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Cambodia is a fascinating country that offers so much. The best way to experience it is by visiting multiple provinces and the local transportation in Cambodia can take you far & wide.
The transport in Cambodia is similar to other Southeast Asian countries, but still has its unique differences and some took me by surprise, including a few silly little scams.
In this guide, I share my experiences & tips on getting around Cambodia, in hopes other travellers planning a trip to Cambodia aren’t caught off guard. So read this before departing on a trip to the Kingdom of Cambodia.
Types of Transportation in Cambodia
There are many types of transportation in Cambodia, some definitely better than others and in this guide I’ll be focusing mainly on the budget options.
Over the years there have been massive improvements to the national highway system so getting between major cities in Cambodia is relatively easy. Keep reading for information on trains and bases in Cambodia, hiring a scooter & public transportation in Cambodia.
Tuk Tuk
Tuk Tuk’s are a great transport option in Cambodia and one of the most popular. Tuk-tuks in Siem Reap city will cost as little as $1 per trip. And, are also a great option for getting around the temples of Angkor Wat.
To get a fare price for each trip, download an app called “Pass App”. This is a booking system for tuk-tuks in Cambodia and will include a set price for the trip. Although always confirm the price with the driver when being picked up because they may try and change this mid-journey.
The tuk-tuks in Cambodia are generally well covered so are still a great transport option even in the rain.
Buses in Cambodia
Buses in Cambodia are an awesome option for budget travellers. Especially for those wanting to visit more remote destinations as Cambodian bus companies have routes all over the country.
There’re a large number of different bus companies operating in Cambodia, all offering similar services. The negative thing about this is that there isn’t one big bus station where tourists can go to and find all the routes & compared prices. You will need to visit each ticket office separately to get the information. In Siem Reap, there are heaps of offices within the city so there it’s fairly easy.
Also, the buses will depart from the individual bus companies office, not necessarily a bus station. So sometimes the pickup point is just on the side of the road.
In Siem Reap & Phnom Penh, the bus ticket will include a hotel pick-up that will take you to the bus departure point.
If you would prefer to purchase bus tickets online (although then the prices are non-negotiable) click here to be taken to 12Go.com.
Another thing to keep in mind when it comes to buses in Cambodia is the schedule, take it with a grain of salt. Buses regularly leave early. I was so surprised by this as it’s usually the other way around. But it’s not uncommon in Cambodia for buses to leave early so make sure you arrive at the stop at least 30 minutes earlier than the scheduled departure time.
Bus from Siem Reap to Phnom Penh
During my trip to Cambodia in May 2022, I caught a bus from Siem Reap to Phnom Penh and purchased tickets from a local travel agent on the main street of Siem Reap.
The tickets cost $8 each and the drive is approximately 7 hours, including stops. This price was the best but also the departure time suited us, it was scheduled to leave at 10:30 am.
The tuk-tuk dropped us at the bus station nice & early and the driver ensured we got on the correct bus. This was at around 10 am and when we took our seats we met a girl who was very stressed as to her this bus was running very late. She had booked her ticket for a 9 am departure.
The bus driver didn’t speak English so it was never made clear whether the 9 AM bus had departed early and she missed it or perhaps it was cancelled and they condense the two services. Either way, she ended up getting off the bus and booking a private taxi (which she got for 50 USD). Because she had an international flight booked departing from Phnom Penh.
Transportation in Cambodia can be very casual at times. So, this was a good reminder to never rely on these services if you have strict time constraints.
There’s also the option to book a sleeper bus in Cambodia and this can be a great option as it saves booking a night of accommodation. Although while in Cambodia we had heard many negatives about the sleeper buses including a bad safety record (it’s not uncommon for drivers to fall asleep at the wheel).
Trains in Cambodia
The Cambodian Railway has two lines, a north and south line and they both start in Phnom Penh.
The trains are clean and comfortable and have limited storage space for luggage.
The Southern Railroad is from Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville, stopping at Kampot along the way.
During my trip to Cambodia, I travelled by train from Phnom Penh to Kampot. The train departed from the Royal Train Square at 7 Am (but left a few minutes before 7) and arrived in Kampot at 10:30. We purchased the tickets the day before from the railway station and cost 9USD per person.
Once the train leaves the city the views along the train lines are stunning, passing by the countryside; lotus flowers, cows roaming free, temples and rice fields.
Shared Taxi
Getting a shared taxi in Cambodia can be a great option as the journey can often be quicker compared to public transport and the cost isn’t too much more.
From the Thailand border to Siem Reap, we paid 8 USD each and the drive took 2.5 hours.
It’s not always as good as it sounds though, so a couple of things to keep in mind when travelling by shared taxi in Cambodia.
The taxi won’t leave until it’s full, if you aren’t travelling with a group that will fill up the car the driver will either wait for more passengers or ring around to find others wanting a lift to the same place. So these taxis can get very cramped and you may end up waiting a while before the taxi departs.
Regarding the drop-off point, the person who you originally spoke with regarding the destination & price, isn’t necessarily the person who will be driving. If your driver doesn’t speak English make sure the drop-off location has been made very clear.
Unfortunately for us our driver didn’t speak English and made us get out of the car before Siem Reap City Center, and we then needed to get a tuk-tuk to our hotel.
Domestic Flights in Cambodia
Flying can be the quickest mode of transportation in Cambodia but also the most expensive.
Before opting for this transport option take into account the time it’ll take to travel to and from the airport. And, the time that’s required at the airport to check in and pass security. Because the bus stops and train stations are usually located within the city centre and airports are further away.
Also, there are only 3 routes that airlines currently fly within Cambodia. Which are:
Phnom Penh – Siem Reap
Phnom Penh – Sihounkville
Sihounkville – Siem Reap
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Hiring a Scooter
If you’re travelling outside the big cities like Phnom Penh & Siem Reap hiring a scooter is the best way to explore. This way you’re on your own schedule and can easily change plans last minute. Also, it’s much cheaper than hiring a driver for the day.
Prices for scooter hire in Cambodia range from $5 – $10US per day, and it’s easy enough to hire last minute. Anyone driving will be require to have ID and we found in Kampot that everybody had a policy that until you return the scooter they keep your passport!
I do believe that to drive a scooter in Cambodia (even if it’s under 125cc) you’re required to have a local or recognized International driver’s license. Police can issue on-the-spot fines or may even ask for bribes if drivers don’t hold the correct license.
My husband regularly hires scooters when we travel in South East Asia and no one has ever asked for an international driver’s license. We do always ask locals though what the local laws are and if police are known to pull foreigners over.
In my opinion, I believe you would have to be very unlucky to be pulled over. But I would recommend always wearing a helmet and don’t do anything stupid to draw attention to yourself.
And, of course, always ensure your travel insurance covers you for motorbikes and scooters.
Is There Uber in Cambodia?
No, well there was but not anymore. Uber entered Cambodia in 2017 but in March 2018 Grab acquired Uber which was their competitor in South Each Asia.
The Grab taxi-hailing app is basically the same as Uber. It’s widely available in Cambodia, particularly in and around any main city.
Users also accumulate points in the app which can be put towards purchases within the Grab app.
What is The Best Transportation in Cambodia?
In my option train travel is the best option for transportation in Cambodia. Not only is it comfortable, but trains also won’t get held up in any city traffic or make too many stops so the scheduled arrival time is usually pretty accurate.
Also, travelling by train is a way to see more of the Cambodian countryside.
The train network in Cambodia doesn’t travel as wide as the buses do but if you have the option I would always recommend the train over anything.
In Conclusion
Cambodia is an amazing country, especially for budget travellers. With all these transportation options getting around is never too difficult and booking only a day or two in advance isn’t an issue.
In this guide, I’ve detailed the best options for transportation in Cambodia and included some helpful tips for first-time visitors.
Thanks for reading,
Happy Travels
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Elyse is the author & content creator behind A World To Live. After traveling to over 40 countries, she has a passion for discovering new places. Elyse is a money-conscious traveller who loves writing independent travel guides to help her readers get the most out of their travels.
I’ve always loved tuk-tuks – they’re so fun! – and we used Grab throughout Thailand and found it to be a great, reliable service. Thanks for sharing all of this useful info; I’ll definitely be referring back if I ever visit Cambodia! Xx Sara
I’ve only taken the sleeper buses and Grab taxis but it’s so easy to get around! Thanks for sharing as this will help so much for when I go back to Cambodia!
Thank you so much Marga. How did you find the sleeper bus?
Lots of great information in here on getting around Cambodia. I love train travel so it’s great that there are a few train options to getting around Cambodia. It definitely sounds like if you are taking the bus you have to have a bit of a flexible schedule.
Wow! You are so brave to hire a scooter! I am terrified of how they drive in SE Asia. I always go by shuttle or a bus or a plane… Had no idea they have their version of Uber! Or that they have a train? Does it go to Angkor Wat?
There isn’t a train to Siem Reap, unfortunately, the best way to get there is by bus or you can fly from Phnom Penh
What a great guide! So many useful tips, especially valuable for Cambodiafirst-time visitors. I hope in the future I will also use your tips to visit this stunning country!
On the travel wish list! Would love to visit Cambodia. So it was great to check out this post on the ways to get around Cambodia. We often think of renting scooters to get around. Good thing we always travel with our International Drivers License. But sad to know that Uber is not in Cambodia. It was a great money saver when we were in SE Asia the last time.
So glad you found this helpful. Grab is a great alternative to Uber, they are very cheap as well.