How to Get from Siem Reap to Phnom Penh (Safely and Without Breaking the Bank)
So, you’ve already explored the temples of Angkor Wat, dodged monkeys, and eaten your weight in lok lak – so now it’s time to swap Siem Reap’s laid back vibes for the chaos and historical sites of Phnom Penh. Whether you’re heading to the capital to catch a flight home, explore the Killing Fields, or just continue on your Cambodia adventure, you’ve got plenty of options for getting there.
Phnom Penh, the Cambodian capital city, is a fantastic place filled with some great cultural attractions, impressive nightlife and endless places to do some mid-travels shopping.
Here’s a quick rundown of how to travel from Siem Reap to Phnom Penh regardless of what your budget is – or how boujee you’re feeling.
🚌 Buses: Budget Friendly & Surprisingly Comfortable
Taking the bus between Siem Reap and Phnom Penh is the most popular (and cheapest) option, and with good reason. It’s budget friendly, straightforward, and there are some solid companies that won’t leave you regretting your life choices. Buses in Cambodia, and Southeast Asia in general still have a pretty bad reputation, but in reality they’ve come leaps and bounds in the past few years and you can get a pretty luxurious travel experience for very little money.
When we talk about buses, we’re talking about the large coach-style buses that run through most major cities in Cambodia and can be booked through several different bus companies. The Siem Reap to Phnom Penh bus (and the opposite) is probably the most popular bus route in Cambodia, so there’s plenty of choices.
With a bus journey you’ll also get some great views of the Cambodian countryside, especially if you’re travelling during the green (rainy) season. The picture below is from one of the rest stops we took on our bus journey to the capital in November of 2024.
Giant Ibis
It makes sense to start with the fan favourite. Giant Ibis is pretty much the gold standard of Cambodian bus travel. Their big air-conditioned buses come with WiFi (when it works), onboard power sockets, and free snacks and water. The seats are comfy and there’s even a toilet onboard on most buses which, trust me, is a big plus on a six hour ride – especially if you don’t have the biggest bladder or you don’t fancy using the public toilets at the rest stops.
The Giant Ibis bus route from Siem Reap to Phnom Penh has been running for a long time, so they know what they’re doing.
The drivers are well trained and drive responsibly, the staff speak English, and safety is a priority, which is why it’s a top choice for tourists. Going back a few years, when some other bus companies had a pretty bad reputation, Giant Ibis was always the go-to option for people looking for a safe and comfortable ride, even if it did cost a little bit extra.
- Duration: Around 6 – 6.5 hours from Siem Reap to Phnom Penh depending on time of day and traffic conditions.
- Cost: Roughly $15 – $18, prices can vary through booking dates and where you book
- Perks: Toilet onboard, good customer service, reliable schedule
- Booking: Online at GiantIbis.com or 12Go Asia (A really great site for any transport bookings in Southeast Asia), at the Giant Ibis offices, or through any reputable travel agent.
Vireak Buntham
Hear us out! In the past, maybe this company didn’t have the greatest reputation in the world, and online reviews may be a bit off-putting. However, in recent years, Vireak Buntham has done an incredible job of turning things around, and are now one of the best bus companies for getting around Cambodia. Their Siem Reap to Phnom Penh route is great, with new, comfortable buses and a much much higher standard of safety and customer service than they became known for.
The VET Airbus, their premium bus option, is one of our favourite ways of getting from Siem Reap to Phnom Penh, and vice versa. The seats are comfortable, they provide clean drinking water and they stop at decent rest stops if you want to grab some snacks or use the toilets without being overcharged for stuff.
Vireak Buntham offers both daytime and night buses, and they’ve got a bigger network if you’re planning to travel beyond Phnom Penh. Some of their buses are sleeper-style with lie flat beds which are great if you’re travelling overnight and want to save on accommodation. Some of the newer buses in their fleet do also have toilet for the Siem Reap to Phnom Penh route.
That said, you’ll see the online reviews are mixed. They’re not quite as polished as Giant Ibis, but given how much they’ve improved and the service they now provide, we really do think they’re worth using.
- Duration: 6 to 7 hours
- Cost: Around $12 – $15
- Perks: Night bus options, more frequent departures, comfortable new buses
- Booking: Through the VB app or website, at any reputable travel agent, or online at 12Go Asia
Larryta: The New Kid on the Block
Larryta (sometimes stylised as “Laryta”) is one of the newer transport companies in Cambodia, and they’re quickly gaining a reputation for being modern, clean, and well organised. They offer luxury minivans with leather seats, and limited passenger numbers so you’re not crammed in like sardines. The buses are smaller, but they get you there a bit quicker and the ticket prices are a bit lower too.
If you’re departing from Siem Reap to Phnom Penh, their buses leave from their depot out on Road 6, around a 10 minute tuktuk from Pub Street, so bare in mind this will add a couple of dollars to your costs.
If you’re looking for a ride that feels a bit more “first class” without spending too much, Larryta is definitely worth checking out. They’re popular among locals and expats alike for good reason. We’ve used Larryta bus a few times and have always been happy with the service.
- Duration: Around 5.5 to 6 hours
- Cost: $10 – $14
- Perks: Fewer passengers, new vehicles, comfy leather seats
- Booking: Online (larrytabus.com) or through any decent travel agent. As always, you can also book through 12GO Asia, a reputable booking site for all types of transport around Southeast Asia.
Click HERE to visit the 12Go Asia website.
🌙 Day Bus vs Night Bus: Which One Should You Take?
Choosing between a day bus and a night bus for your journey from Siem Reap to Phnom Penh depends on your travel style. Day buses are great if you want to enjoy the Cambodian countryside, stop for scenic rest breaks, and arrive with your sanity intact. You’ll see more and generally have a comfier, more relaxed trip.
Night buses, on the other hand, will save you the cost of a night’s accommodation and can help you maximise your time – which is perfect if you’re travelling on a budget – but they’re not always the most restful experience. Sleeper buses like those from Vireak Buntham offer some fairly decent lie flat beds, but the roads can be bumpy, and not everyone sleeps well on the move.
If comfort and experience are your priorities, stick with day travel. If you’re on a tight budget or schedule, the night bus can work well – just don’t expect luxury level sleep.
🚐 Local Minivans: Cheap, Fast, and a Bit of an Adventure
If you’re after the “I’ll just hop in and hope for the best” Cambodian experience, local minivans might be your thing. These are often used by locals, depart more frequently, and are usually cheaper than the bigger bus companies. Locals often use these buses for getting from Siem Reap to Phnom Penh because they’re cheaper and usually faster (though i’ll let you decide whether or not that’s a good thing).
The downsides? Speeding, questionable overtaking, overpacked vans, and a general disregard for personal space. But hey, it’s authentic. If you don’t mind a slightly chaotic ride and want to save a few bucks, it’s an option. Local buses from Siem Reap to Phnom Penh will generally run you around $8 – $10. You’ll save some money, but you may end up with a live chicken pecking at your feet – though maybe that’s your thing.
To book these types of buses (booking not always required) speak to any travel agent that looks a bit rundown, ask your favourite tutkuk driver, or speak to your hotel reception and tell them what you’re after. They’ll either book it for you or point you in the direction of one of the many places these buses depart from.
- Duration: 5 to 6 hours (sometimes less, depending on your driver’s mood or how many red bulls they’ve had)
- Cost: $8 – $10 from Siem Reap to Phnom Penh
- Booking: Travel agents, roadside signs, or hotel desks – usually cash only
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🚖 Private Taxi: Door-to-Door Comfort
If you’ve got a group, loads of luggage, or just want to travel in peace and air-conditioned silence, a private taxi might be worth the splurge. We will often book a private taxi when we’re heading from Siem Reap to Phnom Penh during the day and carrying a lot of bags, or we’re heading back to Siem Reap and we’ve done a bit too much shopping in the capital. You can book one through most hotels or online, and they’ll pick you up at your door and drop you off wherever you want in Phnom Penh.
Drivers often advertise their services in online Facebook groups as well, so if you’re in any Cambodia expat or travel groups, keep your eye on those and save the numbers when you see them. There’s also a pretty good website we’ve used before, Cambodia-Taxi.com – they offer all types of vehicle and routes. Asking any travel agent or tour guide will also yield lots of numbers for taxi drivers, but we do recommend using a driver who comes with recommendations.
You’ll usually get a choice between car types and the normal options are a smaller car (Toyota Camry style), an SUV (usually a Lexus or similar), or a small minivan type vehicle (which will obviously cost a fair bit more, but you can fit more people in to split the cost with). For an SUV trip from Siem Reap to Phnom Penh – or Phnom Penh to Siem Reap, expect to pay roughly $70-85.
The door to door service is the best part about getting private taxis in Cambodia. No need to worry about getting to bus stations or wondering how far away from your hotel you’re going to get dropped off. Although the cost is a lot higher than a bus ticket at face value, if there’s 2 or 3 of you splitting the cost, it’s pretty reasonable.
Drivers are usually pretty flexible, and the ride can be quicker than a bus, depending on traffic. It’s nice to run on your own schedule, which means you can arrange your pickup for a time that suits you, and the drivers will stop at your request whenever you feel like you need a stretch or a toilet break.
- Duration: Around 5 hours
- Cost: $65 – $130 for the whole car or minivan (split between 3-4 people, it’s not bad)
- Perks: Door to door service, flexible departure and stop times, comfortable ride
- Booking: Hotels, ride apps (like Grab or PassApp), online platforms or through asking your tour guides!
🚗 Self-Drive Cars: Not Advised, But We Aren’t The Boss Of You
Yes, you can rent a car in Siem Reap and drive yourself – but unless you’re really comfortable with Cambodian traffic and have the patience of a monk, it’s not worth the stress. Road rules are more like suggestions here, and between surprise potholes and random livestock, it’s not exactly a relaxing Sunday drive.
The journey between Siem Reap and Phnom Penh is not for the faint hearted, and unless you’re comfortable being overtaken by very large vehicles going very fast, this is a pretty terrible choice.
There are international car rental companies operating in Siem Reap and Phnom Penh, such as Avis and Europcar, but they seem to frequently change their minds as to whether or not you can pick up in one city and drop off in another. Combine this, with the high cost of renting the car, and the stress of making the journey, and the added risk, you’re much much much better off just getting a private taxi with a driver.
Still, if you’re confident behind the wheel and really, really, want to do things on your own it’s doable. However, let us clarify again, we do not recommend this, and it’s a pretty terrible option.
- Cost: Around $60–$140/day for a rental
- Note: You’ll need a valid license and an international driving permit, and really – really – good insurance
✈️ Flying: Quick(ish) but Not the Most Scenic
Flying from Siem Reap to Phnom Penh takes about 45 minutes in the air – which sounds quick! – but factor in airport transfers, security, and waiting around, and you’re not saving that much time overall. Still, if you enjoy flying and aren’t super comfortable with road travel in Southeast Asia, it’s definitely an option.
Now that the Siem Reap airport is a 45-60 minute journey from Siem Reap centre, and Phnom Penh’s soon-to-open airport also moving further away from the city centre, you won’t really save much time by flying.
For example, flying from Siem Reap to Phnom Penh involves;
– 45-60 minutes to SAI Airport
– 2 hours in the aiport before your flight including security, boarding, waiting etc
– 45 minute flight time
– 30 minutes getting off the plane and out of the Phnom Penh airport
– 30-45 minutes getting to your hotel depending on traffic
Which is roughly 5 hours. A taxi journey will often take the same amount of time, without all the added stress and likely at a lower cost.
Air Cambodia and a few other regional airlines run this route, and ticket prices vary depending on the season, date and departure time.
- Journey time: 45 minutes flight, roughly 4.5-5 hours overall journey
- Cost: $50 – $150 one way, depending on airline, season, route and departure date
- Airlines: Air Cambodia, Vietnam airlines, etc.
- Booking: Directly with airlines or via sites like Skyscanner
So, what’s the best way to get from Siem Reap to Phnom Penh?
If you’re after comfort and reliability, Giant Ibis or Vireak Buntham buses are your best bets. If you’re feeling budget conscious but still want a nice journey then try Larryta Bus. If you want plenty of flexibility or want to travel with a group we’d say go for a private taxi. And if you’re feeling fancy, flying is always on the table.
Whichever way you choose, the journey from Siem Reap to Phnom Penh has become pretty comfortable an easy over the past few years, and there’s plenty of options available to you.
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