2 days in Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Wondering if 2 days in Phnom Penh are enough before you travel further to the beaches in Cambodia or visit the temple town of Siem Reap? Read on to know more.

Very few people have heard about Phnom Penh let alone know that it is the capital of Cambodia. Though backpacking in Phnom Penh is becoming popular, visitors generally fly in and out of Siem Reap and Phnom Penh losses out on visitors.

What to do in Phnom Penh is the big question but little do people know that it is definitely a city worth visiting and adding on their travel list. I spent 2 days in Phnom Penh and visited all the important places worth visiting. Here’s my Phnom Penh travel guide.

It is important to know before you plan a trip here is, everything closes at 5pm – even tourists places, hence best is to start early and end early. So choose flying into the Phnom Penh late evening or night so you can relax that day and start sightseeing the next day.  Read my Cambodia Travel Guide on how I flew from India to Cambodia which also has all the Phnom Penh travel cost.

2 DAYS IN PHNOM PENH

Independence Monument of Phnom Penh

Trip to Phnom Penh is incomplete without the visit to the independence monument of Cambodia, also known as Vimean Ekareach. The monument built in traditional Cambodian architecture was built in the centre of the city to pay respect to Cambodia’s independence from France in 1953 and serves as a memorial place dedicated to the Cambodian’s patriot who died for the country. The 20-meter high monument is inspired from the Khmer temple at Angkor Wat and is shaped as lotus stupa.

Visitors are allowed to go inside and can pay their respects from the outside. At night it is lit with the colours of the national flag and the monument stands out. The space around the Independence Monument is an open space with a garden so it also serves as a picnic place for locals at night. I saw a lot of families with their food baskets enjoying their meals here. 

I visited during the day and night.

Ideal Duration of visit: 10-15 minutes

Entry fees: Free

Wat Phnom temple

Among the things to do in Phnom Penh, Wat Phnom is one of the most popular places to visit in Phnom Penh. Phnom Penh is named after the Hill of Penh on which this ancient temple complex stands. It is a Buddhist temple which was earlier known as Krong Chaktomok. According to a legend, a lady found statues of the Buddha inside a tree floating in the River. With the help of villagers she built a temple by increasing the height of a hill which is now known as Wat Phnom.

Today, the temple is an amalgam of styles and structures from across its more than 600-year history, including gardens built by the French in the late 19th century and shrines that represent Taoist, Confucian, and Hindu beliefs.

The locals have a lot of faith in this temple and that is why it is extremely busy throughout the day. 

The main stairway to the temple is guarded by statues of lions and naga, the mythical snakes of Hinduism and Buddhism. After climbing a few flights of stairs you’ll come across a man releasing sparrows by paying money. This is the Buddhist belief of saving all beings from suffering while gaining personal merits. It was heart-wrenching to see these birds being forced out of the cage, just to be caught back again to put in the cage. Please do not pay here! 

The interior of the temple has a central altar complex with a large bronze seated Buddha surrounded by other statues, flowers, fruits, candles and other items of devotion. The walls and ceiling are covered with murals, especially of Buddha’s earlier reincarnations, the Khmer version of the Ramayana. There are other smaller temples and idols around the complex and people are seen worshipping and offering Prasadam (religious offering consisting of food and drinks).

Ideal duration of visit: 1 – 1.5 hours

Entry fees: US$1

National Museum of Phnom Penh

Your 2 days in Phnom Penh are incomplete without a visit to the National Museum. If you are interested in archaeology, then the National Museum is a dream stop for you. The National Museum of Cambodia has the world’s finest collection of Khmer sculpture. The sculptures are housed in a beautiful terracotta structure of the traditional design. The structure of the museum is gorgeous and the insides are also maintained nicely with proper interpretation of each artifact.

I was blown away by the fact that there are sculptures of Hindu deities housed in the museum. The idols were recovered from the 10th 11th and 12th centuries in the areas around Angkor. There are many sculptures of Vishnu, Ganesh and Shiva in various poses. 

The complex also has a stunning courtyard with fountains, statues, ponds where visitors can take a break and relax on the benches.

Guided tours are available in English, French, Spanish and Japanese languages. Audio tours are also available in eight languages. A comprehensive booklet, The New Guide to the National Museum (US$15), is available at the front desk. 

Note that visitors are not allowed to photograph the collection. However, I was allowed to take pictures of the central courtyard. 

Ideal duration of visit: 2 – 2.5 hours

Entry fees: US$10

Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda

Some people may want to give this a miss if you have only 2 days in Phnom Penh. But the Royal Palace has a stunning architecture that awes all the locals and tourists alike. It is the official residence of the King of Cambodia. The palace occupies several acres of land in the city center with several buildings inside the complex.

Check out the most impressive Throne Hall and sink in to see the royal and majestic interiors. You can observe the hall from doors and windows and are not allowed to go inside. Don’t even try as there are guards.

Aside from the Throne Hall, the other important building is the Silver Pagoda. The pagoda is named so as it is made of 5329 silver tiles covering the pagoda floor weighing almost five tones. You will not see it as it is covered by tiles except a small portion near the entrance is exposed. You will know this only if you get a guide (we didn’t but we overheard one of them).

Get awed with 2 statues of Buddha – a large one referred to as the Emerald Buddha and a small solid-gold Buddha encrusted with 2,086 diamonds. The gem above the forehead weighs 25 carats and another on the chest is a hefty 20 carats.

Note: Royal Palace is closed from 11 am to 2 pm. 

Ideal duration of visit: 1.5 hours

Entry fees: US$10

Evenings in Phnom Penh

Since all the visitor places close at 5 pm, you have the evening to relax. If you want to relax by the riverfront head over to Sisowath Quay. Watch the sun go down with some ice coffee or food. 

Nightlife in Phnom Penh

If you are feeling adventurous head over to the Nagaworld Casino to try your luck in any of the 100 games spread to 3 floors. There is a live dance performance every 30 minutes which you can enjoy while enjoying a drink or pastry from their shop. The food options are amazing as well. Nagaworld has its own duty free shopping in the basement in case you want to shop.

If hitting the casino is not your scene then you can simply enjoy the street food or Cruise on the Tonle Sap. If you want more than just street food, you check out one of the many night markets in Phnom Penh including alongside the river on Sisowath Quay. Alternatively, there are others such as Jet Container Night Market, with pop-up restaurants, bars, and stores, and is well worth the visit alone.

Ideal duration of visit: 2-3 hours (depends)

Entry fees: Free

The Killing Fields – Choeung Ek Genocidal Center

The Choeung Ek Phnom Penh Killing Fields are located 15 kilometres from Phnom Penh and will require a lot of time in commuting and in the field so dedicating an entire morning is best. Hire a tuk-tuk for the day (US$25) and it will cover everything.

Phnom Penh underwent a horrifying genocide that was carried out by the Khmer Rouge regime (led by Pol Pot) between 1975 and 1979. Out of the 7 million population then, over 1.7 million died of starvation, execution, disease or overwork. Some estimates place the death toll even higher. 

The Khmer Rouge apparently arrested and killed all people from the previous regime – including soldiers, politicians and bureaucrats, educated, capitalist and city people, to grow rice and other agricultural products as Pol Pot wanted to develop Cambodia into an agrarian economy like the Angkor Empire in earlier days. When people complained they were tortured and killed, including women and children. You should read in detail about the history of Cambodia.

An audio tour around the field gave us an idea of what happened here. You can still see bones and scraps of clothes on the ground. The Khmer Rouge utilized barbaric methods for killing – farm tools, bamboo, axes, and sharp sugar cane branches. One-stop on the audio tour included “the killing tree” where children were held by their legs, swung against the tree and then discarded into the mass graves. It’s impossible to imagine such inhumane activities done only a few years ago!

Ideal duration of visit: 2-3 hours

Entry fees: US$15 (includes audio tour)

Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum

If you have the heart to see the genocide museum after visiting the killing fields, go for it. I did not so I passed!

Codenamed as S-21, Tuol Sleng was converted from a school to an interrogation centre on the orders of Pol Pot when his Khmer Rouge movement took control of Cambodia in April 1975. At least 12,000 people who were held here were killed here. 

The Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum is now the memorial site of the S-21 interrogation and detention center of the Khmer Rouge regime. Located in the heart of Phnom Penh, it preserves a tragic period in history with the aim to encourage visitors to be messengers of peace.

Ideal duration of visit: 1-2 hours

Entry fees: US$8 (includes audio tour)

Phnom Penh Central market

Central market is quite popular with locals and tourists alike in Phnom Penh and has cheap deals on almost everything – clothes, souvenirs, jewellery, duplicate designer bags, shoes, etc. even though it is cheap, bargain at least 30-40% or more.

Ideal duration of visit: 2-3 hours

Entry fees: Free

PRACTICAL TIPS ABOUT 2 DAYS IN PHNOM PENH

Phnom Penh Weather

Cambodia has a tropical climate and is hot and humid most times of the year and rains almost daily. The best time to visit Phnom Penh is between November and April when it sees very little rain. 

I visited Phnom Penh in August and it was super humid. Being from India, it was bearable for me. 

Phnom Penh food

Phnom Penh tourism is incomplete without tasting the local food, just like most Asian countries. Phnom Penh noodles are extremely popular among the locals and tourists alike. Unfortunately, being a vegetarian, I couldn’t have any street food as all of them had meat. Plus I was staying with my parents so I just preferred having food cooked by my mom. I did relish the array of fresh fruits in Phnom Penh.

If you are a vegan or a vegetarian like me, don’t lose heart. You may not be able to enjoy the street food like others, but there are many Indian restaurants which serve thali meals. Not only Indian but even middle eastern and other veg platters are available. Check this – vegetarian restaurants in Phnom Penh guide.

Safety in Phnom Penh

Phnom Penh is generally safe during the day but there have been incidences of pickpocketing and bag snatching, just like any other tourist city. Simply be alert with tuk-tuk drivers and do not befriend them. Leave valuables and bank cards at home where possible. Drink spiking in bars is not common in Phnom Penh but it is always best to be alert and buy your own drink.

Where to stay in Phnom Penh

I stayed in my parent’s apartment but these are some of the properties I had looked up when I was helping a friend search for where to stay in Phnom Penh. Whether you are staying for 2 days in Phnom Penh or more these are some of the good options to look into.

Resort in Phnom Penh/ Luxurious stays in Phnom Penh: Courtyard by Marriott, Nagaworld Resort

Hotels in Phnom Penh: Grand River Boutique Hotel, Grand Waterfront Hotel

Hostel in Phnom Penh: Onederz Hostel, Feliz Hostel

SUSTAINABLE TRAVEL TIPS FOR 2 DAYS IN PHNOM PENH

• Cambodia is still a developing country and has a lot of poverty. Try buying food and clothes from a local market/food joint to boost their economy rather walking into a mall/food chain.
• There is a lot of waste lying on the streets. But as ethical tourists do not add to it. If you do not find a bin, keep the waste with you, till you find one.
• Cover your knees and shoulders at all times. It’s a hot and conservative country – protect your body with clothes rather than sunscreen.
• Hire local guides and tuk-tuk drivers – they will get a day’s meal for their family
• Drinking water – try and refill water bottles instead of buying them every time. Hotels and restaurants have refilling facility and don’t shy away from asking. You’ll save money and the environment.
• Do not pay the beggars – at times you’ll almost want to give in to the grim-looking expressions. They may be part of a gang and your money may fund it and lead to more beggars on the streets. Best is to avoid eye contact.

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Have you been to Phnom Penh? How was your experience? If not, did you find this 2 days in Phnom Penh guide useful enough to plan a trip there? Let me know in the comments below!

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