What to expect when visiting Sihanoukville
Sihanoukville is a bustling coastal town in southwest Cambodia. Also called Kampong Som, it’s a tourism hotspot known for its casinos, modern hotels, and vibrant nightlife. With its strategic port and airport, the town is an ideal starting point when visiting the nearby islands of Koh Rong and Koh Rong Samloem.
For some, Sihanoukville is no more than a transit hub. But if you have extra time, you can explore the map to find gems like the golden sands of Ochheuteal Beach and the luxury resort of Kompong Dewa. Immerse in the local culture at the market during the day. And at night, check out Sokha Hotel and Sky Bar for an electric buzz.
Sihanoukville Airport
Sihanoukville Airport also known as the Sihanouk International Airport (KOS) is Cambodia’s third-largest international airport. The airport, like the province itself, is named after King Norodom Sihanouk who reigned between 1941 and 1955.
2 ways to get from Sihanoukville Airport
There are two ways to travel the distance of 25 km (16 miles) from Sihanoukville Airport: by taxi (30-60 minutes) and tuktuk (30m-60m). The journey takes between 30 minutes - 1h and the quickest way is by taxi. The lowest priced tickets start from €16.50 ($20) for the tuktuk.Sihanoukville Airport by TukTuk
If you want to experience a local ride, you can go from/to Sihanoukville Airport by tuk-tuk. You’ll find a couple of tuk-tuk drivers waiting at Sihanoukville Airport. However, the price is quite high and won’t save you much money compared to taking a taxi.
Tuk-tuk fares from the airport to the city centre start at $20 and travel time takes 30-60 minutes depending on the traffic. Tuk-tuk drivers in Sihanoukville are in general not price-friendly and don’t offer you much comfort.
When taking a tuk-tuk, make sure to agree on the price beforehand.
Sihanoukville Airport by Taxi
Unfortunately, there are no airport buses operating from/to Sihanoukville Airport. This makes the taxi the most convenient and practical way to reach Sihanoukville centre.
Taking the taxi to the centre used to take around 20-30 minutes, but this has changed. A more realistic expectation is 30-60 minutes from Sihanoukville Airport to Sihanoukville centre.
Note: One of our readers commented that it took almost 2 hours to reach the centre from the airport. It’s only a 20 km journey, but bear in mind that it always depends on the traffic. Therefore we recommend always booking one night in Sihanoukville before you continue by ferry to Koh Rong.
You can find the taxi service counter at the arrival area just before heading out of the airport. The taxi fares cost around $20-$25 for a trip from the airport to the Sihanoukville city centre.
Dragon Taxi, Tourist Small Car Association and Friendship Taxi Association are some of the most popular taxi services operating from the airport in Sihanoukville. No matter with which company you travel, we recommend always agreeing on a price before getting in the taxi.
To avoid queues at the airport you can book a taxi in advance with Cambotickets. Fares start at $25 for a 4-seater car.
Although Grab is available in Cambodia, you can’t use any online taxi apps from Sihanoukville Airport. There is kind of a taxi mafia controlling the fares and they don’t allow taxi apps. For this reason, even short taxi trips in Sihanoukville can be quite expensive.
Frequently Asked Questions about Sihanoukville Airport
What is the distance from Sihanoukville Airport?
The distance from Sihanoukville Airport is 25 km (16 miles).
What is the fastest way to get from Sihanoukville Airport?
The fastest way to get from Sihanoukville Airport is by taxi and takes 30-60 minutes.
What is the cheapest way to get from Sihanoukville Airport?
The cheapest way to get from Sihanoukville Airport is by tuktuk with ticket costs starting from €16.50 ($20).
Rounding it up
We hope this guide was helpful in planning how to get from Sihanoukville Airport. If there's anything else you're wondering about, drop us a comment and we'll do our best to answer you within a few days.
PS: If you've recently travelled this route, share your experience with fellow travellers and help us improve this post. Thanks for helping out our travel community!
Sihanoukville Travel Guides
5 best things to do in Sihanoukville
The Ultimate Sihanoukville Travel Guide
Routes from Sihanoukville
Sihanoukville to Koh Rong Sanloem
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Based in Bali, Maarten’s passion for travel is undeniable. In 2016, he decided to quit his job as a stock analyst and started doing what he always dreamed of: travelling through South East Asia and helping other people plan their trips. When he is not working on Gecko Routes, you’ll find him surfing in the ocean or exploring the best gems of Indonesia.
Hello,
could you give me a quote for a taxi from Sihanoukville Port to Sihanoukville Airport on 23/01 at 08:00am for 2 people?
Thank you 🙂
Hi Ryan, taxi fares from Sihanoukville Autonomous Port to Sihanoukville Airport start from $30 with taxi companies like Mango Taxi and Taxiyo. It’s also worth checking the local taxi-hailing app Passapp, but you’ll need a Cambodian sim card when you register and book your ride.
Hi. We have just travelled from the airport by taxi. It took us just over an hour but other people on our flight have taken 1.5 hours. The reason is the volume of lorries driving to massive construction sites and on the most poorly maintained roads I have come across (and I have been to India).
Do not even think of staying in Sihanoukville. It is a the scene of criminal devastation on an epic scale. A filthy ghost town. So sad when knowing how it used to be.
Hi Fiona, it’s really sad to read this. I already heard it from a few other travellers but didn’t want to believe it. When I visited Sihanoukville in 2017 it was still a nice place, especially Otres village. I really hope this part of Sihanoukville is still like it used to be, but I fear the worst…
Either way, Sihanoukville will still remain an important transfer hub to the Islands and thanks to your comment, readers will at least be prepared for a long journey from the airport. Let’s hope Koh Rong (Sanloem) will stay preserved, despite all this construction near the Islands.
From the airport to the city is a short ride but so long in time: almost 2h!! Be careful!
Hi Marta! That’s a very long time for a 25km journey! I’m glad you shared this comment so we can warn others that it can take much longer. Hope you are enjoying your stay in Sihanoukville or Koh Rong!