Phnom Penh 2 Day Itinerary
Two days is the honest minimum for Phnom Penh, enough for the Royal Palace, the memorial sites, and the riverside without rushing any of them. Land at the new Techo International Airport, budget 45-75 minutes into the city, and this plan assumes you’re based in Riverside/Daun Penh or BKK1.
Day 1
Start at the Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda (about $10) when it opens at 7:30am, before the heat and the crowds build; the dress code, shoulders and knees covered, is enforced at the gate, so plan your outfit the night before. From there it’s a short walk to the National Museum of Cambodia (about $10), which holds the country’s finest collection of Khmer and Angkorian sculpture. Have lunch nearby, fish amok or lok lak run $5-10 at most local restaurants, or head to Friends (215 Street 13) for a sit-down meal that supports its youth training program.
Give the afternoon to Tuol Sleng (S-21) (about $5, plus a worthwhile $5 audio guide), the former prison at the center of the Khmer Rouge period. It’s a heavy visit and deserves the time rather than a rushed hour before closing. In the evening, walk the Sisowath Quay riverside as the light drops, or book a sunset river cruise (roughly $15-20, an hour to 90 minutes) over the Chaktomuk confluence. Concrete tip: carry small USD bills all day, since museum ticket counters and food stalls alike often can’t break a $20.
Day 2
Devote the morning to Choeung Ek, about 15km south (30-45 minutes by tuk-tuk, expect $15-20 round trip including wait time), the execution site paired with the day before’s visit to Tuol Sleng. Entry with audio guide runs about $6; go early, before 9am, for cooler temperatures and a quieter site. Treat the morning as a solemn half-day rather than pairing it with unrelated sightseeing.
In the afternoon, shift tone at Wat Phnom ($1), the hilltop temple the city is named for, followed by the Central Market (Psar Thmei), the yellow 1937 Art Deco building, for souvenirs and a look at the architecture. For dinner, Romdeng serves rural Khmer dishes in a restored colonial villa, budget $10-15 per person. Concrete tip: agree your tuk-tuk fare, including any wait time, before you get in, or book through PassApp or Grab for a fixed price with no negotiating.
For a slower pace that adds day trips and more of the city, see the 3-day itinerary, and for the practical details behind this plan, entry requirements, money, and safety, check the Phnom Penh travel guide .