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Things to Do in Phnompenh in April
April weather, activities, events & insider tips
Low Season · Budget Friendly
April Weather in Phnompenh
Temperature, rainfall and humidity at a glance
95°F (35°C)
High Temp
77°F (25°C)
Low Temp
3.1 inches (79 mm)
Rainfall
70%
Humidity
Is April Right for You?
Weigh the advantages and considerations before booking
Advantages
- + April is shoulder season. Room rates at riverside hotels in Phnompenh drop 25-30% from December highs, and the poolside chaises at Raffles Le Royal have towels on them instead of German tourists.
- + Khmer New Year (Chaul Chnam Thmey) lands in mid-April: entire streets along the riverside turn into open-air dance floors, water fights include monks and tuk-tuk drivers alike, and the smell of grilled banana-leaf parcels of amok drifts through the night air.
- + Mekong River levels are still high enough for sunset boat trips to the floating villages at Kampong Phluk without the engine-scraping shallows you'll hit in June.
- + Street food vendors set up tarps for shade, which means you can watch the charcoal smoke curl around duck eggs and banana fritters without melting, temperatures top out at 35°C (95°F) but the brief afternoon storms scrub the air clean.
Considerations
- − Power cuts spike in April. The grid struggles when every guesthouse air-con unit in Phnompenh kicks in at 6 p.m., carry a pocket torch and expect the occasional 30-minute blackout at restaurants along Street 240.
- − Dust storms roll in from the Tonlé Sap floodplain, coating café tables on Street 308 with a fine red film that tastes like rust when you sip your iced coffee.
- − UV index hits 8; the noon sun along the riverside promenade feels like standing under a hair-dryer, and the concrete around Wat Phnom radiates heat until after sunset.
Year-Round Climate
How April compares to the rest of the year
| Month | High | Low | Rainfall |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 31°C | 21°C | 0.5 inches (13 mm) |
| Feb | 33°C | 22°C | 0.3 inches (8 mm) |
| Mar | 34°C | 24°C | 1.4 inches (36 mm) |
| Apr | 35°C | 25°C | 3.1 inches (79 mm) |
| May | 34°C | 25°C | 4.7 inches (119 mm) |
| Jun | 33°C | 24°C | 5.7 inches (145 mm) |
| Jul | 32°C | 24°C | 6.4 inches (163 mm) |
| Aug | 32°C | 24°C | 7.2 inches (183 mm) |
| Sep | 32°C | 24°C | 10.7 inches (272 mm) |
| Oct | 31°C | 24°C | 9.8 inches (249 mm) |
| Nov | 31°C | 23°C | 4.7 inches (119 mm) |
| Dec | 30°C | 21°C | 1.3 inches (33 mm) |
Best Activities in April
Top things to do during your visit
April in Phnompenh flips a switch. The dry season ends. The air smells of wet earth and distant thunder growls every afternoon. Heat shimmers on asphalt; a sudden downpour sluices dust from the frangipani. Locals shift gears, doing anything outdoors before the humidity spikes. No big festivals land this month. Yet markets and the riverfront keep moving, scents of street food and muddy Tonle Sap braided together.
Phnom Penh: The Killing Fields & Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum
culturalYou will stand among trees while the audio guide slips personal histories into your ear and birds chirp overhead. Heavy, yes; unavoidable.
these places give the context guidebooks skip, the raw stories that shaped modern Cambodia.
Insider tip: Arrive when the gate opens. Cooler, quieter.
Phnom Penh: Silk Island Bike Tour / E-Bike or Tuk Tuk
adventureyanks you out of traffic and across the river to Koh Dach. Wooden looms clack in open workshops. Banana trees shade dirt paths. Artisans dunk silk into bright dye vats. Coconuts wait at roadside stalls.
you feel a living craft village, minutes from downtown chaos.
Insider tip: Choose the e-bike in April. The motor blunts midday heat.
Phnom Penh: Royal Palace, S21, Killing Fields & More Tour
culturalStart at the Royal Palace, where the Emerald Buddha glints and marble cools your feet. End at Tuol Sleng's bleak corridors. Monarchy to tragedy in a single arc.
it links royal and modern history fast, good for tight schedules.
Insider tip: Check the Palace schedule the night before. Royal or religious events can shut sections without warning.
Where to Stay in Phnompenh in April
Hand-picked hotels across price tiers for April travellers.
April Events & Festivals
What's happening during your visit
Mid April
Chaul Chnam Thmey (Khmer New Year)
The entire country shuts down for three days of water fights, traditional games, and family reunions. In Phnompenh, the riverside between Street 178 and Street 136 becomes a pedestrian zone where DJs blast Khmer pop from pickup trucks and monks bless passing scooters. Expect to get soaked. Carrying electronics in dry bags is non-negotiable.
Packing Checklist
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Climate-specific gear, brand recommendations, and what to leave at home.
View Phnompenh Packing List →Essential Tips
Insider knowledge and common pitfalls to avoid
Insider Knowledge
Street 240's boutique shops offer end-of-season sales right after Khmer New Year. Silk scarves drop to local prices for 48 hours.
Grab drivers expect cash in April, credit-card promotions paused during the holiday week. Always confirm riel or USD before you set off.
The Russian Market's food court gets a new wave of vendors after New Year. Grilled frog and banana-flower salad stalls appear overnight.
Riverside gyms like The Place drop day-pass prices by 20% in shoulder season; air-conditioning and cold towels included, good for a midday cooldown.
Avoid These Mistakes
Planning temple visits at noon, Wat Phnom's stone steps hit 45°C (113°F) in direct sun and shoes become ovens.
Don't kid yourself about New Year transport chaos, buses to Siem Reap are gone four days in advance, and tuk-tuk drivers hike rates the moment you step inside the city center.
Pack anything but plastic sandals, shards from New Year parties carpet the streets for a solid week, and cheap flip-flops disintegrate within hours.
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