Two Days (48 Hours) in Phnom Penh

Phnom Penh commonly gets shadowed by its smaller but more renowned sister City, Siem Reap, which acts as an entrance to the ancient civilization of Angkor. Travelers stop in Phnom Penh to transfer to Siem Reap, and several overlook the wonders of this charming French-colonized city with its not-so-secret austere history.

If you are planning a tour to Cambodia to see the wonders of Angkor Wat, make sure to give yourself a at least two days to visit the capital city. There are things to do in Phnom Penh; however here is our suggested itinerary for 2 days (48 hours) in Phnom Penh:

First Day

Start your day in Phnom Penh Adventure by allocating the morning at the Royal Palace. Appreciate one of the best samples of Cambodian architecture in the country before noon. Even though the king’s quarters are closed for public viewing, the Silver Pagoda and central compound of the Palace is open for visitors to awe about.

Eat lunch at one of the Cambodian restaurants around the city. If you are in doubt as to where to stay, take a leisurely walk to Central Market and have a taste of how the locals eat. The market is sheltered in an Art Deco building, an exceptional landmark of the city, and has a wide range of products on offer. This is the ideal place to train your haggling skills.

After you have filled your tummy and fulfilled your shopping habit, hail a tuk-tuk to bring you down to Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum. The museum is located in the old prison grounds, where its buildings were cautiously preserved with the old prison cells still in one piece. The secret prison was where Pol Pot, leader of the Khmer Rouge, kept his detainees and tormented them, even killing some in the process. Depressing as it may be, this place brings the existence of the horrors of the Khmer Rouge regime to life.

Make the most out of your tour and visit one last attraction of the day by going to Wat Phnom, the sacred Buddhist sanctuary of Phnom Penh. Legend has it that a rich widow discovered four bronze statues of Buddha in a tree. She took it as a sign and constructed a shrine to guard the statues. Shortly, more people started visiting the place to pray and give offerings.

Not distant from Wat Phnom is Sisowath Quay, home to many bars and restaurants and located next to the Tonle Sap River. Take a seat by one of the roadside restaurants and relax the night away with a couple of drinks while people-watching. You want to be careful of the children selling magazines and souvenirs along the dock. Buy something from one and you may find yourself with a group of kids surrounding you.

Second Day

Learn more regarding the Cambodian culture by taking a visit to the National Museum. It has an entire range of Cambodian artifacts from the 12th century that endured the Khmer Rouge era. You must hire a guide for this as it is greatly lacking in information for tourists. The architecture itself is a beautiful structure to commend.

The National Museum is that far from the Foreign Correspondent’s Club in Sisowath Quay. Take a seat for lunch and adore the view of the river and soak in its atmosphere. Go for the Khmer dishes such as fish amok rather than the usual Western affair.

After lunch, take a tour along Choeung Ek Killing Fields. It might be the farthest sightseeing spot from the heart of the city, but it is a must-see that you totally can’t miss. You can hire a tuk-tuk for a return trip, and the travel time must not take more than 45 minutes per way. Its secluded location is not a plain accident; the Khmer Rouge planned it per se so that the mass murder would go without being seen by others. The majority of the victims who died here were brought from the Tuol Seng Prison. Pay your respects at the stupa after your tour around the Killing Fields.

End the day and your trip in Phnom Penh with a movie at The Flicks Movie House. For only US$3.50, you will be able to watch all the most recent blockbusters the whole evening. The screening of movies regularly start around 4pm during the weekends and 6pm during the weekdays, therefore you can simply end your trip lazing about on their mattresses and cushions with cheap food and drinks. But we suggest reserving a spot before heading down.