Climate guide for Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Best Time to Visit
Phnom Penh

How to read the score (0–10)
05810
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About Phnom Penh

Choose January-March for this rhythm: walk the riverside, visit the Royal Palace, and pay respects at memorial sites. Drier months ease outdoor palace and market hours.

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Travel Tips

Genocide Memorial Etiquette
Tuol Sleng and the Killing Fields are solemn sites - dress modestly, speak quietly, and avoid selfies at memorials. Allocate a full morning; the emotional weight is real and queues form by late morning.
Tuk-Tuks & Apps
Use PassApp or Grab for fixed fares instead of hailing random tuk-tuks. Riverside walks are pleasant at dusk; after dark stick to well-lit streets and hotel transfers if you are alone.
Royal Palace Timing
The Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda typically close midday for a few hours - arrive at opening or late afternoon. Tickets are sold on site; cover shoulders and knees for entry.
Heat & Hydration
Tropical heat and traffic pollution hit hard by midday. Carry bottled water, wear a hat, and schedule indoor museums or café breaks during peak sun hours.

Things to do in Phnom Penh

Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Live activities and tours from GetYourGuide, matched to this destination.

When to visit Phnom Penh: the short answer

The best time to visit Phnom Penh is January, followed by February, December. Those months combine the most usable temperatures with the fewest lost days to rain: January averages 26°C with 21 mm of rain and about 29 sunny days. The months to avoid unless you have a specific reason are May, August. If budget matters more than perfect weather, November is the strongest of the low-rate months at 4/10.

Across the year Phnom Penh swings from 26°C in January to 30°C in April, a 4-degree spread, while rainfall ranges from 21 mm in January to 402 mm in October. That is the whole planning problem in one sentence: Phnom Penh is not equally good year-round, and the difference between the best and worst month here is 5.2 points on a 10-point scale.

Warmest month: April (30°C). Coolest: January (26°C). Driest: January (21 mm). Wettest: October (402 mm).

Phnom Penh month by month

January in Phnom Penh — the year's strongest window

Best window · 8.1/10

January averages 26°C (79°F) with humidity around 72%, so the practical pattern is early mornings, a long midday break, and evenings back outside.

Expect 21 mm of rain — occasional showers rather than washed-out days — alongside about 29 sunny days and 11.5 daylight hours.

On our climate-comfort scale this is the top-ranked month of the year for Phnom Penh at 8.1/10 — the reference point every other month on this page is measured against.

Expect peak pricing, and this is one of the busiest months here. You are paying the year's highest rates for the year's best conditions — book early or shift a few weeks either side.

Pack the lightest breathable clothing you own, a hat, and more water than feels necessary.

February in Phnom Penh — reliably good (2nd best month)

Good · 7.6/10

February averages 28°C (82°F), so the practical pattern is early mornings, a long midday break, and evenings back outside.

Expect 28 mm of rain — occasional showers rather than washed-out days — alongside about 28 sunny days and 11.8 daylight hours.

It scores 7.6/10 here, 2nd of 12 months, against 8.1/10 in the destination's best month.

Expect mid-season pricing, and crowds are moderate.

Pack the lightest breathable clothing you own, a hat, and more water than feels necessary.

March in Phnom Penh — workable with trade-offs

Trade-offs · 6.5/10

March averages 29°C (85°F), so the practical pattern is early mornings, a long midday break, and evenings back outside.

Rainfall runs 52 mm, so plan one flexible day in three; you still get about 31 sunny days and 12.1 hours of daylight.

It scores 6.5/10 here, 4th of 12 months, against 8.1/10 in the destination's best month.

Expect mid-season pricing, and crowds are moderate.

Pack the lightest breathable clothing you own, a hat, and more water than feels necessary, a packable rain layer.

If your dates are flexible, January is materially better in Phnom Penh — 1.6 points higher on the same scale.

April in Phnom Penh — workable with trade-offs

Trade-offs · 5.1/10

April averages 30°C (86°F) with humidity around 71%, so the practical pattern is early mornings, a long midday break, and evenings back outside.

Rainfall runs 87 mm, so plan one flexible day in three; you still get about 29 sunny days and 12.4 hours of daylight.

It scores 5.1/10 here, 5th of 12 months, against 8.1/10 in the destination's best month.

Expect mid-season pricing, and crowds are moderate.

Pack the lightest breathable clothing you own, a hat, and more water than feels necessary, a packable rain layer.

If your dates are flexible, January is materially better in Phnom Penh — 3 points higher on the same scale.

May in Phnom Penh — the hardest end of the year

Hardest · 2.9/10

May averages 29°C (84°F) with humidity around 80%, so the practical pattern is early mornings, a long midday break, and evenings back outside.

250 mm of rain puts this in monsoon territory — about 29 sunny days across the whole month, and multi-day washouts are normal.

It scores 2.9/10 here, 12th of 12 months, against 8.1/10 in the destination's best month.

Expect low-season pricing, and crowds are light for this destination.

Pack the lightest breathable clothing you own, a hat, and more water than feels necessary, a proper rain shell rather than an umbrella.

If your dates are flexible, January is materially better in Phnom Penh — 5.2 points higher on the same scale.

June in Phnom Penh — the hardest end of the year

Hardest · 3.7/10

June averages 29°C (83°F) with humidity around 80%, so the practical pattern is early mornings, a long midday break, and evenings back outside.

At 177 mm this is a genuinely wet month: about 26 sunny days in total, and outdoor plans need an indoor fallback.

It scores 3.7/10 here, 7th of 12 months, against 8.1/10 in the destination's best month.

Expect low-season pricing, and crowds are light for this destination.

Pack the lightest breathable clothing you own, a hat, and more water than feels necessary, a proper rain shell rather than an umbrella.

If your dates are flexible, January is materially better in Phnom Penh — 4.4 points higher on the same scale.

July in Phnom Penh — the hardest end of the year

Hardest · 3.4/10

July averages 27°C (81°F) with humidity around 84%, so the practical pattern is early mornings, a long midday break, and evenings back outside.

274 mm of rain puts this in monsoon territory — about 23 sunny days across the whole month, and multi-day washouts are normal.

It scores 3.4/10 here, 9th of 12 months, against 8.1/10 in the destination's best month.

Expect mid-season pricing, and crowds are moderate.

Pack the lightest breathable clothing you own, a hat, and more water than feels necessary, a proper rain shell rather than an umbrella.

If your dates are flexible, January is materially better in Phnom Penh — 4.7 points higher on the same scale.

August in Phnom Penh — the hardest end of the year

Hardest · 3.3/10

August averages 28°C (82°F) with humidity around 83%, so the practical pattern is early mornings, a long midday break, and evenings back outside.

246 mm of rain puts this in monsoon territory — about 29 sunny days across the whole month, and multi-day washouts are normal.

It scores 3.3/10 here, 11th of 12 months, against 8.1/10 in the destination's best month.

Expect mid-season pricing, and crowds are moderate.

Pack the lightest breathable clothing you own, a hat, and more water than feels necessary, a proper rain shell rather than an umbrella.

If your dates are flexible, January is materially better in Phnom Penh — 4.8 points higher on the same scale.

September in Phnom Penh — the hardest end of the year

Hardest · 3.4/10

September averages 27°C (81°F) with humidity around 87%, so the practical pattern is early mornings, a long midday break, and evenings back outside.

375 mm of rain puts this in monsoon territory — about 25 sunny days across the whole month, and multi-day washouts are normal.

It scores 3.4/10 here, 10th of 12 months, against 8.1/10 in the destination's best month.

Expect low-season pricing, and crowds are light for this destination.

Pack the lightest breathable clothing you own, a hat, and more water than feels necessary, a proper rain shell rather than an umbrella.

If your dates are flexible, January is materially better in Phnom Penh — 4.7 points higher on the same scale.

October in Phnom Penh — the hardest end of the year

Hardest · 3.5/10

October averages 27°C (80°F) with humidity around 87%, so the practical pattern is early mornings, a long midday break, and evenings back outside.

402 mm of rain puts this in monsoon territory — about 27 sunny days across the whole month, and multi-day washouts are normal.

It scores 3.5/10 here, 8th of 12 months, against 8.1/10 in the destination's best month.

Expect low-season pricing, and crowds are light for this destination.

Pack the lightest breathable clothing you own, a hat, and more water than feels necessary, a proper rain shell rather than an umbrella.

If your dates are flexible, January is materially better in Phnom Penh — 4.6 points higher on the same scale.

November in Phnom Penh — the hardest end of the year

Hardest · 4/10

November averages 27°C (81°F) with humidity around 80%, so the practical pattern is early mornings, a long midday break, and evenings back outside.

At 180 mm this is a genuinely wet month: about 29 sunny days in total, and outdoor plans need an indoor fallback.

It scores 4/10 here, 6th of 12 months, against 8.1/10 in the destination's best month.

Expect low-season pricing, and crowds are light for this destination. That combination — decent conditions at the lowest rates of the year — is the best value window on this page.

Pack the lightest breathable clothing you own, a hat, and more water than feels necessary, a proper rain shell rather than an umbrella.

If your dates are flexible, January is materially better in Phnom Penh — 4.1 points higher on the same scale.

December in Phnom Penh — reliably good (3rd best month)

Good · 7.4/10

December averages 26°C (79°F) with humidity around 73%, so the practical pattern is early mornings, a long midday break, and evenings back outside.

Rainfall runs 50 mm, so plan one flexible day in three; you still get about 30 sunny days and 11.5 hours of daylight.

It scores 7.4/10 here, 3rd of 12 months, against 8.1/10 in the destination's best month.

Expect peak pricing, and this is one of the busiest months here. You are paying the year's highest rates for the year's best conditions — book early or shift a few weeks either side.

Pack the lightest breathable clothing you own, a hat, and more water than feels necessary, a packable rain layer.

Frequently asked

When is the best time to visit Phnom Penh, Cambodia?
In Ideal Weather mode, the best months to visit Phnom Penh are January. January is the single peak month with an Ideal Weather score of 8.1/10 based on temperature, rainfall, humidity, daylight and historical sunny days.
What is the weather like in Phnom Penh year-round?
Phnom Penh has a climate profile suited to sightseeing and cultural travel. Average monthly temperatures range from 26°C in January to 30°C in April, with Ideal Weather scores between 2.9 and 8.1 out of 10.
Which months should I avoid in Phnom Penh?
The lowest Ideal Weather-scoring months in Phnom Penh are May (2.9/10), August (3.3/10), July (3.4/10). These months typically combine less comfortable temperatures, higher rainfall or fewer sunny days.
When is the rainy season in Phnom Penh?
October is the wettest month in Phnom Penh, averaging about 402 mm of rainfall. January is the driest, at roughly 21 mm.
Which is the sunniest month in Phnom Penh?
March sees the most sun in Phnom Penh, with about 31 sunny days on average - ideal for outdoor plans.
Is Phnom Penh a good destination for sightseeing and cultural travel?
Phnom Penh is well suited to sightseeing and cultural travel. Its highest Ideal Weather window (January) aligns with the conditions travelers usually look for in this style of trip.
How is the bestime.to score for Phnom Penh calculated?
Each month receives an Ideal Weather score from 0-10 using ERA5 climate normals for Phnom Penh: temperature comfort, precipitation, humidity, daylight hours, and historical sunny days - weighted for sightseeing and cultural travel.

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Curated in Phnom Penh

Tickets & experiences