Phnom Penh: Royal Palace, Wat Phnom & Independence Monument

Three Phnom Penh Landmarks in One Morning, Starting at the Royal Palace Gates

You're picked up at your hotel and taken through three of Phnom Penh's most significant sites: the Royal Palace with its Throne Hall and Silver Pagoda (home to a diamond-studded gold Buddha), Wat Phnom Temple with its 14th-century origins, and Independence Monument. Your English-speaking guide provides context at each stop, and you return to your hotel by midday.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Royal Palace2h
2. Independence Monument1h · entry included

Visit Royal Palace, Wat Phnom, Independence Monument

• Hotel pick-up
• Explore Royal Palace and gardens
• Enter Throne Hall and Napoleon III Pavilion
• Visit Silver Pagoda and see gold Buddha
• Travel to Wat Phnom Temple
• Learn history of Wat Phnom
• Visit Independence Monument
• Hotel drop-off

The experience

Your guide is already waiting at your hotel when you arrive, and within minutes you're moving through Phnom Penh's streets toward the Royal Palace complex. The palace grounds open up around you: tropical gardens, gleaming spires catching the light, the whole thing built as a working home for Cambodia's royal family and a symbol of the nation itself. You walk into the Throne Hall first, the room where coronations happen, where state receptions are held. It's the kind of space that makes you stand still for a moment. Then there's the Napoleon III Pavilion, an iron structure gifted by the French emperor in the 19th century, sitting there like a piece of European history transplanted into Southeast Asia.

The Silver Pagoda comes next, and this is where the tour gets specific. Five thousand silver tiles cover the floor: each one weighs a kilogram. Inside are treasures the country has held onto: a life-size gold Buddha studded with 9,584 diamonds, the largest stone weighing 25 carats. You're looking at something most people never get close to, and your English-speaking guide walks you through the history without rushing. After the palace, you head to Wat Phnom Temple, built in 1372 when a widow named Daun Penh found five Buddha statues in a log pulled from the river and decided to build a temple to house them. The temple sits on a hill (phnom means mountain in Khmer), and the story behind it is woven into how Phnom Penh itself got its name.

The last stop is Independence Monument, finished in 1958 and inaugurated in 1962. It's a quieter place than the palace, built to honor people who died for Cambodia's independence. The air feels different there, cooler, more still. Your driver brings you back to your hotel after, and the whole thing takes about four hours from start to finish. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included, so you don't arrange transport yourself or negotiate with taxis. The vehicle is air-conditioned, and your guide carries bottled water for the walk.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off.
• private air-conditioned transportation.
• private English-speaking tour guide.
• bottled drinking water.
• travel insurance.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day16 departure times: the first at 07:00, the last at 14:30

Book up to4h before

AgesAdult (17 to 64 years) · Senior (65 and older) · Youth (6 to 16 years) · Child (2 to 5 years) · Infant (under 2)

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 today

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller friendlyInfant seats availablePublic transport nearby

Operated by Tour Guide-Siem Reap

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to see Phnom Penh's three most important sites in a single morning without arranging your own transport or timing: the fixed itinerary and included pickup mean you show up at your hotel and the logistics are handled.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (6 to 16 years); Child (2 to 5 years); Infant (under 2).

How long is the tour?

Approximately four hours, including hotel pickup and drop-off.

What time does the tour start?

Hotel pickup is arranged at a time that suits your schedule. Confirm the exact time when you book.

Is the Royal Palace dress code strict?

Shoulders and knees should be covered out of respect for the royal site. Comfortable, modest clothing is recommended.

Can I take photos inside the Silver Pagoda?

Photography rules vary by area within the palace complex. Your guide will let you know where photos are permitted.

What's included in the tour price?

Hotel pickup and drop-off, private air-conditioned transportation, English-speaking guide, bottled water, and travel insurance.

Is the tour wheelchair accessible?

Yes, the tour is wheelchair accessible, and transportation options accommodate wheelchairs.

What if I don't speak English?

The guide speaks English. If you need another language, contact the operator before booking to arrange alternatives if available.