Cambodia travel guide

Getting there

International flights arrive at Phnom Penh and at Siem Reap's newer Angkor airport, both well connected to regional hubs. Land borders link Cambodia with Thailand, Vietnam and Laos, but check the latest status, as crossings can close at short notice.

Best time to visit: Nov–Mar – dry season with cooler temperatures.

Flights: see the cheapest month to fly to Phnom Penh, with live one-way and return fares from your nearest airport.

Tougher months: March–April for intense heat, or September–October when the heaviest rains can flood rural roads.

Weather by month in Phnom Penh

• 31°J
• 33°F
• 34°M●
• 35°A●
• 34°M●●
• 33°J●●
• 32°J●●
• 32°A●●
• 31°S●●●
• 31°O●●●
• 30°N●
• 30°D

Average daytime highs in °C; dots show how rainy the month is (one dot dry, three dots wet).

Time zone: Asia/Phnom_Penh. Compare with your local time.

Visas: in our passport dataset, 197 of 198 other passports can enter Cambodia without arranging a visa first (visa-free or visa on arrival), 0 need an e-visa or electronic authorisation, and 1 need a visa in advance. Check your passport.

Background: Visa policy of Cambodia (Wikipedia).

Official advisory: Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution (U.S. Department of State, updated 2026-09-15). Read the advisory.

Stay

Most trips to Cambodia are based around Siem Reap & Angkor, Phnom Penh or Battambang. Pick a base for your main interest, then add day trips rather than moving hotels every night.

Typical daily budget: about US$25–40 for a backpacker and US$60–120 mid-range, per person.

Connect

Plug types: A, C, G. Voltage: 230 V. Check your own devices on the plug and currency checker.

Calling code: +855.

Mobile data: set up a travel eSIM or check your roaming plan before you fly, so data works as soon as you land.

Do

• Siem Reap & Angkor (Northwest · temples): Base yourself in lively Siem Reap to explore the vast Angkor Archaeological Park over several days.
• Phnom Penh (Capital · riverside): A buzzing riverfront city with the Royal Palace, Silver Pagoda, French colonial streets and great food.
• Battambang (West · countryside): Charming colonial architecture, an arts scene, hilltop temples and bat caves amid rice fields.
• Kampot & Kep (South coast · riverside): Sleepy river town and seaside resort known for pepper farms, Bokor Mountain and fresh crab.
• Koh Rong & Koh Rong Samloem (Gulf of Thailand · islands): White-sand islands for beach-hut stays, snorkelling and starlit evenings.
• Kratie (Mekong · river life): A quiet river town for dolphin-watching and cycling on Koh Trong island.
• Mondulkiri (Eastern highlands · nature): Rolling hills, waterfalls and ethical elephant projects among Bunong communities.
• Koh Ker (Northern plains · ruins): A remote former capital with a striking seven-tiered pyramid temple and far fewer visitors than Angkor.

Things to do

• Watch sunrise at Angkor Wat. See the famous five towers emerge in silhouette as the sky turns pink over the lotus ponds.
• Meet the Bayon's faces. Wander among more than two hundred serene stone faces gazing from the towers of the Bayon.
• Explore Ta Prohm. Clamber through a temple swallowed by giant fig and silk-cotton tree roots.
• Cruise the Tonle Sap. Take a boat to stilted and floating villages on Southeast Asia's largest freshwater lake.
• Ride the Battambang bamboo train. Rattle along on a bamboo platform past rice fields in Cambodia's laid-back second city region.
• Learn recent history in Phnom Penh. Visit the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum and Choeung Ek memorial for a moving insight into the 1970s.
• Spot Irrawaddy dolphins. Glide by boat on the Mekong near Kratie to see rare freshwater dolphins surface.
• Island-hop Koh Rong. Swim in clear water and see glowing plankton at night on Koh Rong and Koh Rong Samloem.

Eat and drink

• Fish amok – fish curry steamed in banana leaves
• Num banh chok – rice noodles with fish curry broth
• Kampot pepper crab – crab fried with fresh green pepper

Money and safety

Currency: Cambodian riel (KHR). Currency and plug checker.

Tipping: Not required, but small tips for guides and drivers are appreciated.

Emergency numbers: 117 police · 118 fire · 119 ambulance.

• US dollars are used alongside the Cambodian riel; prices are often in dollars, with change under a dollar given in riel.
• ATMs are widespread in towns and dispense dollars, but torn or worn notes may be refused, so check your change.
• Bag snatching from passing motorbikes happens in Phnom Penh – hold phones and bags on the side away from the road.
• Never stray off marked paths in remote rural areas, as landmines and unexploded ordnance remain in some regions.