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3 Days in Phnom Penh: Itinerary 2026
Start your first day in the central Riverside area, where most major sights are within walking distance. Plan to visit the Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda in the morning, then expβ¦ πΊοΈ Day 1 Overview
Start your first day in the central Riverside area, where most major sights are within walking distance. Plan to visit the Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda in the morning, then explore the National Museum of Cambodia in the afternoon. End your day with a sunset stroll along Sisowath Quay.
ποΈ Royal Palace & Silver Pagoda
The Royal Palace opens daily from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, with the Silver Pagoda located on the same grounds. Admission is 40,000 riel (about $10) and includes an audio guide. Allow at least two hours to see the throne hall, the Emerald Buddha, and the intricate murals.
πΊ National Museum of Cambodia
Located just north of the Royal Palace, the museum houses the world's finest collection of Khmer sculpture. It is open from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM daily, with an entry fee of $10. Spend about 90 minutes here before heading to a nearby cafΓ© for lunch.
π Lunch & Riverside Relaxation
For lunch, try Friends the Restaurant (Street 13, near the National Museum), which supports local youth training. A meal costs around $8-$12. Afterward, walk along the Tonle Sap River or relax at the nearby Wat Phnom park.
π Day 2: Tuol Sleng & Killing Fields
Day two focuses on Cambodia's tragic history. Take a tuk-tuk (about $8-$10 round trip) from central Phnom Penh to Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum (S-21), open 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, entry $5. Then continue to the Choeung Ek Killing Fields, 15 km south, open 7:30 AM to 5:30 PM, entry $6. Allow at least three hours for both sites.
π² Local Dinner in BKK1
After a heavy day, head to the Boeung Keng Kang 1 (BKK1) neighborhood for dinner. Try Malis Restaurant (Street 57) for upscale Cambodian cuisine, with mains around $15-$25. Alternatively, the street food stalls along Street 308 offer cheap and tasty lok lak or amok.
ποΈ Day 3: Markets & Departure
On your last day, visit the Central Market (Phsar Thmei), a striking Art Deco building open 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Then head to the Russian Market (Tuol Tom Poung) for souvenirs and antiques, open 6:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Both are best visited in the morning to avoid heat and crowds.
π Getting Around Phnom Penh
Tuk-tuks are the most common transport; short rides within central districts cost $2-$4, while longer trips to the Killing Fields run $15-$20 round trip. For airport transfers, use a ride-hailing app like Grab or PassApp for a fixed price of about $8-$12. Traffic can be heavy during peak hours, so plan extra time.
solid plan, covers the main spots without overloading it. one thing I'd tweak is day 1 lunch - Friends is fine but if you want something more lowkey, walk over to Street 240 and grab a seat at the little khmer noodle shop called Sam's. it's a hole in the wall, no sign in english, but the kuy teav there is like $1.50 and they make the broth fresh every morning. way more authentic than the tourist spots.
for day 2, after the killing fields you'll prob want a drink. instead of heading straight back to bkk1, tell your tuk tuk driver to stop at a place called The Riverhouse on the way back. it's on the riverside near the night market, they do a good $2 draft beer and the balcony overlooks the tonle sap. nice spot to just sit and process everything before dinner.
one thing the guide missed - the royal palace audio guide is kinda dry. if you can, grab a guide at the entrance for like $5 extra, they tell way better stories and point out details you'd miss on your own. also, the silver pagoda floor is actual silver tiles, but they're covered in carpet now to protect them, so don't expect to see them gleaming.
honestly this is a solid plan, you've got the big stuff covered. one thing i'd swap is day 3 markets - Central Market is cool for the building but the Russian Market has way better food stalls and less touristy stuff. i always grab a bowl of num banh chok from the lady near the back corner, it's like $1.50 and way better than anything in the restaurants.
for day 1, if you've got energy after the museum, walk five minutes to Wat Phnom. it's small but the hill gives you a nice view over the river, and there's usually a few monkeys hanging around. entry is like $1 and it's a chill break from the crowds.
one thing the guide missed - download PassApp before you come. tuk tuks on the street will quote you double, but PassApp gives you a fixed price. also grab a sim card at the airport, Smart has a 7-day data plan for like $3, makes everything easier.
really solid itinerary, covers all the essentials. one thing I'd add is to hit the Central Market early, like 7am when it opens. the crowds are way thinner and the vendors are still setting up so you can haggle a bit better on souvenirs. also the jewelry section in the dome is less chaotic then.
for day 2, after the Killing Fields you'll prob be emotionally drained. I always tell people to grab a fresh coconut at the little stalls right outside the exit before your tuk tuk comes back. it's like $1 and it's weirdly grounding after that place.
one small thing about Friends the Restaurant - it's great but it can get packed around noon. if you're flexible, I'd suggest walking a couple blocks north to a place called Khema Pasteur. it's a French-Cambodian bakery with amazing croissants and a quiet courtyard. prices are similar and the coffee is better imo.
phnom penh transit tips for a trip in 5 months?
grab is the safe bet when you land since you don't have to haggle, but passapp is usually a buck or two cheaper once you're settled. street tuk tuks are fine too, just agree on the price before you get in, and know that anything under 2km should be around 8000 to 12000 riel. airport to riverside or dauns penh area runs about 8 to 12 usd depending on traffic, the official taxi counter inside is fixed price if you want zero stress. one thing nobody mentions, the tuk tuk apps surge hard when it rains so build in buffer time if you've got a flight.
passapp is cheaper but the app interface is clunky and half the drivers call you to confirm in khmer, which is rough if you dont speak it. honestly for a first trip just use grab, the extra dollar is worth not dealing with that. one thing tho, if your hotel is down a small alley in Daun Penh some drivers will stop at the main road and make you walk, so drop a pin at a landmark instead of the exact address. also the airport train to the city just opened and its like 2.50 usd if you want to skip traffic entirely, runs every 30 min or so
Worth knowing that the tuk tuk apps need a local SIM or data to work properly, so sort that out at the airport before you leave the terminal. Smart and Cellcard counters are right in arrivals and a tourist SIM with a few gigs runs about 5 dollars. PassApp only takes cash in riel so keep small notes on you, the drivers rarely have change for a 20. If you're staying around BKK1 or Tonle Bassraat most trips stay under 15 minutes anyway, so honestly the difference between apps is a few hundred riel, not worth stressing over.