Phnom Penh · Month comparison

August vs November

November ranks #1 overall vs August at #11. Best all-round month: dry season re-establishes, Water Festival peaks if not in October, city at full energy.

Phnom Penh August — overcast monsoon sky above the city skyline as the wet season reaches its peak

August

#11 of 12 months

Worth considering

Heavy monsoon continues — 180mm and 83% humidity; only for travellers who plan around the rain.

  • ↑Cheapest month for accommodation — riverside hotels and BKK1 guesthouses are available without advance booking at significantly reduced rates
  • ↑Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum and the National Museum of Cambodia are climate-controlled and excellent in any weather; August is a fine month for Phnom Penh's indoor culture
Phnom Penh November — city skyline with the clock tower at dusk as the dry season returns to Cambodia's capital

November

#1 of 12 months

Best match

Best all-round month: dry season re-establishes, Water Festival peaks if not in October, city at full energy.

  • ↑Bon Om Touk (Water Festival) can fall in November depending on the lunar calendar — if so, the riverside boat races, illuminated floats, and fireworks over the Royal Palace are unmissable; the most spectacular event in Phnom Penh's year
  • ↑Dry season is re-establishing rapidly: 90mm of rain with 7.5 sunshine hours daily; the Royal Palace, Silver Pagoda, and Killing Fields memorial are all fully enjoyable again
FactorAugustNovember
Weather score
3
8
Value score
8
7
Crowd score
9
6
Events score
4
9
Atmosphere
5
8
Avg high temp32°C31°C
Monthly rain180mm90mm
Daily sunshine5hrs7.5hrs

August trade-offs

  • ↓180mm of rain — the wettest of the core monsoon months; the city's drainage struggles with sustained heavy rain, and low-lying areas flood temporarily after downpours
  • ↓The heat and humidity combination (32°C / 83%) is Phnom Penh at its most oppressive; even short outdoor walks require strategic rest in air-conditioned spaces
  • ↓Pchum Ben ancestor festival preparations are underway but the main event falls in September; August has no major events to anchor a visit

November trade-offs

  • ↓If the Water Festival falls in November, hotel prices spike significantly for the festival weekend — early booking essential
  • ↓Tourist season rebuilding from the wet-season low: accommodation prices rising from October budget levels; advance planning increasingly necessary
See all 12 months for Phnom Penh →August in detail →November in detail →
Scores compare months within Phnom Penh. Climate data: Open Meteo ERA5 30-year normals (1991–2020). Methodology →