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Things to Do in Phnompenh in November
November weather, activities, events & insider tips
Low Season · Budget Friendly
November Weather in Phnompenh
Temperature, rainfall and humidity at a glance
87°F (31°C)
High Temp
73°F (23°C)
Low Temp
4.7 inches (119 mm)
Rainfall
70%
Humidity
Is November Right for You?
Weigh the advantages and considerations before booking
Advantages
- + Come late rainy season the Mekong and Tonle Sap are swollen and swift, good for sunset boat trips that slide across liquid bronze, with far fewer tour boats jostling for the same view.
- + Hotel rates drop 30- 40% from peak season, and you'll find rooms free at riverside properties that demand 60-day advance bookings from December through March.
- + November's afternoon storms scrub the air for 30, 45 minutes, leaving the city scented with wet frangipani and diesel, Phnom Penh's trademark perfume that vanishes once the dry months set in.
- + Markets brim with seasonal harvest: pomelos the size of softballs, dragonfruit that tastes like fruit instead of water, and morning glory so crisp it cracks when vendors knot it into bundles.
Considerations
- − Humidity locks at 70% and refuses to shift, you'll feel it on the climb to Wat Phnom, where stone steps stay slick with condensation even when skies stay dry.
- − Thunder rolls in between 2, 5 PM on 60% of afternoons, cutting temple visits short and forcing riverside cafés to drop their plastic curtains.
- − King tides push river water over the quay. The stroll from Night Market to Sisowath Quay can mean ankle-deep soup of river mud and motor oil.
Year-Round Climate
How November 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 November
Top things to do during your visit
Phnom Penh in November hits the sweet spot between monsoon mud and peak-season crush. Rainfall halves from October's 251 mm to a tolerable 80 mm, most of it quick afternoon bursts that leave the air smelling of wet earth and frangipani. Locals haul mattresses outside, monks glide past in sunlit saffron, and colonial walls glow white again. Riverside cafés refill slowly; December's tour-bus stampede hasn't arrived yet. Days run hot, 31 °C by noon, but after 5 p.m. the mercury slips to 24 °C and the riverfront turns into an open-air living room. No festivals clog the calendar, so the show is the sky itself: bruised clouds, sudden gold light on the Royal Palace spires, then a clean star-drunk night.
Phnom Penh: The Killing Fields & Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum
culturalGravel crunches under your shoes while silent pits still hold rainwater. Schoolroom tiles at Tuol Sleng echo only your own steps. You will leave understanding exactly how the Khmer Rouge reshaped every layer of modern Cambodia.
It is the definitive historical encounter for understanding modern Cambodia.
Insider tip: Arrive at 8 a.m.; you'll share the fields with birds, not buses, and the cool air keeps the experience bearable.
Phnom Penh: Silk Island Bike Tour / E-Bike or Tuk Tuk
adventureStarts with a ten-minute ferry across the brown Mekong. Suddenly you're weaving past stilt houses, loom-clack drifting from open workshops, banana shade flickering over your handlebars. Weavers still tie centuries-old ikat patterns while kids chase chickens in the dust.
It provides a close-up view of a centuries-old craft within a working rural community just minutes from the capital.
Insider tip: Grab the e-bike if you're heat-shy; the boost flattens the island's short climbs and lets you watch silk being dyed instead of watching your heart rate.
This month: The drier paths in November are more navigable by bicycle compared to the deep mud of the wetter months.
Phnom Penh: Royal Palace, S21, Killing Fields & More Tour
culturalThis single-day loop nails the city's extremes. Morning light bounces off the Silver Pagoda's mirror-tiled columns and 5 000 silver floor tiles. By lunch you're staring at Tuol Sleng's rusted bed frames. The contrast is deliberate, jarring, necessary.
It condenses the pinnacle of royal grandeur and the depths of historical tragedy into a single, well-organized day.
Insider tip: Shoulders and knees must be covered at the Royal Palace. Tuck a light scarf in your bag or guards will send you back to your hotel.
Where to Stay in Phnompenh in November
Hand-picked hotels across price tiers for November travellers.
November Events & Festivals
What's happening during your visit
Early November
Water Festival (Bon Om Touk)
When the Tonle Sap reverses flow, Phnom Penh throws its biggest party: boat races, concerts, fireworks. The quay becomes a three-night camp-out under string lights, with families grilling bananas wrapped in sticky rice. 2026 dates aren't out, but expect early November.
November 9
Independence Day
November 9 marks Cambodia's 1953 break from France. Military parades roll down Norodom Boulevard while traditional dancers perform in front of the Independence Monument, floodlit all night. Locals picnic on the traffic circle grass, an only-in-Cambodia take on national pride.
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
The promenade between Street 178 and 144 goes under water at king tides, locals detour one block inland while tourists scramble for dry shoes and puzzled tuk-tuk drivers.
November's afternoon storms hand photographers the city's finest light show, Royal Palace's golden spires cutting through purple storm clouds, a scene that happens far more often than most shooters expect
Street 13's food vendors pivot to harvest fare in November, track down pumpkin custard ladled straight from actual pumpkin shells, a treat that vanishes once the season ends
The Russian Market's covered corridors run 5-7 degrees cooler than the street outside, sharp shoppers plan their hunt around the 2-5 PM storm window
Avoid These Mistakes
Packing outdoor activities into the 2-5 PM slot when storms roll in, locals simply shift to indoor spots or stretch lunch through these hours
Thinking November equals dry season, the city still collects 4.7 inches of rain over 10 days, delivered in theatrical bursts that send outdoor diners running
Locking riverfront rooms without checking tide charts, king tides plus storms can swamp ground-floor spaces along Sisowath Quay
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