Phnom Penh 5 Day Itinerary (No Tourist Trap)
Five days means the city core is genuinely done by day three, so this itinerary spends the extra two on Phnom Penh’s two closest day trips: Koh Dach’s silk villages, then Oudong, the former royal capital about 40km northwest. Be honest with yourself here: if you’re craving Angkor Wat or the coast, that’s Siem Reap or Kampot on a different leg of your trip, not something to bolt onto Phnom Penh itself.
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 |
| 4 | Koh Dach (Silk Island) half-day, BKK1 evening | ~$20-30 |
| 5 | Oudong, former royal capital, hilltop stupas | ~$20-30 |
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.
- Oudong’s hilltop stupas mean roughly 500 steps, wear real shoes, not sandals.
- 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.
Afternoon: National Museum of Cambodia, about $10, then Wat Phnom, $1.
Evening: Sisowath Quay at sunset, dinner at Friends (215 Street 13) or Romdeng.
Tip: agree tuk-tuk fares before you get in. Plan ahead: tomorrow’s memorial sites open by 8am, start early to beat the 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, 8am-5pm. An estimated 14,000-20,000 people were held here, almost all killed. Give it your full attention.
Midday: Choeung Ek, about 15km south, about $6 including audio guide, 7:30am-5:30pm. The memorial stupa holds more than 5,000 skulls. Tuol Sleng first, then Choeung Ek, and don’t plan anything cheerful straight after.
Afternoon: Russian Market for souvenirs and silk.
Tip: bring crisp, clean USD bills. Plan ahead: an early Day 3 start makes room for the sunset cruise properly.
Day 3: Central Market, temples, and a sunset on the river
Morning: Central Market (Phsar Thmei), then Wat Ounalom, free or by donation.
Afternoon: Independence Monument, a five-minute photo stop.
Evening: A Mekong sunset cruise around 5pm. Friday through Sunday, the riverside Night Market after.
Tip: book the cruise ahead for a 5pm slot. Plan ahead: confirm your Koh Dach transport tonight for an early Day 4 start.
Day 4: Koh Dach (Silk Island)
Morning: About 15km from the riverside, 30-45 minutes plus a short ferry crossing, to silk-weaving villages and rural cycling, a genuine half-day change of pace.
Afternoon: Back in the city by early afternoon; revisit Russian Market or cool off at Aeon Mall.
Evening: Dinner in BKK1 or one more riverside sunset.
Tip: agree the ferry-and-tuk-tuk round trip upfront, including waiting time. Plan ahead: Oudong tomorrow is a longer round trip than today, leave earlier.
Day 5: Oudong, the former royal capital
Morning: Oudong sits about 40km northwest, roughly 1-1.5 hours each way. It served as Cambodia’s royal capital before Phnom Penh, and its hilltop stupas, reached by around 500 steps, hold the main draw. Go early to avoid the worst of the midday heat on the climb.
Afternoon: Depending on your pace, treat it as a half-day and be back in the city by early afternoon, or make it a full day with a slower look around the site.
Evening: A last relaxed dinner back in Phnom Penh, riverside or BKK1, your call.
Tip: bring water and a hat, there’s little shade on the stupa climb. Plan ahead: if you’re flying out of Techo International soon, budget 45-75 minutes for the transfer.
Is 5 days too many for Phnom Penh?
Not if you use the extra time on day trips rather than repeating the city core. Koh Dach and Oudong both genuinely reward a full day each, and five days is enough to do both without rushing either. Past this, see our 6-day itinerary for the next day trip out, or our Phnom Penh guide for the full rundown.