Phnom Penh Transport guide: Best ways to travel in the city

Two passApp rickshaw in Phnom Penh street — PassApp, the most popular transport application in Cambodia

With on-demand transport apps (Grab and PassApp), it's easy to get around Phnom Penh quickly and safely. Let's take a look at the different services and fares available for tourists and locals.

Two rickshaw are waiting at red lights in Phnom Penh

Walking in Phnom Penh can be difficult for many reasons.
Firstly, the heat is intense, so it's best to get out early in the morning or late in the day if you want to take a few steps.
Also, traffic is often chaotic with numerous cars and motorcycles. You'll have to force yourself to cross the road, as Cambodian vehicles are not the most gallant.
And last but not least, sidewalks are either absent or used by shopkeepers for their stalls or customer parking. Pedestrians therefore very often end up walking on the road alongside cars, which is very risky with children.

Fortunately, in Phnom Penh it's very easy to order transport for both long and short journeys. And the city is constantly upgrading its roads to improve traffic flow.

Until a metro or tramway is built, which is currently being studied by Cambodia's Ministry of Public Works and Transport (MPWT), I recommend using on-demand transport apps such as Grab and PassApp.

PassApp

PassApp is a local app, it only works in Cambodia and it's also the most popular and cheapest.
PassApp works like any other on-demand transport application. By submitting a trip request with the type of vehicle you want, you instantly see the fare and vehicles near your location. Once underway, you can view the itinerary and track your progress in real time.

With PassApp, you can choose from 4 types of vehicle: the classic car; the SUV; the tuktuk with 2 benches for up to 5 people, you're up high and the view is unobstructed; finally, the rickshaw for to 2 people, you're seated lower than the tuktuk and although the vehicle isn't totally enclosed, you have a restricted view of the sides. In all cases, be very careful with your belongings. Always place your bags in the middle, and avoid using your mobile phone if you're sitting on the edge. It's not uncommon for tourists to have their phones ripped out by scooters.

The disadvantage of PassApp is that account activation requires a local telephone number. So you'll need to buy a mobile plan. At SMART, for example, a 15 GB plan costs $1.5, valid for one week, or 60 GB plan for $6, valid for one month. This must be added $2 for the price of the SIM card ($2 more expensive at the airport).

With PassApp as with Grab, you can associate a credit card or choose to pay the driver directly in cash.
Rates range from $3 - $4 for short trips of less than 5 km to $6 - $9 if you want to cross the city (10 to 15 km).

Mobile phone operators in the Phnom Penh International Airport — Counters of mobile phone operators in the Phnom Penh International Airport

Grab

Grab is an international application very popular throughout Southeast Asia. Its advantage is the easy creation of an account, which does not require a telephone number. You can activate your account with an email.
Grab has a larger amount of drivers and vehicles than PassApp, so waiting times seem a little shorter, but fares are slightly higher.
With Grab, the journey from airport to BKK market by car cost 38,000 riels ($9.5) versus 28,000 riels ($7) with PassApp.

The Grab and PassApp applications are translated into English, French only for PassApp and several Asian languages (Chinese, Thai, Vietnamese...) on both applications.

Taxi

If you're not comfortable with mobile apps, there's always the classic cab.
However, it's important to be careful when you stop a cab on the street, as you may have to negotiate the fare. Cabs are often want to act on a fixed flare than activate the meter. A good choice is to ask your hotel or restaurant to call one for you.

A cab ride from the airport to the BKK market costs 48,000 riels ($12).

You now have all the information to get around Phnom Penh easily and safely, and enjoy the city to the full.

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