Phnom Penh: Royal Palace & Wat Phnom Cyclo Tour

A Cyclo Ride Through Phnom Penh's Hidden Streets and Sacred Temples

You're picked up at a central meeting point and spend an afternoon moving through Phnom Penh by cyclo and on foot, visiting Wat Phnom temple, the Royal Palace, Independence Monument, and the colonial Post Office. Your local guide explains the significance of each stop while your cyclo driver navigates the quieter streets where local markets and street food happen. Transport, drinks and snacks are included, and your guide can arrange your return to your hotel when you're done.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Wat Phnom30m
2. Royal Palace30m
3. Independence Monument30m

Phnom Penh city tour by cyclo

• Meet local expert guide
• Ride cyclo through city
• Visit Wat Phnom temple
• Explore outside Royal Palace
• Learn about Independence Monument
• Visit Central Post Office
• Take break with drinks and snacks
• Finish at Botumvatey Pagoda

The experience

Someone pedals you slowly through the afternoon heat, and you're sitting low enough to see the street vendors' hands arranging fruit, the way motorbikes weave around you without honking, the exact moment a monk in saffron steps off the curb. That someone is your cyclo driver: one of the last few still working in Phnom Penh, steering this three-wheeled bicycle taxi through the city the way it was meant to be seen. Your local guide meets you at Papa Pain near Soriya Mall at 2:15pm, and from there the tour unfolds on foot and by cyclo, mixing the pace of the city with stops at the places that matter.

The route takes you to Wat Phnom first, the 27-metre Buddhist temple built in 1372 that sits at the heart of the city's spiritual life. From there you walk past the Royal Palace (your guide explains what you're seeing from outside, the architecture and its role in Cambodian life), and then to the Independence Monument, where the story shifts to what this landmark means to local people, not just tourists passing through. You'll stop at the Central Post Office, a colonial-era building that still functions, and your guide knows the smaller streets where Khmer street stalls and local coffee shops sit tucked between the main roads. The tour finishes at Botumvatey Pagoda, a central spot where restaurants and bars cluster, and your guide can help arrange transport back to your hotel if you need it.

What makes this different from a tuk-tuk blur is the pace itself. A cyclo moves slowly enough that you notice things: the way light falls on a temple wall, a conversation happening at a market stall, the texture of the city rather than just its landmarks. Your guide is there to fill in what you're seeing, not just to tick off a list. Drinks and snacks are included, so you're not hunting for water or deciding whether to stop. The afternoon runs about three to four hours, and the whole thing is built around the idea that Phnom Penh is better understood from a seat that's part of the street, not above it.

What’s included

• All transport by cyclo and on foot.
• expert local guide for the afternoon.
• drinks and snacks during the tour.
• visits to Wat Phnom, Royal Palace, Independence Monument, Central Post Office and Botumvatey Pagoda.
• assistance arranging return transport to your hotel if needed.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 14:30

Book up to5h before

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Child (1 to 11 years)

GroupUp to 10

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends at a different place from where it starts.

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

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Easy physical levelPublic transport nearby

Operated by Discova Southeast Asia

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to move through Phnom Penh at a pace that lets you notice the street-level details (the markets, the light, the way the city actually works) rather than rushing between landmarks. The cyclo is what makes that possible, and it's becoming rare.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (1 to 11 years).

What time does the tour start?

You meet at 2:15pm at Papa Pain near Soriya Mall to depart at 2:30pm.

How long is the tour?

The tour runs for an afternoon, typically three to four hours, finishing at Botumvatey Pagoda.

What's included in the price?

All transport (cyclo and walking), a local expert guide, drinks and snacks are included.

Can I take photos at the Royal Palace?

You view the Royal Palace from outside, and your guide will explain what you're seeing from the street.

What should I wear?

Wear comfortable clothes suitable for walking and the current weather conditions.

Do I need to be fit for this tour?

The tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels and mixes cyclo rides with walking at a relaxed pace.

What if I need to get back to my hotel?

Your guide can help arrange transport back to your hotel at the end of the tour.