Phnom Penh: 4-Day Itinerary

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Four days covers Phnom Penh’s core plus one genuine day trip, enough to see the city properly without padding. Land at Techo International Airport (KTI), 25-30km south, opened September 2025; book the transfer through PassApp or Grab.

Day 1: The Palace and the Museum

Check into a Riverside or Daun Penh base so Sisowath Quay is walkable; Raffles Hotel Le Royal anchors the area if you want the historic option. Morning: the Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda, open 7:30-11am, about $10, dress code enforced, shoulders and knees covered. Afternoon: the National Museum of Cambodia, about $10, daily 8am-5pm. Evening: walk Sisowath Quay at sunset, dinner riverside.

Concrete tip for the day: book your Palace visit for the morning session specifically, it closes midday and the afternoon window is shorter.

Day 2: Wat Phnom, Wat Ounalom and the markets

Morning: Wat Phnom (about $1), then the quieter Wat Ounalom nearby. Afternoon: Central Market (Phsar Thmei) for the Art Deco dome and food stalls, or the Russian Market for better souvenir prices if you’re ready to bargain. Lunch at Friends, the TREE Alliance restaurant on Street 13. Evening: the Independence Monument at dusk, then a relaxed dinner.

Concrete tip for the day: bring small bills to the Russian Market, vendors rarely have change for a large note and the first quote is always negotiable.

Day 3: Tuol Sleng and Choeung Ek

This day is deliberately heavier. Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum (S-21), about $5 plus a $5 audio guide worth adding, open 8am-5pm, comes first. From there, Choeung Ek, about 15km south (30-45 minutes by tuk-tuk), about $6 including its audio guide, open 7:30am-5:30pm. Budget three to four hours total, and don’t schedule anything cheerful directly after. Evening: keep it quiet, a low-key dinner rather than nightlife.

Concrete tip for the day: visit both sites back to back rather than splitting them across days, the history connects and dragging the weight across separate days doesn’t make either easier.

Day 4: Koh Dach (Silk Island) and departure

Morning: a short crossing plus a ferry gets you to Koh Dach, a rural stretch of the Mekong with silk-weaving villages and quiet cycling lanes, about 30-45 minutes from downtown. Afternoon: return to the city, check out with time to spare, and confirm your Techo Airport transfer, budget real buffer given the 25-30km distance.

Concrete tip for the day: don’t book a tight afternoon flight on your Koh Dach day, the return crossing plus city traffic eats more time than the map suggests.

Things to know

  • Most visitors need an e-visa (about $36 via evisa.gov.kh) or visa on arrival (about $30), plus the mandatory e-Arrival Card at arrival.gov.kh, filed within 7 days before landing.
  • Carry crisp US dollar bills, torn or worn notes are refused at ticket counters and shops.
  • Hold bags away from the road on tuk-tuk rides, motorbike bag-snatching along the riverfront and BKK1 is a real, documented risk.

For a longer trip with a second day trip added, see our 5-day itinerary , and for the full sightseeing list, our things to do in Phnom Penh guide.