Cambodia
Use local ride apps, official entry portals, and current border advice
Check current travel advice before fixing any overland route.
The essentials
What to know before you go to Cambodia
As of this review, all Cambodia-Thailand land border crossings are closed, armed conflict has affected the border region, and several governments advise against travel within 50 kilometres of that border. Never enter remote ground or leave marked paths around former conflict areas because landmines and unexploded ordnance remain a risk. Air arrivals must submit Cambodia e-Arrival free of charge within the seven days before arrival; a visa is separate, and eligibility depends on the passport, so use only arrival.gov.kh and evisa.gov.kh. Cambodia uses Khmer riel alongside US dollars.
Carry clean riel and some clean US notes, expect change in riel, inspect high-value notes, and keep a physical card as another option. Grab and PassApp are the practical ride apps, but PassApp may need a working phone number and cash or KHQR is the safest payment fallback. At Phnom Penh's Techo International Airport, use the official Airport Express bus, licensed counters, or an in-app Grab or PassApp pickup. Road travel is risky, especially at night.
Protect phones and bags from snatch theft in open tuk-tuks. Save 117 for police, 118 for fire and 119 for ambulance, while recognizing that English and emergency response can be limited outside Phnom Penh.
Ride Hailing
GrabEssential
The easiest all-round ride app for upfront car, tuk-tuk and other live options across many Cambodian cities.
PassAppEssential
Cambodia's major local ride app for tuk-tuks, rickshaws and cars in Phnom Penh and several tourist cities.
Food Delivery
Payments
Bakong Tourists
The National Bank of Cambodia's visitor wallet for funding a balance and paying participating merchants by KHQR.
Messaging
WhatsAppEssential
The most useful first messenger for hotels, drivers, guides, tour operators and airport pickup coordination.
Telegram
A widely used Cambodian communication channel for local businesses, groups and some official information sources.
Transit
City Bus Official App
The Phnom Penh City Bus Authority's current app for routes, stops and live bus locations.
Travel & Booking
Cambodia eVisaEssential
The official Ministry of Foreign Affairs website for checking eligibility and applying for a Cambodian eVisa.
Cambodia e-ArrivalEssential
The free official arrival declaration required within seven days before entry through Cambodia's international airports.
Angkor-Pass
Angkor Enterprise's official service for buying 1, 3 or 7 day Angkor Archaeological Park admission.
Language
Google TranslateEssential
The most practical Khmer translation tool for downloaded text, camera and basic conversation support.
Intercity Transport
BookMeBusEssential
Cambodia's local marketplace for comparing and booking buses, vans, ferries and selected private transfers.
redBus
A second current marketplace with broad Cambodian bus and ferry inventory and international card payment.
Utilities
Cambodia Tourist Police
The official contact directory for tourist police units plus Cambodia's police, fire and ambulance numbers.
Internet in Cambodia
Mobile internet eSIM Best option when traveling
Guac
RecommendedReliable mobile internet at better prices than most travel eSIMs, with polished iOS and Android apps and support for making and receiving phone calls.
Airalo
One of the biggest travel eSIM brands, with a very large destination catalog.
Holafly
Known for unlimited-data plans in many destinations, at a higher price per gigabyte.
Buying a local SIM card ID registration required
- Bring your passport; the seller registers the prepaid SIM during activation.
- Typical prepaid offers include around 30 GB, while starter prices begin near $5.
- Buy at an official carrier counter at the airport or at an official city store, and test the SIM before leaving.
Internet access or device rules can change quickly; check current restrictions before relying on a local SIM.
Local carriers
Smart Axiata
Strong in major cities, with weaker rural coverage.
Metfone
Best choice for broad coverage, including rural areas.
Cellcard
A solid alternative; compare current prepaid offers before buying.
Yes Seatel
The weakest network here; choose it only for a clear price advantage.
Frequently asked questions
What are the must-have apps for traveling in Cambodia?
The essential apps for Cambodia are Grab, PassApp, Foodpanda, WhatsApp, Google Maps.
How many travel apps does Cambodia have?
We've curated 17 apps across 10 categories for traveling in Cambodia, including 10 essential apps.
What is the best ride hailing app in Cambodia?
Grab. The easiest all-round ride app for upfront car, tuk-tuk and other live options across many Cambodian cities.
Keep exploring
Also traveling in Southeast Asia?
Laos
Compare rides by city, keep Lao kip, and expect the official railway app to be fallible
Myanmar
Check official warnings, plan every route, and keep cash and offline backups
Malaysia
Use Grab widely, treat Touch 'n Go card and eWallet as separate tools, and verify every terminal
Philippines
Register eTravel, keep pesos, and download maps before moving between islands
Singapore
Fast, English-friendly travel where cards work widely, but local QR still needs care
Thailand
Grab for rides, LINE for local contact, and official rail tools for longer journeys