How to get in, out, and around Phnom Penh

From getting to Phnom Penh from the airport or out of town for a weekend break, we’ve got you covered.

Getting around town

Phnom Penh is a sprawling city and very hot. There are very few crosswalks, and sidewalks are used for parking. All said, Phnom Penh is not a pedestrian-friendly city. Most locals, expats, and tourists choose to get around by bicycle, moto, tuk tuk, or taxi.

phnom penh transportation

Tuk tuks offer a pleasant way to traverse Phnom Penh.

Tuk tuks are generally the most pleasant way to travel. Whether you’re going to be in Phnom Penh for a week or for a year, it makes sense to get to know a few tuk tuk drivers. Using the same driver regularly means lower prices, less hassle, and much less time spent explaining where it is you are trying to go. It’s also easier to have a regular in your neighborhood (or outside your hotel) so you don’t need to call and wait for a driver every time you want to go somewhere. Read our tips for taking tuk tuks in Phnom Penh (with a sample price list).

If you don’t want to build a relationship with a local driver, Phnom Penh now has ride-hailing apps that you can download, and the cost is often less than hiring someone off the street. The primary ones are PassApp and Grab. Grab even lets you pay with your credit card, so no cash is required.

Bicycle and moto rentals

You can rent motos by the day, week, or month from Lucky Lucky! Motorcycle Shop, Phnom Penh’s most popular (with expats, anyway) moto rental and travel agency. The cost is $4 per day or $5 for an automatic, $25 for a week or $30 for an automatic, or $60 for a month or $70 for an automatic. You will need to leave your passport as collateral.

413Eo Monivong Blvd, Phnom Penh
099 808 788; 012 279 990
E: luckymotorcyclerental@yahoo.com

Phnom Penh motorcycle rental

Rent a moto and take it for a spin.

Vannak Motorcycle Shop on Street 130 near the riverside is the place to go if you’re looking for more powerful bikes. They rent Kawasaki, Suzuki, and Yamaha dirt bikes, choppers, sports bikes, plus the more standard models, including the Honda Dream. They rent bikes by the day, week, or month with prices starting at $5 per day or $35 per week. Some of the bigger models, like the Honda Shadow, go for around $50 per day. Vannak also sells, repairs, and services motos.

46Eo Street 130, Daun Penh, Phnom Penh
012 220 970; 011 220 970; 070 220 970
vannakmotorcycle.com

Taxis

Phnom Penh-based taxi driver Mr. Dara does airport runs and long-distance trips around the country. He is very friendly and speaks English well and has a nice and clean SUV. What more could you want?

Mr. Dara is our favorite taxi driver!

Some sample prices are:
Phnom Penh-Siem Reap $80
Phnom Penh-Kampot $50
Phnom Penh-Kep $55
Phnom Penh to Poipet $120
Phnom Penh-Sihanoukville $60 +$12 for the toll if you want to take the new expressway.

You can get in touch with Dara at +855(0)15 527 599 (also on Telegram and Whatsappp) or Facebook.

If you prefer booking your taxis through a service, private taxis can be reserved in advance online (at surprisingly reasonable rates). If you reserve online, you will get a large SUV taxi, usually a very comfortable Lexus 4×4 that easily seats 4 with luggage in the back. Booking online allows you to pay in advance by credit card.

Public transportation

Phnom Penh finally have a (small) bus network. Tickets are inexpensive, they are air-conditioned, and this can be an easy way to get to the airport. For more information, read our blog post about the Phnom Penh public buses.

Phnom Penh buses

Where are you headed? We tell you how to get out of Phnom Penh.

Getting to and from Phnom Penh

How to get from the airport into Phnom Penh

If you’re flying into or out of the Phnom Penh airport, you should read our blog post to find out all of the ways to get from Phnom Penh’s airport into Phnom Penh proper. Plus, find out how not to get scammed.

How to get from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap

Whether you’re looking to travel by bus, boat, taxi, or plane, we run down all of the options for Phnom Penh-Siem Reap transportation in this blog post about how to get from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap (and vice-versa).

Our detailed review of the Giant Ibis night bus tells you everything you need to know about traveling between Phnom Penh and Siem Reap at night. If you’re looking for more information on Giant Ibis buses, we also have a review of the daytime buses between Siem Reap and Phnom Penh.

We’ve also put together a few reviews of mini-buses that run between Siem Reap and Phnom Penh, including Golden Bayon Express, Seila Angkor, and Elephant Express.

If you’d like to purchase bus tickets in advance of your journey, you can buy bus tickets from Phnom Penh to cities all over Cambodia through BookMeBus.

If you’re considering flying between Phnom Penh and Siem Reap, read our blog posts about two new airlines, Cambodia Bayon Air and Bassaka Air, plus the old favorite, Cambodia Angkor Air.

Phnom Penh bus

Trying to get from Battambang to Phnom Penh? Here’s your bus.

How to get from Phnom Penh to Battambang

Thinking about spending a weekend in Battambang? Check out our detailed blog post about the best ways to get from Phnom Penh to Battambang (and vice-versa). Once you are there, be sure to check out our expat guide to Battambang.

How to get from Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville

It’s not very far from Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville, so it might be time to think about a weekend break. We have a detailed blog post about all of the ways to get from Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville, including bus, mini-bus, and taxi. Once you are there, have a look at our expat guide to Sihanoukville.

How to get from Phnom Penh to Kampot

If you’re heading to Kampot from Phnom Penh, you should check out our blog post about all of the Phnom Penh-Kampot transport options, including taxi, bus, and mini-bus. Plus, we’ve got a detailed review of the Giant Ibis mini-bus that runs between Kampot and Phnom Penh.

How to get from Phnom Penh to Vietnam

Phnom Penh to Saigon (HCMC) is an easy trip by bus, but Phnom Penh to Hanoi usually requires a flight. We’ve got a full review of the Giant Ibis Phnom Penh-HCMC bus. If you’re heading to Hanoi from Phnom Penh, usually some combination of bus and flights offers the most economical way to travel (unless you want to spend days on the road). Remember, if you’re arriving in Vietnam by bus, you’ll need to get a Vietnam visa in Cambodia before you leave.

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