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How many days in Phnom Penh? 3 days of palaces, hard history and the Mekong
By Tony Panopoulos · travel-agency planner in Greece · Updated
Phnom Penh sits where the Mekong meets the Tonle Sap river, and it holds both the grace of the Khmer monarchy and the darkest chapter of Cambodia's history. Give it three days: one for the palace, the museum and the riverfront, one for the Khmer Rouge sites, which are hard but essential to understand the country, and one for markets, a sunset boat and Silk Island across the river. Most visitors then continue to Siem Reap and Angkor.
Short answer
Two days covers the Royal Palace, the National Museum, Tuol Sleng and Choeung Ek. The third day adds the markets, Koh Dach and a slower evening on the river.
The 3-day plan, day by day
Day 1: The Royal Palace, the National Museum and the riverfront
Morning. Arrive at the Royal Palace at opening time (about US$10; closes for a midday break). The Throne Hall and the Silver Pagoda, named for its floor of more than 5,000 silver tiles, sit in gardens with spired pavilions. Cover shoulders and knees; you can buy a sarong or T-shirt at the entrance.
Afternoon. Walk 5 minutes to the red National Museum (about US$10), with the world's finest collection of Khmer sculpture, including Angkor-era statues of Vishnu and the Buddha. Then walk north along Sisowath Quay, the riverfront promenade, to Wat Phnom (about US$1), the hill temple that gave the city its name.
Evening. Take a sunset cruise on the Tonle Sap and Mekong (about US$5-20, 1-2 hours) from the quay near the palace, then eat fish amok, a coconut fish curry steamed in banana leaf, for US$5-9.
The Cambodian Living Arts performances of classical dance in the evening, often held at the National Museum, are worth booking (about US$15-25; check current schedule).
Day 2: Tuol Sleng and Choeung Ek
Morning. Visit the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum (S-21) (about US$5-10 with the audio guide), a former high school turned into a Khmer Rouge prison, where thousands of people were held and tortured between 1975 and 1979. The rooms of portraits are very hard to see. Allow 2-3 hours, and use the audio guide.
Afternoon. Take a tuk-tuk about 15 km (30-45 minutes; about US$15-20 return with waiting) to Choeung Ek, the best-known of the killing fields (about US$6 with the audio guide). A memorial stupa holds thousands of skulls; the audio guide includes survivors' voices. Allow 1.5-2 hours.
Evening. Have a quiet evening. The Independence Monument, built in 1958 in the shape of a lotus, is lit up at night, and the park around it fills with families and people exercising.
Many visitors find it easier to do Choeung Ek first and Tuol Sleng second, or to split them over two mornings. Bring water and dress respectfully at both.
Day 3: Markets, Silk Island and Bassac Lane
Morning. Go to the Russian Market (Psar Toul Tom Poung) early, before the heat builds under its tin roof: silk scarves, wood carvings, spare motorbike parts and a food section with noodle soup for US$2-3. Then take a tuk-tuk to the Central Market (Psar Thmei), a yellow Art Deco dome built in the 1930s.
Afternoon. Cross the river to Koh Dach, known as Silk Island, about 15 km north-east (45-60 minutes by tuk-tuk and a short ferry, or by boat tour). Visit weaving households and the sleepy villages; ask before photographing inside homes.
Evening. Have drinks on Bassac Lane, a small alley of bars in the BKK area, or in a rooftop bar on the riverfront, then dinner of beef lok lak or num banh chok (rice noodles with green fish curry).
Bargain at the markets, but stay polite: start at about half the first price and settle around 60-70%.
Only have 2 days?
With 2 days, combine the palace and the museum with the riverfront on Day 1, and the Khmer Rouge sites with the Russian Market on Day 2. You lose Silk Island.
Got extra days?
A 4th day can go to Oudong, the old royal capital about 40 km north with hilltop stupas, or to Tonle Bati and Phnom Chisor temples to the south. Onward, buses and flights reach Siem Reap for Angkor (about 6 hours by bus or 45 minutes by air), and Kampot and Kep on the coast in about 3-4 hours.
Where to stay in Phnom Penh
| Budget | Area | Why | Typical double/night |
|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | Riverside / around Wat Phnom | Guesthouses and hostels, near the bus companies. | US$15-30 |
| Mid-range | BKK1 | Leafy streets, cafés and restaurants, close to the palace and museums. | US$40-90 |
| Mid-range | Riverside (Sisowath Quay) | River views, walk to the palace and the night market. | US$40-80 |
| Comfort | Heritage and high-rise hotels near the palace | Colonial-era hotels or towers with rooftop pools. | US$120-300 |
Getting around
Use tuk-tuks and remorks booked by app (PassApp or Grab) to avoid haggling; most rides within the centre cost US$1.50-4. Short walks are fine in the early morning, but pavements are often blocked by parked motorbikes. Phnom Penh's new Techo International Airport opened in 2025, south of the city; allow roughly 45-75 minutes to the centre depending on traffic, and check current airport bus and taxi options. Buses to Siem Reap, Kampot, Ho Chi Minh City and Bangkok leave from company offices around the centre.
What to eat in Phnom Penh
Khmer food is less fiery than Thai and full of herbs and fish sauce. Try fish amok, beef lok lak with a pepper-lime dip, num banh chok for breakfast, kuy teav pork noodle soup and bai sach chrouk (grilled pork with rice) from street stalls in the morning for US$2-3. Kampot pepper appears in many dishes. Restaurants run by training charities serve good food and help young people into work. A street meal costs US$2-4; a restaurant main US$5-12; a cocktail US$4-7.
Best time to visit
November to February is the dry, cooler season, with highs of about 30-32°C. March to May is very hot, often 35-38°C. The wet season (June to October) brings afternoon storms and some flooded streets but greener countryside and lower prices. Khmer New Year in mid-April and Pchum Ben (September or October) empty the city as people go home.
What a day costs
| Budget | Mid-range | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bed (per person, sharing a double) | US$12 | US$35 | US$100 |
| Food & drink | US$12 | US$25 | US$60 |
| Sights & tickets | US$8 | US$15 | US$30 |
| Local transport | US$4 | US$10 | US$25 |
| Total per person, per day | about US$36 | about US$85 | about US$215 |
Approximate 2026 prices in US dollars, which are used everywhere alongside the Cambodian riel (about 4,000 riel to US$1, used for change under a dollar). Hotels may add VAT and a small accommodation tax.
Before you go
Common questions
Is it appropriate to visit the killing fields as a tourist?
Yes, if you go with respect. Cambodians generally want visitors to learn what happened under the Khmer Rouge between 1975 and 1979. Dress modestly, speak quietly, do not climb on the mass graves and avoid selfies. Use the audio guides at Tuol Sleng and Choeung Ek, which tell the story through survivors' voices.
Do I need riel in Phnom Penh?
Not much. Prices are often in US dollars, and ATMs give dollars. Small change below a dollar comes in riel, at about 4,000 riel to the dollar. Bring clean, untorn US banknotes, as damaged notes are often refused. Cards work in hotels and better restaurants; markets and tuk-tuks prefer cash or QR payments.
Is Phnom Penh safe?
Mostly, but bag snatching from motorbikes is a known problem. Keep your phone and bag on the side away from the road, especially in tuk-tuks, and do not hold your phone out at night. Use app-booked tuk-tuks after dark. Traffic is the bigger daily risk: cross slowly and steadily.
How do I get from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap?
By bus or minivan in about 6 hours, with several companies leaving through the day for US$10-15, or by flight in about 45 minutes. Some travellers take a boat on the Tonle Sap in the wet season, but services are irregular. Book a day ahead in high season.
How this guide was made
Compiled by TonyPlan from official tourism, transport and attraction sources and on-the-ground travel knowledge. Prices are approximate for 2026 and change with season; anything we could not confirm is marked as approximate.
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