Here are my Cambodia travel tips and things to know after over twenty trips to the country.
For even more tips, check out where to stay in Siem Reap and where to stay in Phnom Penh.
Cambodia’s latest entry requirements
- Passport with at least six months’ validity when you enter the country.
- Valid visa for Cambodia.
- Medical insurance is not required but recommended.
- You don’t need to show a vaccination certificate or an RT-PCR COVID-19 test.
- Wearing masks in public is not required.
How to get a visa for Cambodia?
If you are not from one of the ASEAN countries, you need a tourist visa to enter Cambodia as a tourist.
Cambodia e-visa
It’s the easiest way to get a visa for Cambodia, and most countries are eligible. Just click on the official government website link to obtain a Cambodian visa. The visa requirements are:
- Passport with at least six months’ validity when you enter the country.
- Recent passport-size photo in digital format (JPEG or PNG)
- Debit or credit card to pay for the visa and the processing fee ($30+$6)
The processing time is three business days. You can obtain a visa for up to three months before entering the country and stay in Cambodia for up to 30 days.
Tip: Avoid unofficial websites, as they charge more!
Cambodia visa on arrival
It’s cheaper than the e-visa as you don’t have to pay a processing fee, and the price is only $30. It’s not necessary anymore to bring a photo. However, you can’t avoid the long queues at the airport.
Visa from Cambodian embassy
Going to an embassy for a tourist visa is unnecessary if you are eligible for an e-visa. It’s not only the slowest option, but sometimes you must provide extra documents.
How to book a hotel in Cambodia?
Short answer: Booking online through a booking site like Agoda or Booking is the easiest and best option for short stays.
Long answer: Check my Thailand travel tips for a more in-depth explanation of the pros and cons of booking directly vs through an agency.
What to wear in Cambodia?
The advice is valid for Cambodia if you have read my Thailand travel tips. Bring light clothes, like cotton T-shirts and sandals, for hot and humid weather. Pack light as you can buy everything very cheap at the Cambodian markets.
Can I pay by credit card in Cambodia or pay cash?
Bring cash, as it’s accepted everywhere in Cambodia, and you don’t have to pay high transaction and processing fees.
Where can I exchange money for my trip to Cambodia?
Bring 20 and 50 US dollar bills. The bills must be new from the latest emission and in perfect condition, or many vendors won’t accept them. Don’t bring smaller bills as it’s outdated information! The National Bank of Cambodia forces people to use the Cambodian riel, so US dollar bills smaller than ten are not widely accepted. Don’t also bring 100-dollar bills, as there are many fake ones, and some vendors refuse to accept them.
Always have small change.
Always have small change to pay for transportation and other small payments, as many Cambodians can’t give you change. You get your change in riels when you pay with a 20-dollar bill, so keep it to pay for your tuk tuk ride.
Is Cambodia dangerous?
No, Cambodia is safe to visit. Moreover, Cambodia is safe for all tourists, including solo female travelers. Just be careful of two things:
- Take care of your belongings as there are a lot of phone and bag snatchers in the big cities. Don’t keep your phone on the side of the street when you make phone calls. When traveling with a tuk tuk, keep your bag inside.
- There are a lot of drunk drivers late at night, so it is better to take a taxi after midnight and not a tuk-tuk. The traffic looks chaotic in the daytime, but it’s much safer to drive and cross the streets.
What is the best time to visit Cambodia?
The best time to visit Cambodia is from November to March. It’s the Cambodian winter, and the weather is dry and not hot. The best month to visit Cambodia is February. The Christmas and New Year’s crowds are gone, and the weather is still cool. The weather in March is not bad but may be hotter than in February.
What to visit in Cambodia?
Cambodia has so much to see, but there are three most important regions if you have limited time:
- Siem Reap for Angkor Wat and (not only) other temples, Kulen Waterfall, and Tonle Sap Lake
- Phnom Penh for the modern Khmer Rouge history and the Royal Palace
- Sihanoukville area for the best beaches in Cambodia, such as Koh Rong and Koh Rong Samloem islands. Sihanoukville is not what it was before; just take a ferry and go to the islands.
How many days to stay in Cambodia?
You must stay in Cambodia for at least seven days to see the highlights, but you better plan ten. For trips for up to three days, stay in Siem Reap, as the most exciting attractions are there. You can go to Phnom Penh for one to two days if you have four to five days. You can see the most famous sights in Phnom Penh within a day. Add an extra three days for Koh Rong islands.
Transportation in Cambodia
For traveling between the cities, the cheapest option is by bus. Giant Ibis is the most reputable local company. They have new buses with stewards and offer snacks, free Wi-Fi, and USB plugs to charge your devices.
The best and fastest way of traveling in Cambodia is by taxi. You can book it online, or it can also be arranged from your hotel reception.
You can use tuk-tuks or taxis for transportation inside the big cities. The tuk tuks are everywhere, but you can book them from the hotel reception or even cheaper from apps like Grab and PassApp.
Things to eat in Cambodia
The food in Cambodia is very nice, cheap, and delicious, and you can try the following food:
- Khmer lok lak – spicy beef meat with sauce and rice
- Khmer Amok – coconut fish curry
- Kampot pepper crab or any other meal with the famous Kampot pepper.
- Stuffed frog – it sounds weird, but the meal is delicious.
There is also much more food similar to the neighboring countries or other parts of Asia. If you are vegetarian or don’t like Asian food, don’t worry! You can find all kinds of Western food everywhere. And it’s also delicious and cheap.