The Phnom Penh International Airport is 4 ½ miles away from the city center and is connected to the city via taxi, train and shuttle buses.

The Phnom Penh Airport has five options for transportation to get visitors into the city center. The train gets from the airport to the Phnom Penh Railway Station located in the city center is around 30 minutes. The train station can be found in the airport parking area, there are no stops along the way, the train station in the city is a 10-minute walk to the center. Trains operate daily twenty-four hours a day.

The Shuttle bus from the airport makes seven stops along the way, the last stop being at the Tokyo Inn which is located in the city center. The shuttle buses are a comfortable option for transport into the city, tickets can be purchased at the airport counter found in the arrivals hall or from the driver when boarding the bus. The buses depart from the driveway found near the ticket counter and operate from 9 am until 5:50 pm, and run every 30 minutes during peak hours and 60 minutes during off-peak hours. The shuttle bus costs around $5.

A public city bus from the airport is a cheap option to reach the city center, costing around .40 cents. Bus line #3 makes 20 stops along the way with the last stop at the Night Market located on Street 106. Buses are parked outside the airport just around the corner from the exit area, they operate from 5 am until 8:30 pm with 15-minute intervals.

Taxis are one of the easiest ways to reach the city center, they can be found parked outside the arrivals terminal. Taxi fares are fixed and the fares range from around $12 - $18. Taking a taxi is the safest mode of transportation.

Traditional Tuk Tuk`s are available at the airport for transportation into the city center. Tuk Tuk`s are a widespread mode of transport in the country and can be found outside the airport at the arrivals hall. An information counter is available inside the arrivals terminal where tickets are available for purchase for a fixed rate of around $9.

The Phnom Penh Royal Railway Station is located next to the University of Health and Science and the National University of Management and Canadian Embassy close to the city center of Phnom Penh. The city center can be reached via a 10-minute walk, there are also taxis available outside the station as well as Tuk Tuk`s and Motos.

Public transportation in the city of Phnom Penh consists of mostly Remok`s, Tuk-Tuk`s, Taxis, Motos and cyclos.

Remok`s are a similar mode of transportation to the iconic tuk-tuk`s, made up of a motorcycle that pulls a passenger carriage. This mode of transport is also popular and a great idea for small groups of passengers of 4 or more at a time. Prices are based upon distance and duration and vary widely, a trip within the city center is quite affordable.

Tuk Tuk`s are the main way to get around the city, they consist of a motorcycle with a passenger cabin connected via a hitch on the back. A ride is around the city generally costs around $1-3 and $7 to the airport, prices are negotiable and having your destination written down on paper or showing the driver a map is a good idea. A tuk-tuk can also be hired for a day costing around $20-25.

Cyclos are bicycle rickshaws and offer passengers a relaxing way to get around the city center and visit some of the sights. A cyclo is a three-wheeled pedal cycle and costs around $10 for a day of sightseeing. They are a great option for a slow, scenic romantic ride through the city.

Motos are motorcycle taxis that are used for quick, short trips around the city usually driven by English speaking locals. Motos can be found around the popular tourist attractions and outside luxury hotels, short trips such as from Central Market to Sisowath Quay will cost around $0.50, the fares can be higher at night. Daily rates are available for around $10.

Motorbikes can also be hired in the city, visitors are required to leave their passport, a drivers license or other form of ID when renting. Rental shops can be found all over the city and usually cost around $5-6 a

There are air-conditioned public city buses that are a cheap and convenient way of getting around the city. Bus lines #3 runs between the Night Market and Chaom Chau Circle Garden as well as to the city center and the airport, this line costs around $0.37. The hours of operation are between 5:30 am and 8:30 pm.

Taxis can be found outside the airport, train stations, major hotels and along Sisowath Quay in the city, they can also be booked over the phone through taxi companies. Taxis are the safest and quickest mode of transport in the city and available 24/7 with English speaking drivers. There are over 100 taxis that operate in the city and are the most common form of transport.

There are ferries that connect the city of Phnom Penh to Siem Reap, the journey takes around hours and tickets cost around $35 and depart daily at 7:30 am.

Phnom Penh is walkable, the main streets in the city are in good shape and it is worth walking around on foot to experience hidden neighborhoods, markets, and attractions. Just remember walking the streets in Phnom Penh, pedestrians come last and there are cars, tuk-tuks, motos, and bicycles moving all around the streets, so proceed with caution when out walking.

There are some great walking tours offered in Phnom Penh, for example, one starts in front of the iconic Raffles Hotel Le Royal and ends at the Independence Monument in the city center and covers about 4 miles. There is a nice walking path along the river in the city center, which is the oldest part of town. There are streets filled with authentic architecture and lined by cafes and shops that are worth exploring on foot.

Bicycles can be rented at some guesthouses in the city and cost around $2 a day, traffic conditions in the city are hectic and can be dangerous, so take precautions when riding a bike. There are rental shops will rent out road bicycles and mountain bicycles.

The city of Phnom Penh is a safe city with a low crime rate compared to other cities of similar size. Use caution when exploring the streets as they can be heavily congested with traffic including bicycles, motos, and tuk-tuks who do not give way to pedestrians. Be vigilant when sightseeing in crowded spaces such as marketplaces and large sightseeing areas as pickpockets are common. If riding on tuk-tuks be sure to keep your valuables between you as it is common for a bag, camera, and phone snatching to occur on the streets.

The city of Phnom Penh offers some excellent shopping opportunities found inside shopping malls, markets, and local shops. Some of the great markets to check out in the city include Central Market and landmark dating back to the 30s featuring four wings spanning out from the massive central golden dome, a great place to pick up items such as flowers, gold, and antiques. The Russian Market is another recognizable landmark dating to the early 80s where highly discounted items are on sale such as silk, jewelry, and handicrafts along with delicious street food. Sisowath Quay is a bustling area in the evenings filled with restaurants, cafes, shops and galleries with artwork and silk for sale in a vibrant atmosphere.

Some of the malls include Sorya Mall a western-style mall featuring stores, stalls and fast food outlets and a Supermarket. City Mall another western-style mall featuring 3 floors containing retail stores, electronics and a supermarket along with food outlets and a Japanese restaurant. Aeon Mall is the largest western-style mall in the city featuring a movie theatre, skating rink, food court and brand name stores covering 4 stories.

Cambodia has two distinctive seasons: dry and wet. From November through May is the dry season and June through October is the wet season. Cooler temperatures occur from December to February with the highs still reaching around 86°F but dropping at night. The hotter season is March through May where temperatures can reach a high of 91°F. April is the hottest month with scorching temperatures around 104°F and high humidity. Monsoon season is during September and October with afternoon and evening downpours when flash floods are common.

The units of currency in Cambodia are the Riel (KHR) and US dollars are accepted. The US dollar is preferred at most places in the service industry such as hotels, shops, etc and places will set and show their prices in US dollars. The exchange rate is around KHR 4,000 to USD$1 and the Riel is a non-convertible currency so you can only exchange from Cambodian currency within Cambodia. Be sure to have Riel in hand as the small change will come in handy for small purchases along with transportation, street food, etc.

Most major credit cards are accepted at major hotels, restaurants and souvenir shops. ATMs can be found in the city and normally dispense in US dollars.

For more detailed information, consult our guide to tipping in Cambodia by clicking here Cambodia

There are many types of dining options found in the city of Phnom Penh offering interesting culinary delights that can`t be found anywhere else in the country. The city is a foodie haven boasting an excellent selection of restaurants, street food and hawker-style dining serving up delicious Khmer style cooking as well as Thai, Vietnamese, Indonesian, French, Italian and Indian dishes. Street food is somewhat of a local delight in the city with stalls found all over and a typical meal costing between $2-4. Local delicacies such as duck embryo eggs are sold in the city, chicken claws, grilled pigs ears and gizzards are also sold along with other weird and wonderful ingredients. Westernized fast food can also be found in Phnom Penh including Mcdonalds and KFC.

The city has a great selection of bars and clubs with many establishments located on the riverside behind Sisowath Quay and clustered around the intersection of Sts 51 and 172 which is nicknamed `Area 51` which is around the Golden Sorya Mall and is a bustling location after midnight. There are hostess bars, beer bars, martini bars and plenty of nightclubs to choose from for a lively night out on the town. Happy Hour is a popular pastime in the city with places like the Raffles Hotel and the Foreign Correspondents Club offering two for one special, Wednesday night is `Ladies Night` also offering drink specials and free drinks.

The official language spoken in Cambodia is Khmer, however, English is widely spoken by people working in the service and tourism industries. We recommend that you get a good English-Cambodian guidebook and familiarize yourself with a few common phrases, such as hello, goodbye, please and thank you, excuse me and numbers 1-10.

In the case of an emergency dial 117 for the police or 097-778-0022 for tourist police. 118 for Fire and 119 for an Ambulance.

Hospitals:

Calmette Hospital tel. 855-12-772-789

Sen Sok International University Hospital tel. 855-23-883-713

Sunrise Japan Hospital tel. 855-23-260-152