City Guide
Phnom Penh is Cambodia's capital, on the banks of the Mekong and Tonlé Sap rivers: busy markets, a lively riverside, French colonial buildings and a fast-growing café and coworking scene, at some of the lowest prices in the region.
Best for
Remote workers who want an affordable, lively capital
Best months
November to March (dry and cooler)
Time difference with CET
+6 hours in winter, +5 hours in summer
Cost per day
Roughly €40–€80 including a good hotel
Internet
Good in hotels, cafés and coworking spaces; mobile internet is a good backup
Less suited if you want a calm or walkable city. Traffic is heavy, and pavements are often used for parking and street stalls.
Hotels aimed at business travellers, cafés and coworking spaces usually have good WiFi. A local SIM or eSIM is cheap and gives you a backup for calls. Read my guide to eSIMs for workations.
Emerald Hub
One of the coworking spaces in the city, with hot desks from around $80 a month.
The coworking scene is small, so many remote workers work from their hotel, often by the pool, or from the many air-conditioned cafés in BKK1.
Boeung Keng Kang 1 (BKK1)
A leafy area with cafés, restaurants and many expats. The most practical base for a workation.
Riverside (Sisowath Quay)
Lively, with river views, bars and the Royal Palace nearby. Noisier at night.
Tonle Bassac
A modern area south of the centre, with newer hotels and apartments.
Stays I list in Phnom Penh:
A rough week for one person with a good hotel, excluding flights:
Stay
€200–€450
For a hotel room with a desk
Food
€60–€120
From Khmer food to international restaurants
Coworking
Optional; monthly hot desks are around $100–$180
Transport
€10–€25
On tuk-tuks and ride-hailing apps
Cambodia is six hours ahead of CET in winter and five in summer, so your mornings are free for focused work.
Nov–Mar
Dry and a little cooler, the best time
Apr–May
Very hot
Jun–Oct
Rainy season, usually with heavy showers in the afternoon
Phnom Penh has a new international airport outside the city, so allow time for the transfer to the centre.
Tuk-tuks and ride-hailing apps such as Grab and PassApp are cheap and convenient. Buses connect the city with Siem Reap in about six hours.
EU citizens can apply online for a Cambodia e-visa, which costs US$30 plus a processing fee of about US$6 and allows a single stay of up to 30 days for tourism. All air arrivals must complete the free Cambodia e-Arrival card within seven days before arrival. A tourist visa does not allow local employment.
Visit the Royal Palace and the Silver Pagoda
Take a sunset boat trip on the Mekong
Browse the Russian Market and the Central Market
Learn about Cambodia’s recent history at Tuol Sleng and Choeung Ek
Try Khmer food, such as fish amok, at a local restaurant
Yes, for a city workation on a budget. Hotels and cafés have good WiFi, and costs are very low.
Phnom Penh for city energy and more coworking options; Siem Reap for a slower pace and the Angkor temples.
Yes. EU citizens can apply online for a 30-day e-visa for US$30 plus a small processing fee.
Phnom Penh is part of my Cambodia guide, next to Siem Reap. Compare it with the rest of the region in my Southeast Asia guide.
