Phnom Penh City Tour: Royal Palace, Museums & Markets

One day connects Cambodia's grandest royal buildings to its most difficult history.

A full-day guided tour of Phnom Penh covers the Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda, then moves through the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum (the former Security Prison 21) and the Choeung Ek Killing Fields 15 kilometers outside the city, where a glass stupa holds 8,000 skulls exhumed from mass graves. The tour ends at the Independence Monument and Russian Market. Hotel pickup and all entrance fees are included. A private guide speaks English throughout.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Royal Palace1h · entry included
2. Silver Pagoda30m · entry included
3. Choeung Ek Genocidal Center1h · entry included
4. Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum1h · entry included
5. Independence Monument
6. Russian Market30m · entry included

Explore Phnom Penh's key attractions

• Visit the Royal Palace and Throne Hall
• Tour the Silver Pagoda within Royal Palace
• Explore Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum
• Visit Killing Fields of Cheung Ek
• See the Independence Monument
• Shop at Russian Market

The experience

The Royal Palace anchors the morning. Its Throne Hall rises 59 meters with a tiered roof of golden tiles, used for coronations and state ceremonies. The Silver Pagoda sits within the palace complex, a working Buddhist temple where the King has worshiped for generations. Both buildings are accessible to visitors, and the guide explains the architecture and the role each plays in Cambodia's present-day life.

The afternoon turns toward Cambodia's recent past. Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum occupies the former high school that Pol Pot's regime converted into Security Prison 21 (S-21) in 1975. Over 17,000 people were detained and tortured here. Most were later transported to Choeung Ek to be executed. The museum preserves the prison buildings and documents the crimes. Choeung Ek itself, 15 kilometers southwest of the city, is where more than 17,000 civilians were killed and buried in mass graves. A 17-story glass stupa at the center holds 8,000 skulls recovered from the ground. Both sites are open daily and serve as memorials to the Khmer Rouge atrocities.

The tour closes with lighter stops: the Independence Monument, built in 1958 to mark Cambodia's independence from France, and the Russian Market, a bustling vendor space selling souvenirs, clothing, local goods and food. Hotel pickup and drop-off bookend the day, and a private licensed guide in English accompanies all five to six hours. All entrance fees to the attractions are covered in the price.

What’s included

• Private comfortable transportation.
• hotel pickup and drop-off.
• cold bottled water.
• private licensed tour guide in English.
• all entrance fees to the Royal Palace, Silver Pagoda, Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, Choeung Ek Killing Fields, Independence Monument and Russian Market.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day5 departure times: the first at 08:00, the last at 10:00

Book up to12h before

AgesAdult (11 to 70 years) · Child (4 to 10 years) · Infant (1 to 3 years): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 2 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 4 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effort

Operated by Royal Phnom Penh Tours

Is this one for you?The five- to six-hour duration leaves the morning or evening free for other activities in Phnom Penh, making it easy to pair with a separate temple visit or evening meal. If you want to cover both the royal sites and Cambodia's recent history in a single day without arranging your own transport, this tour handles the logistics and the guide context for you.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 10 years); Infant (1 to 3 years): free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What is the Royal Palace Throne Hall used for today?

The Throne Hall, with its distinctive 59-meter tower and golden-tiled roof, is still used for high official celebrations, coronations and audiences with foreign dignitaries and government officials.

What will I see at the Choeung Ek Killing Fields?

Choeung Ek is a memorial site 15 kilometers southwest of Phnom Penh where more than 17,000 civilians were killed and buried in mass graves during the Khmer Rouge regime. A 17-story glass stupa at the center contains 8,000 skulls exhumed from the ground.

How does Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum relate to the Killing Fields?

Tuol Sleng was Security Prison 21 (S-21), where the Khmer Rouge detained and tortured over 17,000 people starting in 1975. Most detainees held there were later transported to Choeung Ek to be executed. The prison has been converted into a museum documenting these crimes.

Does the tour include meals or drinks?

The tour includes hotel pickup and drop-off, a private guide, and all entrance fees to the attractions. Meals and drinks are not included. You'll have time to purchase food at the Russian Market near the end of the day.