Thanks to its elegant French colonial architecture, Phnom Penh – Cambodia’s capital city, whose name is associated with the brutal Khmer Rouge regime wiping out a fifth of the city’s population during the 1970s, was once known as the Pearl of Asia. Thankfully emerging from this dark side of its history, it has earned its place on the tourist map though reminders of this phase of its recent past are still present. Keep reading to find out the best time to visit Phnom Penh.Though it may be hot all year around, there are some times of year which are better than others to visit Phnom Penh. Let’s find out when to visit this capital city! Visit Phnom Penh with: Indochina holidays
Phnom Penh’s Seasons
Blue skies in dry season from November to May- source: internet
Phnom Penh experiences two main seasons – dry and rainy – though it is possible to divide them farther into hot and cool. It is safe to say that it is warm to hot all year round as annual average temperatures are around 28 to 33°C (82 to 91°F).
Key highlights
During the period from November to January, Phnom Penh experiences cooler temperatures which range significantly from 21 to 32°C (70 to 90°F).
From February to May: humidity is high while temperatures soar to 40°C (104°F).
From May to September: the temperatures are still high and the rainy season comes with intense afternoon showers.
From October to November: the temperatures start to ease off to from 23°C (73°F) to 30°C (86°F) though the rain continues.
Dry Season – November to May
Clouds gather over the National Museum- source: internet
When Phnom Penh experiences the least rainfall, it is the dry season, which can be split into two sections – the hot season, which runs from February to May and the cool season, which runs from November to January. The hot season witnesses temperatures soar to overbearing levels, reaching as high as 40°C (104°F) – which feels worse as humidity is also high at this time of year while in the cool season, temperatures range from around 21 to 32°C (70 to 90°F).
December and January, when rainfall is at its lowest and temperatures are at their most pleasant, are the most popular (and so the most crowded) time to visit Phnom Penh when you travel Cambodia travel packages
Rainy Season – May to October
The rainy season gives Phnom Penh short yet sharp afternoon showers, which usually result in the stronger wind and flash floods. Showers are more likely though the number of days of unending rain is not unknown, particularly in May and September. Like the dry one, the rainy season experiences two distinct temperature periods, with cooler weather ranging from 23°C (73°F) to 30°C (86°F) leading into the dry season and hot temperatures up to September.
Best time to visit Phnom Penh- source: internet
The rainy season is a good time to visit Phnom Penh if you are keen to avoid the crowds. During this season, the rain showers are mostly confined to the afternoons and there are far fewer tourists around. It is possible to plan around them. It is worth remembering that October, when the Pchum Ben festival, the year’s second most important event (after New Year Festival), when local families gather together to visit pagodas to dedicate offerings to their ancestors takes place, sees the pagodas busier than usual.
Why don’t you plan a trip to Phnom Penh?
Built at the confluence of four rivers, in the south of the country, Phnom Penh – the capital of Cambodia, which has one million, three hundred thousand inhabitants, nowadays is served by an international airport connecting this city with a dozen other Asian cities. There are so many places to visit: many remnants of French colonization, such as the Royal Palace dating back to 1866, the rail station, the National Museum; the Independence Monument, a multitude of pagodas, the famous Wat Phnom with its legend about the city’s founding and various stalls selling or creating all kinds of food and objects for pennies.
Accommodation and transportation in Phnom Penh
Get around Phnom Penh- source: internet
Besides many apartments for rent, you will also have no trouble choosing suitable accommodation in the different categories of city hotels. If you can cope with the requirement to give way to anything bigger than you and the density of traffic, you can easily rent a bike to get around the city as there is no public transport as such!
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Asia Travel Lover
