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.
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.
More ways in
Local time, weather, currency, airports
- 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
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.
What is in this basic guide5 covered · 4 not yet ▾
In this guide
- Forecast and monthly weather
- Where to sleep2 areas
- Getting around
- What to watch out for3 notes
- Airports1 airport
Not in this guide yet
- Walking areas with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
- Field-checked times and prices
Official sites
EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Sihanoukville, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?US dollars for hotels, tours and restaurants; riel (KHR, about 4,000 to the dollar) for change and small street purchases.Cambodia-wide
- SIM or eSIMSmart, Cellcard and Metfone sell tourist SIMs at the airports with passport registration; a week of data costs a few dollars.Cambodia-wide
- Tap waterNot drinkable from the tap.Cambodia-wide
- TippingSit-down restaurant: Round up or leave US$1–2 where no service charge is added.Cambodia-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets A/C/G. US/Canada (A/B): fits · UK/Ireland (G): fits · Australia/NZ (I): adapter. 230 V: US 120 V-only devices (hair dryers) need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.Cambodia-wide
- RestroomsWestern toilets in hotels, restaurants and at the Angkor ticket office and main temples; squat toilets with a hose or scoop on the road.Cambodia-wide
Show all 11 answers
- Emergency numbers117 police · 118 fire · 119 ambulance (not 911, 999 or 000)Cambodia-wide
- Sundays & holidaysMany shops close for Khmer New Year and Pchum Ben; government offices close all public holidays; Angkor temples open every day.Cambodia-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportKOS Sihanouk International (Limited routes; most travellers arrive by bus or shared taxi from Phnom Penh (about 4 hours)).
- Getting aroundTuk-tuks and taxis cover the town; agree the fare before you get in, since meters are rare.
DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works
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.
- Airports
- KOS Sihanouk International (Limited routes; most travellers arrive by bus or shared taxi from Phnom Penh (about 4 hours))
Best months at a glance
From the guide's best and avoid lists
Jan
Best
Feb
Best
Mar
Best
Apr
Best
May
not flagged
Jun
Avoid
Jul
Avoid
Aug
Avoid
Sep
Avoid
Oct
Avoid
Nov
Best
Dec
Best
Best: Nov–Apr. Avoid: Jun–Oct. Month by month →
Weather and climate
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 & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
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.
Nearest full guides
Straight-line distance, not travel time
Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in
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.
PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
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 diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources
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
- Best months: Nov–Apr (dry, calm seas for the ferry crossing) · avoid Jun–Oct (rainy season; rough seas cancel or delay island ferries)
- 1 airport and 2 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast
- 3 things to watch out for
Coming as the guide grows
- An airport-to-bed path that says whether a late landing still works
- Walking clusters with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Field-verified times and fares
Sources
- officialMinistry of Tourism of Cambodia
- secondaryWikivoyage — Sihanoukville