Phnom Penh · Month comparison

May vs November

November ranks #1 overall vs May at #8. Best all-round month: dry season re-establishes, Water Festival peaks if not in October, city at full energy.

Phnom Penh May — motorbike navigating rain-slicked streets as the wet season begins in the Cambodian capital

May

#8 of 12 months

Worth considering

Wet season begins: 155mm of rain and the tourist infrastructure quietens — for budget travellers only.

  • ↑Hotels drop 30–40% from peak season rates; even riverfront properties become genuinely affordable — a budget window for experiencing the city at its most Cambodian
  • ↑The city operates almost entirely for locals — street food markets, tuk-tuks, and the Phsar Thmei (Central Market) are authentic rather than tourist-facing
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
FactorMayNovember
Weather score
3
8
Value score
8
7
Crowd score
8
6
Events score
5
9
Atmosphere
6
8
Avg high temp34°C31°C
Monthly rain155mm90mm
Daily sunshine6hrs7.5hrs

May trade-offs

  • ↓155mm of rain — just over the hard threshold; heavy afternoon downpours are daily events; outdoor attractions including the Killing Fields require weatherproof preparation
  • ↓Tuol Sleng Museum's outdoor courtyard areas and the Silver Pagoda become genuinely difficult to visit during downpours
  • ↓Humidity at 78% makes the heat feel heavier than the thermometer suggests — 34°C with daily rain feels considerably more oppressive than dry-season heat

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