Cambodia is a country full of both impressive and tragic history. From its rise to power as one of the first and largest Southeast Asian empires to the tragic rule of the Khmer Rouge, there is so much to learn from this country, and there is no better place to do it than in Phnom Penh, its capital city.
If you are visiting Phnom Penh and are not sure where to begin, this article is for you. Within this travel guide, you will find all the information you need to plan a great trip to Phnom Penh, as well as a comprehensive list of things to do, where to stay, and more. Without further ado, here are the 8 best things to do in Phnom Penh for solo travelers:
Phnom Penh Itinerary Map
Quick Summary
| ♥️ Must Visit: | the Royal Palace |
|---|---|
| 🏛️ Best Museum: | the Killing Field |
| 🛌 Place to Stay: | Phnom Penh Katari Hotel |
| 🏃♂️ Getting around: | Walk |
8 Best Things to Do in Phnom Penh
1. Visit the Royal Palace
- 📍 Location: the Royal Palace [Map Link]
- 🕐 Opening Hours: 9 AM - 5 PM
- 💰 Entry Fees: 10 USD
- ⚡ Pete's Take: "Give yourself time to see the Throne Hall, the Silver Pagoda, and the royal residences inside the palace grounds."
First and foremost, we are going to visit the Royal Palace, one of the most famous landmarks in Phnom Penh, where you will be able to witness Cambodia's finest architecture: the Royal Palace, as well as the beautiful Silver Pagoda, located inside.
The Royal Palace was built in the 19th century during the reign of King Norodom and has served as the principal royal residence since Phnom Penh became Cambodia's capital. The Khmer Rouge seized Phnom Penh in 1975 and ruled Democratic Kampuchea until 1979. Cambodia's monarchy was later restored under the 1993 Constitution, and the palace once again became the official residence of the King of Cambodia. Parts of the complex are open to visitors today.
One of my favorite things about the palace is its stunning architectural features, from the gilded roofs to intricate ornamentation, with stunning design. It just reminded me of home (Thailand).
- Base Villa (Budget)
- Phnom Penh Katari Hotel (Mid-Range) 👍 Top Pick
- Baitong Hotel & Resort Phnom Penh (High-End)
- Phnom Penh: The Killing Fields & Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum (4 hours) 🏅 Top Pick
- Sunset Cruise tour: Freeflow Drinks & BBQ buffet, unlimited (1.5 hours)
- Visit 11 places in the City included S21 & Killing Field (8 hours)
Inside the palace, you will find yourself surrounded by a high yellow wall, and in the middle, there will be multiple ornate buildings and pavilions, including the Throne Hall, the Silver Pagoda, and various residences that you can explore.
The Silver Pagoda is a must-visit as it is one of the most remarkable pieces of architecture here, with its exterior almost entirely covered by over 5,000 silver tiles. Inside, you can find numerous priceless artifacts, including the Emerald Buddha made of baccarat crystal and more.
The Royal Palace is open from 9 AM to 5 PM every day, and the entrance fee is 10 USD per person. If you have just arrived in Phnom Penh and are not sure where to begin your exploration, the Royal Palace is a great place to start.
Where to Stay in Phnom Penh?
2. Visit Wat Phnom Daun Penh
- 📍 Location: Wat Phnom Daun Penh [Map Link]
- 🕐 Opening Hours: 7 AM - 7 PM daily
- 💰 Entry Fees: Free (donations welcome)
- ⚡ Pete's Take: "The best time to go is probably earlier or later in the day, since the park gives you some shade but it can still get hot."
After you are done with the Royal Palace, you can make your way north and visit Wat Phnom Daun Penh, one of the oldest and most sacred temples in the city that dates all the way back to the 14th Century.
It is located on top of a hill, surrounded by gardens, benches, and a park, which makes it a great place to stroll around and escape the heat of the day. The temple has some truly distinct Cambodian and French colonial architectural styles, as well as a variety of statues, shrines, and religious relics that you can check out.
Wat Phnom is generally open from 7 AM to 7 PM daily, including weekends. The temple grounds are currently free to enter, although donations are welcome. I would still visit earlier in the morning or later in the afternoon when it is cooler.
3. Stroll Around the Central Market
- 📍 Location: the Central Market [Map Link]
- ⚡ Pete's Take: "This is one of the most iconic buildings I saw here. It's pretty lively and chaotic inside, and I love strolling around it even though I didn't plan to buy anything. It's just a good place to see how the locals live!"
Continuing on from Wat Phnom Daun Penh, you can make your way west and go for a stroll around the Central Market, a local market housed in one of Phnom Penh's most iconic and historic structures.
The building was built in the 1930s during the French colonial period with a blend of modern and colonial architectural styles, combining elements of Art Deco and traditional Khmer architecture. This makes it one of the most unique structures you will find here.
Inside, you will find yourself in a large cross-shaped building with four wings radiating from the central dome, and you will be surrounded by all kinds of shops that sell fresh ingredients, clothing, jewelry, electronics, and more. Be sure to spend some time exploring the market while you are here.
4. Learn the History of the Khmer Empire at the National Museum
- 📍 Location: the National Museum of Cambodia [Map Link]
- 🕐 Opening Hours: 8 AM - 5 PM (last admission 4:30 PM)
- 💰 Entry Fees: 10 USD (foreign adults)
- ⚡ Pete's Take: "The Khmer culture is rich and ancient, and there is no better way to learn more about it than here."
Not too far from the Royal Palace, you will find the National Museum of Cambodia, an excellent place to visit if you want to learn more about the mighty Khmer Empire that ushered in the golden age of trade and prosperity across the region.
The museum is housed in this stunning crimson-colored structure, featuring traditional Khmer design elements such as a red terracotta tiled roof, an ornate facade, and beautiful garden courtyards.
The National Museum is also home to one of the most extensive collections of Khmer art and artifacts in the world. Its collection includes sculptures, ceramics, bronzes, ethnographic objects, and textiles dating from prehistoric times to the Angkorian period and beyond.
The most famous and valuable exhibition of all is the collection of excavated artifacts found at the temple of Angkor, which includes statues of Hindu deities, Buddha images, and other religious and mythological figures, allowing us to get a glimpse of what life was like back in its heyday.
If you want to learn more about Cambodia's ancient history and Khmer art, this is one of the best places to do it. The National Museum is currently open 8 AM to 5 PM daily, with the last admission at 4:30 PM. Admission for foreign adults is 10 USD, while foreign visitors aged 10-17 pay 5 USD.
5. Visit Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum or S21 Museum
- 📍 Location: Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum [Map Link]
- 🕐 Opening Hours: 8 AM - 5 PM
- 💰 Entry Fees: 5 USD
- ⚡ Pete's Take: "This is such a sad and sobering experience to be here, learning about all the people who suffered during the Khmer Rouge reign. Be sure to grab an audio guide!"
Next up, we are going to visit Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, the former S-21 security prison, interrogation, and detention center operated by the Khmer Rouge. The site has been preserved as a museum and memorial documenting the people imprisoned, tortured, and killed under the regime.
The museum is a sobering and poignant reminder of the brutality and atrocities committed by the Khmer Rouge during its reign in the late 1970s. Inside, you will find many rooms filled with pictures of all the victims of S21, hanging on the walls, with information boards explaining all the torture methods conducted at S21, across the three-story building.
One of the most shocking things I learned from walking around S21 is the barbed wires installed to cover the building's exterior. Since the building was built as a school before it was converted into a torture prison, most of the floors have this open-air walkway that allows air to flow into the classrooms and keep the interior cool.
The barbed wires were installed to prevent the prisoners from jumping out of the window and committing suicide 😱. I definitely did not expect such a grim explanation for why the barbed wires were there. It was extremely disturbing to learn about it, and that barely scratches the surface of the horrible things that occurred here.
The S21 museum is a great way to understand Cambodia and where its people are coming from. The audio guide is essential if you want to really understand what happened here, so be sure to grab that at the entrance when you enter.
The museum is open from 8 AM to 5 PM every day, and the entrance fee is 5 USD per person. You can get there with a tuk-tuk or you can take the shuttle bus tour, which will also take you to the Killing Fields, a place we will be visiting next.
6. Visit the Killing Field
- 📍 Location: the Killing Field [Map Link]
- 🕐 Opening Hours: 7:30 AM - 5:30 PM
- 💰 Entry Fees: 10 USD
- ⚡ Pete's Take: "Visit the S21 Museum first, then continue on to the Killing Fields to understand the full story. You are going to want to get the audio guide while you are here. The baby-killing tree was absolutely horrific to learn about!"
After visiting the S21 Museum, you can continue your journey and visit the Killing Field next. Also known as Choeung Ek Genocidal Center, the Killing Field is a place where the Khmer Rouge systematically massacred their own people and dumped their bodies to hide their atrocities.
After the discovery of the Khmer Rouge atrocities, the Killing Field has been converted into a burial site dedicated to all the victims who lost their lives here, with a glass-walled stupa containing all the skulls excavated here, right at the center of the field.
As you walk through the seemingly peaceful field, you will stumble upon many spots with information boards that explain the atrocities committed right on the spot, like this tree shown above, where babies were once executed by being beaten up against the tree until they died.
It is one of the most harrowing moments of my life as I walk through the field and learn more and more about the atrocities committed here. To think that a human being can do this to another human being is just... no words can describe how I felt about it all, but it is important for every traveler to visit this place and learn about it so that history won't repeat itself again.
Again, if you decide to visit the Killing Field, I highly recommend getting an audio guide to help walk you through each section as the atrocities are unveiled before you. You will feel all kinds of emotions flooding in as you walk through the field and listen to the audio tour reciting Pol Pot's infamous quote.
Better to kill an innocent by mistake than spare an enemy by mistake
Choeung Ek is open from 7:30 AM to 5:30 PM daily, including national holidays. Admission for international visitors is currently 6 USD and includes the audio tour. The site is outside central Phnom Penh, so a tuk-tuk or ride-hailing app is the easiest independent option; fares vary with traffic and pickup point. You can also go for a shuttle bus tour that combines Choeung Ek with Tuol Sleng.
7. Check out the Independence Monument
- 📍 Location: Independence Monument [Map Link]
- ⚡ Pete's Take: "Come in the evening, as it can get pretty hot here and there are no shades around at all."
Another impressive landmark you should check out while you are in Phnom Penh is the Independence Monument. It is situated at the intersection of Norodom Boulevard and Sihanouk Boulevard and stands right at the center of a massive intersection, so there is no way you will miss it.
The monument was erected in 1958 to commemorate Cambodia's independence from French colonial rule that happened 4 years prior. The monument was designed by a Cambodian architect in the New Khmer architectural style, which combines elements of traditional Khmer architecture with modernist influences. It features a five-tiered roof design and is adorned with intricate carvings and decorative motifs.
It would be a shame to visit Phnom Penh without seeing this stunning structure, so be sure to drop by here in the evening, after you're done exploring all the other tourist attractions on this list.
8. Hang out at Sisowath Riverside Park in the Evening
- 📍 Location: Sisowath Riverside Park [Map Link]
- ⚡ Pete's Take: "This place gets incredibly lively in the evening with locals picnicking and hanging out with one another. I love coming here around sunset."
Last but not least, be sure to check out Sisowath Riverside Park in the evening and hang out by the river. The place gets extremely lively the moment the sun sets, as the locals will often come out in droves and hang out with one another at the park.
The view of the river is also very nice, especially during the golden hour, so be sure to get there around sunset time. You can also go on a sunset cruise from here and enjoy a drink or two while floating along the Mekong River. You can check out some of the available sunset cruises here.
Southeast Asia Video
How to Get to Phnom Penh?
If you are flying to Phnom Penh, you will now arrive at Techo International Airport (KTI), which opened on September 9, 2025 and replaced the old Phnom Penh International Airport for scheduled passenger flights. The new airport is located about 20 km south of Phnom Penh. An Airport Express Bus runs between the airport and the city daily from 5:30 AM to 11:30 PM, and taxis and ride-hailing services are also available.
I would recommend you browse through Skyscanner or Expedia to compare flights and find the cheapest one from where you live to Phnom Penh that best fits your itinerary.
How to Get Around Phnom Penh?
If you stay around the Riverside or central tourist area, you can easily walk between places like the Royal Palace and National Museum. For longer trips to Tuol Sleng, Choeung Ek, or neighborhoods farther south, tuk-tuks are the most practical option. Grab and PassApp are widely used in Phnom Penh and are especially convenient for independent travelers because the app shows the fare before the ride. If you hail a tuk-tuk on the street instead, agree on the price before leaving.
Daily Budget
This place is quite affordable compared to all the other countries in the world. If you are planning a trip here, you can expect to spend around $25 - $45 USD per day per person, which should include accommodation and three meals.
Please keep in mind that these are suggested daily budgets based on my own style of travel, which leans more towards the budget side of things. If you aim to stick to this budget, anticipate sleeping in dormitories, dining out only occasionally, and being comfortable with the cheapest and most convenient modes of transportation, which often involve a considerable amount of walking.
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