How Many Days Do You Need in Phnom Penh?

Created by Colleen | Updated : 3 August 2024 |

How many days do you need in Phnom Penh? Probably longer than you think but maybe the question should be how long can you spare.  Phnom Penh is the heart of Cambodia and a city of contrasts with ancient temples rubbing shoulders with modern skyscrapers.

How long to stay will depend on your interests but if you’re undecided then keep reading because we’ll share our experiences to help you make the most of your visit.

How many days do you need in Phnom Penh?  Allow enough time to see the sunset over Modern Phnom Penh, like this from our Mekong river tour.

How Many Days Do You Need in Phnom Penh?

When we first decided to visit Cambodia, Phnom Penh wasn’t on our itinerary.  After a little research, it quickly became evident it was worth exploring and we allowed four days.

Deciding how many days depends on what you love most.  Are you a history buff, a foodie, or just looking to soak up the local culture?  Most travellers find that between 2 and 4 days offers a great balance with time to visit the main attractions.

The great news is that even if you only have one day in Phnom Penh you can still visit the highlights. 

Top Things To Do For First-time Visitors

Whether you have one day or one week, we loved the following and feel that they should be on every Phnom Penh itinerary :

The Killing Fields

It’s impossible to visit Phnom Penh without recognising the atrocities that took place under the Khmer Rouge regime.  It’s believed that up to 3 million Cambodians died and those awful events are recognised and documented at Choeung Ek (Killing Fields) and Tuol Sleng (S-21) memorials and museum.

You can visit alone but take this excellent tour instead.  It offers a fully guided visit to both the Killing Fields and S-21 over half a day.  Our guide helped us process all that we saw but more importantly, filled us with a sense of amazement at how happy, forward looking and resilient the Cambodians are.

The Killing Fields at Choeung Ek Genocidal Center in Phnom Penh.  One of the mass grave sites with the memorial stupa in the background

The Royal Palace And Silver Pagoda

The Royal Palace complex is huge. It showcases the very best of Khmer architecture and really is a must see.  We first went as part of a tour and whilst the guided commentary was great, we felt a little rushed.  Indeed, we went back a second time alone which worked well. The gardens are just as beautiful as the buildings and we recommend 1-2 hours for your visit.

Highlights include the Throne Hall, the Silver Pagoda and a spectacular 17th century Buddha made of solid gold, weighing 90 kilograms and adorned with 9,584 diamonds.

The Mighty Mekong River

The Mekong flows through Phnom Penh.  It is part of the reason they city exists, and no visit would be complete without a glimpse that the glorious skyline at sunset.  We loved our sunset cruise.  It’s inexpensive and fills the gap from late afternoon to dinner. 

Khmer Cuisine

Phnom Penh is gaining a reputation as a foodie destination and there are more and more excellent restaurants opening in the city; Malis Norodom is the place to go for a very special Cambodian feast.  There is also a bit of a Craft Beer revolution taking place in the city but at the heart of both, is traditional Khmer cuisine.

We’d recommend dinner at Malis, this fabulous Khmer cooking class or take this excellent Night Street Food Tour (which also offers a great tour of the city at night as well as your dinner!)

The Phnom Penh skyline taken from our boat on a sunset river cruise, the sky was a beautiful orange and it reflected perfectly in the river.

One, Two, Three or Four | How many Days are Enough?

Phnom Penh isn’t an expensive city, it’s definitely worth visiting and there are options to fit every budget.  How many days in Phnom Penh to add to your itinerary will ultimately depend on how much time you can spare. 

  • To really understand and do justice to Phnom Penh, we’d recommend 2-3 days to explore the main attractions, enjoy the local cuisine, and take a day trip to the surrounding areas.
  • With just one or two days, you can get a taste of what the city has to offer.  But because Phnom Penh isn’t an expensive destination, staying longer won’t break the bank and there are some stunning hotels to entice you to linger awhile.   

1 Day In Phnom Penh

If you’re short on time, one day in Phnom Penh can be surprisingly fulfilling; focus on the must-see highlights such as:

If you’d rather not visit the Killing Fields then visit one of the city’s huge markets and The Cambodia National Museum.

2 Days In Phnom Penh

Two days offers a more relaxed pace to explore Phnom Penh. In addition to the main sights, you can explore the bustling Central Market, indulge in a Khmer cooking class or maybe even afternoon tea at Raffles?

3 Days In Phnom Penh

With three days, you can delve deeper into Phnom Penh’s culture and we’d recommend a day trip out of the city.

Silk weavers on Koh Dach or Silk Island near Phnom Penh in Cambodai.

Alternative Day trips From Phnom Penh

Phnom Penh is an excellent base for exploring the surrounding countryside.  You quickly escape the bustle to find a more tranquil way of life.  A few excellent tours that you could also consider include :

Oudongk Mountain and Koh Chen Island Tour

  • Oudongk Mountain was the former capital of Cambodia, offering historical temples, stupas, and panoramic views.
  • Visit Koh Chen Island, it is known for its silver workshops and traditional craftsmanship.

Full-Day Preah Vihear, Koh Ker, and Beng Mealea

  • Visit the UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Preah Vihear Temple, known for its spectacular cliff-top location and ancient architecture.
  • Explore Koh Ker, a remote archaeological site with impressive pyramidal temples, and Beng Mealea, a jungle-covered temple and visit some of Cambodia’s lesser-known archaeological sites.
monks at the royal palace in phnom penh

How To Get Around Phnom Penh

Phnom Penh is relatively easy to navigate; Gerry wrote a great post about how to get around the city. The most popular mode of transport is tuk-tuk; they are plentiful and offer a fun, affordable way to explore.

There are also many bikes and motorbikes but we don’t recommend this option for a visitor as the traffic is pretty chaotic.  And whilst there are public buses they aren’t the easiest to navigate so our preferred choice was tuk-tuk.

If you would like to pre-book airport transfers this is the highest rated best value option that we found.

Top Tip : Never hail a tuk-tuk.  Always, always use GRAB.  It’s the local equivalent to UBER and we used it extensively over months of travel through SE Asia without problems.

busy street Scene in Phnom Penh with tuk tuks; one selling lots of fresh coconuts

Best Hotels In Phnom Penh

If there was ever a place to treat yourself to something exclusive and decidedly opulent then Phnom Penh is the place to do it!  You can book a world class hotel for the price of a comfort hotel in London or Paris.

We have choices for all budgets, which after hours of research I’m confident will offer the best of Phnom Penh.

have breakfast by the pool during your one day in Phnom Penh. We loved the Pavilion Hotel

Best Time To Visit Phnom Penh

Phnom Penh, like a lot of Asia has two seasons; wet and dry.  The best time to visit is during the dry season, from November to April.  December and January are considered particularly comfortable but we visited in January and February and I would say it was hot and humid so make sure you pack accordingly.

It’s worth noting that our guide told us that Phnom Penh can be enjoyable year-round, with each season offering its own unique charm.  Unlike some parts of Asia, the rainy season shouldn’t be discounted, although I’d certainly do a little more research before planning your days.

NovDecJanFebMarApr
31°C | 118mm30°C | 32mm31°C | 6mm32°C | 9mm34°C | 32mm35°C | 72mm
MayJunJulAugSepOct
34°C | 150mm33°C | 151mm32°C | 158mm32°C | 159mm31°C | 228mm31°C | 260mm

Festivals In Phnom Penh

How many days you need in Phnom Penh could well be impacted by some of the more popular local festivals.  We were in Vietnam during Tet and it certainly disrupted our plans.  Phnom Penh comes alive during the festival season, but transport can be affected and hotels book quickly. 

Khmer New Year (April)

This may not the best time to travel for a short visit; imagine travelling on Christmas Day at home.  Celebrated over three days, this is one of the most important holidays in Cambodia.  On the plus side the traditional Khmer celebrations include lots of water splashing, colourful parades and festive celebrations.

The Royal Ploughing Ceremony (May)

This may not have such an impact on your plans.  This an ancient celebration welcomes the start of the rice growing season, where local priests foretell the outcome of the coming harvests.

Bon Om Touk Water Festival (November)

This is a big festival in Phnom Penh and you should expect boat races, fireworks, and lively celebrations.  It corresponds with the end of the Monsoon season and is a huge celebration that draws hundreds of thousands of visitors to the banks of the Mekong and Tonle Sap rivers.

As well as the traditional boat races, you’ll find overcrowded streets, food markets, street vendors, fireworks, illuminated parades and general jollity and making merry.   Also expect the city to be crammed and hotel prices to be higher; or hotels fully booked. 

Cruising the Mekong on a sunset during our stay in Phnom Penh - Gerry enjoying the view as we pass an enormous Carlsberg sign

Is Phnom Penh Safe For Visitors?

Phnom Penh is generally considered safe for tourists, but it’s important to stay vigilant, especially at night. As with all large cities anywhere in the world, petty crime, such as bag snatching, can occur, so keep your belongings secure and be aware of your surroundings.

  • Being aware of your surroundings and your belongings in very crowded spaces.  I always use an over-body shoulder bag and Gerry uses a money belt.
  • We never carry large amounts of cash; just enough to last us
  • Keep on eye on belongings, especially smartphones.
  • In tuk-tuks keep bags between you and out of reach of passing traffic.

We never experienced any issues, nor met anyone who did, but as with all our travels we nonetheless take precautions.

Phnom Penh, lit up at Night from the Mekong River Cruise

Start Planning your Days In Phnom Penh

Phnom Penh offers the visitor a great deal and is absolutely worth a few days of your time. We would have liked more time in Phnom Penh but we’d suggest two or three days at a minimum. Phnom Penh offers iconic historical sites, a vibrant street scene, great food and incredibly warm hospitality.  It’s true the city is noisy and dirty and chaotic but it is so much more too. 

Don’t judge this book by its cover, spend a few days in Phnom Penh and discover the beating heart of this incredibly underrated destination.

Travelling Through Cambodia Or Vietnam?

We spent a few months in Cambodia and Vietnam. If you’re planning your own adventure you may be interested in some of our other posts.

Don’t Forget Travel Insurance

Whenever you travel, you should have a great travel and medical insurance policy.  None of us expect anything bad to happen, but in the event of an incident, you want to be sure that your insurance will be there for you.

I’ve ended up in hospital in Peru, Indonesia, Portugal, Japan and Ireland! Every time my insurance took care of everything. I would never leave home without full and comprehensive insurance.

TrueTraveller : We have this policy and we are very happy with the cover, especially considering our ages and pre-existing conditions.

Globelink : We have used and recommended Globelink for years and we’ve not heard of any issues. They are a great choice for European and UK Residents.

Safety Wing : Many of my travelling buddies from the USA have recommended this company to me, although we’ve not used them personally.

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Colleen in Salamanca on the Via de la Plata

Hey I’m Colleen. I’m married to Gerry, we’ve three fabulous kids and been living in France for almost two decades. I fell in love with Spain in the 1980s and I’ve walked 1000s of miles along the Camino de Santiago. Now we’re exploring and walking the world and I can’t wait to share what we’ve learned!

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