Phnom Penh Holidays
ROYAL RIVERSIDE
Phnom Penh gathers the Mekong, Tonle Sap and Bassac rivers around gilded palaces, colonial boulevards and lively markets. You can cruise the Mekong at sunset, wander the Royal Palace and stay at Rosewood Phnom Penh or Raffles Hotel Le Royal, then venture to Koh Dach, Oudong and the Kampot coast.
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Things to do in Phnom Penh
Discover adventure, relaxation, and unforgettable moments
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Golden Royal Grace
Explore the Royal Palace’s gleaming halls, lush gardens and traditional Khmer design, a symbol of national pride.
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Vibrant Market Moments
Stroll through Central Market or Russian Market and soak up fresh produce, local snacks and lively chatter.
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Island Craft Journey
Take a slow boat to Silk Island and watch artisans spin Cambodian silk by hand with care.
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Sacred Silver Beauty
Step into the Silver Pagoda, where a jewelled Buddha and shimmering tiles create a peaceful retreat.
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Discover Phnom Penh - Explore the Map
Phnom Penh’s Warm Climate All Year Round
Phnom Penh enjoys a tropical climate with warm temperatures throughout the year. The hottest months are March to May, with average highs ranging from 35 to 36°C and lows of around 26°C. Cooler weather arrives between November and January, when daytime temperatures hover around 30 to 31°C and nights drop to a more comfortable 22 to 23°C. Rainfall is more frequent from June to October, but even then, the city remains warm and vibrant. This year-round warmth makes Phnom Penh a great destination for both cultural exploration and outdoor experiences, with ideal travel conditions peaking between November and February.
- Jan High 31°C Low 23°C
- Feb High 33°C Low 23-24°C
- Mar High 35°C Low 25°C
- Apr High 35-36°C Low 26°C
- May High 35°C Low 25-26°C
- Jun High 33°C Low 26°C
- Jul High 32°C Low 26°C
- Aug High 32°C Low 26°C
- Sep High 31°C Low 26°C
- Oct High 31-32°C Low 25°C
- Nov High 30°C Low 22-23°C
- Dec High 30-31°C Low 23°C
Things to know
How do I get to Phnom Penh? Do I need a visa to visit Phnom Penh?
You can fly into Phnom Penh from most major airports. Your passport must be valid for six months. Please click here for the latest visa details.
What is the best time to visit Phnom Penh?
Visit between November and March. These months bring cooler days, clear skies and lovely weather for river walks and markets.
What currency is used in Phnom Penh and can I use credit cards?
Phnom Penh uses the Cambodian Riel, but US dollars are accepted. Credit cards work in hotels and larger restaurants.
Is Phnom Penh safe for tourists?
Phnom Penh welcomes you warmly. Central areas feel safe and friendly, with lots of local help and smiling faces.
What transportation options are available in Phnom Penh?
You can move around by tuk-tuk, taxi or on foot. Rides are easy to book, and drivers are helpful.
Are there any cultural customs I should follow?
Dress smartly at temples. Keep your shoulders and knees covered. Always greet with a smile and show quiet respect.
Flight information
- Average flight time
- 14-17 hours
- Distance from London
- 10,000 Kilometres
- Direct flights
- No direct flights
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Phnom Penh travel guide
Phnom Penh sits inland where the Mekong, Tonle Sap and Bassac rivers meet, so beach days mean heading south to the Gulf of Thailand coast around Kampot and Kep. In the city itself, the riverbank sets the scene instead. Sisowath Quay stretches for a full five kilometres beside the Tonle Sap, lined with restaurants, bars and hotels, and sunset boat trips on the Mekong show the whole skyline glowing softly as the evening light fades.
Start at the Royal Palace, the monarch's official residence, where the Silver Pagoda has a floor covered with five tonnes of silver. The National Museum, around a hundred years old, holds over a thousand years of Khmer art, while Wat Phnom crowns the only hill in central Phnom Penh. Browse the grand Art Deco dome of Psar Thmei, haggle at the Russian Market, then finish with a relaxed Mekong sunset cruise along the glittering riverfront.
Legend dates the city to 1372, when a widow named Penh found a floating tree and built a hill shrine that became Wat Phnom. Phnom Penh was a royal capital in the fifteenth century and was re-established as capital in 1865. French rule added colonial, New Khmer and Art Deco buildings. Wat Ounalom, from the fifteenth century, is considered the headquarters of Cambodian Buddhism, while Tuol Sleng and Choeung Ek remember the Khmer Rouge years.
The rivers are the natural heart of Phnom Penh, with the Mekong, Tonle Sap and Bassac rivers meeting right at the city. Beyond the busy boulevards, Koh Dach, often called Silk Island, can be easily reached by boat or road for quiet village lanes and easy cycling beside the water. Further afield, Oudong makes a rewarding hilltop day trip, and the Kampot and Kep coast offers fresh sea air, fragrant pepper farms and quiet countryside.
Rosewood Phnom Penh occupies the top fourteen floors of the 188 metre Vattanac Capital Tower, with panoramic views across the city and the Mekong, a spa on level thirty three and an indoor lap pool. Sofitel Phnom Penh Phokeethra stands on the banks of the Mekong with La Coupole and So Spa. Raffles Hotel Le Royal has welcomed guests since its 1929 opening, while La Rose Suites offers twenty five suites around a saltwater pool.
Khmer cooking is gentle, fragrant and built on fresh herbs, with fish amok, a steamed coconut curry, the dish to try first of all. Cook it yourself in a hands on class, graze the busy stalls around Psar Thmei, or dine beside the water on Sisowath Quay. Sofitel Phnom Penh Phokeethra serves Indochinese and French dishes at La Coupole, and Rosewood Phnom Penh's Brasserie Louis pairs French and Cambodian cooking high on level thirty five.
Romance here is all about soft river light and old world grace. Take a slow sunset boat trip on the Mekong, then dine high above the city at Rosewood Phnom Penh, whose Sora cocktail bar opens from five each evening, with indoor and outdoor seating. Raffles Hotel Le Royal adds colonial glamour that dates from 1929, and La Rose Suites offers quiet garden and pool views for two, five minutes on foot from Independence Monument.
Families find plenty of space and variety here. Boat trips on the Mekong, cycling on Koh Dach and the gilded Royal Palace suit curious children, while lively markets add plenty of colour. La Rose Suites has two Family Suites and an outdoor saltwater pool in a garden setting, and Sofitel Phnom Penh Phokeethra has two pools and a grassy lawn beside the water. Rosewood Phnom Penh's views over the city make a memorable first night.
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