Phnom Penh 2 Day Itinerary (No Tourist Trap)
Two days is enough for Phnom Penh’s honest core: the Palace-and-museum cluster on day one, the memorial sites and Russian Market on day two. It’s not enough for day trips, and it’s not enough for Angkor Wat either, that’s a separate multi-day trip to Siem Reap, 5-6 hours away, not something to squeeze in here. Here’s the plan that doesn’t waste either day chasing sights that don’t exist in this city.
Day-by-day at a glance
| Day | Focus | Est. spend (excl. hotel) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Royal Palace, National Museum, Wat Phnom, riverside | ~$25-35 |
| 2 | Tuol Sleng, Choeung Ek, Russian Market | ~$25-35 |
Sort these before you land
- Cambodia e-Arrival Card : mandatory for every air arrival, file within 7 days of landing.
- e-visa (about $36 total) or visa on arrival (about $30); passport valid at least 6 months.
- Royal Palace dress code: shoulders and knees covered or you’re turned away, no exceptions.
- Check Phnom Penh hotel rates : Riverside puts you closest to Day 1’s sights.
Day 1: the Palace, the Museum and the riverside
Morning: Land at Techo International Airport (KTI), about 25-30km south of the city (45-75 minutes to town), or start straight from your hotel. Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda first, about $10 entry, morning session; the dress code is strict, cover shoulders and knees or you won’t get in.
Afternoon: National Museum of Cambodia, a few minutes’ walk from the Palace, about $10 (no photos in the galleries). Wat Phnom, $1, for the legend behind the city’s name and a quiet break from museum-hopping.
Evening: Walk Sisowath Quay as the sun goes down, then dinner at Friends (215 Street 13) or Romdeng, both social-enterprise restaurants training at-risk youth, a good place to spend your first Phnom Penh meal.
Tip: agree your tuk-tuk fare before you get in, every time, or use PassApp or Grab to skip the negotiation entirely. Plan ahead: if it’s a Friday-Sunday, the Night Market crowds spill into nearby restaurants, so book tonight’s table if you can.
Day 2: Tuol Sleng, Choeung Ek and Russian Market
Morning: Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum (S-21), about $5 plus $5 for the audio guide (worth it, 11 languages), 8am-5pm. This former Khmer Rouge prison held an estimated 14,000-20,000 people, almost all killed. Give it your full attention, not a rushed hour.
Midday: Choeung Ek, about 15km south (30-45 minutes by tuk-tuk), the execution and burial site for S-21 prisoners, about $6 including audio guide, 7:30am-5:30pm. The memorial stupa holds more than 5,000 skulls. Visit in this order, Tuol Sleng then Choeung Ek, the same order the history happened in, and don’t plan anything cheerful straight after.
Afternoon: Russian Market (Phsar Tuol Tom Poung) for souvenirs and silk, bargaining expected.
Evening: A final Khmer meal, fish amok if you haven’t had it yet, the coconut-fish curry steamed in banana leaf that’s the national dish.
Tip: bring crisp, clean USD bills, Cambodia refuses torn or pre-2006 notes at markets and taxis alike. Plan ahead: if you’re flying out of Techo, budget the same 45-75 minutes back to the airport that you budgeted coming in.
Is 2 days enough for Phnom Penh?
Two days genuinely covers the core sights honestly, without the padding some itineraries add. It’s not enough for a day trip, Angkor Wat is a separate Siem Reap trip and not a Phnom Penh add-on, and Koh Dach or Oudong deserve a third day rather than being rushed. If you have an extra day, see our 3-day itinerary for what to add, or our Phnom Penh guide and places overview for the bigger picture.