Phnom Penh · Month comparison

July vs November

November ranks #1 overall vs July at #10. Best all-round month: dry season re-establishes, Water Festival peaks if not in October, city at full energy.

Phnom Penh July — the city in wet season with the Mekong swollen and overcast skies over the capital

July

#10 of 12 months

Worth considering

Wet season continues — 165mm of rain; only worthwhile as a budget base for travellers unfazed by daily downpours.

  • ↑Budget accommodation at its best — Phnom Penh in July offers some of the best value of any Southeast Asian capital; guesthouses and boutique hotels are priced for backpackers
  • ↑Phsar Thmei (Central Market) and Phsar O'Russei operate at full local intensity with no tourist markup; street food at its most authentic
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
FactorJulyNovember
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 rain165mm90mm
Daily sunshine5hrs7.5hrs

July trade-offs

  • ↓165mm of rain: heavy daily downpours; the Killing Fields outdoor memorial requires long stretches between the 17 mass grave sites — challenging without dry periods
  • ↓The Tonlé Sap's flood season is fully underway; the riverside area floods occasionally and the promenade can be muddy after sustained rain
  • ↓Photography conditions are poor — overcast skies dominate and golden-hour light at the Royal Palace is rare

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