How to get from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap

Why visit Siem Reap?

Siem Reap and Angkor Wat come hand in hand with each other. Almost everyone who visits Siem Reap also explores the extensive and remarkable temples of Angkor Wat – the largest religious monument in the world.

Some visitors spend an entire week discovering every corner and carving of the temples, but here’s your reminder to explore beyond Angkor Wat. The city also has cute cafes, a nightly circus that will leave you stunned, never-ending markets, and a lively Pub Street. For many, it exceeds expectations.

There are 5 ways to travel the 320 kilometers (199 miles) from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap. You can choose between the bus, minivan, taxi, flight and ferry*. The journey takes 55 minutes - 8 hours and the quickest way is by flight. If you're on a budget, the cheapest option is by bus with tickets starting at $8 (32,000 KHR).

Several bus companies are operating the Phnom Penh to Siem Reap route. Note that these buses have different departure and arrival points in the city centres.

You can choose between a morning and a night trip. Travelling at night is a great option to save time, but keep in mind it is safer to travel during the day. The roads in Cambodia can be quite narrow and bumpy and are not well-lit at night.

See here the schedules of bus companies with the best reviews and safety records:

The minivans are another affordable way to get from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap, with fares starting from $13.30 (53,000 KHR).

With the minivans, you have more options since the minivans depart almost every hour. The disadvantage is that, unlike the buses, the minivans don’t provide as much leg space.

Travel time by minivan is 5 hours 15 minutes to 6 hours from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap.

*COVID-19 UPDATE: The last time we checked (November 2022), the ferry between Phnom Penh and Siem Reap was unavailable. We suggest taking a bus, a minivan, a taxi, or a flight instead.

Taking the ferry is a completely different experience compared to travelling overland. The journey gives you an idea of how locals live along Tonle Sap Lake. While it will be an interesting ferry journey, it may not offer the spectacular views you were hoping for.

Ferries on this route only operate during the wet season (June to November). Bear in mind that the ferries operating along this route may not have the proper safety and cleanliness standards that you’re accustomed to, and the boat ride can get quite hot.

Ferry tickets cost $35 (140,000 KHR) for the ferry ride to Siem Reap. The trip lasts for 8 hours.

Departure and arrival ports

If you’re keen on taking the ferry, you can board the boat at the main ferry port along Preah Sisowath Quay in the city centre. You can also book your tickets in advance through your hotel and local travel agencies in Phnom Penh.

In Siem Reap, you will arrive at the Phnom Krom Port. From this ferry port, you can take a 20-minute tuk-tuk or a 10-minute taxi to the city centre. A tuk-tuk ride usually costs around $5 (20,000 KHR) and a taxi will be approximately $10 (40,000 KHR) – $15 (60,000 KHR).

Taking the plane is the fastest option and will get you to Siem Reap in just 55 minutes. However, short flights like this are not the most sustainable option.

Cambodia Angkor Air offers 2 direct flights on this route daily. Flight fares start at $80 (319,000 KHR) for a one-way flight from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap.

We suggest booking your flights in advance to score the cheapest flights. Check the available flights by clicking the button below:

Want to know how to go to the city centre from the airport? Have a look at our page on Siem Reap Airport.

TIP: If you decide to travel by plane, please consider including a carbon compensation fee to reduce your impact on the environment.

A taxi is a good alternative to the bus if you want a door-to-door transfer. The advantage of booking online is that the fare is fixed.

A 3-passenger car costs $86 (343,000 KHR) on BookAway. If you’re travelling in a big group, you can also book a minivan with fares starting from $130 (523,000 KHR).

You can also take your chances by hailing a cab along the road, but you will need to negotiate a good deal with the driver. Expect to pay anywhere from $65 (259,000 KHR) to $130 (519,000 KHR) by taxi-hailing.

Ride-sharing

If you are travelling on a budget or just want to save a few dollars, you can opt for rideshare. You can find rideshares along Psar Thom Thmei near the Central Market in Phnom Penh.

Sharing a ride will cost somewhere between $6 (24,000 KHR) to $12 (48,000 KHR) per person, depending on the price negotiated with the driver.

Keep in mind that the ride may not be as comfortable as the bus or a private taxi. Also, drivers will not leave until the rideshare is completely full, so you might wait a while.