Phnom Penh Travel Tips
The practical side of a Phnom Penh trip has changed recently enough that older advice is worth double-checking. Here’s what actually matters before and during your visit.
Entry paperwork
Most visitors need an e-visa, filed at evisa.gov.kh, running about $36 total for 30 days; visa on arrival costs about the same. Separately, and easy to miss, Cambodia has required an e-Arrival Card at arrival.gov.kh for every air arrival since January 2025, filed within 7 days before you land. Keep your passport valid for at least 6 months past your travel dates.
Getting from the airport
The old Phnom Penh International Airport (PNH) closed to commercial flights in September 2025. Flights now land at Techo International Airport (KTI), about 25-30km south of the city, a 45-75 minute transfer; confirm your transport is headed to the new airport, not the old one, if you’re using an older booking reference.
Money
Cambodia runs on the US dollar, with riel used only for change under $1, at roughly 4,000 riel to the dollar. Bring crisp, undamaged bills: torn or pre-2006 notes are commonly refused, so check what you’re handed at the ATM or exchange counter. ATMs dispense USD but charge a $4-6 fee per withdrawal. Tipping around 5-10% is welcomed, not required.
Getting around
Skip haggling with street tuk-tuks where you can and use PassApp or Grab instead, which sets a fixed metered price up front. Hold bags away from the road and keep your phone away from the curb; motorbike snatching is a real, documented problem around the riverfront and BKK1, and if it happens, don’t resist. Watch also for tuk-tuk overcharging away from the apps, gem and fake-monk scams, and drink-spiking reports around Street 51’s nightlife strip.
Health and etiquette
Tap water isn’t safe to drink; stick to bottled or filtered. Dengue circulates in the rainy season, so repellent is worth packing. At temples, including the Royal Palace, cover shoulders and knees, remove shoes before entering buildings, and don’t touch or climb on structures. Use your right hand for eating and for handing things to people, and use both hands when giving or receiving something formally, a small gesture that reads as respectful.
Before visiting the memorial sites
If Tuol Sleng and Choeung Ek are on your list, read the dedicated guide beforehand; it’s heavy material, and knowing the history going in makes the visit more meaningful, not just harder.
For the full sightseeing picture, see the Phnom Penh travel guide , and for where to base yourself, the where-to-stay guide .