Both Phnom Penh and Siem Reap are essential destinations on any Cambodia itinerary, with many travellers choosing to visit the gateway to Angkor Wat immediately after the capital city (or vice versa!). It's a pretty easy route to travel, but there are a few different options available depending on how much time you have in Cambodia, your budget, and your travel style.
In this blog post, we've shared the best, quickest, and cheapest ways on how to travel from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap, alongside key details on prices and where to book online.
If you're planning on doing this journey in reverse (i.e. from Siem Reap to Phnom Penh), then all the transport information, routes, and prices remain the same - just the other way round!
How to Travel From Phnom Penh to Siem Reap
Bus from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap
The cheapest!
This is the option most locals, backpackers, and budget travellers will take, and there are a multitude of companies running the daily 320 km bus route from Siem Reap to Phnom Penh. These include Virak Buntham Express, Mekong Express, Larryta Express, Seila Angkor Express, Giant IBIS Transport, Mey Hong Bus, Bayon VIP.
Departures start at 7 a.m. through to around 3 p.m., and typical travel time is 6-7 hours (in Cambodia though you should always plan for some delays, stops, or interruptions along the way).
The price ranges from $6-9 per person for minibuses holding 30-50 passengers, and upto $12 if you choose to go in a smaller minivan which holds 12-14 passengers and (usually) makes the journey a little quicker.
There isn’t a central bus station or terminal in Phnom Penh, with all the bus / minivan companies departing from their own offices scattered across the city centre. It is therefore essential to book ahead of time for this popular route so that you can guarantee your place and reserve a decent seat.
Before you book your ticket though, our advice is to read the specific reviews of the company from previous travellers to get an idea of the comfort of the bus, the craziness of the driver, or just to temper your expectations.
Book Online | The best option to find up-to-date schedules for the various bus companies, access reliable reviews, and book your bus online in Cambodia is on BookMeBus (we used it too book all our buses and ferries).
It shows you where you will get picked up and dropped off by the bus, and you can easily book / pay with a non-Cambodian card too. You'll receive a mobile ticket which the companies all accept, so you don't have to print it out.
Find up-to-date timetables and tickets or Phnom Penh to Siem Reap buses here.
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Private Taxi from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap
The most convenient!
If you're a couple or family that wants to travel in greater comfort than the buses, but avoid the hassles of getting to/from the airport, then a door-to-door private transfer to Siem Reap is a viable option. It also offers up a more reliable travel time of 5-6 hours in comparison to the buses.
There are several private transfer operators available to reserve and pay for in advance online, with prices ranging $75 - 120 for the whole car (it's usually an SUV). We've included them below so you can easily read the reviews and book:
Sam's Taxi Service | $75 | Book here
Private Taxi Transfer Phnom Penh to Siem Reap | $121 | Book here
CamboTicket Transfer Phnom Penh to Siem Reap | $75 | Book here
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Phnom Penh to Siem Reap Flight
The quickest option!
We much prefer to travel slowly overland within a destination, but for those who are in Cambodia for a shorter time and looking to see as much as possible, then a flight from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap is a very attractive option.
Flight time between the two is only around 50 minutes, and competition between several local airlines keeps prices quite low at around $50 - $75 per person one-way. However, this does of course also make flying, quite rightly, the most expensive way to get from Siem Reap to Phnom Penh and vice-versa.
There are several daily departures, but aggregator websites like momondo and Skyscanner won't show you them. Instead, it's much better to look + book directly on the airlines' own websites:
Cambodia Angkor Air | JC Airlines | LanMei Airlines
It's really important to factor in your travel time by taxi or tuk-tuk to Phnom Penh Airport (PHN) and from Siem Reap Airport (REP) to the the town centre, as well as check-in, security, and wait times. This all ends up extending the Siem Reap to Phnom Penh flight option to around 4-5 hours total, so your time savings relative to the bus aren't actually that significant.
If you do fly, then you can either take a tuk-tuk or taxi from the airport to Siem Reap, or book your own private transfer from Siem Reap International Airport to your accommodation (click here for options and prices).
