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Things to Do in Phnompenh in December
December weather, activities, events & insider tips
Shoulder Season · Good Value
December Weather in Phnompenh
Temperature, rainfall and humidity at a glance
87°F (30°C)
High Temp
71°F (21°C)
Low Temp
1.3 inches (33 mm)
Rainfall
70%
Humidity
Is December Right for You?
Weigh the advantages and considerations before booking
Advantages
- + Cool dry-season mornings drop to 71°F/22°C, turning riverside jogging along Sisowath Quay into pure pleasure at 6 AM, a luxury impossible in April's 95°F furnace.
- + Hotel rates sit at shoulder-season pricing 30-40% below peak January rates, with same-week booking still possible at riverside properties that demand 60-day advance in January.
- + Street-side coconut stands shift from lukewarm to refreshingly cool - the difference between December's humidity and April's oppressive heat transforms a 50-cent roadside drink into real relief.
- + Phnom Penh's night markets (Russian Market closes at 5 PM, but riverside food stalls open until midnight) operate in comfortable evening temperatures minus the steam-room effect of other months.
Considerations
- − December kicks off high-season tourist traffic - Riverside and BKK1 restaurants that sat half-empty in October now demand 30-minute waits at dinner.
- − UV index hits 8 even in 'winter' - you'll burn faster than expected, during midday temple visits at places like Wat Phnom where shade runs scarce.
- − Hotel availability tightens rapidly after December 15th as expats book rooms for visiting families, pushing prices toward peak rates by Christmas week.
Year-Round Climate
How December 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 December
Top things to do during your visit
December in Phnom Penh flips a switch. The monsoon mud dries to dust, the sky turns cobalt, and locals reclaim the streets. Afternoon heat still punches. But evenings along Sisowath Quay cool enough for open-air card games and beer stalls. You will feel the shift within hours of landing. Stay near Sisowath Quay. Colonial hotels with ceiling fans or glass towers with rooftop pools, both put you within five minutes of coffee, the palace, and the river breeze. December air is clear, the stories are not, and that tension is what makes Phnom Penh worth the sweat.
Phnom Penh: The Killing Fields & Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum
culturalChoeung Ek and Tuol Sleng are not sights. They are confrontations. Bone shards glint under your shoes at the Killing Fields while the audio guide keeps its steady, awful count. Later, in the former school turned prison, mug shots stare from cracked walls.
The circuit takes half a day and costs a moderate fee.
Insider tip: Go early, before 8 a.m., when dew still softens the paths.
This month: Start at Choeung Ek, ride back to Tuol Sleng, then sit alone with the story.
Phnom Penh: Silk Island Bike Tour / E-Bike or Tuk Tuk
adventureKoh Dach, Silk Island, lies 20 minutes and one rusty ferry from the capital. Wooden looms clack inside stilt houses. Mulberry leaves pile like green snow for the worms.
Half a day of flat dirt lanes, betel nut shade, and scarves sliding through fingers is enough.
Insider tip: Rent an e-bike for 4 USD if the sun feels cruel.
Phnom Penh: Royal Palace, S21, Killing Fields & More Tour
culturalRoyal Palace at 8 a.m., Silver Pagoda's marble under your socks, then the brutal pivot to Tuol Sleng and Choeung Ek by lunch.
The contrast is the point.
Insider tip: Cover shoulders and knees; a scarf solves it.
Where to Stay in Phnompenh in December
Hand-picked hotels across price tiers for December travellers.
December Events & Festivals
What's happening during your visit
Early December (if November rains delay the festival)
Water Festival (Bon Om Touk)
Usually happens late November but sometimes extends into early December - riverside becomes a three-day party with dragon boat races, nighttime fireworks, and food stalls stretching from Royal Palace to Japanese Bridge. The illuminated boats reflecting off the Mekong create the best photos of the year. But book accommodation 3-4 weeks ahead as Cambodians flood into Phnom Penh for the celebration.
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
Riverside restaurants on Sisowath Quay switch to 'high season menus' mid-December - same dishes but 20% pricier, eat early in month for shoulder-season rates
The Russian Market (Tuol Tom Poung) has better souvenir deals December 1-15 before Christmas markup hits - same silk scarves, different pricing strategy
Come December, Phnom Penh's expat bakeries roll out proper Christmas stollen and mince pies, make a beeline for Street 240 if you crave surprisingly authentic European pastries.
Local tip: between 6-8 AM in December you'll still catch real monks collecting alms along Norodom Boulevard. By 9 AM the tourist photo ops have vanished.
Avoid These Mistakes
Don't be fooled by the word "cool." December still clocks 87°F (31°C) and stays humid, just less punishing than April. Pack for hot weather, not a European winter.
Booking flights for Christmas week without checking Phnom Penh hotel availability is risky: the city swells with expats' families and prices jump.
Cramming the Royal Palace, National Museum, and Tuol Sleng into one day is a mistake. December's weather lets you linger longer. Yet each site deserves its own morning.
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