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Major city · Cambodia

Sihanoukvilleក្រុងព្រះសីហនុ

Treat Sihanoukville as a ferry port for the islands, not a destination: land, catch a boat to Koh Rong or Koh Rong Sanloem the same day, and skip the downtown casino strip entirely.

Weather
see forecast
Best months
Nov–Apr (dry, calm seas for the ferry crossing)
avoid Jun–Oct (rainy season; rough seas cancel or delay island ferries)
Airport
KOS
Nights
1
Not field-verifiedbasic guide
Print / PDF guide
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
Google Maps Apple Maps Street View
Rules in force · 5Drug trafficking can carry the death penalty in Singapore…
  • Southeast Asia ↗Drug trafficking can carry the death penalty in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, Brunei and Myanmar; never carry a bag or parcel for anyone.
  • Southeast Asia ↗Carry a passport valid for at least six months from entry with two blank pages; airlines refuse boarding on less.
  • Cambodia ↗Apply for the e-visa only on the official government portal; lookalike sites charge extra. Some nationalities can also get a visa on arrival.
  • Cambodia ↗Angkor Wat and other active temples enforce a dress code: shoulders and knees covered, or you are turned away at the gate.
  • Cambodia ↗US dollars are used for most tourist prices; carry clean, undamaged small notes and some riel for change under one dollar.

Sihanoukville is Cambodia's main seaport on the Gulf of Thailand. A wave of mostly Chinese-funded casino construction from around 2017 left much of the downtown a half-built, half-abandoned building site, and it has never recovered as a beach town in its own right. Nearly all travellers now pass straight through to Otres Beach, Ream National Park or the ferry pier for Koh Rong and Koh Rong Sanloem.

Decide

What it is known for, and when the weather works

At a glance

What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.

Ferry gateway to Koh Rong and Koh Rong Sanloem islandsOtres Beach's guesthouses and beach barsReam National Park mangroves and coastlineA downtown skyline of unfinished casino towers
Airports
KOS Sihanouk International (Limited routes; most travellers arrive by bus or shared taxi from Phnom Penh (about 4 hours))

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Sihanoukville: next 7 days

Loading forecast…

Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.

Air quality

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Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.

Arrive & move

Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Getting around

Tuk-tuks and taxis cover the town; agree the fare before you get in, since meters are rare. Ferries to the islands leave from the pier near Serendipity Beach: book the previous day and check the operator's schedule, especially in the wet season.

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.

Otres Beach

Quieter guesthouses on the beach, well away from the downtown building sites.

Serendipity Beach area

Closest to the ferry pier for an early island departure; busier and more built-up.

Practical

What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Watch out

  • Much of the downtown is unfinished construction sites: there is little reason to linger there, day or night.
  • Rough seas from June to October regularly delay or cancel island ferries: build in a buffer day if you have a flight to catch.
  • Petty theft and occasional scams around the casino strip have been reported in past years: stick to Otres or the pier area after dark.

Deep dive

What this guide covers so far, and its sources

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Sihanoukville. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.

What we know, and what is coming

On this page

  1. Best months: Nov–Apr (dry, calm seas for the ferry crossing) · avoid Jun–Oct (rainy season; rough seas cancel or delay island ferries)
  2. 1 airport and 2 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast
  4. 3 things to watch out for

Coming as the guide grows

  1. An airport-to-bed path that says whether a late landing still works
  2. Walking clusters with bag rules
  3. Day plans checked against opening hours
  4. Field-verified times and fares

Meanwhile

Back to Cambodia

Sources