Over the past year or so there have been some major changes in how to get from Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville (and from Sihanoukville to Phnom Penh). From fantastic new bus companies, to the very best taxi services, to the first cross-country train, it has never been easier to get from one city to the other. Here’s all the latest information on buses, taxis, trains, and flights between Phnom Penh and Sihanoukville. If you’re heading on to Koh Rong or Koh Rong Samloem, see: Sihanoukville to Koh Rong.

P.S. You can book your tickets online now and save up to 30%:

 

Taxis From Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville

If you’re looking for a bit of comfort during your trip, then a private taxi is your best option. The journey will take approximately 4 hours in total and there is some absolutely stunning scenery along the way. Watch this video to see some of the beautiful Cambodian country side you’ll pass during your taxi drive:

 

On average a private taxi from Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville will cost in the region of $60 (that’s usually the quote from Phnom Penh airport to Sihanoukville). You’ll have the option of stopping for toilet breaks, coffees, and even sightseeing if you wish.

The better services offer nice comfortable cars (e.g. a Lexus 4 x 4) and the drivers will pick you up from your hotel, the airport, or any other location convenient for you.

One thing that we recommend however is to book your taxi in advance. Not only is it cheaper, but Cambodian traffic is very hectic, so the taxi rides can be daunting and frightening if you don’t know your driver – please contact us to book a safe, reliable taxi driver from anywhere in Cambodia, or click below and book online now.

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Buses from Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville

There are many bus companies offering economy and VIP buses between Sihanoukville and Phnom Penh. Although companies such as Giant Ibis, Mekong Express, and PSD Xpress used to be the only recommended services a few years ago, there are now several fantastic (and even better) options including Cambodia Post VIP, Bayon VIP, and Phnom Penh Sorya (we recommend Cambodia Post VIP and Bayon VIP).

Bayon VIP Bus from Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville

 

In general, an economy bus ranges from $4-$6 on average and sits roughly 50 people. VIP buses are smaller and more comfortable, sitting around 15 people. They are a bit more expensive at $8-$10 one way.

VIP buses tend to be quicker (4-5 hours) than economy buses (5-6 hours), and the journeys more convenient (e.g. you can ask the driver to stop if you desperately need to go to the toilet). Both types will stop along the way for short toilet and snack breaks. Although you will see Wi-Fi advertised, if you do actually have a connection it will be very slow and unreliable.

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To give you an idea of bus times, here are the timetables for some of the most popular and best reviewed services (Bayon VIP, Cambodia Post VIP, Mekong Express, Giant Ibis, PSD Xpress).

Bayon VIP Timetable

Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville: 7.15am, 8.45am, 1.30pm, 2.30pm, and 3.30pm.
Sihanoukville to Phnom Penh: 8.45am, 9.45am, 1.30pm, and 2.30pm.

Cambodia Post VIP Timetable

Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville: 7.30am and 1.30pm.
Sihanoukville to Phnom Penh: 7.30am and 1.30pm.

Mekong Express Timetable

Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville: 7am, 7.30am, 8am, 8.30am, 1.30pm, 3pm, and 5.30pm.
Sihanoukville to Phnom Penh: 7am, 8.30am, 9.30am, 12.30pm, 1.30pm, 3pm, and 5.30pm.

Giant Ibis Timetable

Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville: 8am, 9.30am, and 12.30pm.
Sihanoukville to Phnom Penh: 7.30am, 9.30am, 1.30pm, and 3.30pm.

PSD Xpress Timetable

Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville: 8.30am and 2.30pm.
Sihanoukville to Phnom Penh: 8.30am and 3.30pm.

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Train From Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville

There is now the option of taking the Royal Railway train directly from Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville. Although the total journey can be in the region of 6.5 hours, don’t immediately disregard the idea – There is some absolutely fantastic scenery along the way, and all in all it makes for a very enjoyable experience.

The train currently operates only on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, and Mondays and costs about $7 one-way. The carriages are quite comfortable and come with AC, plug sockets, and TVs (mainly playing Charlie Chaplin re-runs). The atmosphere is very cheerful and joyous, and because the train stops off several times along the way (including once in Kampot), the journey is broken up nicely.

Royal Railway Timetable

Phnom Penh – Sihanoukville: Friday 3pm, Saturday 7am, Sunday 7am, and Sunday 4pm.
Sihanoukville – Phnom Penh: Saturday 7am, Sunday 7am, Sunday 4pm, Monday 7am.

Don’t be too surprised if it’s delayed by 30 minutes – 1 hour however. If you’re thinking of giving the train a go, we recommend you buy your ticket in advance – Each ticket comes with its own seat number and acts as a reservation.

Flights From Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville

Cambodia is developing rapidly, but there are still very few direct flights to Sihanoukville from Phnom Penh. However, you can now fly directly into Sihanoukville from Kuala Lumpur and Ho Chi Ming City (with a new connection to Macau opening shortly) – The first international flights to the airport.

The timing of the flights isn’t always that convenient, but we predict that the airport will open for further international flights in the near future. In particular, AirAsia, which provides the flights between Kuala Lumpur, Macau, and Sihanoukville, have opened a subsidiary company in Cambodia, suggesting that they are looking to expand their services very soon. The most recent announcement is a new direct flight from Bangkok (Don Mueang) to Sihanoukville. The weekly flights operate 4 times per week and make the journey from Bangkok to Sihanoukville even easier. Read the full articles here, here, and here.

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How to Get From Sihanoukville Airport to Sihanoukville Centre

To get from Sihanoukville airport to Sihanoukville Centre, you can take a shuttle bus (around $4) that should be waiting outside the airport when you arrive.

If for whatever reason you miss the shuttle bus, you should be able to find a Tuk Tuk (roughly $20) at the airport (pictured below). You can also hire a private taxi to take you – this will be more expensive at around $30.

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A Typical Tuk Tuk

 

FAQs

Q: How do you travel from Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville?

 A: If you want to travel from Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville, you can either take a bus, a private taxi, the train, or a flight. If you’re looking for a bit of comfort during your trip, then a private taxi is your best option. The journey will take approximately 4 hours in total and will cost about $60.

Q: How much is a private car from Sihanoukville to Phnom Penh?

 A: On average a private car from Sihanoukville to Phnom Penh will cost in the region of $60 (that’s usually the quote from Sihanoukville to Phnom Penh airport). You’ll have the option of stopping for toilet breaks, coffees, and even sightseeing if you wish.

Q: How long from Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville by bus?

 A: A bus from Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville will take approximately 5 hours in total and will cost roughly $8-$10. Although companies such as Giant Ibis, Mekong Express, and PSD Xpress used to be the only recommended services a few years ago, there are now several fantastic (and even better) options including Cambodia Post VIP, Bayon VIP, and Phnom Penh Sorya (we recommend Cambodia Post VIP and Bayon VIP).

Q: How long is the bus ride from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap?

 A: A bus from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap will take approximately 6 hours in total and will cost roughly $9-$12. Although companies such as Giant Ibis and Mekong Express used to be the only recommended services a few years ago, there are now several fantastic (and even better) options including Cambodia Post VIP, Larryta Express, Bayon VIP, and Seila Angkor.

Q: How long is bus from Phnom Penh to Ho Chi Minh?

 A: A bus from Phnom Penh to Ho Chi Minh city can take about 6 hours in total because of immigration control on the Cambodian and Vietnam borders.

Q: How many kilometers from Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville?

 A: If you go by car, the driving distance between Sihanoukville and Phnom Penh is 225.06 km.

Q: How do you travel from Sihanoukville to Phnom Penh?

 A: If you want to travel from Sihanoukville to Phnom Penh, you can either take a bus, a private taxi, the train, or a flight. If you’re looking for a bit of comfort during your trip, then a private taxi is your best option. The journey will take approximately 4 hours in total and will cost about $60.

Q: How populous is Phnom Penh?

 A: Phnom Penh has a population of about 2,011,725 people. It is the 46th-most-populous national capital by population. The top 10 national capitals by population are: Beijing, New Delhi, Tokyo, Manila, Moscow, Cairo, Jakarta, Kinshasa, Seoul, Dhaka.

Q: How do I get from Phnom Penh to Koh Rong?

 A: To get from Phnom Penh to Koh Rong, you can take either a bus, a taxi, the train, or a flight to Sihanoukville, and then take a ferry from Sihanoukville to Koh Rong. For all the latest information, please read: Phnom Penh to Koh Rong.

Q: How do you get to Sihanoukville Cambodia?

 A: To get to Sihanoukville Cambodia, you can either take a flight directly into Sihanoukville airport, or if you are already in Cambodia, you can take a private taxi, a bus, or a train.

Q: How many days should I spend in Sihanoukville?

 A: If you are heading to Koh Rong, you probably don’t need to spend more than one day in Sihanoukville.

Q: How many days do you need in Phnom Penh?

 A: We recommend that you spend about two days in Phnom Penh – one full day for the museums, and one day / half day to take a look around riverside (in particular, the area around the Royal Palace).

Q: Is it safe to travel to Cambodia alone?

 A: Yes, it is safe to travel to Cambodia alone, as long as you are sensible (which is the case in any country). Cambodian people are generally very respectful and friendly towards foreign men and women, but as with any poorer country, poverty is an issue. As such, we recommend that you do not wear expensive jewellery, leave your belongings unattended, or get heavily intoxicated. Otherwise, relax, explore, and enjoy yourself!

Q: Is Cambodia safe?

 A: Generally, Cambodia is a safe country – it is ranked the 59th safest country in the world, with violent crime being a rarity. The only exceptions are remote areas of large cities, so please be sensible with where you visit.

Q: How long should I stay in Cambodia?

 A: The number of days that you should stay in Cambodia depends on what attractions you would like to see. On average, most people spend about three days per city. For example, three days in Siem Reap, three days in Phnom Penh, and three days on Koh Rong. In our opinion, this is probably an adequate number of days per city, though of course, the longer the better!

Q: What is the best time to go to Cambodia?

 A: We would say that the best time to go to Cambodia is between the middle of November and the start of May. During these months you’ll have beautiful hot days (25°C – 40°C) with very little cloud and low humidity.

Q: What should I do in Cambodia for 10 days?

 A: If you want to spend 10 days in Cambodia, then we would recommend for you to:

Day 1 – Fly into Phnom Penh.
Day 2 – Visit Phnom Penh Museums.
Day 3 – Travel to Siem Reap.
Day 4 – Visit Angkor Wat.
Day 5 – Explore Siem Reap.
Day 6 – Fly to Sihanoukville.
Day 7 – Travel to Koh Rong.
Day 8 – Relax on Koh Rong.
Day 9 – Travel to Koh Rong Samloem.
Day 10 – Explore Koh Rong Samloem.

Q: What is the best currency to use in Cambodia?

 A: The best currency to use in Cambodia is the US Dollar, or the local Khmer Riel – Both currencies are accepted everywhere in the country.

Q: What should you not wear in Cambodia?

 A: Cambodia is a Buddhist country, and local people, especially the older generations, adhere to strict dress codes. As such, if you plan on visiting non-tourist areas, men should not wear shorts or vests, while women should not wear mini-skirts, tight yoga pants, or other revealing clothing.

If you have any other questions, feel free to contact us and we will reply ASAP.