The trip between Phnom Penh and Sihanoukville is relatively painless. Here’s a round-up of the best options for 2019 (hint: we prefer private taxis) to get from Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville and vice-versa. The journey take between 4 and 7 hours. The later in the day you leave, the longer the trip will be due to traffic; around dusk it can take an hour or two just to get out of Phnom Penh.
Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville at a glance…
*Taxi: $60 4 hours, reserve online in advance
Giant Ibus bus: $15, 6 hours, buy ticket online
Mekong Express van: $12, ~5 hours, buy ticket online
Post Office van: $8, ~5 hours, buy tickets online
Compare all buses between Phnom Penh and Sihanoukville
One of our favorite Sihanoukville taxi drivers.
Taxi
Private taxis are the fastest way to get from Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville, and usually cost between $50 and $60. In high season the prices can climb even higher. Taxis can seat four people, but be warned that they don’t usually have enough room for a ton of luggage. Most of the taxis that go between Phnom Penh and Sihanoukville are Camrys, and the drivers aren’t afraid to hit the gas. Expect to get there in around 4 hours or less, although we’d advise you to keep your eyes closed. Later departures will take longer due to traffic.
You can book a taxi online in advance, and the prices are surprisingly reasonable. In fact, if you book online you can get an SUV taxi that seats five for the same price — around $60. There is also the option to book a 7- or 10-seat minivan.
We also have a few taxi recommendations in our Sihanoukville City Guide, but they will need to be booked a day in advance.
Buses, mini-buses, and express vans
Most companies running the full-size buses that go between Phnom Penh and Sihanoukville are objectively terrible: unsafe, slow, and uncomfortable. The shining exception is Giant Ibis. But a faster, more comfortable way to go between Phnom Penh and Sihanoukville, is by mini-bus or “VIP van.” The trip takes between 4 and 6 hours for vans and minibuses, and up to 7 hours for full-size buses, depending on traffic getting in and out of Phnom Penh.
Giant Ibis
Foreigner favorite bus company Giant Ibis has started running full size, 38-seat buses on the Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville route in 2019. They are noticeably better than most Cambodian bus companies, and offer seat belts, relatively safe drivers, WiFi that works occasionally and a TV that plays English-language movies. The best part is they don’t stop dozens of times to pick up and drop off passengers and always leave on time. The bus stops once along the way for snacks and a bathroom break. Tickets cost $15 and include hotel pickup.
You can book Giant Ibis tickets online in advance, which allows you to pick and reserve a seat for less than $1. Buses drop off and pick up at the Giant Ibis office and the trip takes about 6 hours.
Giant Ibis schedule
Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville: 8 a.m, 12:30 p.m.
Sihanoukville to Phnom Penh: 8:30 a.m., 3:30 p.m.
The Cambodia Post van takes bags of mail, and you, between Phnom Penh and Sihanoukville.
Cambodia Post VIP Van
The Cambodia postal service runs passenger vans between many major cities in Cambodia (don’t be surprised to see bags of mail in the back). Cambodia Post vans are great value for money, so it’s all the more surprising what a pleasant journey they offer. Drivers are safe and courteous and when the network permits it, there is WiFi on the van. Be aware that the front middle seat (A1) is extremely cramped. Tickets cost $8 per person and can be purchased online in advance for a small fee, which allows seats to be reserved in advance. They often sell out, so book early.
Cambodia Post schedule
Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville: 7:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m.
Sihanoukville to Phnom Penh: 7:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m.
Mekong Express
Mekong Express used to run a decrepit fleet of old Japanese buses between Phnom Penh and Sihanoukville, and before Giant Ibis came on the scene, they were the expat favorite. They’ve abandoned the buses and are now running “VIP Vans” decorated with decals of prancing horses. They have a good safety record and are known to drive at reasonable speeds. They have a two-tiered pricing policy; Khmers pay $10 and foreigners pay $12. You can book tickets online in advance (so you can reserve the best seat) for less than $1.
Mekong Express schedule
Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville: 7 a.m., 8 a.m., 8:30 a.m., 9:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 1:30 p.m., 3 p.m., 5:30 p.m.
Sihanoukville to Phnom Penh: 7 a.m., 8 a.m., 8:30 a.m., 9:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 1:30 p.m., 3 p.m., 5:30 p.m.
Shared taxi
Shared taxis are usually 5-seater Camrys that somehow manage to hold seven passengers plus the driver. You can get shared taxis from the southwest corner of Central Market (Psar Thmei) in Phnom Penh or at the old bus station in Sihanoukville. Seats cost around $7-10 per person. You can offer to pay extra to take the front seat, otherwise you’ll be squeezed in with three or four others in the backseat. The journey take between 3 and 3.5 hours because they drive fast.
Train
Cambodia has recently restarted their train service, and on weekends you can take the train from Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville. The trip takes about 7 hours. Learn more in our post about taking the train in Cambodia.
Going from the Phnom Penh airport to Sihanoukville
If you’d like to go from the Phnom Penh airport straight to Sihanoukville, you have a few options. The easiest is to book a taxi online, in advance. The cost is $65 for an SUV taxi, and the driver will wait for you outside with a sign and help you with your bags.
You can also take an official airport taxi, or catch a taxi outside for between $60 and $80, but you will need to negotiate. Another option is to arrange for any of the bus companies listed above to pick you up at the Park Cafe directly across from the airport. This much be arranged in advance and they will pick you up 50-60 minutes from the scheduled time of departure.
Bus tickets purchased through links in this post generate affiliate sales for us. This does not affect our reviews for specific bus companies or routes! For more about how we deal with advertising, affiliate sales, and stuff like that, you can read more here.
Great info, here. Just had a question that you may or may not have the answer…
We’ll be landing in PP and look to take a private car (three of us) to Sihanoukville. Do you know of any websites or companies I should be looking into?
That reminds me…
We’ll be staying the night in PP and leaving for Sihanoukville in the am. Do you have any hotel recommendations in PP? Also, where would we pick up the taxi to Sihanoukville?
Here are my hotel recommendations for Phnom Penh. The easiest thing to do is to book a Phnom Penh hotel and ask them to book a taxi to Sihanoukville for you (request this before you arrive and reconfirm once you arrive). It may cost a bit more, but it will save you having to find one, which can be a hassle.
Thanks for the response (I thought I had alerts set or I would have replied sooner)!
That’s a great idea however we’re no longer staying in a hotel in Phnom Penh…instead hoping to get to Sihanoukville immediately upon landing. So the search for a private car continues…if you have any insight it would be appreciated.
Book the Giant ibus on line its simple and the best buses there…. A little more but they are smaller so no gosts and chickens on board lol
This is a very good and accurate information for bus journey in Phnom Penh and Sihanoukville.
Just the price goes up and down by time and for holiday seasons the price goes up as well.
Does anyone know a taxi company from PP to take me to Saigon please???
Where is the new bus station in Sihanoukville located?
Hey Lina,
We want to go from Saigon directly to the islands next to Sihanouk with one night either on PP or in SV. What would you suggest. And which if the two islands is better?
Cheers and thanks in advance!!
I’m actually not sure, the cheapest way would be to go through Phnom Penh. However you might be able to get a taxi from the border directly to Sihanoukville. Both Koh Rong and Koh Rong Samloem are nice, but Koh Rong has more of a party scene.
Thank you for the valuable information! Do you know where one can get shared taxis from sihanoukville to phnom penh? And how does it work: we just show up and ask for it? Or do we need to book sth? Thanks! :)
The old bus station. Just get a mini-bus, it’s often cheaper and much less crowded.
Normally you can get taxis to Phnom Penh in front of Phsar leu Market in Sihanoukville, but it’s not a comfortable choice as they try to pack full. For a more comfortable taxi service you ask the your guesthouse’s owner as they may arrange for you.
I fly with air asia on 27.05.2015 to phnom penh. landing 16.20 PM. I drive with a taxi to sihanouk ville. ca. 50 US dollar. I look for one porson > than we can share the prize.
Hi
will it be a big difference between taking taking taxi at Phnom penh Penh airport and online booking to go to sihanoukville?
Can I know a reliable taxi for online booking?
Thanking you in advance
IMHO it should be possible to travel directly from Phnom Penh Airport to Sihanoukville (and vv) as the airport is on the way to Sihanoukville anyhow.
When I came by minibus from Sihanoukville, they stopped briefly at the airport to drop passengers. I would be surprised if this cannot be done with all busses. Leaving from the airport can be more tricky as you would have had to arrange for this in advance… maybe anyone here with handson experience?
Hi,
My flight arrives in Phnom Penh at 3pm. Are there any taxis or booking agencies at the airport to help me get directly Sihankouville?
Yes, but it will cost significantly more. You can also have your guesthouse in Sihanoukville book the taxi for you.