Cambodia

Where to stay in Cambodia: best areas and types of hotel

For a first trip, stay in Siem Reap, 3–4 nights, within walking distance of Pub Street or the old market, so you can start Angkor before sunrise. Add Phnom Penh for 2–3 nights on the riverside, and the coast only if you have a spare week.

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Updated Sep 20265 min read

GuideCambodia

Key facts

Best base for Angkor: Siem Reap, central or old-market area; 10–20 minutes by tuk-tuk to the ticket office and Angkor Wat
Best city base: Phnom Penh riverside or Daun Penh; walkable to the palace and museum
Coast base: Kampot or Kep for a calm river-and-crab stay; Koh Rong islands for beaches with basic comforts
Typical room pricecheck: US$10–20 guesthouse, US$25–60 mid-range hotel with pool, US$80–200 upscale resort (2026 estimate)
Currency: US dollar for most hotel prices; riel for change (about 4,000–4,100 KHR per US$)
Book aheadcheck: Nov–Feb and around Khmer New Year (mid-April); a few days is usually enough outside those windows
Power: Types A, C and G plugs, 230 V 50 Hz; bring an adapter
Tipping: Not expected; US$1–2 for a tuk-tuk driver or porter is common

Quick answer

Base in Siem Reap for the temples, Phnom Penh for the capital, and one coastal stop if your trip runs longer than a week. In Siem Reap, the old-market and Pub Street area keeps you close to food and tuk-tuks; in Phnom Penh, the riverside and Daun Penh put the palace, museum and evening walk within reach. Book the first two nights before you fly, then decide the rest once you know your dates.

Summary table: area, month and price

Use this as a starting filter. Prices are 2026 estimates for a double room in high season; the same room can cost 30–50% less in the green season (May–October).

Siem Reap: 3–4 nights for a first Angkor visit.
Phnom Penh: 2–3 nights, more if you want the museums properly.
Coast: 3 nights minimum, because transfers eat a day each way.

Summary table: area, month and price
Area or city	Best for	Best months	Typical double room (2026 estimate)
Siem Reap, old market / Pub Street	Angkor temples, food, night market	Nov–Feb	US$15–60
Siem Reap, riverside or Wat Bo	Quieter nights, pools, walkable cafés	Nov–Feb	US$25–120
Phnom Penh, riverside / Daun Penh	Palace, museum, restaurants, bars	Nov–Feb	US$20–90
Phnom Penh, BKK1 / Tonle Bassac	Longer stays, cafés, apartments	Nov–Feb	US$35–120
Kampot	River town, pepper farms, quiet days	Nov–Apr	US$12–50
Kep	Crab market, sea views, short break	Nov–Apr	US$20–80
Koh Rong and Koh Rong Sanloem	Beaches, simple bungalows	Dec–Apr	US$15–80
Battambang	Countryside, circus, colonial streets	Nov–Feb	US$10–40
Kratie	Mekong, dolphins, bike rides	Nov–Mar	US$10–35

Rates move with demand; treat these as bands, not quotes (check).

Choosing your area step by step

Start with the reason you came. If Angkor is the point, Siem Reap is the base and the only real question is which side of town. The old-market and Pub Street blocks are the busiest and most convenient: you can walk to dinner, and tuk-tuk drivers know every guesthouse. Wat Bo and the riverside are a short ride away, quieter at night, and often better value for a pool.

In Phnom Penh, the riverside and Daun Penh suit a short first visit because the Royal Palace, the National Museum and the evening promenade are walkable. BKK1 and Tonle Bassac are for longer stays, with cafés, gyms and serviced apartments. Both areas are a 20–40 minute ride from the airport depending on traffic.

For the coast, Kampot and Kep are the calm choice: river views, pepper farms and the crab market, with rooms from simple guesthouses to small boutique hotels. Koh Rong and Koh Rong Sanloem are for beaches and basic comforts; power and water can be limited, and boats stop in rough weather. Sihanoukville is mainly a transport hub for the islands rather than a place to spend a holiday.

Match the room type to the trip. Guesthouses and hostels are cheap and social, mid-range hotels with a pool are the sweet spot in Siem Reap, and upscale resorts cluster around Siem Reap and the islands. Check whether the rate includes breakfast, airport pickup and air conditioning, since these swing the real cost more than the headline price.

Finally, check the location on a map before you book. A hotel advertised as "Siem Reap centre" can still be a 15-minute walk from the old market, and in Phnom Penh a river view often means a busy road. Read the last few months of reviews for noise, construction and water pressure.

Decide the anchor: temples, city or coast.
Pick a neighbourhood inside that anchor, not a specific hotel first.
Check walking distance to food and transport on a map.
Confirm AC, breakfast and airport transfer in the rate.
Book the first two nights, keep the rest flexible.

Notes and things to watch

High season runs roughly November to February, when the weather is driest and rates peak. Khmer New Year in mid-April fills buses and hotels for a few days, and the green season brings afternoon rain, lower prices and greener countryside. If your dates fall in those windows, book earlier than you would otherwise.

Pay in US dollars for hotels; riel comes back as change and is fine for small purchases. Cards work in most mid-range and upscale places, but guesthouses and island bungalows often want cash. Carry small notes.

Safety basics are ordinary: use a hotel safe or a locked bag for your passport copy, keep the original somewhere secure, and agree the tuk-tuk fare before you get in. Travel insurance is worth having for the islands and for motorbike rentals, where cover is often excluded unless you hold the right licence.

Book ahead for Nov–Feb and mid-April.
Cash for guesthouses and islands; cards for city hotels.
Agree tuk-tuk fares first; keep a passport copy separate.
Check insurance covers motorbikes and island transfers.

Questions people ask

Where is the best area to stay in Cambodia?

Siem Reap for a first trip, because it is the base for Angkor and has the widest choice of rooms. Add Phnom Penh for 2–3 nights on the riverside, and Kampot, Kep or the Koh Rong islands if you have time for the coast.

How much does a hotel cost in Cambodia?

As a 2026 estimate, guesthouses and hostels run about US$10–20 a night, mid-range hotels with a pool US$25–60, and upscale resorts US$80–200. Green-season rates are often 30–50% lower than in high season.

When should I book accommodation in Cambodia?

Book the first two nights before you arrive, and reserve earlier for November–February and Khmer New Year in mid-April, when the best rooms fill. Outside those windows, a few days ahead is usually enough.

Is it better to stay in Siem Reap or Phnom Penh?

Stay in Siem Reap if Angkor is your main reason for coming; it is the temple base with the most hotels and restaurants. Phnom Penh suits city sights, museums and the riverside, and works well as a 2–3 night stop.

Should I stay on Koh Rong or in Sihanoukville?

Choose Koh Rong or Koh Rong Sanloem for the beach itself, accepting simple bungalows and limited power. Sihanoukville is mostly a ferry and bus hub, so many travellers pass through rather than stay.

Do Cambodian hotels take cards?

Mid-range and upscale hotels in Siem Reap and Phnom Penh usually accept cards. Guesthouses, island bungalows and smaller coastal places often prefer US dollars in cash, so carry small notes.

Deep dive

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