Phnom Penh in 7 Days: The Full Budget Trip
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7 days: the full core, both memorials, and 3 day trips
Seven days is enough to slow all the way down, the full city core, an unhurried memorial day, and 3 day trips, Koh Dach, Oudong, and Kirirom National Park’s forest and waterfalls. Budget $25-40 a day shoestring or $50-90 mid-range. Read more in the day-trips guide for other options to swap in.
Book these before you go
- e-visa and e-Arrival Card, both ahead of arrival
- A driver for Kirirom, it’s the longest day trip on this list at 2-3 hours each way
- Sunscreen and a hat, several of these days are outdoors most of the day
Day 1: Royal Palace and the riverside
Morning, Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda ($10). Afternoon, National Museum ($10). Evening, dinner at Friends, sunset walk at Sisowath Quay.
Day 1 real costs: Palace ~$10, Museum ~$10, dinner ~$6-10.
Visit during the morning session, roughly 7:30-11am, the palace closes midday.
Day 2: Tuol Sleng and Choeung Ek
Morning, Tuol Sleng, $5 plus $5 audio guide. Afternoon, Choeung Ek, $6 including audio guide, 30-45 minutes by tuk-tuk. Evening, a deliberately quiet one.
Day 2 real costs: Tuol Sleng ~$10, tuk-tuk ~$10-15 round trip, Choeung Ek ~$6.
This is the heaviest day of the trip, keep the evening unscheduled.
Day 3: Markets and Wat Phnom
Morning, Wat Phnom ($1). Afternoon, Russian Market or Central Market. Evening, riverside street food or the Night Market if the dates line up.
Day 3 real costs: Wat Phnom $1, shopping varies, dinner ~$5-8.
Russian Market is best before 9am, both for the heat and the crowds.
Day 4: Koh Dach (Silk Island)
Full day, tuk-tuk and ferry to Koh Dach, about 30-45 minutes each way. Silk workshops, a bike ride through the villages, lunch on the island.
Day 4 real costs: tuk-tuk and ferry ~$15-20, bike ~$3-5, lunch ~$5.
Bring small bills, the island runs mostly on cash.
Day 5: Oudong day trip
Full day, driver or tuk-tuk, about 40km, 1-1.5 hours each way. Climb the roughly 500 steps to Oudong’s hilltop stupas.
Day 5 real costs: driver/tuk-tuk for the day ~$25-35, water and snacks ~$5.
Go early, the climb is much harder once the sun is fully up.
Day 6: Kirirom National Park
Full day, hire a driver, 100-120km, 2-3 hours each way, for Kirirom’s pine forest and waterfalls, noticeably cooler than the city. Pack a lunch or eat near the park entrance.
Day 6 real costs: driver for the day ~$50-70, park entry a few dollars, food ~$8-10.
This is a long day in the car both ways, start as early as you can manage.
Day 7: Independence Monument and departure
Morning, Independence Monument and a final riverside walk. Afternoon, transfer to Techo International Airport, 45-75 minutes from the city.
Day 7 real costs: transfer to Techo ~$15-25.
Confirm your flight and airport transfer time the day before, Techo sits farther from downtown than the old airport did.