Today33°25°98%Tuesday: Thunderstorms. High 33°, Low 25°. Chance of rain 98%.
- Wed33°25°78%Wednesday: Rain. High 33°, Low 25°. Chance of rain 78%.
- Thu32°25°57%Thursday: Drizzle. High 32°, Low 25°. Chance of rain 57%.
- Fri32°25°57%Friday: Drizzle. High 32°, Low 25°. Chance of rain 57%.
- Sat32°24°65%Saturday: Drizzle. High 32°, Low 24°. Chance of rain 65%.
- Sun32°24°88%Sunday: Drizzle. High 32°, Low 24°. Chance of rain 88%.
- Mon32°24°66%Monday: Drizzle. High 32°, Low 24°. Chance of rain 66%.
Updated 04:40 AM local time · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 USD = 4,107 KHR
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Day trips by train
- Kampotabout 3 hours by busRiver town, pepper farms and Bokor mountain.Read the guide
- Oudongabout 1 hour by roadHilltop stupas of the old royal capital.
Before you go to Phnom Penh
We may earn a commission. It never decides our picks.
Rules for Phnom Penh, checked
- Check Cambodia's visa and entry requirements on the official e-visa site, evisa.gov.kh, before you book, since rules can change.
- Pay public bus fares in riel only, a flat 1,500 riel for any distance. The air-conditioned city buses do not accept US dollars.
- Dial 117 for police and 119 for an ambulance anywhere in Cambodia.
- During the wet season from May to November, rivers can overflow and streets can flood. Check local reports before you cross low roads.
Plan around Phnom Penh
Angkor passes and temple mornings, about 6 hours by bus
Read the guideKampotPepper farms and a river town on the coast road
Read the guideHo Chi Minh CityThe usual onward road trip to Vietnam
Read the guideAll of CambodiaEntry, money and how the regions connect
Read the guideEntry rules for CambodiaVisa and arrival steps before you fly
Read the guideMoney while travelingCash, cards and ATMs across the region
Read the guidePhnom Penh FAQ
Is Phnom Penh worth visiting?
Yes, for two days. The Royal Palace, the National Museum and Tuol Sleng explain Cambodia in a way the temples at Angkor cannot.
How do I get from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap?
By bus in about 6 hours, by private car in a little less, or by a short flight. Buses leave from company offices across the city.
Where should I stay in Phnom Penh?
Along the riverside for walking to the palace and museum, or in BKK1 for quieter streets and cafés.
Is Phnom Penh safe for tourists?
Most visits pass without trouble, but bag snatching from motorbikes is a known risk. Keep phones and bags away from the road side, use app rides at night and check your government's travel advice before you go.
How long do Tuol Sleng and Choeung Ek take?
Allow about 2 hours at Tuol Sleng and about 1.5 to 2 hours at Choeung Ek, plus the ride between them. Many travelers split them between morning and late afternoon, or across two days.