Full-day Phnom Penh tour: Royal Palace, S-21, Killing Fields

See the capital's grandeur and its darkest chapter in one day

A full-day guided tour of Phnom Penh takes in the Royal Palace, Silver Pagoda and Wat Phnom in the morning, then moves to the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum and Choeung Ek Killing Fields in the afternoon, with hotel pickup, lunch at a local restaurant and a licensed English-speaking guide included. The tour runs six to seven hours and suits all fitness levels. Note that the genocide sites contain graphic reminders of the Khmer Rouge regime and may be difficult for younger children.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each9 stops

1. Wat PhnomEntry included40m
2. Royal PalaceEntry included1h
3. Mekong Deltapassing by
4. Independence MonumentEntry included15m
5. Tuol Sleng Genocide MuseumEntry included1h
6. Choeung Ek Genocidal CenterEntry included1h
7. Silver PagodaEntry included1h
8. Phnom Penh Central MarketEntry included20m
9. Russian Marketpassing by

Explore Phnom Penh's key attractions

• Visit Royal Palace and Throne Hall
• See Silver Pagoda inside Royal Palace
• Climb hilltop Wat Phnom temple
• Enjoy Mekong River view
• Lunch at local restaurant
• Visit Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum
• Explore Choeung Ek Killing Fields
• See Independence Monument
• Shop at Central Market

The experience

The day starts with hotel pickup and heads straight to Wat Phnom, the 27-meter hilltop temple that legend says was founded in 1373 when a woman named Penh discovered four Buddha statues washed ashore by the Mekong. From there you move to the Royal Palace complex, where the Throne Hall rises 59 meters with its distinctive golden-tiled roof: the building used for coronations and state ceremonies. The Silver Pagoda sits within the same compound, its name drawn from the thousands of silver tiles covering its floor. Between stops, the route passes the Independence Monument, built in 1958 to mark Cambodia's independence from France, and runs along Sisowath Quay, the 3-kilometer riverfront strip that lines the Mekong.

After lunch at a local restaurant, the tour shifts to Cambodia's recent past. Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum occupies the former Security Prison 21 (S-21), where the Khmer Rouge detained and tortured over 17,000 people between 1975 and 1978. The museum preserves the prison's layout and documents: a stark record of what happened inside. From there, the route continues 15 kilometers southwest to Choeung Ek, the killing field where detainees were executed. A 17-story glass stupa at the center holds 8,000 skulls exhumed from mass graves. 43 of the 129 communal graves remain undisturbed, with bone fragments and cloth scattered across the grounds.

The tour ends with free time at either the Central Market (an Art Deco landmark completed in 1937 with a 26-meter dome and four diagonal arms housing countless stalls), or the Russian Market, depending on your preference. Cold water is provided throughout the day. A licensed guide delivers commentary in English, and hotel pickup and drop-off are included in the price.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off.
• entrance fees to the Royal Palace, Silver Pagoda, Wat Phnom, Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum and Choeung Ek Killing Fields.
• lunch at a local restaurant.
• cold water throughout the day.
• licensed English-speaking guide.

Information

Lasts 6h–7h, runs every day, 5 start times, from US$ 99 per person, with a live guide in English, as a private tour and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesEvery day5 departure times: 08:00, 08:30, 09:00, 09:30 and 10:00Another time? ›

GroupPrivate2 group tours ›

Live guideEnglishOther languages ›

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

Book up to12h before

AgesAdult (11 to 60 years) · Child (4 to 10 years) · Infant (1 to 3 years): free

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. 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 guide speaks English, so you follow the commentary without translation or a headset: straightforward for any English speaker. If you want to move through the day at a steady pace with all logistics arranged, this full-day format keeps the route, timing and transport intact. If you prefer to linger at one site or skip another, a private guide or shorter half-day option would give you that flexibility.

Traveler reviews

4.90★★★★★★★★★★

68 verified traveler reviews

5 ★63

4 ★4

3 ★0

2 ★1

1 ★0

Read all the reviews ›

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 Wat Phnom and why does the tour start there?

Wat Phnom is a temple set atop the only hill in Phnom Penh, a tree-covered knoll 27 meters high. According to legend, the first pagoda was built there in 1373 after a woman named Penh discovered four Buddha statues deposited by the Mekong's waters. It opens the tour as the city's spiritual and historical foundation.

How far is Choeung Ek from central Phnom Penh, and what will I see there?

Choeung Ek lies 15 kilometers southwest of central Phnom Penh. The site is a killing field where over 17,000 people were executed during the Khmer Rouge regime. A glass stupa at the center houses 8,000 skulls arranged by sex and exhumed from mass graves. 43 of the 129 communal graves remain unexcavated, with bone fragments and cloth visible across the grounds.

Is there time to shop, and where does the tour take me?

Yes, the tour ends with free time at either the Central Market or the Russian Market, your choice. The Central Market is an Art Deco building completed in 1937 with a 26-meter central dome and four branching arms housing countless stalls selling all kinds of goods.

What does the tour include in the price?

The tour includes hotel pickup and drop-off; entrance fees to all sites mentioned in the itinerary (Royal Palace, Silver Pagoda, Wat Phnom, Tuol Sleng, and Choeung Ek); lunch at a local restaurant; cold water throughout the day; and a licensed guide speaking English.

How long does the full tour take?

The tour runs six to seven hours total, covering the morning sites (Royal Palace, Silver Pagoda, Wat Phnom), lunch, and the afternoon genocide sites (Tuol Sleng and Choeung Ek) before ending with free time at a market.