Phnom Penh: Royal Palace, Silver Pagoda & Wat Phnom Half-Day

Three Centuries of Cambodian Power in One Morning

You visit the Royal Palace's Throne Hall and Silver Pagoda with its gold Buddha and 9,584 diamonds, then move to Independence Monument and Wat Phnom pagoda, the 1373 shrine that gave the city its name. A private guide and driver handle navigation and entry, and you're back at your hotel by early afternoon.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Royal Palace2h
2. Independence Monument1h · entry included
3. Wat Phnom1h

Visit Royal Palace, Monument, and Wat Phnom

• Explore Royal Palace gardens
• Enter Throne Hall
• See Napoleon III Pavilion
• Visit Silver Pagoda
• Visit Independence Monument
• Tour Wat Phnom pagoda
• Return to hotel

The experience

Your guide will meet you at the hotel and ask which language you prefer. They'll switch between Khmer and English without missing a beat, which matters when you're standing in front of the Throne Hall where coronations actually happened. The Royal Palace complex opens with the gardens first, tropical plants and spires catching the light, and then you move into the rooms where the Cambodian king conducts state business. The Napoleon III Pavilion is there too, iron and ornate, a gift from France in the 19th century that somehow survived everything that came after.

The Silver Pagoda is the part that stays with you. Five thousand silver tiles cover the floor, each one weighs a kilogram, and inside the temple sits a life-size gold Buddha studded with 9,584 diamonds, the largest one 25 carats. It's not a quick glance. Your guide will give you time to actually look. After the palace, you'll head to Independence Monument, built in 1958 and inaugurated in 1962. It's quieter than you'd expect, designed with a cool, serene atmosphere, and it's where Cambodians come to remember the people who died for the country's freedom. The monument sits in a roundabout in the middle of the city, and your driver will navigate the traffic to get you there.

Wat Phnom comes last, and it's the oldest piece of the day. The first pagoda was built in 1373 on one of the only hills in this flat capital, after a woman named Penh found Buddha statues in the Mekong River. That's where the city got its name. The shrine is always busy with Cambodians praying for luck in love, work, exams, whatever they need, so you'll see the place as it actually functions, not as a museum. Your driver brings you back to the hotel after, and the whole tour runs about four hours.

What’s included

• Private tour guide fluent in your language.
• private driver with license.
• private transportation to and from your hotel.
• entry to the Royal Palace, Silver Pagoda, Independence Monument and Wat Phnom.
• pure drinking water throughout the tour.
• travel insurance.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day15 departure times: the first at 07:30, the last at 14:30

Book up to4h before

AgesAdult (6 and older) · Child (2 to 5 years): free · Infant (under 2): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Paid on siteUS$ 11

Prices and times updated 7 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller friendlyInfant seats availablePublic transport nearby

Operated by Private Tour Guide-Phnom Penh

Is this one for you?Pick this if you want to see Phnom Penh's three most important landmarks in one morning without arranging transport or figuring out entry times yourself: the private guide and driver mean you move at your own pace and don't wait in lines with groups.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (2 to 5 years): free; Infant (under 2): free.

How long is the tour?

About four hours, including travel between sites and time inside each attraction.

Is the Royal Palace accessible if I use a wheelchair?

Yes, all areas and surfaces at the Royal Palace are wheelchair accessible, and transportation is also wheelchair accessible.

What's included in the tour?

Private guide, private driver, private transportation, entry to all three sites, pure drinking water, and travel insurance.

Do I need to arrange my own transportation?

No, the tour includes hotel pickup and drop-off, so you don't need to arrange transport yourself.

What's the Silver Pagoda?

It's part of the Royal Palace complex, named for the 5,000 silver tiles covering its floor. Inside is a life-size gold Buddha decorated with 9,584 diamonds.

When was Independence Monument built?

It was built in 1958 and inaugurated in 1962 during the Sangkum Reastr regime, as a memorial to those who died for Cambodia's independence.

Is this tour suitable for people with limited fitness?

Yes, it's suitable for all physical fitness levels, and the pace is controlled since you have a private guide and driver.