Phnom Penh 3 Day Itinerary (No Tourist Trap)
Three days is our 2-day itinerary (Palace, National Museum, the memorial sites, Russian Market) plus a third day that rounds out the city center: Central Market, Wat Ounalom, Independence Monument and a sunset river cruise. It’s still not a day-trip itinerary, that’s what our 4-day itinerary and longer plans are for.
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 |
| 3 | Central Market, Wat Ounalom, Independence Monument, sunset cruise, Night Market | ~$25-40 |
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.
- A Mekong sunset cruise is worth booking ahead for a 5pm departure rather than showing up at the dock.
- Check Phnom Penh hotel rates in Riverside or BKK1.
Day 1: the Palace, the Museum and the riverside
Morning: Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda, about $10, morning session; cover shoulders and knees or you won’t get in.
Afternoon: National Museum of Cambodia, about $10 (no photos in the galleries), then Wat Phnom, $1, for the legend behind the city’s name.
Evening: Sisowath Quay at sunset, then dinner at Friends (215 Street 13) or Romdeng, both social-enterprise restaurants training at-risk youth.
Tip: agree tuk-tuk fares before you get in, or use PassApp or Grab to skip it entirely. Plan ahead: check whether tomorrow’s memorial visit needs an earlier start, both sites open by 8am and are far better before the midday heat.
Day 2: Tuol Sleng, Choeung Ek and Russian Market
Morning: Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum (S-21), about $5 plus $5 for the audio guide (11 languages, worth it), 8am-5pm. This former Khmer Rouge prison held an estimated 14,000-20,000 people, almost all killed. Give it your full attention.
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 Tuol Sleng first, then Choeung Ek, the 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.
Tip: bring crisp, clean USD bills, torn or pre-2006 notes get refused everywhere. Plan ahead: tonight, get to bed early enough for a full Day 3.
Day 3: Central Market, temples, and a sunset on the river
Morning: Central Market (Phsar Thmei), the 1937 Art Deco building with its bright-yellow 26-metre dome, then Wat Ounalom, Cambodia’s Buddhist headquarters, free or by donation, riverside near the Palace.
Afternoon: Independence Monument, Vann Molyvann’s 1958 lotus-shaped stupa, a five-minute photo stop. Rest at a riverside cafe before the evening.
Evening: A Mekong sunset cruise (roughly 1-1.5 hours, around 5pm) for the confluence from the water. If it’s Friday through Sunday, close the night at the riverside Night Market for food stalls and a last cheap dinner.
Tip: book the cruise for a 5pm departure so you catch the light, not full dark. Plan ahead: if you’re flying out of Techo International tomorrow, budget 45-75 minutes for the transfer.
Is 3 days enough for Phnom Penh?
Three days is the sweet spot most first-timers land on: the full walkable core, both memorial sites given proper time, and no rushing. It’s not enough for a real day trip without cutting something else short, Koh Dach and Oudong both deserve their own day. If you want one, see our 4-day itinerary , or our Phnom Penh guide for the full rundown.