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Phnom Penh Crowd Forecast
Planning Phnom Penh? Compare typical seasonal crowds using 15 months of official Ministry of Tourism data (2023–2026), with public holidays and the 2026 Water Festival suspension explained.
Moderate
Comfortable: queues only at the big sights.
Historical monthly averages, official Ministry of Tourism data 2023–2026 (foreign arrivals): not a real-time prediction. Festival dates: 2026 official calendar.
Visitors to Phnom Penh, month by month
Foreign
- Apr · Khmer New Year
- Oct · Pchum Ben Festival
- Nov · Water Festival
| Month | visitors |
|---|---|
| Jan | 205575 |
| Feb | 192560 |
| Mar | 172017 |
| Apr | 174337 |
| May | 98639 |
| Jun | 115006 |
| Jul | 107165 |
| Aug | 118796 |
| Sep | 84250 |
| Oct | 137119 |
| Nov | 184075 |
| Dec | 167898 |
Monthly averages of FOREIGN arrivals across 15 reported months (2023–2026), Phnom Penh region. Domestic arrivals are excluded: the Ministry's domestic series broke methodologically in 2026 (6–8× jump) and cannot be compared across years. Source: Ministry of Tourism, Cambodia: monthly statistical reports. · Data refreshed 2026-07-16.
Water Festival 2026 update: AKP, 30 June 2026.
How Phnom Penh’s seasons actually work
The capital’s rhythm is steadier than Angkor’s: business trips, regional flights and city breaks flow year-round, so the swing between peak and low is only about 2.4×. 210,000 foreign visitors in January against 84,000 in September. Siem Reap swings far harder.
The shape still follows the dry season: November to February is the sweet spot, with riverside evenings at their coolest. May to September is the green season. Short, dramatic downpours, moody skies over the Mekong, and easy tables everywhere.
Water Festival 2026: Phnom Penh celebrations suspended
For 2026, the main Bon Om Touk celebrations and boat races in front of the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh are suspended, according to AKP's 30 June announcement. The 23–25 November public holidays remain, and celebrations may still take place in the provinces. Do not plan a riverside stay or rooftop visit on the assumption that the capital's races will take place. November still averages 180,000 foreign visitors historically; this is a seasonal baseline, not evidence of a 2026 festival crowd.
At Khmer New Year in mid-April, residents head to their home provinces, many shops close for a few days, and the city feels emptier than any statistic shows.
Month-by-month advice for your visit
- Nov – FebHigh season and the best weather of the year. The 23–25 November 2026 holidays remain, but the main Water Festival celebrations in Phnom Penh are suspended. Check local announcements and availability instead of assuming a boat-race crowd.
- Mar – AprThe hottest months. Around 14–16 April (Khmer New Year), expect closed shops and unusually quiet streets: pleasant for wandering, limited for restaurants.
- May – OctGreen season: downpours rarely last more than an hour, museums are quiet, and September is statistically the calmest month of the year.
And the weather?
Crowds are only half the question: here is the rainfall and heat for the same weeks.
Rainfall and heat, month by month
Full climate chartDriest around Nov–Apr; wettest in Oct (~306 mm, 25 rainy days). Daytime highs stay 30.5–34.6°C year-round.
FAQ
- When is Phnom Penh busiest with travellers?
- January tops the year with about 210,000 foreign visitors: the classic November–February high season, when the weather is at its driest and coolest. Based on 15 months of official Ministry of Tourism arrival data (2023–2026), foreign arrivals.
- When is Phnom Penh quietest?
- September, with around 84,000 foreign visitors: roughly 2× fewer than the peak. Green-season Phnom Penh means short afternoon downpours, dramatic skies over the rivers, and easy tables everywhere.
- Will the Water Festival boat races take place in Phnom Penh in 2026?
- The main Water Festival celebrations and boat races in front of the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh are suspended in 2026, as reported by AKP on 30 June 2026. The public holidays remain 23–25 November, and provincial celebrations may still take place. November's historical average of 180,000 foreign visitors is unchanged; the gauge does not add a festival crowd boost for this suspended Phnom Penh event. Check local announcements before planning a visit.
- What happens in Phnom Penh at Khmer New Year?
- The opposite of Siem Reap: the capital empties out as residents travel to their home provinces (14–16 April). Many small businesses close for a few days, streets go quiet, and the city feels unusually calm. Pleasant for wandering, limited for eating out.
- Why does this tool only count foreign visitors for Phnom Penh?
- Honesty over completeness: the Ministry's domestic-visitor series for Phnom Penh changed methodology in 2026 (figures jumped 6–8× overnight), so it cannot be compared across years. Foreign arrivals are consistent over the whole period (2023–2026). That is what the gauge and chart use.
- Is this a real-time crowd prediction?
- No. This tool shows historical monthly averages from official Ministry of Tourism statistics (2023–2026), plus known festival dates. It tells you how each period typically compares. Nothing more, and we think that is exactly what trip planning needs.
Quiet season perks: deals on now
Fewer crowds also means the best deals of the year:
Local advice for your Cambodia trip.
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