Phnom Penh, Cambodia 3 Day Itinerary

Cambodia’s capital moved its airport in 2025, and that single change reshapes day one of any trip here. Techo International Airport sits roughly 20 kilometers south of the city, well past the old Phnom Penh International site, so budget 45 minutes to over an hour for the drive in depending on traffic. A tuk tuk from the fixed-price counter runs somewhere between 8 and 15 dollars, a metered taxi or Grab typically 15 to 20, and if you want the cheapest option there is a public bus for under a dollar. Whatever you choose, agree the price before you get in. Drivers who quote a flat fare at the airport sometimes try to renegotiate mid-ride, and independent tuk tuk drivers around town occasionally steer new arrivals toward a guesthouse or shop that pays them commission, insisting your actual hotel is “closed” or “full.” Book through Grab or PassApp when you can. It records the driver’s details and locks in the fare.

Day 1: Discovering the Past

Morning: Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda

Start at the Royal Palace, still the working residence of Cambodia’s monarch, which means parts of the complex close without notice for state functions. Check that morning rather than assuming. Inside the same walled compound is the Silver Pagoda, officially Wat Preah Keo Morakot, where the floor is laid with more than five thousand silver tiles, most now protected under carpet so you only glimpse them at the entrance. Dress code is strict here: shoulders and knees covered, no exceptions, and sarongs are for rent at the gate if you forget.

Afternoon: Tuol Sleng and Choeung Ek

The afternoon is heavy by design. Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, the former S-21 prison, keeps its classrooms-turned-cells largely as they were found, and audio guides now include short recorded testimonies from survivors who occasionally do in-person talks on site. Choeung Ek, the best known of the killing fields, sits about 15 kilometers outside the center and costs 6 dollars including its audio tour. My honest take: do these two sites back to back rather than splitting them across your trip. The narrative connects, and dragging the emotional weight across multiple days does you no favors. Budget three to four hours total and skip anything upbeat afterward.

Evening: Riverside and Night Market

The Sisowath Quay riverside strip has the highest concentration of restaurants catering to visitors, for better and worse. FCC Phnom Penh remains a reliable choice for a mixed Khmer and Western menu with river views, though it trades on its reputation more than its prices justify. If you want something with more local weight, Khmer Surin in BKK1 has been serving fish amok and beef lok lak since 1996 at prices closer to 5 or 6 dollars a plate. After dinner, the night market near the river runs Friday through Sunday evenings with mats laid out for street food and cheap souvenirs, and it disappears entirely on weeknights, so check the calendar before you plan around it.

Day 2: Culture and Modern Phnom Penh

Morning: National Museum and Central Market

The National Museum’s terracotta-red building holds one of the world’s best collections of Khmer sculpture, much of it pulled directly from Angkor-era temples, and an hour is enough for most visitors unless you’re deep into Southeast Asian art history. From there, Phsar Thmei, generally called the Central Market, is worth visiting for the Art Deco dome alone even if you don’t buy anything. Go before 9am if you want to photograph it without wading through stalls three deep.

Afternoon: Independence Monument and Russian Market

The Independence Monument, modeled loosely on the central tower at Angkor Wat, marks Cambodia’s 1953 exit from French rule and looks best lit at dusk rather than under midday sun. Save real shopping time for Toul Tom Poung, known to everyone as the Russian Market, a warehouse-dense maze of stalls selling clothing, silk, and secondhand goods at prices well below the tourist-facing shops downtown. Bring cash in small bills and expect to bargain hard; first quotes run high.

Evening: Nightlife

Street 278 and Street 51 carry most of the bar and club scene, with a younger, louder crowd than the riverside. For something calmer, a sundowner on the FCC’s upper terrace still delivers one of the better views of the Tonle Sap and Mekong confluence in the city, even if the drinks cost more than they should.

Day 3: Slower Pace

Morning: Wat Phnom

Wat Phnom, the hilltop temple that gave the city its name, is small enough to see properly in 30 to 45 minutes. Go early, both for the light and to avoid the resident macaques getting bolder as the day heats up. If you skipped Tuol Sleng on day one, morning is the better slot for it than after lunch.

Afternoon: Riverside and Departure

Spend a slower afternoon along the Sisowath Quay promenade, where riverside cafes let you watch boat traffic on the Tonle Sap without committing to anything. Confirm your departure transport in advance since Techo Airport’s distance from the center means leaving too little buffer is the single most common mistake travelers make on their last day. Build in at least 90 minutes beyond what a map estimates.

Things to know:

  • Techo International Airport, not the old downtown airport, now handles nearly all international arrivals; factor the longer transfer into your first and last day.
  • Tuk tuks and ride-hailing apps like Grab and PassApp are the main way to get around; agree fares upfront and prefer the apps for accountability.
  • The dry season, roughly November through March, is the easiest time to visit; April and May bring intense heat before the rains arrive.
  • Dress modestly at the Royal Palace, Silver Pagoda, and any active wat; cover shoulders and knees or rent a sarong at the gate.
  • Small US dollar bills are the practical currency for day-to-day spending, with riel used mostly for change under a dollar.