Phnom Penh in 5 Days: Budget + Day Trips

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5 days: city core, memorials, and a silk-island day trip

Five days adds real breathing room, the royal core, the memorials, a market day, and a genuine half-day trip to Koh Dach’s silk-weaving villages, plus a spare day for anything the heat interrupted. Budget $25-40 a day shoestring or $50-90 mid-range. See the 6-day itinerary if you want to add Oudong too.

Book these before you go

  • e-visa and e-Arrival Card, both before you fly
  • A PassApp or Grab account for tuk-tuks
  • Small USD bills for Koh Dach’s workshops and the ferry crossing

Day 1: Royal Palace and the riverside

Morning, Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda ($10), dress code enforced. Afternoon, National Museum ($10). Evening, dinner at Friends, then Sisowath Quay at sunset.

Day 1 real costs: Palace ~$10, Museum ~$10, dinner ~$6-10.

Morning sessions run roughly 7:30-11am, the cooler window to visit.

Day 2: Tuol Sleng and Choeung Ek

Morning, Tuol Sleng, $5 plus $5 audio guide. Afternoon, tuk-tuk to Choeung Ek, $6 including audio guide. Evening, a quiet dinner, no more sightseeing.

Day 2 real costs: Tuol Sleng ~$10, tuk-tuk ~$10-15 round trip, Choeung Ek ~$6.

Pace this day slowly, it’s the heaviest one on the trip by design.

Day 3: Markets and Wat Phnom

Morning, Wat Phnom ($1). Afternoon, Russian Market or Central Market. Evening, the Night Market if it’s Friday through Sunday.

Day 3 real costs: Wat Phnom $1, shopping varies, dinner ~$5-8.

Bargain at Russian Market, the first price quoted is rarely the real one.

Day 4: Koh Dach (Silk Island)

Full day, tuk-tuk and short ferry, about 15km, 30-45 minutes, to Koh Dach. Visit silk-weaving workshops, rent a bike for the rural lanes, and have lunch on the island before heading back.

Day 4 real costs: tuk-tuk and ferry ~$15-20 round trip, bike rental ~$3-5, lunch ~$5.

Go on a weekday if you can, the workshops are quieter and easier to visit properly.

Day 5: Independence Monument and departure

Morning, Independence Monument and a last walk along the riverside. Afternoon, any market shopping you didn’t finish, then head to Techo International Airport, 45-75 minutes from the city center.

Day 5 real costs: transit/tuk-tuk to the airport ~$15-25.

Leave more transfer time than you think, Techo sits farther out than the old airport did.