Phnom Penh city tour: 11 sites including S21 and Killing Field

Walk through temples and monuments in the morning, then spend 90 minutes at S21 before the Killing Field in the afternoon

This full-day tour of Phnom Penh visits 11 sites including Wat Phnom, the Royal Palace, Independence Monument, Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum (S21), Choeung Ek Killing Field, and Russian Market, with an English-speaking guide and driver, hotel pickup, water and beer included. You choose between a small group van tour (maximum 7 people), a shared tuk-tuk (maximum 4 people), or a private vehicle for your family. Entrance fees to S21 and the Killing Field are paid separately in cash on the day. Lunch is optional and arranged depending on the group.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Wat Phnom30m
2. Wat Ounalom20m
3. National Museum of Cambodia10m
4. Royal Palace10m
5. Cambodia-Vietnam Friendship Monument10m
6. Independence Monument10m
7. Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum2h
8. Choeung Ek Genocidal Center2h
9. Russian Market30m

Explore Phnom Penh's key sites

• Visit Wat Phnom and Lady Penh statue
• See Wat Ounalom monastery
• View National Museum from outside
• Photo stop at Royal Palace exterior
• Visit Cambodia-Vietnam Friendship Monument
• Drive to Diamond Island and see river confluence
• View King Norodom Sihanouk statue
• See Independence Monument
• Tour Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum with audio guide
• Visit Killing Fields and watch documentary film
• Shop at Russian Market for Khmer products

The experience

The day starts at Wat Phnom, the hilltop temple where Phnom Penh's founding story begins with the Lady Penh statue. From there the tour moves through the city's key monuments: the Royal Palace (photographed from outside), the Cambodia-Vietnam Friendship Monument, and the Independence Monument, built in 1958 to mark Cambodia's independence from French rule. You'll also stop at Wat Ounalom, a monastery built in 1442, and the National Museum, a traditional Cambodian structure from 1920 (exterior photos only). The guide explains the history and significance of each site as you move through the morning stops.

After midday, the focus shifts to Cambodia's recent history. At Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum (the former S21 prison where the Khmer Rouge detained thousands). You spend 90 minutes with an audio guide walking through the buildings and learning what happened there between 1975 and 1979. The Killing Field at Choeung Ek, 15 kilometers outside the city, follows. A documentary film at the site's small museum precedes the audio guide tour of the grounds where approximately 20,000 people were killed. Both sites require separate entrance fees and audio guides (USD 5 each for S21, USD 3 each for the Killing Field), paid in cash.

The tour ends at Russian Market, where you have time to browse Khmer products and local goods. Throughout the day, bottled water and Coke are provided. Cambodia beer is included after noon. Your guide is also your driver, and the van or tuk-tuk stays with the group. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included for city-center locations. The schedule is set by the tour leader, so staying with the group's timing is required.

What’s included

• English-speaking guide who also drives.
• hotel pickup and drop-off in the city center.
• bottled cold water and Coke throughout the day.
• Cambodia beer after noon.
• explanation of each site's history and significance.

Options for this experience

3 options

Small group tour in an air-conditioned vanGuide in English · 08:00Tour led by Sophoarn, with English commentary at every stop; an audio guide is used at the Killing Field and the Genocide Museum for more information. Duration: 8 hours. A 45-minute lunch break is included, but the meal is not in the price, and one meal with a drink costs approximately USD 10. Pickup and drop-off are in an air-conditioned Starex van. Pickup is only offered in the city centre; if your hotel is outside the city, you need to go to the meeting point at Wat Phnom. Pickup is included.

Shared tour by tuk-tukGuide in English · 08:00 and 09:00Pickup is included

Private vehicle for families of 1 to 7 peopleGuide in English · 08:00, 09:00 and 10:00Full-day private tour with an English-speaking driver/guide for a family of 1 up to 7 people. The price of $150 covers the whole group, so just select the 1-person price; your whole family is included. Duration: 9 hours, with flexible timing. Includes a Starex van and pickup.

You see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates & prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 08:00, 09:00 and 10:00

Book up toStart time

AgesAdult (12 to 90 years) · Under 12: can't be included in the booking

GroupUp to 7

Live guideEnglish

Audio 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$ 17

Prices and times updated 11 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelPublic transport nearbyNot for heart conditions

Operated by PP Explorer Tuk-Tuk and Taxi

Is this one for you?Choose the van tour if you prefer air conditioning and a slightly larger group. Choose the tuk-tuk if you want a more intimate experience and don't mind the open-air ride. Either way, the fixed itinerary and included transport mean the day holds together without you arranging stops or timing. You follow the guide's schedule and move through all 11 sites in sequence.

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Top questions

What's the difference between the van tour and the tuk-tuk tour?

The small group van tour holds up to 7 people and travels by air-conditioned van. The shared tuk-tuk tour holds up to 4 people and travels by open-air tuk-tuk. Both follow the same itinerary and are led by the same guide.

Are entrance fees included in the tour price?

No. Entrance fees to Wat Phnom (USD 1), Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum (USD 5), the audio guide at S21 (USD 5), Choeung Ek Killing Field (USD 3), and the audio guide there (USD 3) are paid separately in cash on the day. Other stops are free or photographed from outside.

How long do you spend at the Genocide Museum and Killing Field?

You spend approximately 90 minutes at Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum with the audio guide. At Choeung Ek, you watch a documentary film first, then tour the grounds with an audio guide. The total time depends on the group's pace.

Is lunch included?

Lunch is optional and arranged only if the group requests it. The tour does not include a set meal stop, though the guide can help arrange one depending on group preference.

What happens at the four-river intersection?

Near Independence Monument on Diamond Island, the guide shows you the confluence where the Tonle Sap, Mekong Upper, Mekong Lower, and Tonle Bassac rivers meet. This is a viewpoint stop rather than a destination site.

Do I need to be fit for this tour?

The tour is suitable for all fitness levels, though it is not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health due to the walking involved at multiple sites and the emotional intensity of the genocide sites.