Landing in Cambodia: Get Online at Phnom Penh and Siem Reap Airports

If your Cambodia eSIM is installed before the flight, you are online seconds after switching off airplane mode — in time to message your hotel, book a Grab or find your driver. That matters more in Cambodia than in many countries, because the main airports are now well outside town: Phnom Penh’s Techo International Airport is about 20 km south of the city, and Siem Reap–Angkor International Airport is roughly 40–50 km east of Siem Reap.

Before you fly

• Install the eSIM at home on Wi-Fi, set it as your mobile-data line and turn on data roaming for that line. The complete Cambodia eSIM guide walks through each step.
• Fill in the Cambodia e-Arrival card. This online form combines the immigration, customs and health declarations and is completed within the seven days before you arrive. It is free on the official government site, arrival.gov.kh, and in its app; look-alike sites charge fees for the same form. Save the QR code it gives you as a screenshot.
• Check your visa. Depending on your passport you may need a visa, available on arrival at the international airports or in advance as an e-Visa from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Your passport should be valid for at least six months.
• Set up Grab at home while your home SIM can receive the verification text. PassApp has typically asked for a Cambodian (+855) number at sign-up, which a data-only eSIM does not provide — try it with your home number before you leave rather than at the curb.
• Save your accommodation as a map pin, along with its Telegram or WhatsApp contact. Pins work better than addresses with many drivers.

The moment you land

1. Turn off airplane mode.
2. Check that the eSIM is selected for mobile data and that data roaming is on for the eSIM line.
3. Wait a moment for Metfone or Cellcard to appear. If nothing happens, switch airplane mode on and off once, or choose one of the two networks manually.

Techo and Siem Reap–Angkor airports both offer free Wi-Fi in the terminal, a useful backup while you troubleshoot. You will also see mobile operator counters in the arrivals hall; with your eSIM working you can walk straight past them. Keep your passport and the e-Arrival QR code ready for immigration.

Phnom Penh — Techo International Airport (KTI)

Techo International Airport replaced the old Phnom Penh International Airport (PNH) on 9 September 2025, and all commercial flights to the capital now use it. Older blog posts that describe a short tuk-tuk ride into town refer to the old airport. KTI sits about 20 km south of central Phnom Penh; plan on 45–60 minutes by road, and longer in rush-hour traffic.

• Official taxi counters in the arrivals hall arrange rides into the city; confirm the fare at the counter before you set off.
• Grab, PassApp and WowNow are listed by the airport for app-based rides. Pickup arrangements at a new airport can change, so keep your data on and message the driver in the app to agree on a meeting point.
• The airport express bus, run by the city bus company, links the airport with central Phnom Penh from early morning until late evening. It costs very little but stops along the way, so allow up to two hours.
• Hotel pickups are common. Drivers usually confirm by WhatsApp or Telegram, so reply as soon as you are connected.

Siem Reap — Siem Reap–Angkor International Airport (SAI)

Siem Reap–Angkor International Airport opened in October 2023 and replaced the old airport on the edge of town. It lies roughly 40–50 km east of Siem Reap, so allow about an hour on the road.

• The airport shuttle bus runs to central Siem Reap on a timetable rather than meeting every flight; check the next departure at the counter.
• The official taxi counter in arrivals arranges cars into town at posted prices.
• Grab and PassApp operate in Siem Reap. Over this distance a car is more comfortable than a tuk-tuk, especially with luggage or in the midday heat.
• Hotel and guesthouse transfers are widely offered and usually arranged by message, which is one more reason to land with working data.

Starting the temples next morning? You can buy your Angkor Pass online that evening — our Angkor Wat and Siem Reap guide explains the official channels and sunrise timing.

Sihanoukville — Sihanouk International Airport (KOS)

Sihanouk International Airport is about 20 km east of Sihanoukville, on the edge of Ream National Park. Taxis and pre-booked transfers are the usual way into town and to the ferry piers for Koh Rong and Koh Rong Sanloem, and Grab and PassApp operate in Sihanoukville itself.

If you are heading straight to the islands, check ferry times before you land and message your island accommodation while you still have strong signal. Download offline maps of the islands too: signal on Koh Rong and Koh Rong Sanloem is usually best around the main villages and piers, and weak or absent on remote beaches.

Arriving overland or by boat

Not everyone flies in. From Vietnam, buses between Ho Chi Minh City and Phnom Penh cross at Bavet–Moc Bai, and speedboats run up the Mekong from Chau Doc to Phnom Penh. Check the entry rules for your crossing point before you travel.

• A Cambodia-only plan starts once your phone connects to Metfone or Cellcard on the Cambodian side. Before that, your phone may still see Vietnamese networks, which a Cambodia-only plan cannot use.
• If you want data on both sides of the border, a multi-country plan such as Asia (7 areas) or South East Asia (8 areas) covers Cambodia and Vietnam on one eSIM.
• Thailand’s land crossings with Cambodia, including Poipet–Aranyaprathet, were closed in 2025 and were still closed in 2026 when this guide was written. Check the current status, or fly from Bangkok to Phnom Penh or Siem Reap.

Compare Cambodia-only and multi-country options on our Cambodia eSIM plans list, and see the essential apps guide for the ride, map and messaging apps to set up before you leave. If your eSIM still refuses to connect after landing, contact us with your order email; we reply within 24 hours.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to buy a SIM card at a Cambodian airport?

No. With the eSIM installed before your flight, you can skip the operator counters in arrivals and go online as soon as airplane mode is off.

How far is Techo International Airport from central Phnom Penh?

About 20 km to the south, which usually takes 45–60 minutes by road and more in heavy traffic. Official taxis, ride-hailing apps and an airport express bus serve the route.

What should I do if my eSIM does not connect after landing?

Confirm that the eSIM is your mobile-data line with data roaming turned on, then toggle airplane mode or pick Metfone or Cellcard manually. The free terminal Wi-Fi lets you reach our contact form if it still fails.