Phnom Penh Full-Day Private City & History Tour

Highlights

Inclusions

Itinerary

1. Following hotel pickup, begin your tour at the majestic Royal Palace complex, the official residence of the Cambodian monarch. Walk through landscaped tropical gardens to admire the grand Throne Hall, used for royal receptions and coronations. Next, enter the celebrated Silver Pagoda, paved with over 5,000 hand-crafted silver floor tiles and housing precious national treasures, including a life-size golden Buddha encrusted with nearly 10,000 diamonds.

   2 h

2. Visit Wat Phnom, the sacred hilltop sanctuary that gave Phnom Penh its name. Founded in 1372 by Grandma Penh (Daun Penh) to house sacred Buddha statues recovered from the river, this historic pagoda sits atop a leafy 27-meter mound. Explore the central shrine hall and eastern shrine where locals gather daily to pray, make offerings, and seek blessings.

   1 h

3. Gain deep historical insight into Cambodia's recent past at Tuol Sleng (S-21). Once a secondary school, this site was converted by the Khmer Rouge regime into a high-security interrogation and detention center. Today, the preserved buildings and photography exhibits serve as a poignant memorial honoring the victims and shedding light on the country's journey toward healing.

   2 h

4. Continue to Choeung Ek, located just outside the city center. Once a quiet orchard and cemetery, it served as the final execution ground for prisoners transported from S-21. Pay respect at the central Memorial Stupa housing preserved relics, offering a quiet, reflective space to understand the resilience of the Cambodian spirit.

   1 h

5. Conclude your tour with a stop at Phnom Penh's iconic Independence Monument. Built in 1958 to celebrate Cambodia’s independence from French rule, this striking Angkorian-style lotus tower stands as a proud tribute to national heroes. Enjoy the surrounding parkland ambiance before a comfortable drop-off back at your hotel.

   1 hAdmission included

Cancellation

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the experience starts, for a full refund.

Reviews

Ratings come from 1 reviews collected by our booking partner. They are travellers' own words, in the order they were written — never reordered to flatter the experience.

Know before you go

How it compares in Phnom Penh

• Its from-price is close to the median of the 573 experiences we list in Phnom Penh.
• Its length is typical for the group.
• By number of reviews it ranks 375 of 573.
• The operator lists free cancellation on it.

About Phnom Penh

Phnom Penh is Cambodia's riverside capital, where a gilded royal palace, French-era boulevards and markets sit beside memorials to the Khmer Rouge years.

The Royal Palace, with its tall pointed spires, and the neighbouring Silver Pagoda, whose floor is laid with silver tiles, stand close to the riverfront promenade where the Mekong and Tonlé Sap meet. Wat Phnom, a small hill temple, gave the city its name, and the National Museum, in a red Khmer-style building, holds a major collection of Angkorian sculpture. Art Deco Central Market and the busy Russian Market are good places to wander.

Top-ranked sights in Phnom Penh: Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum (S-21), Choeung Ek Genocidal Center (Choeung Ek Killing Fields), Royal Palace.

See all 573 experiences in Phnom Penh