Sihanoukville, the capital of Preah Sihanouk province, is Cambodia’s main seaport and its largest beach city, built from the late 1950s on a hilly peninsula in the Gulf of Thailand. For decades it was a laid-back backpacker beach town, then from about 2016 a wave of casino and real-estate investment transformed it into a sprawl of high-rise hotels, construction sites and unfinished towers; many of these projects stalled after Cambodia banned online gambling in 2019, and the city is still rebuilding its image, with new roads, a redeveloped seafront and quieter beaches south of the center. For most visitors today, Sihanoukville is above all the gateway to the islands: fast ferries run to Koh Rong and Koh Rong Sanloem, with their white-sand bays, clear water and bungalow resorts, and the mangroves and beaches of Ream National Park lie just east of the city. The beach season runs from November to April, when the sea is calm; the southwest monsoon from May to October makes this one of the wettest places in Cambodia, with rough seas that can disrupt ferries.
Right now in Sihanoukville
- Wed26–30°C79–85°F8 mm rain
- Thu26–29°C79–85°F13 mm rain
- Fri25–28°C78–82°F10 mm rain
- Sat 10 Oct Pchum Ben (ពិធីបុណ្យភ្ផុំបិណ្ឌ)
- Sun 11 Oct Pchum Ben (ពិធីបុណ្យភ្ផុំបិណ្ឌ)
- Mon 12 Oct Pchum Ben (ពិធីបុណ្យភ្ផុំបិណ្ឌ)
Top tours in Sihanoukville
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Sihanoukville at a glance
- Best for: island-hopping to Koh Rong and Koh Rong Sanloem, beaches, snorkeling and diving, seafood, and Ream National Park.
- How long: 1 night in the city at most; 3–5 days on the islands.
- Best time: November to April, when it is dry and the sea calm; May to October brings heavy rain and rough seas.
- Getting there: about 2.5–3 hours from Phnom Penh by the expressway, by bus, minivan or car; Sihanouk International Airport (KOS) has domestic and some regional flights; slow trains run from Phnom Penh via Kampot.
- Getting around: tuk-tuks, PassApp and Grab in the city; ferries and longtail boats to the islands.
- Good to know: large parts of the city are still under construction; most visitors head straight to the islands or the quieter beaches of Otres.
- Before you go: the e-visa, the e-Arrival card, money and general safety are in our Cambodia travel guide.
Sihanoukville’s areas and where to stay
The city spreads over a hilly peninsula, with the port in the north, the downtown market area inland, and beaches around the southern and western shores.
Otres Beach
About 5 km (3 miles) south of the center, Otres 1 and Otres 2 are the most relaxed beaches on the mainland, with casuarina trees, a long sandy shore and small resorts, bungalows and beach bars. They are the best mainland base for a beach stay.
The seafront and Serendipity
Around Ochheuteal and Serendipity beaches, on the southern shore, the seafront has been redeveloped with a promenade; the main ferry piers for the islands are nearby, along with hotels and restaurants convenient for early departures.
Independence and Sokha beaches
On the western shore, Independence Beach and Sokha Beach are home to large resort hotels with private stretches of sand and calm water in season.
Downtown and Victory Hill
The commercial center around the market and Victory Hill, near the port, has banks, shops, local restaurants and many hotels and casinos, practical but busy.
The islands
Koh Rong, about 25 km (16 miles) offshore, is the largest island, with a lively village and pier at Koh Touch, the long white beach of Sok San, and quiet resorts on its other bays. Koh Rong Sanloem, just south, is calmer, with the horseshoe of Saracen Bay, the fishing village of M’Pay Bay and secluded Lazy Beach. Smaller islands, such as Koh Ta Kiev and Koh Russey, have a few resorts each.
Where to stay in Sihanoukville
- Otres: beach bungalows and boutique resorts, the relaxed mainland choice.
- Serendipity and the seafront: hotels close to the ferry piers.
- Independence and Sokha: large beach resorts.
- Koh Rong and Koh Rong Sanloem: bungalows, eco-resorts and a few upscale hotels; electricity, water and Wi-Fi can be limited on remote beaches.
Island rooms fill up from December to February and on Cambodian holidays; book ahead.
Top things to see in Sihanoukville
Koh Rong
Koh Rong has some of the best beaches in Cambodia. Ferries land at Koh Touch, a village of guesthouses, bars and dive shops; from there, walk or take a boat to the 6 km (4-mile) strand of Long Set (4K Beach) or to Sok San Beach on the west coast, with its fishing village and sunsets. At night, bioluminescent plankton glow in the water on calm, moonless nights. Inland, the island is hilly and forested, crossed by a few roads and jungle trails.
Koh Rong Sanloem
Quieter and better for families, Koh Rong Sanloem curves around Saracen Bay, a long crescent of fine sand and shallow, turquoise water lined with resorts. A path crosses the island to Lazy Beach on the west coast, and the eastern village of M’Pay Bay has homestays and mangrove kayaking.
Ream National Park
About 18 km (11 miles) east of the city, Ream National Park protects mangroves, estuaries, forested hills, islands and beaches. Boat trips with rangers or local guides follow the Prek Toeuk Sap river through the mangroves to quiet beaches, with chances to see kingfishers, eagles, macaques and, offshore, dolphins.
Otres and the mainland beaches
Otres Beach is the place to relax on the mainland, with calm water from November to April, sunbeds and seafood restaurants, and a few small islands offshore reachable by boat.
More classic sights
- Wat Leu: a hilltop pagoda on Sihanoukville Mountain, with views over the city and bay.
- Wat Krom: a pagoda on a hill above the western beaches, near the statue of the golden lions.
- Kbal Chhay Waterfalls: cascades and pools in the hills north of the city, at their best in the wet season.
- Psar Leu Market: the city’s main market for food, clothes and household goods.
Other things to do in Sihanoukville
Food and drink
Seafood is the specialty: grilled squid, crab, prawns and fish at beachside barbecues and simple restaurants along the seafront and at Otres, and crab with green Kampot pepper. Downtown, local restaurants serve Khmer noodle soups and rice dishes, and the city’s Chinese community has brought many Chinese restaurants. On the islands, resorts serve fresh fish, Khmer curries and Western dishes; prices are higher than on the mainland.
Snorkeling, diving and boat trips
The waters around the islands, particularly Koh Rong Sanloem and the outer islands such as Koh Tang and Koh Prins, have coral reefs, seahorses, schools of fish and occasional turtles; dive centers on Koh Rong and in Sihanoukville run trips and courses from November to May, when visibility is best. Island-hopping boat trips with snorkeling stops leave from Otres and Serendipity. See our snorkeling, diving and boat trips guides.
Hiking and kayaking
Jungle trails cross Koh Rong and Koh Rong Sanloem, and kayaks are available at many beaches and in the mangroves of Ream and M’Pay Bay. See our hiking and beaches guides.
Island life and responsible travel
Life on the islands is simple and slow: many resorts have no road access, fresh water is limited and electricity may come from solar panels or generators for part of the day. Help keep the islands clean by refilling water bottles where resorts offer it, taking plastic waste back to the mainland, using reef-safe sunscreen and never buying shells or coral. Respect the fishing communities of Koh Touch, M’Pay Bay and Sok San: dress modestly when walking through villages and ask before photographing people.
Day trips from Sihanoukville
- Koh Rong Sanloem or Koh Rong: a day trip by fast ferry is possible, though most visitors stay a few nights.
- Ream National Park: mangrove boat trips and beaches, about 30 minutes east.
- Kampot and Kep: the riverside town, pepper farms and the crab market, about 2–2.5 hours east; better with a night. See our Kampot guide.
- Koh Kong and the Cardamom Mountains: forests, waterfalls and river trips, about 3–4 hours west.
- Kbal Chhay Waterfalls: a short trip north of the city, best from June to November.
Nearby destinations
- Phu Quoc67 km
- Kampot73 km
- Phnom Penh187 km
- Ko Chang206 km
- Can Tho225 km
Getting there and getting around
By road
The Phnom Penh–Sihanoukville Expressway, opened in 2022, has cut the trip from the capital to about 2.5–3 hours by car, bus or minivan. Buses and minivans also link Sihanoukville with Kampot (about 2 hours), Kep and Koh Kong, and with Siem Reap by long-distance and night buses.
By air and train
Sihanouk International Airport (KOS), about 18 km (11 miles) east of the city, has flights from Siem Reap and a few regional cities; most international visitors fly into Techo International Airport in Phnom Penh and continue by road. Royal Railway runs slow, scenic trains from Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville via Takeo and Kampot, mainly on weekends.
Ferries to the islands
Several companies run fast ferries from piers near Serendipity Beach to Koh Rong (Koh Touch) and Koh Rong Sanloem (Saracen Bay and other resorts), taking about 45 minutes to 1.5 hours, usually two to four times a day in the dry season. Some resorts run their own boats. In the wet season, especially from June to September, fewer boats run, crossings can be rough, and services are canceled in bad weather; allow a spare day before an onward flight.
Around Sihanoukville
Tuk-tuks and the ride-hailing apps PassApp and Grab are the easiest way to get between the beaches, the piers and downtown. Motorbikes can be rented, but roads are busy with trucks and construction traffic. On the islands, you walk, take boat taxis or ride in island tuk-tuks on the few roads.
When to go and how long to stay
Sihanoukville is hot year-round, with highs of 30–33 °C (86–91 °F). The dry season, from November to April, brings sunshine, calm seas and good visibility for diving. The southwest monsoon, from May to October, makes the coast one of the wettest places in Cambodia, with more than 500 mm (20 in) of rain a month from June to August, frequent storms and rough seas. The table uses long-term averages for Preah Sihanouk from Cambodia’s Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology, as published by the World Meteorological Organization’s World Weather Information Service, covering 1982 to 2024 rather than the standard 1991–2020 period: average daily highs and lows and total rain.
| Month | Average high / low | Rain | What to expect |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 31 °C (88 °F) / 22 °C (71 °F) | 27 mm (1.1 in) | Dry and sunny; calm seas; peak season |
| February | 31 °C (88 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | Excellent beach and diving weather |
| March | 31 °C (88 °F) / 24 °C (74 °F) | 76 mm (3.0 in) | Hot; still good for the islands |
| April | 32 °C (90 °F) / 24 °C (76 °F) | 145 mm (5.7 in) | Hot; Khmer New Year crowds |
| May | 33 °C (91 °F) / 25 °C (77 °F) | 293 mm (11.5 in) | Monsoon begins |
| June | 31 °C (88 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F) | 509 mm (20.0 in) | Very wet; rough seas |
| July | 31 °C (87 °F) / 24 °C (74 °F) | 562 mm (22.1 in) | Very wet; ferry disruptions |
| August | 30 °C (87 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F) | 617 mm (24.3 in) | The wettest month |
| September | 30 °C (87 °F) / 23 °C (74 °F) | 487 mm (19.2 in) | Very wet |
| October | 31 °C (87 °F) / 23 °C (74 °F) | 310 mm (12.2 in) | Rains easing late in the month |
| November | 31 °C (87 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F) | 118 mm (4.6 in) | Season begins; calmer seas |
| December | 30 °C (87 °F) / 22 °C (71 °F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) | Dry and sunny; busy |
Preah Sihanouk receives about 3,200 mm (126 in) of rain a year, more than twice as much as Phnom Penh.
Four days on the coast
Day one, arrive from Phnom Penh, spend the afternoon at Otres Beach and eat seafood by the sea. Day two, take the morning ferry to Koh Rong Sanloem and settle into Saracen Bay. Day three, snorkel, kayak or walk to Lazy Beach. Day four, cross to Koh Rong for a night at Long Set or Sok San, or return to the mainland.
A week
Split your time between Koh Rong and Koh Rong Sanloem, add a dive trip to the outer islands, and finish with Ream National Park or a night in Kampot.
What a trip to Sihanoukville costs
Prices are approximate, for October 2026, converted at about 4,050 riel to the US dollar. Most tourist prices are quoted in dollars.
| Item | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| Fast ferry to Koh Rong or Koh Rong Sanloem, return | 80,000–120,000 KHR (about US$20–30) |
| Island-hopping boat trip with snorkeling | 80,000–160,000 KHR (about US$20–40) |
| Two-dive trip | 320,000–480,000 KHR (about US$80–120) |
| Seafood barbecue dinner | 32,000–80,000 KHR (about US$8–20) per person |
| Noodle soup at a local market | 8,000–14,000 KHR (about US$2–3.50) |
| Tuk-tuk from downtown to Otres | 16,000–24,000 KHR (about US$4–6) |
| Bus or minivan from Phnom Penh | 40,000–80,000 KHR (about US$10–20) |
| Beach bungalow double, per night | 100,000–240,000 KHR (about US$25–60) |
| Island resort double, per night | 240,000–800,000 KHR (about US$60–200) |
Practical tips for Sihanoukville
- Head to the islands: most visitors spend only a night in the city, if that.
- Book ferries a day ahead: in the high season, and confirm departure times, which change with the weather.
- Bring cash: ATMs are scarce or absent on the islands; carry enough dollars and riel.
- Check island power and water: some remote resorts run generators only part of the day.
- Pack reef-safe sunscreen: and don’t touch or stand on coral.
- Allow a buffer day: before flights, in case ferries are canceled in bad weather.
Safety
Take sensible precautions in Sihanoukville. Bag snatching by thieves on motorbikes occurs on the beaches and roads of the city; keep valuables secure and use tuk-tuks with side guards at night. Road traffic is heavy, with trucks and construction vehicles; wear a helmet on motorbikes. Be wary of job offers that seem too good to be true: organized crime groups have trafficked people into scam compounds in and around Sihanoukville. At beach parties, never leave drinks unattended, as drink spiking has been reported, and stick to sealed, branded bottles because of the risk of methanol poisoning. At sea, wear life jackets on boats, avoid crossings in rough weather during the May–October monsoon, and watch for strong currents and occasional jellyfish. The islands are remote, and medical care is limited; serious cases need evacuation to the mainland. In an emergency, call 117 for police and 119 for an ambulance.
What to pack for Sihanoukville
Swimwear and a cover-up for villages and town, reef-safe sunscreen, a hat, water shoes for rocky beaches and boat landings, a dry bag for ferries, insect repellent, a headlamp for islands with limited power, and a rain jacket from May to October. Cambodia uses 230 V, with sockets for flat (type A) and round (type C) two-pin plugs. See our water shoes, rain jackets and travel adapters guides.
Sihanoukville travel FAQ
Is Sihanoukville worth visiting?
Mainly as the gateway to Koh Rong and Koh Rong Sanloem and for the quieter beaches of Otres and Ream; the city center is dominated by construction and casinos.
How do I get from Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville?
By car, bus or minivan on the expressway in about 2.5–3 hours, by slow train on weekends, or by domestic flight to Sihanouk International Airport.
How do I get to Koh Rong?
By fast ferry from the piers near Serendipity Beach, about 45 minutes to 1.5 hours, with several departures a day in the dry season.
Koh Rong or Koh Rong Sanloem?
Koh Rong for long beaches, hiking and nightlife at Koh Touch; Koh Rong Sanloem for calm, shallow bays, families and quieter resorts.
What is the best time to visit Sihanoukville?
November to April, when the weather is dry and the sea calm. May to October is very wet, and ferries can be disrupted.
Are there ATMs on Koh Rong?
A few ATMs exist at Koh Touch, but they are unreliable, and there are none on most other beaches; bring enough cash.
Is Sihanoukville safe?
Generally, with care: watch for bag snatching, road traffic and drink spiking at parties, and be wary of job offers that seem too good to be true.
Can I see bioluminescent plankton on Koh Rong?
Yes, on calm, dark nights, especially around new moon, at many of the island’s beaches.
How many days do I need on the islands?
Three to five days lets you relax on one or both islands and take a snorkeling or diving trip.
Is there an airport in Sihanoukville?
Yes. Sihanouk International Airport (KOS), about 18 km (11 miles) east of the city, has domestic and some regional flights.
Plan your trip
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🇰🇭 Useful Khmer phrases for Sihanoukville
All 38 Khmer phrases: restaurant, hotel, emergencies, romance (printable) →
Sources · last reviewed 4 October 2026
Researched and last reviewed on 4 October 2026. The e-Arrival card: Cambodia’s General Department of Immigration; exchange rate: the National Bank of Cambodia; climate averages (1982–2024): Cambodia’s Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology via the World Meteorological Organization’s World Weather Information Service. Bag snatching, scam compounds, drink spiking, methanol, jellyfish and limited island medical care are from the UK government’s factual safety pages. The city’s history and the 2019 online gambling ban, beach and island descriptions, ferry times, the airport distance, the expressway opening, Ream National Park and typical prices are general references or estimates, flagged for checking. Prices and schedules change, so check locally before you go. For entry rules, money and general safety, see our Cambodia travel guide.
Data: Weather: MET Norway (CC BY 4.0) · Sea temperature: NOAA CoastWatch · Rates: ECB · Holidays: Nager.Date · Costs: World Bank ICP and price levels · Wikidata (CC0)