Most visitors to Cambodia come for the temples of Angkor near Siem Reap and add Phnom Penh, the riverside towns of Kampot and Kep, or the islands off the south coast such as Koh Rong. Coverage is good in the cities, around the main temples and along the national highways. Cambodia is not part of the EU's Roam Like at Home area, and European plans tend to charge a daily fee for roaming there.
Key facts for Cambodia
- EU roaming: not covered by Roam Like at Home
- Local networks: Metfone, Cellcard, Smart (depending on the plan)
- Emergency numbers: police 117; fire 118; ambulance 119
- Embassies: in Phnom Penh
Before you fly
Travellers arriving by air fill in the e-Arrival card on the official website or app up to seven days before landing; it replaces the paper immigration, health and customs forms. If you need a visa, apply on the government's official e-Visa site or get one on arrival, and steer clear of look-alike sites that add fees.
Siem Reap and Angkor
The signal is good across Siem Reap and at the main Angkor temples, which makes ride apps such as Grab and PassApp handy for getting between them. The Angkor Pass is sold at the official ticket centre and online through Angkor Enterprise; carry it at all times, because it is checked at the temples. Start early to beat the midday heat and the crowds.
Phnom Penh
In the capital, order tuk-tuks through Grab or PassApp to avoid haggling over fares. Hold your phone firmly and away from the roadside, as bags and phones are often snatched by thieves on passing motorbikes.
The Thai border and landmines
After fighting in 2025, the UK and other governments advise against all but essential travel within 20 kilometres of the land border with Thailand, and the land crossings between the two countries remain suspended, so plan to fly between them. Some temples near the border, such as Preah Vihear, are closed. In the countryside of the north-west, stay on marked paths: landmines and unexploded ordnance remain.
Kampot, Kep and the islands
Kampot and Kep have good coverage. On Koh Rong and Koh Rong Samloem, the signal is decent in the main villages and fades on the remoter beaches, so download what you need before taking the ferry.
Money
US dollars circulate alongside the riel almost everywhere, and most cash machines dispense dollars, with small change given back in riel. Bring clean, undamaged notes, because torn ones are often refused.
Getting connected
A travel eSIM is set up before you fly and starts with its first connection in Cambodia, so Grab and your maps work as soon as you land. Your usual number keeps receiving texts and bank codes. Combining Cambodia with Vietnam, Laos or Thailand? An Asia plan covers all of them.
Cambodian prepaid SIMs from Metfone, Cellcard or Smart are sold at the airports and in phone shops, and you need your passport to register one.
Consular protection: who to call in Cambodia
- 117 for the police, 118 for the fire service and 119 for an ambulance. Operators may speak only Khmer, so ask your hotel or a local to make the call if you can.
- Embassies are in Phnom Penh. The Telcomia app shows yours, with address and phone.
- If you are an EU citizen and your country has no embassy or consulate in Cambodia, the embassy of any other EU country must help you on the same terms as its own nationals (Article 23 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU).
Questions travellers ask about Cambodia
Does my EU plan work in Cambodia?
No. Cambodia is outside Roam Like at Home, so check your operator's daily rate first.
Can I travel overland between Thailand and Cambodia?
Not at the moment: the land crossings are suspended, so fly instead.
Which networks does a Telcomia eSIM use in Cambodia?
Metfone on most plans, and Cellcard or Smart on others, with 4G where available.
Do I need the e-Arrival card?
Yes, if you arrive by air; fill it in online up to seven days before you land.
The short version
Fill in the e-Arrival card and install the eSIM before you fly, bring clean dollar notes, use ride apps in the cities, keep away from the Thai border area, and save 117 and 119.
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