Phnom Penh 7 Day Itinerary (No Tourist Trap)
Seven days in Phnom Penh itself is more than most people need, and this itinerary says so honestly rather than padding out a city that runs out of marquee sights around day three. It leans on four day trips to fill the back half, ending with Kirirom National Park, the furthest genuine option in range. After that, the honest move is to leave the city rather than invent more of it, most travelers pair this many Phnom Penh days with an onward leg to Siem Reap or the coast.
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 |
| 6 | Tonle Bati, Ta Prohm temple, Phnom Tamao Wildlife Rescue | ~$25-35 |
| 7 | Kirirom National Park, full day | ~$30-45 |
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.
- Kirirom is 100-120km southwest, 2-3 hours each way, arrange a car or tour rather than a tuk-tuk for this one.
- 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.
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.
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. Plan ahead: confirm Koh Dach transport tonight.
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.
Afternoon: Back 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. Plan ahead: Oudong tomorrow needs an earlier start.
Day 5: Oudong, the former royal capital
Morning: About 40km northwest, roughly 1-1.5 hours each way, to Cambodia’s former royal capital and its hilltop stupas, reached by around 500 steps. Go early to beat the heat.
Afternoon: Half-day back by early afternoon, or a full day exploring more slowly.
Evening: A relaxed dinner back in the city.
Tip: bring water and a hat. Plan ahead: arrange a car or driver tonight for Day 6’s two-site trip.
Day 6: Tonle Bati, Ta Prohm and Phnom Tamao Wildlife Rescue
Morning: Tonle Bati, about 30-40km south, roughly an hour each way, a small Angkorian-era temple, Ta Prohm, in a lakeside setting.
Afternoon: Phnom Tamao Wildlife Rescue, about 36-40km south, a rescued-wildlife sanctuary in the same direction, a sensible pairing with Tonle Bati for one long day.
Evening: Back in the city for dinner.
Tip: hire a car or private driver for the full day. Plan ahead: Kirirom tomorrow is the longest day out yet, confirm transport well in advance.
Day 7: Kirirom National Park
Morning: Kirirom sits 100-120km southwest, 2-3 hours each way, most of this day is transit. The payoff is pine forest and waterfalls at a cooler elevation than the city, a genuine break from the heat if you’ve timed your trip outside the dry season’s mildest months.
Afternoon: Explore the park, waterfalls and viewpoints, before the drive back.
Evening: A last Phnom Penh dinner, or straight to onward travel if you’re continuing the same day.
Tip: this is a long day mostly in the car, bring snacks and water for the drive. Plan ahead: if you were tempted to swap this for Kampot and Kep instead, don’t, that pairing (136km, 3-4 hours) is honestly an overnight trip, not a single day; save it for a separate leg of your Cambodia trip alongside Siem Reap.
Is 7 days too many for Phnom Penh?
For the city itself, yes. Seven days only works by treating days four through seven as day trips into the surrounding countryside, not more city sightseeing, because the marquee city sights genuinely run out around day three. If that’s more than you want from one base, our Phnom Penh guide and places overview lay out how most travelers split their time between Phnom Penh, Siem Reap and the coast instead.