Phnom Penh is famous for its Silver Pagoda which is a very important wat in Cambodia that houses many national treasures such as gold and jewelled Buddha statues. The capital of Cambodia is Phnom Penh, which is also the most populous city in the country with its metropolitan area being home to 1.5 million people. Phnom Penh has been the national capital since the French colonisation of Cambodia and is regarded as the nation's economic, industrial and cultural centre. With the beautiful architecture of rich history, it was one of the loveliest French-built cities in Indochina, which is no surprise considering it was known as the Pearl of Asia.

Airports in Phnom Penh

1. Phnom Penh International Airport

Phnom Penh International Airport or formerly known as Pochentong International Airport is the main airport in Cambodia as well as its most prominent and busiest airport. It is located 10 kilometres west of Phnom Penh with an elevation of 12 meters above the sea level. Phnom Penh International Airport has two terminal buildings, one is meant for international with seven aerobridges and the other for domestic operations. It is the hub for Bassaka Air, Cambodia Airways, Cambodia Angkor Air, Cambodia Bayon Airlines, JC International Airlines and Lanmei Airlines.

How to Get Cheap Flights to Phnom Penh?

Traveloka is a travel search engine that makes it easy for travellers to find the cheapest flights to Phnom Penh. All you need to do is to key in the information in the search box only, and the application will recommend the best trip according to your budget. It compares flight prices across some trusted airlines to help you to get the best possible deal. Don't hesitate to use Traveloka's price alert feature to be notified of flights in your desired price range to get the best flight price to Phnom Penh.

When is the Best Time to Fly to Phnom Penh?

Given Cambodia's climate, it is an all-year-round destination. However, some months are slower than others and vice versa. The off-peak season is around May to October which is during the wet season. This could be a great time to get reasonable offers and visit places with much lesser crowds. Therefore, if you plan your trip well, you can save your money and go around Phnom Penh with better mood knowing that your finances are sound. However, if you want to come over during its crowded times, the peak season in Phnom Penh from November to March which is during the dry season. The best time to visit Phnom Penh is undoubtedly around this period because of the much clearer weather.

Phnom Penh has a tropical wet and dry climate in which it is typically warm all-year round with minor variations in between. The temperature ranges from 22 degree Celsius to 35 degree Celsius with the weather being affected by tropical monsoons at times. The heaviest precipitation is usually from September to October, while the dry period is in January and February. The temperature extremes ranging from 12.8 degree Celsius to 40.5 degree Celsius.

There are a lot of festivities you can enjoy just like the locals do when you are in Cambodia. There is the Choul Chhnam Thmey or Khmer New Year which is happening in April to mark the end of the traditional harvest season. Around this time, the Khmer community would reunite with their families, visit temples and play classic games. Besides that, there is the Preah Reach Pithi Bonn Chrot Preah Neang Kol or Royal Ploughing Ceremony in May, which was a practice of the ancient royals to mark the beginning of the rice-growing season. The most celebrated festival is the Magha Puja Day in which all the monks in Cambodia would celebrate the moment when Lord Buddha delivered his sermon to the 1250 monks gathered at Rajagaha Valuwan Vihara. Other festivals include the Water Festival, Vesak Bochea and Cambodia Independence Day.

What are the Top 3 Things to Do in Phnom Penh?

1. Royal Palace - Constructed around the 1860s as the royal residence of the King of Cambodia, the Royal Palace is a complex of buildings divided by walls into four main compounds, namely the Khemarin Palace, Throne Hall, Inner Court and the Silver Pagoda. It is an excellent example of Khmer architecture with a French touch.

2. Wat Phnom - Built in 1372, Wat Phnom is the tallest religious structure in Phnom Penh and also the city's centre point. The interior of the wat has a central altar complex with a large bronze seated Buddha surrounded by other statues, flowers, candles and items of devotion and worship. The walls are covered with murals of Jataka stories and the Reamker.

3. Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum - Formerly a secondary school site before turned into Security Prison 21 by the Khmer Rough regime, Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum is the museum dedicated to chronicle the story the Cambodian genocide. The buildings are preserved as it is to give an authentic feeling of what happened during the genocide.