Phnom Penh: Where to Stay
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Phnom Penh’s hotel scene splits cleanly by area rather than by brand: three neighborhoods cover almost everyone’s needs, and Cambodia’s low cost of living means budget-to-luxury all sits closer together in price than you’d expect elsewhere in Southeast Asia.
Where to base yourself
| Area | Best for | Notable |
|---|---|---|
| Riverside / Daun Penh | Walking to the Palace and Museum | Raffles Hotel Le Royal, the historic grande dame |
| BKK1 (Boeung Keng Kang 1) | Cafés, nightlife, an expat-friendly pace | Rosewood Phnom Penh, atop Vattanac Capital Tower |
| Tonle Bassac | Quieter, near Aeon Mall | Fewer tourist crowds, easy tuk-tuk reach to the center |
Riverside and Daun Penh: the walkable base
This is the central choice, close enough to the Royal Palace, National Museum and Sisowath Quay to cover on foot. Raffles Hotel Le Royal anchors the area’s history, a colonial-era luxury property with a long guest list of visiting dignitaries; beyond it, this district runs the full range from guesthouses to boutique hotels within a short walk of the river.
BKK1: cafés, nightlife and Rosewood
Boeung Keng Kang 1 is the upscale, expat-driven district, dense with cafés and the city’s more polished nightlife. Rosewood Phnom Penh, occupying the top floors of the Vattanac Capital tower, is the standout luxury address here, with skyline views the riverside can’t match. It’s a short tuk-tuk ride rather than a walk to most sightseeing, worth knowing before you book if you want to avoid daily rides back to the center.
Tonle Bassac: quieter, near Aeon Mall
Tonle Bassac trades some walkability for quiet, sitting near Aeon Mall’s shops and its ice rink, useful if you want an AC-driven break built into your stay. It’s less geared toward first-time sightseeing convenience than Riverside or BKK1, better suited to a longer stay or a return visit.
Booking notes
Cambodia is genuinely cheap by regional standards, so budget and mid-range options both run well below what the same standard costs in Bangkok or Singapore. Check current Phnom Penh hotel rates before booking, prices move with the season, and book further ahead if your dates land near the Water Festival in late November, when riverside rooms fill fastest.
For the fuller trip plan around your base, see our Phnom Penh guide and our 3-day itinerary .