Phnom Penh · Month comparison

February vs November

November ranks #1 overall vs February at #4. Best all-round month: dry season re-establishes, Water Festival peaks if not in October, city at full energy.

Phnom Penh February — colonial architecture and street scene in dry season sunshine

February

#4 of 12 months

Best match

Near-perfect dry season continues — the driest month of the year with 8.5 sunshine hours daily.

  • ↑February records only 10mm of rain — the driest month in Phnom Penh's calendar, making Killing Fields and S-21 visits fully reliable without rain disruption
  • ↑Chinese New Year brings additional festive energy to Phnom Penh's Cambodian-Chinese community — street celebrations and temple activity add to the city atmosphere
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
FactorFebruaryNovember
Weather score
8
8
Value score
6
7
Crowd score
6
6
Events score
6
9
Atmosphere
8
8
Avg high temp33°C31°C
Monthly rain10mm90mm
Daily sunshine8.5hrs7.5hrs

February trade-offs

  • ↓Peak tourist season with prices still elevated from the post-Water Festival high — independent guesthouses fill faster than in the wet season
  • ↓Heat builds toward 33°C by afternoon — midday outdoor sightseeing at the Killing Fields of Choeung Ek requires careful timing

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 →February in detail →November in detail →
Scores compare months within Phnom Penh. Climate data: Open Meteo ERA5 30-year normals (1991–2020). Methodology →