Phnom Penh · Month comparison

November vs January

November ranks #1 overall vs January at #2. Best all-round month: dry season re-establishes, Water Festival peaks if not in October, city at full energy.

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
Phnom Penh January — Cambodia flag at the riverside promenade near the Royal Palace in dry season

January

#2 of 12 months

Best match

Peak dry season: 31°C, near-zero rain, and the Royal Palace at its most accessible.

  • ↑Only 15mm of rain all month — the Royal Palace, Silver Pagoda, and National Museum are all fully enjoyable outdoors without rain contingency
  • ↑Cool by Cambodian standards at 31°C with pleasant evenings on Sisowath Quay; the riverside promenade is at its most comfortable for walking
FactorNovemberJanuary
Weather score
8
9
Value score
7
6
Crowd score
6
6
Events score
9
7
Atmosphere
8
8
Avg high temp31°C31°C
Monthly rain90mm15mm
Daily sunshine7.5hrs8hrs

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

January trade-offs

  • ↓International tourist season in full swing: popular sites and Sisowath Quay restaurants are busier than the wet-season months
  • ↓Hotel prices are 25–35% above wet-season rates — advance booking essential for riverside and central properties
See all 12 months for Phnom Penh →November in detail →January in detail →
Scores compare months within Phnom Penh. Climate data: Open Meteo ERA5 30-year normals (1991–2020). Methodology →