Cambodia is a warm, low-lying country on the Mekong and the great Tonlé Sap lake, best known for the temples of Angkor. Beyond them are a lively riverside capital, quiet provincial towns, rice fields and a tropical coast with islands.
Cambodia for visitors
Angkor, near Siem Reap, is a vast area of Khmer temples and a World Heritage site ([2]). The best known are Angkor Wat itself, the Bayon with its giant stone faces and Ta Prohm, with trees growing through its walls; most visitors get around by tuk-tuk or bicycle. Phnom Penh, where the Tonlé Sap river meets the Mekong, has the Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda, the National Museum, and sobering memorials to the Khmer Rouge years. Battambang, in the west, is a relaxed town of French colonial buildings and countryside rides. In the south, Kampot is known for its pepper and Kep for its crab market, and islands such as Koh Rong have beaches and clear water. Buses and minivans link the main towns, and there are domestic flights between Phnom Penh and Siem Reap.
Time in Cambodia
Cambodia has one time zone, Asia/Phnom_Penh, and is on UTC+7 all year, the same time as Thailand, Laos and Vietnam. Right now Phnom Penh is 1 hour behind Singapore, 3 hours ahead of Dubai and 7 hours ahead of London.
Climate and weather
Cambodia has a tropical monsoon climate, hot all year, with a dry season from about November to April and a rainy season from about May to October or November. In Phnom Penh, average highs peak at 36°C in April, just before the rains, and average lows fall to 22°C in January. The capital gets about 1,473 mm of rain a year, and October is the wettest month there. In the rainy season the Tonlé Sap lake swells to many times its dry-season size.
- Phnom Penh
- Bangkok
Show the numbers
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phnom Penh | 24 | 14 | 43 | 85 | 130 | 161 | 168 | 185 | 254 | 260 | 113 | 38 |
| Bangkok | 24 | 21 | 51 | 93 | 217 | 199 | 190 | 227 | 336 | 289 | 45 | 12 |
Best time to visit Cambodia
November to February is the best time: dry, sunny and a little less hot, and the busiest season at Angkor. March to May is very hot; Khmer New Year, in mid-April, is a big family holiday. The rainy season brings afternoon downpours, green rice fields and fewer visitors at the temples.
Practical facts
- Capital: Phnom Penh. Population: about 17 million (UN World Population Prospects 2024, 2023 estimate).
- Currency: Cambodian riel (KHR). US dollars are widely used, with riel as small change; cards are accepted in many hotels and restaurants in the cities.
- Language: Khmer. English is common in tourist areas; orkun means thank you.
- Calling code: +855.
- Driving: on the right.
- Customs: cover your shoulders and knees at temples, including at Angkor.
- Emergency numbers: police 117, fire 118, ambulance 119 ([1]).
Plan your trip with hoyoopin
- The live weather and the month-by-month climate table for Phnom Penh are on this page.
- Bangkok city guide: a common gateway to Cambodia, with its own climate table.
- World Clock and Weather for Siem Reap, Kampot or any other town in Cambodia.
- Asia: time zones and key facts for the continent.
- Further reading: where the monsoon brings the most rain.
Sources
- GOV.UK: Cambodia, getting help: police 117, fire 118, ambulance 119.
- UNESCO World Heritage Centre: Angkor: World Heritage property, Cambodia.