If you’re already planning or thinking about visiting Phnom Penh in Cambodia this is your ultimate beginners travel guide to Phnom Penh Cambodia
In this article I’m going to share absolutely everything I learnt from how to get from the airport to the city, the apps you need, to navigating the city’s dual currencies and many MANY more to help you prepare for your trip
All from someone who only recently went for the first time!
By the way this article is basically an excerpt of my youtube video version of my beginners guide to Phnom Penh Cambodia which you can watch if you prefer this information in video form, dont forget to subscribe while you’re there!
So without further ado, let do this!
Best/Cheapest Time to Go to Cambodia
Lets start with the best time to go to this wonderful city
From a weather perspective the best time to visit Phnom Penh is during the dry season, which generally runs from November to February as the weather is cooler and less humid during this time making it more comfortable for exploring the city’
The dry season also coincides with several local festivals which will give you a chance to experience the city’s in its liveliest form, this includes the lively Bon Om Touk aka Water Festival in November
It is one of Cambodia’s most vibrant and celebrated events that marks the end of the rainy season and the reversal of the Tonle Sap River’s flow.
Expect boat racing and plenty of traditional music, dancing, and fireworks
What to Bring/Pack
As Cambodia is a tropical country what you need to pack in terms of clothing is fairly straightforward so I won’t go into that HOWEVER here a guide to beginners basics I would recommend you pack
And the first thing that always goes into my bag when I’m travelling to a tropical country is one of these little mini fans, I think this was like 20 bucks off of Amazon but I’ve used this in Bangkok, Malaysia and singapore, trust me just make sure you bring one
Another thing which is pretty much a standard by now is a comfortable pair of walking shoes as you will be doing a lot of walking around, I generally just wear the my running shoes as I usually try to fit in an actual run or two when I’m travelling but yea your feet are going to thank you for this
Sunscreen is a standard for me even when I’m indoors but especially if I’m going to be outdoors for extensive periods of time, I usually have a roll on like this one here by roundlab for my face and usually something generic from the pharmacy for my neck and arms, this is the one im using currently, its spf 100
The one thing I had to specifically get for this trip was this little bag here because I read about theft incidents for tourist here in Cambodia and because I carry my recording equipment with me at all times as a content creator
Mobile Data Options for Cambodia
I also wanted to put this one in a separate section because I think it is absolutely essential and that is an active mobile data connection
I personally used it extensively for Google Maps, currency conversion calculation and translation when needed
The straightforward way to do this is to just turn on roaming on your phone but that can be quite expensive depending on your telco providers roaming plans and how long you plan to be in Cambodia for
My personal preferred option and you would know this if you have been a subscriber for a while is to just activate an esim
For those who dont know, Esim is a virtual sim card slot that allows your phone to take on another network at the same time as your existing one so you dont have to purchase an additional physical sim card
Which is great as you will still be able to keep receiving calls and SMS’es directed to your usual number, just make sure you turn data roaming off
Most phones nowadays come with an esim slot – but if you wanna find out if your phone is esim compatible simply check if your phone has an EID which is generally under the About section in your phone settings
If you’re going to Cambodia as a solo traveller I recommend AirAlo, their data plans start from 7 Aussie dollars or around 5 US dollars, I can get you 15% off your 1st purchase if you’re a new customer just use the new customer code PHATLIFE15 and good news I can even get you 10% off if you’re already an Airalo customer, just use the existing customer code PHATLIFE10 when checking out
However if you are travelling with family or friends and plan to share your data plan Holafly is a better option as they do an unlimited data plan that start from $18.90 us or around 29 Aussie dollars.
If you want to give Holafly a go simply click here to get 5% Off your purchase
If your phone does not have a esim slot you can also choose to purchase a SIM card
This is the best place to purchase your Cambodian SIM card is at the airport, you will easily find the SIM card stalls across from the arrivals door. SIM cards cost $15 – $25 US dollars, depending on the package you opt for.
PLEASE NOTE to check that your phone is not locked to your telco provider, this applies for BOTH the esim and physical SIM card options, if it is then roaming or using a separate phone for your trip would be your ONLY options
Cambodian Dual Currency
And while we’re on the topic of paying for stuff lets talk about money
Yes there will be SOME places that take credit cards but cash is THE main way you will be paying for all things in Cambodia so I strongly recommend you have cash on hand
Cambodia’s currency is Cambodian Rie aka KHR however most places also accept USD so if you you didn’t exchange any Cambodian currency not to worry you can use either interchangeably
If you didnt already exchange some USD or KHR before your trip not to worry there are ATM machines located at the airport arrivals hall
Cambodia Entry Requirements
Now you’ve arrived in Cambodia, WELCOME! lets now talk entry requirements
You will need a visa to enter Cambodia. Not to worry though the obtaining the visa is fairly straightforward. You can either apply for an e-visa online or just get a tourist visa upon arrival.
Though I personally recommend to have it all done before your arrival, you never know how busy the airport is going to be, you can do so at the link here
It was fairly straightforward to complete online, you will receive an email with the visa once its been approved
Please print out two clear copies, you will need one for arrival and another for departure
The visa will cost $36 US dollars to process, is single entry only and valid for a maximum of 30 days
Don’t forget as well that like most countries your passport will need to have at least 6 months validity
If you’re entering Cambodia via air, you must also complete and submit an electronic e-Arrival Card (CeA) within 7 days prior to your arrival.
This one is free and you can do this via this link here, I’ve also placed it in my description box for your ease of reference
That all being said what I’m stating here is also only valid at the time of the writing of the video but things can change so I also recommend double checking my information with the official website.
Getting From Phnom Penh Airport to City
Ok now that you’ve arrived in Phnom Penh lets talk a bout how to get you to the city
The Phnom Penh international airport is located approximately 10 km from the city center, it would take you around 30 minutes or so to get there and there are a few options to consider
The most straightforward one would be taxis, these would cost you anything from $9 – $15 dollars depending on where your accommodation is.
They are readily available outside the terminal HOWEVER I would instead recommend using Grab to book your ride from the airport if you do decide to get a cab, that way the price you pay for the ride will be fixed
Remember that esim thing I was telling you about earlier? Well I would recommend activating that just BEFORE you fly off from your home country so you can immediately have mobile data when you land in Cambodia to book your Grab
If however you are after a more budget-friendly option, shuttle buses operate between the airport and several key locations in the city, simply use google maps to work out which stop to get off at
I personally would still recommend you catch a cab especially if you have a lot of luggage but it IS cheap as it would cost you only KHR 1500 which is just $0.40 cents US
Buses are also not 24/7 and only available from 5am to 8.30pm so that another factor to take into consideration
Better yet though your hotel may offer airport transfer services so be sure to check if they do before you arrive
Where to Stay in Phnom Penh
Another commonly asked question for visitors to this city is which is the best area to stay? So lets talk about that
By far the most popular area to stay at in Phnom Penh is Riverside, it is located along Mekong River and is home to a variety of accommodations, from luxury hotels to cozy guesthouses to cater to different budgets.
The key selling point of Riverside is that it is within walking distance of popular attractions spots, such as the Royal Palace, the National Museum, and the markets. It’s a great choice if you love to be in the center of action as the dining, nightlife options are also expansive.
If you dont mind the hustle and bustle AND are in Phnom Penh for the first time, this is a great area to stay in In terms of specifically where I ended up booking a room at the Plantation Urban Resort and Spa which is located just behind the Royal Palace for a few reasons
First of all look at how stunning and high end this hotel looks
The resort comprises two beautiful outdoor pools, the spa, daily breakfast
But BEST part of all is that my stay here only cost 64 singapore a night!
Honestly dont think any more this is THE place you should be booking if you’re headed to Phnom Penh
How to Get Around - Transport Options
Ok now that you’re all checked in and ready to go lets now talk about how to get around the city
If you are already staying in the Riverside area most popular attraction spots will be very closeby
I would recommend catching a cab HOWEVER much like catching a cab at the airport do not try to hail a cab instead just use Grab or even their local version of Grab the PassApp to book your ride as that way the cost of your ride is fixed from the beginning
If you want a slightly more local way to go around though consider getting on a tuktuk, and this is why you want to have the Passapp downloaded as it will also allow you to book your tuktuk
HOWEVER if you are riding a tuktuk do make sure that you are very careful with your belongings
Safety and General Precautions
And THAT leads quite nicely into this next section where we talk about safety
Now I want to preface this section by saying that I met some of the nicest people while in Phnom Penh and nothing happened to me whilst I was there
HOWEVER my pre trip research and also the receptionists at the hotel informed me that theft targeting foreigners is quite common on sidewalks, on motorcycles and tuktuks particularly around the river front areas
So you will want to be on a constant lookout for your belongings when walking around this city and I would also recommend avoiding late night walks
Having said all of that I think that should be a common practice no matter which city you are in
Places to Visit in Phnom Penh Cambodia
But what about places to go to Steve? what shall I eat ? where shall I go?
When over the next few weeks I am going to be uploading a video documenting all the PHAT places you need to go see whilst you’re in this amazing city
And so if you dont wanna miss out on that be sure to subscribe and turn on that bell notification so you’ll know when that video is uploaded (otherwise a follow up article will go up soon!)
Outro
I hope you found this beginners guide to Phnom Penh Cambodia insightful and helpful
If you have any further questions or anything else you wanna say dont forget to leave me a comment in the comment section of the YouTube video or follow me on Instagram and Tiktok!
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