How to Get from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap: Bus, Flight, or Ferry for Americans
Three ways to cover the 195 miles between Cambodia’s capital and Angkor Wat: a $15 express bus, a 45-minute flight, or a slow river ferry. Here is what each one actually costs an American traveler, how long it takes, and which one fits your trip.
What is the best way to get from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap?
For most American travelers the express bus is the best value — about 6 hours for $12-18 USD on the upgraded expressway, departing hourly from central Phnom Penh. If your time is tight or you have an early temple sunrise planned, fly: it is 45 minutes in the air for $60-90 USD one-way into Siem Reap-Angkor International (SAI). The river ferry is the scenic option (5-7 hours, $25-35 USD) but only runs reliably during the wet season when the Tonle Sap lake is high. All three are fully domestic — once you have entered Cambodia at the airport, you do not need a second visa, a border crossing, or a new e-Arrival Card to travel between the two cities.
نکات کلیدی
- The express bus is the default: roughly 6 hours door-to-door for $12-18 USD, departing hourly from central Phnom Penh on a newly upgraded expressway.
- The domestic flight is 45 minutes in the air, $60-90 USD one-way, and lands at Siem Reap-Angkor International (SAI), about 40 minutes from the temples.
- The river ferry to Siem Reap is scenic and slow (5-7 hours, $25-35 USD) and only runs reliably in the wet season when the Tonle Sap is high.
- Your Cambodia eVisa and entry are sorted at the airport on arrival — moving between Phnom Penh and Siem Reap is fully domestic, so no second visa, no border, no new e-Arrival Card.
- Book the eVisa and e-Arrival Card before you fly to Cambodia: Tourist eVisa $80 USD all-in, approved in 3 business days, and a $5 USD verified e-Arrival Card submitted within 7 days before arrival.
Why this route matters for your Cambodia trip in 2026
- Sort the eVisa first
Apply for the Tourist eVisa ($80 USD all-in, approved in 3 business days) once your dates are firm, then keep the printable PDF on your phone.
- File the e-Arrival Card
Complete the $5 USD verified e-Arrival Card (14 fields) within 7 days before you fly into Cambodia — once, for your international entry.
- Enter at the airport
Clear immigration on arrival with your eVisa; after that the Phnom Penh to Siem Reap leg is fully domestic, with no second visa or new e-Arrival Card.
- Pick your mode
Choose the express bus (~6 hours, $12-18 USD), the domestic flight (45 minutes in air, $60-90 USD), or the wet-season river ferry (5-7 hours, $25-35 USD).
- Book and travel
Reserve online or pay cash USD at the office or counter, carry your passport for ID, and ride the 195 miles between the two cities.
The express bus: cheapest and the local default
What you actually get for the price
The domestic flight: fastest, lands at SAI
سوالات متداول
How long does it take to get from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap?
By express bus it is about 6 hours door-to-door on the upgraded expressway. By air it is 45 minutes in the cabin, or roughly 2.5 hours once you add getting to the airport, check-in, and the transfer at the far end. By river ferry it is 5 to 7 hours, and only when the boat is actually sailing in the wet season.
How much does the bus from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap cost?
Between $12 and $18 USD for a standard air-conditioned express coach, depending on the operator and the seat class. Premium operators with extra legroom run a couple of dollars more, and overnight sleeper buses are in a similar range. You can pay by card online or in cash USD at the bus office.
Is it worth flying from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap?
It is worth it if your trip is short or you have an early Angkor sunrise and cannot afford to lose a half-day on the road. Fares run $60-90 USD one-way booked ahead. If you have time and are watching the budget, the bus delivers the same destination for a quarter of the price and only costs you a few extra hours.
Which airport do I fly into for Siem Reap?
Siem Reap-Angkor International (SAI), which opened in 2023 and sits about 40 minutes from the temple district and the town center. On the Phnom Penh side, domestic flights now depart from Techo International Airport (KTI), the new field that replaced the old PNH airport in September 2025.
Does the Tonle Sap ferry to Siem Reap still run?
Yes, but only reliably in the wet season and the high-water months that follow — roughly July into early February. In the dry season the lake level drops and the service is unreliable or suspended. Confirm with your hotel that the boat is actually sailing before you buy a ticket, especially around March to June.
Do I need a separate visa to travel from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap?
No. Both cities are inside Cambodia, so the trip between them is fully domestic. You enter Cambodia once at the airport using your eVisa, and after that you move freely between cities with no second visa, no border crossing, and no new e-Arrival Card for the internal leg.
Do I need a new e-Arrival Card for the domestic flight?
No. The e-Arrival Card is tied to your international arrival into Cambodia, not to domestic travel. You complete it once, within 7 days before you fly into the country. A Phnom Penh to Siem Reap flight is a domestic hop and needs nothing more than your boarding pass and ID.
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