1 Day Phnom Penh Itinerary

After spending one month in Vietnam, I boarded a plane and set off to explore Cambodia, starting with Phnom Penh.  Before visiting, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect; truthfully, I didn’t do much research because I was so busy with the beauty of Vietnam to sit down and figure out Cambodia.  But nonetheless, I arrived to Phnom Penh, gathered local recommendations, and hit the ground running.

While I didn’t know quite what to expect, Phnom Penh was still a city that surprised me.  With amazing local food, rugged beauty, and interesting history, I’m happy to have gotten the chance to visit.  While you don’t need much time in Phnom Penh, I definitely recommend a stop.  Here’s my one day Phnom Penh itinerary.

 

If you’re planning to visit Cambodia, don’t miss:

• Everything You Need to Know about Planning a Trip to Cambodia

 

LEARN ABOUT CAMBODIA’S DARK HISTORY ON THIS TOUR TO THE KILLING FIELDS & TUOL SLENG GENOCIDE MUSEUM

 

Brief History of Phnom Penh/Cambodia

Phnom Penh (and Cambodia in general) has one of the darkest, gut-wrenching histories in the world.  Established as the capital in 1434, Phnom Penh has played a pivotal role in Cambodia’s history.  The country’s rich past is marked by the rise and fall of great empires, including the mighty Angkor Empire, which thrived from the 9th to the 15th century and left behind the Angkor Wat temple complex.

In the past 50 years, Cambodia endured a harrowing period during the Khmer Rouge regime (1975-1979), led by Pol Pot.  This brutal regime caused the death of nearly three million people through executions, forced labor, and starvation.  Phnom Penh, once a vibrant city, witnessed a devastating exodus as the population was forced into the countryside.  The end of the Khmer Rouge era marked a long and challenging road to recovery for Cambodia.  In the ensuing years, the country has made significant progress in rebuilding and healing, with Phnom Penh at the center of this transformation.  Today, it stands as a bustling and resilient city, showcasing Cambodia’s determination to move forward and thrive.

 

How to Get to Phnom Penh, Cambodia

If you’re traveling to Cambodia, chances are you’ll be landing in Phnom Penh or transferring from Phnom Penh to somewhere else in the country.  It’s the biggest and busiest airport in the country, so really… all roads lead to Phnom Penh.

When searching for flights to Cambodia, I suggest using Expedia or Skyscanner in order to compare prices.

And if you’re planning to travel to Phnom Penh from another Southeast Asian country or another place in Cambodia and you want to travel by bus, I suggest using Bookaway or 12Go to search through options.

 

How to Get from the Airport to the City

If you’re arriving in Phnom Penh by air, the easiest way to get to the city is by waving down a taxi or tuktuk.  This shouldn’t be a problem as there are tons of people waiting around to see if tourists need rides.  A tuktuk should not cost more than $10 to the city (make sure to grab cash out of the ATM ahead of time) and depending on where you’re going should take about 30-minutes.

If you want to have an English speaking driver waiting for you upon arrival to Phnom Penh, you can book a ride here.

 

IF YOU’RE VISITING CAMBODIA, YOU MIGHT NEED A VISA!  YOU CAN CHECK HERE.

 

How to Get Around Phnom Penh

Phnom Penh is a city that is spread out enough that if you want to see its highlights, you’ll need to use transportation.  The most common way (and cheapest) for tourists to get around Phnom Penh is by tuktuk.  The easiest way to get a tuktuk is by using the app “Grab” or hailing one off the street.  If you do hail one off the street, make sure that you negotiate the price before riding.  (When using Grab you’re also able to request a motorbike or a car).

If you want to spend the day sightseeing, you might want to consider hiring a private driver for the day (this is generally very affordable).  These are usually tuktuk drivers who stay with you and wait for you to be done at museums, restaurants, etc to take you to the next stop.  I met a guy named Mark when I visited Phnom Penh and would highly recommend hiring him as your tuktuk driver.  He speaks English, isn’t pushy, is reliable, and fair.  You can reach him on WhatsApp at +855 92 756 860.

Lastly, you should know that the tuktuk drivers in Phnom Penh have a reputation for being quite pushy and even scammy at times.  I spent one day exploring Phnom Penh on foot and had several drivers come up to me multiple times asking if I needed a ride.  I even noticed one driver following behind me and he stopped me three times asking if I needed a ride.  I never felt unsafe but it did get very overwhelming repeatedly saying no.  You might even experience drivers telling you that a site is closed (even if it isn’t) so that they can get your business and take you elsewhere.  Be kind, but be firm when declining a ride.

 

Where to Stay in Phnom Penh

When I visited Phnom Penh I stayed at the HM Grand Central Hotel and would recommend it.  The hotel is affordable, located in a quiet neighborhood (you can reach the Royal Palace on foot), has big rooms, comfortable beds, warm water, a pool, and even a nice gym!

If this hotel doesn’t suite you, I suggest using Booking.com to look for hotels near the Royal Palace or near the Russian Market.

 

When is the Best Time to Visit Phnom Penh?

The best time to visit Phnom Penh is during dry season which lasts from November-May.  The hottest month in Cambodia is April and the coolest is in January.  Peak travel season lasts from January-March, so if you want to avoid the crowds and increased hotel prices, I’d avoid those months.

I visited Phnom Penh in October and did experience scattered thunderstorms, but it was never bad enough that it ruined my trip.  Instead I just used an umbrella and continued to do all of the activities I would have otherwise done had it not been raining.

 

Phnom Penh 1 Day Itinerary

 

Is 1 Day in Phnom Penh Enough?

For starters, I fully believe that one day in Phnom Penh is enough time.  Of course, if you like to travel slower and have the time, this itinerary could easily be spread out into two days.  But if you hit the ground running, you can cover all of the main highlights of the city in one day.

 

 

Spending the Morning in Phnom Penh

Begin your day early at the Choeung Ek Genocidal Center (also known as the killing fields) located about 30-minutes south of Phnom Penh.  Here you’ll be able to walk through Cambodia’s dark history and learn about the Khmer Rouge regime and see where millions of Cambodian people were murdered from 1975-1979.  The fields are a harrowing experience, one that shouldn’t be taken lightly.  While there isn’t a dress code that is enforced, there are signs asking men and women to please have their shoulders and knees covered out of respect.  The cost to enter is $6/person, the site opens at 0730, and you can expect to spend around two hours here.

After leaving Choeung Ek Genocidal Center, continue learning about the Khmer Rouge regime at Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum.  Like the killing fields, you’ll get a lesson in Cambodian history and their darkest years lasting from 1975-1979.  The Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum used to be a school, it was then taken over by the Khmer Rouge to house, torture, and kill prisoners, and now it stands as a museum and a reminder of the dark history of Cambodia.  The cost to enter is $5, the museum opens at 0800, and you can expect to spend around two hours here.

 

Spending the Afternoon in Phnom Penh

Before heading to see the rest of the sites in Phnom Penh, grab lunch at David’s Restaurant Homemade Noodles.  This small noodle restaurant serves great Khmer food and is located in the heart of Phnom Penh.  If you order the noodles, you might even get a show from David himself which is a definite highlight!

After you finish with lunch, move on to see the rest of the sights.  If you love ancient artifacts, don’t miss the National Museum of Cambodia (I don’t think this is worth it without also purchasing an audio guide) just a few feet away from David’s.  The museum is stunning and is the largest cultural history museum in Cambodia.  The cost to enter is $10 (not including an audio guide), the museum is open from 0800-1130 and again at 1330-1700, and you can expect to spend about an hour here.

Whether or not you decide to visit the National Museum of Cambodia, you don’t want to miss touring the Royal Palace.  The Royal Palace is a complex of buildings that serves as the official royal residence of the King of Cambodia.  The buildings inside the complex are beautiful and you don’t want to miss your chance at seeing the Silver Pagoda.  When you arrive, you’ll be asked if you want a tour guide for your visit – I highly suggest taking one.  The cost is $10 but I learned so much about the King, Royal Palace, and history of Cambodia.  It was well worth the money.  You should also know, that your shoulders and knees do need to be covered to visit the Royal Palace.  There is an opportunity to buy a t-shirt and pants at the door for $6 ($3 each).  The cost to enter is $10 (not including the guide), the palace is open from 0900-1700, and you can expect to spend about 1-2 hours here.

Of note, we were told conflicting information on whether or not the Royal Palace was open to visitors on the day we were planning to go.  Several tuktuk drivers told us that it wasn’t open (it was) and that they would be happy to take us elsewhere instead.  If this happens to you, I suggest physically going to the Royal Palace to see for yourself whether or not it’s open before taking someone else’s word for it.

 

Spending the Evening in Phnom Penh

Once night falls and dinner rolls around, I highly suggest grabbing dinner at NESAT Seafood House.  Not only was this restaurant phenomenal, but it might just be one of my favorite restaurants that I’ve eaten at… ever.  The seafood was so fresh, the sauces used were so good, it was a true treat to find this restaurant in Phnom Penh.

It was not busy when we went and we did not make reservations, however the restaurant is good enough that to ensure you get in, I recommend making a reservation ahead of time.

 

Safety Tips for Visiting Phnom Penh

In 2023 Cambodia ranked in the 73rd spot on the Global Peace Index of 163 countries and territories (for reference, the United States holds the 131st spot).  In my experience visiting Cambodia, I felt overwhelmed at times, but always safe.  However, with that being said, anything can happen so here are some general safety tips to follow.

• Make two copies your passport; keep one copy in a separate place from where you keep your passport, and leave the second copy at home with a loved one
• Forward all hotel reservations to a family member/friend so they can track where you’re supposed to be at all times
• Know the number and address of the US Embassy (or whatever country you’re from).  In this case, the US Embassy is located in Phnom Penh, the number is +855 23 728 000 and the address is 1 Christopher Howes (96) Phnom Penh.
• Know how to dial out – the code for Cambodia is +855
• Know how to contact the police – 117; firefighters -118; medical emergency service -119
• Travel with travel insurance to ensure that you’re covered in case anything were to go wrong – I recommend SafetyWing

 

What to Wear in Phnom Penh

Phnom Penh is very hot and humid so keep that in mind when packing.  I suggest not only bringing light outfits (linen/breezy dresses), but to also keep in mind that your shoulders and knees need to be covered for most of the sights in the city.  I also recommend packing comfortable walking shoes for walking around the city and museums.

Here are a few things that I packed to wear in Phnom Penh (and Cambodia)…

• Walking shoes
• Breezy dresses
• Linen outfits
• Sunglasses

 

For a complete Cambodia packing guide, don’t miss:

• The Ultimate Cambodia Packing List

 

FAQ About Phnom Penh

 

• Q:  “Where should I go after Phnom Penh?”

  • A:  One of the highlights of Cambodia is Angkor Wat, so a popular route from Phnom Penh is to take a bus north to Siem Reap.  Instead of following the popular path, I decided to take a bus 3-hours south to Kampot.  If you’re doing a tour of Cambodia, I think that you can’t go wrong going north or south, as long as you make time to see both parts of the country.

• Q:  “How many days do you need in Phnom Penh?”

  • A:  I would say that you need a minimum of one day to see Phnom Penh.  However, if you have the time and you like to travel slower then I’d recommend two days.

• Q:  “What is the currency in Cambodia?”

  • A:  Cambodia uses the Cambodian riel as well as the US dollar.  You can pay with either currency, but know that when you pay in US dollars you will generally get riel back in change.  You should also know, you can’t pay with any US money that is wrinkled, worn, or ripped.  So when you get change back, ensure that the US money isn’t ripped.

• Q:  “Do you need a visa to visit Cambodia?”

  • A:  Chances are, yes!  Check out this website to see if you need one and to purchase.

 

Cambodia Essentials – What You Need & Need to Know About Visiting Cambodia

 

While Phnom Penh is easy to get through in a short period of time, I really enjoyed the city and learned so much about Cambodia’s history.  If you’re traveling to Cambodia, don’t miss an opportunity to see what Phnom Penh is all about.  As always, if you have any questions about this Phnom Penh itinerary, let me know in the comments below!

 

IF YOU’RE PLANNING A TRIP THROUGH CAMBODIA, DON’T MISS:

• 10 of the Best Things to do in Kampot, Cambodia
• The Ultimate 10 Day Cambodia Itinerary
• A Complete Battambang Itinerary – Everything You Need to Know About Visiting
• What You Need to Know About Visiting Angkor Wat
• The Ultimate 3 Day Siem Reap Itinerary

 

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For more information on things to see and do in Phnom Penh, make sure to check out my Instagram page/highlight reel by searching “#ppincambodia” or under my highlights for “Cambodia”; alternatively, head to my TikTok and search for the saved “Cambodia” highlight

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