Cambodia might be a small country but it really delivers a mighty punch when it comes to history, culture, and unforgettable landscapes. But, if you only have five days then you’ll need to be strategic.
This 5 day Cambodia Itinerary focuses on two of Cambodia’s must-visit destinations: Siem Reap, home to the legendary Angkor Wat, and Phnom Penh, the country’s capital.
From Cambodia’s ancient temples to its sobering history, this trip hits the highlights without feeling rushed. Here’s how to make the most of five days in Cambodia.
5 Day Cambodia Itinerary Overview
Day 1: Arrive in Siem Reap, check into your hotel, walk around Siem Reap and the market, watch the sunset at Phnom Bakheng, or check out a cultural show.
Day 2: Sunrise at Angkor Wat, explore 4-5 other temples, see another show or go to Pub Street.
Day 3: Visit more temples at Angkor Wat, visit the APOPO center, get a massage.
Day 4: Travel to Phnom Penh, visit the Cambodia National Museum, visit the Royal Palace, take a sunset cruise
Day 5: Visit Tuol Sleng, the Killing Fields, Central Market, Wat Ounalom, Wat Phnom, or a tour to Silk Island.
How many days should you spend in Cambodia
I’ll be honest, 5 days in Cambodia is not nearly enough time to see everything, but it is enough to see the top sites. You could easily spend 1-2 weeks just in Siem Reap alone but that’s not a luxury everyone has.
I think 2 weeks in Cambodia is the perfect amount of time to see the best places in Cambodia, but it does depend on what your interests are. So, this Cambodia itinerary will focus on hitting the highlights of Cambodia in 5 days.
Where to go in Cambodia in 5 days
This 5 day Cambodia itinerary will split the time between Krong Siem Reap and Phonm Penh. You’ll get to see the amazing Angkor Wat, plus a dozen or so other temples in the Angkor Archaeological Park, and learn about Cambodia’s ancient history and culture.
Then, you’ll go to the capital of Phnom Penh where you’ll learn about the recent tragic history of Cambodia’s genocide, a tough but important part of understanding Cambodia and it’s people.
Getting to Cambodia
If you’re arriving in Cambodia from North America, Europe, or pretty much anywhere outside of Asia, you won’t find direct flights to Cambodia. You’ll have to fly to another major city in Asia first before flying to Cambodia.
The closest international airports outside of Cambodia are in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam and Bangkok Thailand. Both of those countries will have direct flights to either Siem Reap International Airport or Phnom Penh International Airport.
This Cambodia travel itinerary starts in Siem Reap but you can start in Phnom Penh if that makes sense for your flights. Whichever way you decide to plan your Cambodia itinerary, you’ll still be able to fit everything in your schedule that I recommend.
Things to know before visiting Cambodia
Currency
Cambodia’s currency is the Riel but they also use US dollars. You can pull US dollars out of an ATM but be aware that shops, tuk-tuk drivers, and any place you’d spend money will not take the money if there’s anything wrong with it.
That means, it cannot have any tears, be worn, or have any kind of flaw. Nobody will accept it if there’s anything wrong with it.
Visa
Most people visiting Cambodia will need a visa to enter the country. You can get an e-visa online before arrival or get a visa on arrival at the airport or border if you’re traveling by land. The visa will cost about $30 and will allow you to stay in the country for up to 30 days.
Angkor Wat Ticket
You will need a ticket for Angkor Wat in order to enter the archeological park. There are 1-day, 3-day, and 7-day tickets available for purchase. You can either get your ticket in person at the Angkor Wat Ticket Office or you can buy one online.
You will be required to show your Angkor Wat Pass when you enter the park and every time you enter a specific temple.
Phone Service
It’s hard to live without our phones but it’s getting much easier to get service in another country with an e-sim. You used to have to trade out your sim card for a local sim card and pray you didn’t lose your original one.
Now, you get an e-sim for your phone before you leave home and just activate it once you’re in Cambodia. We use Airalo for our e-sims wherever we travel and have never had an issue. It’s a much more affordable way to get service than your cell phone’s international plan.
Dress Code for Temples
Temples in Cambodia are important cultural and religious places and visitors are expected to follow a strict dress code when entering. You’ll need to wear clothing that covers your knees and shoulders.
It’s really no different than walking into a church where you would be expected to dress respectfully.
Day 1: Arrival in Cambodia
Arrive at the Siem Reap International Airport and catch a taxi, shuttle, or tuk tuk to the city of Siem Reap. The airport is about 30-40 minutes away from town but a taxi shouldn’t cost more than $25-30.
There are shuttle bus services that are much lower in price ($9) and will drop you off at the Siem Reap bus station. From there, you can take a tuk-tuk to your hotel for a few dollars.
Check into your hotel in Siem Reap – I recommend somewhere near Pub Street – and either use the first day to walk around and explore Siem Reap or you can purchase your Angkor Wat Ticket and head straight to the temples.
Book your Siem Reap Hotel
These three Siem Reap Hotels are close to the main area of Siem Reap, near Pub Street, restaurants, markets, and massage spots.
- Luxury: The Khmer Mansion Boutique Hotel is located just a short walk from Pub Street and the Angkor Night Market. It has a restaurant, swimming pool, and free wi-fi.
- Mid-Range: The Royal Crown Hotel & Spa is where we stayed and we had no complaints. It has 2 outdoor pools, large rooms, and a laundry service. It’s just a 5 minute walk from Pub Street and all the restaurants.
- Budget: Normally, when you think of budget hotels you think run down and maybe a bit seedy but in Cambodia, the budget hotels are just as nice as the resorts. The Boutique Indochine d’Angkor is also located just a short 5 minute walk from Pub Street and has a swimming pool, spa, and restaurant. The rooms are very spacious and go on sale often at less than $25 a night!
If you want to go to the temples on arrival day, I recommend visiting either Phnom Bakheng or Pre Rup at sunset. Phnom Bakheng is the highest point in the complex and has a small view of Angkor Wat. The crowd is limited to just 300 people so you’ll want to get there at least an hour before sunset.
Pre Rup is another good place for watching the sunset and you’ll have views of the surrounding rice fields and jungle. This was one of my favorite temples.
If you want to hold off on visiting the temples, use the time to walk around Siem Reap and visit the market, or go to the Apsara Theatre for dinner and a performance of dancers, singers, and musicians showcasing Cambodia’s cultural heritage.
Another must-see show is the Phare Cambodian Circus. The program was created in 1994 by refugees after the Khmer Rouge regime. The school helps poor and troubled kids learn a skill where they can make a decent wage and get out of poverty.
You can enjoy drinks and dinner and shop for souvenirs made by local artists. This is an outdoor event so be sure to bring your bug spray!
Both are amazing and you could do one on your arrival day and one on another night in Siem Reap.
Getting around Siem REap and Angkor Wat
There are a few different ways to get around Siem Reap and they are all pretty inexpensive. You could rent a car but I think that would be more of a hassle than the other options. The streets are fairly narrow and parking could be an issue. The Angkor Wat Complex is about 4km from town.
Rent a Scooter
This is our absolute favorite way to get around in Asia and the best part is you don’t need to know how to shift gears. You just turn it on and go. You can rent a scooter for around $5-10 a day. It’s definetly nice to just hop on the bike and go.
Tuk-Tuk or Taxi
You can’t walk more than 10 feet without seeing a taxi or tuk-tuk – they are everywhere. They’re also affordable. You can hire a driver for a few hours or for the day for $20 or less. And yes, everything is negotiable so you can haggle.
Be aware that most tuk-tuks only seat 3 people so if you have more than that in your party you’ll need two of them. The great part about getting a driver is they know where they’re going. That will save you lots of time since you’re on a tight schedule.
You don’t need to hire a guide to visit Angkor Wat but you will get some benefits by doing so. First, you’ll have a way to get there and back to Siem Reap without having to figure it out on your own. The guides know where everything is and you won’t have to worry about finding the temples.
You can just hire a driver and have him take you to the places on your list OR you can book a 2-day Angkor Wat Tour with a sunrise and sunset visit. It includes an English speaking guide and a visit to 11 temples in an air-conditioned minibus and hotel pickup. This 2-day tour is only $35!
Day 2: Siem Reap and Angkor Wat
If you’re opting to visit Angkor Wat on your own, then you should visit Angkor Wat at sunrise. Yep, you’ll be waking up around 4:30am to watch the sunrise with a few thousand other people. It will be crowded but worth it.
Tip: You can ask your hotel to arrange for a tuk-tuk to pick you up at your hotel for the sunrise. You can also just approach any tuk-tuk driver you see on the street and arrange it yourself. Don’t pay in advance though, wait until after they show up.
Once the sunrise is over head inside to visit the temple. Angkor Wat is very large so expect to spend at least 2-3 hours there, not including the time for the sunrise.
TIP: If you want to go to sunrise at Angkor Wat, you should try to do this on your first morning there if the weather looks cooperative. If it’s not, then you’ll have another day to try.
When you’re done at Angkor Wat, you can head to one of the cafes in the park or back to Siem Reap to eat some breakfast or have an early lunch.
By now, you’ll have become very familiar with the Cambodian heat and humidity so be sure you have water with you at all times. You’ll probably drink more than you’ve ever had in one day!
There are 72 temples in the park so with just 2 days to explore, you’ll want to visit the best temples in Siem Reap. I would visit the following temples on this day:
- Ta Prohm (Tomb Raider Temple)
- Bayon
- Banteay Kdei
- Pre Rup (if you didn’t go the day before for sunset)
- Chau Say Tevoda
You don’t have to visit all of these on this day BUT if you’re only visiting the Angkor Wat Park for one day, then these are the best ones to visit.
When you’re done temple hopping, head back to your hotel to cool off in the pool and get ready to go out for the evening. You can catch one of the shows I mentioned earlier if you want and/or go to Pub Street for dinner, drinks, music, and people watching.
Day 3: Angkor Wat Temples
Today will be your final day in Siem Reap. If you didn’t see the Angkor Wat sunrise yesterday, you’ll definitely want to visit it this morning. You also might want to see the other temples I mentioned for day 2 if you didn’t get to them all.
And if you aren’t tired of temples, here’s a few more I recommend visiting:
- Thommanon
- Preah Khan
- East Mebon
After you’ve visited all the temples you want to see OR if you’ve decided to do something in Siem Reap besides temples, I would visit the APOPO Visitor Center next. This is where they train rats to find landmines. Yes, that’s a real thing!
They train African Giant Pouched Rats to detect landmines in Cambodia and you can learn all about how they do it. It’s a great way to support this important and necessary program and it’s just a 10 minute tuk-tuk ride from Pub Street.
There is a lot to do and see in Siem Reap and a few other options are to take a day trip to the floating villages at Tonle Sap Lake or to Kulen National Park to cool off in waterfalls.
There are also some local activities you could do like take a Khmer Cooking Class or the Angkor Zipline.
In the afternoon, relax with a massage, cool off in the pool, and head to dinner and enjoy your last night in Siem Reap.
There is so much to do and see in Siem Reap and the surrounding area. You could spend a week here easily. While this itinerary is for 5 days in Cambodia, you could extend your time in Siem Reap if there are other things you want to see.
Day 4: Travel to Phnom Penh
Today you’re leaving Siem Reap for Phnom Penh. You can either fly to Phnom Penh, a quick 40 minute flight, or take a 6-7 hour bus ride. The flight will cost more than the bus but it’s fast. With just 5 days to visit Cambodia, I would opt for the flight. This will give you time to explore Phnom Penh in the afternoon and evening.
Book your Phnom Penh Hotel
These three Phnom Penh Hotels are close to the Riverside and the Royal Palace. That area is where locals and visitors hang out and there are restaurants and bars everywhere.
- Luxury: Raffles hotel Le Royal is located near Wat Phnom Monastery and within walking distance to the riverfront and Royal Palace. It has a pool, two restaurants and is just 20 minutes from the airport. This hotel is stunning!
- Mid-Range: The Plantation Urban Resort & Spa is located right behind the Royal Palace and close to all the major sites. The rooms are large and the hotel has two swimming pools and a restaurant and bar.
- Budget: The Poolside Villa is a great option for those on a tight budget. As you’ve probably guessed by the name, it does have a pool and while the rooms aren’t fancy, they are roomy and have their own private bathroom. It’s in a great location close to the riverfront and Royal Palace.
If you fly, you’ll have time to explore 2-3 activities after you arrive like visiting the Cambodia National Museum, the Royal Palace & Silver Pagoda, and taking a sunset cruise on the Mekong River.
You don’t need to book your sunset cruise ahead of time because there are boats along the Sisowath Quay (the riverside promenade) that you can just walk up to and book on the spot.
However, I recommend taking this cruise that includes a BBQ buffet and all the beer and soft drinks you can drink in 1.5 hours! You will need to book that ahead of time to make sure you get a seat. They’ll even pick you up at your hotel.
Taking a bus to Phnom Penh is cheaper than flying, but not by much. You can still reach Phnom Penh early enough to walk along the riverside promenade and take a sunset cruise on the Mekong.
If you aren’t completely wiped out, check out the Phnom Penh Night Market which is near the riverside and pick up some last minute souvenirs. They’re open from 5pm to 11pm every day.
Day 5: Phnom Penh
Today is your one and only full day in Phnom Penh. The two main sites you’ll visit today are the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, also known as S-21, and the Choeung Ek Killing Fields.
In 1975, the Khmer Rouge, led by Pol Pot, took control of Cambodia and imposed one of the most brutal regimes in modern history. Their goal was to create a classless, agrarian society, forcing millions out of cities into rural labor camps.
Intellectuals, professionals, and even those who wore glasses (seen as a sign of education) were targeted and executed.
Over the next four years, an estimated 1.5 to 2 million people (about a quarter of Cambodia’s population) died from starvation, overwork, disease, or execution. The most infamous killing site, Choeung Ek Killing Fields, and the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum (S-21 Prison) in Phnom Penh serve as stark reminders of this dark period.
The Khmer Rouge was finally overthrown in 1979, but the scars of their rule still shape Cambodia today.
S-21 is located in Phnom Penh and the Killing Fields is located about 20 minutes away by car. You can visit both as a tour where you’ll be picked up at your hotel and taken to both places, or you can visit them on your own.
The Killing Fields and S-21 tour will last about 4 hours total and you’ll get picked up from your hotel. Besides the benefit of not having to worry about transportation, you’ll also get the benefit of having a knowledgeable guide who can tell you more than what you’d get on your own.
Book your Killing Fields and S-21 Tour
Afterwards, grab some lunch and then in the afternoon you can check out Central Market, Wat Ounalom – one of Phnom Penh’s most important temples, or Wat Phnom, Phnom Penh’s most famous temple.
Another option for the afternoon is to take a tour to Silk Island where you can watch artisans handcraft textiles using ancient techniques.
In the evening you can take the sunset cruise if you didn’t do it yesterday, get some dinner and have drinks on a rooftop bar along the riverside.
Just like Siem Reap, there is much more to do in Phnom Penh than this itinerary for Cambodia allows. If you feel like you need more time in both places you could easily add an extra day to each place so you can see more.
Day 6: Farewell Cambodia
It’s time to leave Cambodia today and while five days in Cambodia might not be enough to see everything, it’s plenty of time to experience the country’s most iconic sights.
From the ancient temples of Angkor to the powerful history of Phnom Penh, this Cambodia 5 day itinerary gives a balance of beauty and cultural depth.
