For a long time Cambodia was closed off from visitors, its modern history preventing the world from seeing the wonder of its ancient history. And while some parts of the country are making up for lost time with the warmest of welcomes, Cambodia is still a country you can explore as you travel. One of the things we’ve noticed about the best places to stay in Cambodia is that there are plenty of really beautiful, really affordable options. Though there are also some exceptional hotels and resorts run by international companies where you can expect to pay the international going rate.

Angkor Wat appears on many bucket lists and will be the reason many of you are reading this page, and Siem Reap is now such a popular destination that it is home to one of Cambodia’s two international airports. There are some really incredible hotels in Siem Reap, and a vast range of options — it’s certainly not just backpacker hostels anymore! And Phnom Penh, the other major destination for visitors, is an extremely lively, cosmopolitan Asian city with the vast range of accommodation you’d expect, though much more of it is low-rise than in other Asian cities.

Where to Stay - which city/region?

• Phnom Penh is the glimmering, bustling capital, roofed in gold and run through by the mighty Mekong River, this is a city of ancient wealth and treasures, but also of chaotic streets and busy markets. This is the Asia of travellers' dreams: humid, fragrant, with physically challenging traffic and markets that will overwhelm, a city alternating between rags and great riches and with pre-colonial, colonial and post-colonial history to explore.
• Siem Reap is close to Angkor Wat and the great temples of this group, so it’s a firm marker on many Cambodian itineraries. But there’s a lot here to do besides, there are some incredible markets, some of the best restaurants in Cambodia, silk farms, botanical gardens, Cambodia’s most famous circus and this is also here you’ll find some of the best spas and resorts in Cambodia.
• Kompong Thom is another town close to a collection of ancient temples and historic sites. It’s less well known, but still extremely impressive.
• Battambang, Cambodia’s second largest city, is a gracefully deteriorating colonial charmer in a beautiful riverside setting. Here you’ll find generous boulevards, friendly, elegant cafes and some of the best places to stay in Cambodia if you like colonial architecture. However for many people the main reason to visit Battambang is to take one of the world’s great river trips, up the Sangker River to Siem Reap and Angkor Wat. The boat leaves at 7am every day and takes between four and 12 hours, depending on the time of year and the height of the river.
• Beachside Kep is known for its seafood markets (the crab markets are the most famous), for the Kep National Park and for its fading opulence. Many of its modernist mansions were evacuated under the Khmer Rouge, but having been rebuilt they’re now some of the best places to stay in Cambodia.
• Sihanoukville is on the coast too, lined by jungle. It’s a recently founded city, dating from the 1950s, to be Cambodia’s deep water port so it’s commercial round here. But there are also some incredible beaches. Tourism infrastructure is still developing, so now is a good time to go.
• Koh Rong is Cambodia’s paradise island, with 43 beaches, dense jungle and a magical phosphorescent ocean.
• Tatai is a picturesque village close to the Thai border, so some travellers pass though, but tourism here is still in its infancy and it’s still a great place for an escape in a relatively undiscovered spot. Expect rainforests with dramatically beautiful waterfalls followed by glassy calm waters and mangrove swamps. It’s a great place to kayak.
• Koh Kong is another small town by the Thai border.
• If you want to see Cambodia’s endangered river dolphins travel to Kratie, on the Mekong.

Whichever of our options you decide are the best places to stay in Cambodia for you our main advice is to try to get to know the folks looking after you. Cambodian’s are friendly, and many have impressive personal histories that they may not want to share, but which may colour their recommendations for your visit. And these are the people you should really be looking for advice from.

The Best Places to Stay in Cambodia

Some of the Best Hotels in Phnom Penh

• The Raffles Hotel Le Royal is Phnom Penh’s grand dame, a colonial beauty with slick, Art-Deco interiors, haute cuisine, elegant, lively bars, two swimming pools, the scent of frangipani everywhere and exceptional service.
• It might surprise you that with 70 rooms The Plantation is one of the largest hotels in Phnom Penh. Its rooms are generously proportioned, though, and housed in a combination of colonial era and Khmer style low-rise villas. The pool is one of the best in town, and they have a spa. Location-wise it's hard to beat: just behind the Royal Palace.
• The Pavillion is your quintessential Cambodian boutique hotel, rich with colonial charm, which comes from the building its 36 rooms occupy, but also plenty of Cambodian detail. There are two pools, one in the sun and one in the shade, and four plunge pools.
• The Rambutan Resort is a wonderfully revamped 1960s villa with 19 rooms in trendy Beung Keng Kang I. There’s a pool surrounded by tropical gardens, a spa, a reputable restaurant, a fun and friendly vibe and some great contemporary art on the walls.
• The Quay is a chic, little hotel close to the bustle of Sisowath Quay, with 16 rooms decorated in minimalist, sleek black and white. The bathrooms are especially noteworthy… There’s also a hot tub on the roof and a great restaurant.
• If you want to see Phnom Penh but not be right in the thick of the hubbub consider the Iroha Garden Hotel & Resort, a 25 room hotel a five minute drive, or 25 minute walk from the Royal Palace. The rooms here are individually designed in two styles: colonial or urban, and there’s a lush, tropical garden with a pool and an extensive spa menu.

For Ancient Cambodian Treasures

• The Shinta Mani Shack is only seven kilometres away from Angkor Wat, and makes for a very easy stay if you want to temple hop to your heart's content. There are 75 colonial themed rooms, a really striking pool and a spa.
• Templation in Siem Reap, is a luxurious, contemporary eco-hotel surround by lush gardens. There are 33 rooms with a minimalist, Japanese feel, all with outdoor bathrooms and enormous bathtubs. You’re close to the sights of Siem Reap, but also respecting the local environment, and relaxing at the same time. Tick.
• The FCC Angkor is a grand affair, formerly the residence of the governor under French rule, and now a chic, 31 room hotel. There are some beautiful traditional remnants in the large rooms with their floor to ceiling windows and private balconies, but there’s also all the mod. cons. and some great modern art.

For a Cambodian Jungle Adventure

• The Maisons Wat Kor is in Wat Kor village, a short distance outside Battambang. There are just ten rooms, arranged in traditional Khmer style houses with lots of wooden features. The restaurant serves traditional, local cuisine and the whole hotel is unfussy and spacious, with views of the gardens and jungle.
• Maison Polanka is just north of Wat Polanka outside Siem Reap, but it’s totally surrounded by jungle. There are just five Khmer timber houses in the complex, and a truly private, quiet atmosphere. The traditional cuisine in the restaurant is excellent.

For a Cambodian Escape

• On the coast in Kep, the Veranda Natural Resort is a 19 room jungle escape of Khmer style wooden bungalows with exposed stone feature walls and beautiful terraces opening onto a vast pool. There’s a Cambodian spa and a restaurant serving both Asian and Western cuisine. And there’s a ‘Happy Hut’ for your smalls if you want to spend some time in the ‘bar pool’ alone.
• If you want to escape, but still want to see the sights, the Navutu Dreams Resort and Wellness Retreat offers the perfect refuge post-day-trips. This 28 room resort, spa and wellness retreat has all the facilities you need to reset yourself, starting with the pool, spa and yoga and going on from there.

Some of the Most Romantic Hotels in Cambodia

• La Rose Boutique Hotel & Spa offers ten rooms decorated in a style that beautifully encapsulates the romance of French Indochina, but with a modern twist for comfort. Think dark wood four-poster beds and muted colours with flashes of red. There’s also a beautiful spa. And you’re just minutes away from Phnom Penh’s Royal Palace.
• Phnom Penh’s La Rose Suites is a tucked away collection of luxurious suites arranged around a beautiful saltwater pool. The restaurant is excellent and offers private cooking classes, plus they offer a complimentary massage in their spa.
• Dripping with colonial glamour and close to the jungle around Siem Reap, the Heritage Suites Hotel is a beautiful townhouse turned romantic getaway, with 26 rooms in the French colonial style. As well as the elegant bar, restaurant, pool and spa, they also have their own fleet of vintage cars you can swan around town in.
• Also in Siem Reap, the Belmond La Residence D’Angkor is a large, yet private and intimate hotel, with accommodation spread throughout private villas separated by tropical gardens covered by canopies. This is a beautiful, modern hotel with lots of uniquely Cambodian touches.
• It’s difficult to go past the name Raffles when it comes to romantic, elegant hotels and the Rafflees Grand Hotel D’Angkor is no exception. This historic hotel has greeted many a famous face through its French Art-Deco doors, and many dignitaries have soaked in these roil-top baths. Surrounded by 15 acres of private landscaped gardens this is a truly grand affair.

For Families

• If you’re travelling to Siem Reap with your kids in tow you’ll need somewhere for them to relax after their jungle treks to ancient temples, and the Victoria Angkor Resort and Spa offers just what they need, a huge pool and landscaped gardens — with a crocodile pool! And there’s a cooking school and other activities, and a Cambodian and French menu.
• For great value family accommodation in Siem Reap consider La Niche D’Angkor, a simple, modern hotel with 36 rooms which range in size through to triples. As well as a big pool in a jungle setting, this hotel serves Western as well as Cambodian dishes and offers complimentary babysitting.
• Families travelling to Phnom Penh might like The Kabuiki, a haven of child-friendly happiness located on the same street of the Cambodian Prime Minister’s house. There are 18 simple rooms and suites, a children’s pool as well as a pool, a well fenced garden for playing and children’s organised activities.
• Kep’s Samanea Beach Resort is a collection of 12 private villas alongside a private beach. Most of the villas are family size, with both dining and lounging space, plus you’re surrounded by lush gardens.

For Great Value

• The are plenty of new, great value hotels opening in Phnom Penh, but the Villa Langka stands out because of its beautiful verdant gardens surrounding a lovely pool area. its 48 rooms are spacious, with minimalist decor, complemented by a few Cambodian accents. You’re located just 200 metres from the Cambodian Independence Monument.
• The One Up Banana Hotel offers trendy, suite-style accommodation in Phnom Penh's cool Beung Keng Kang I neighbourhood. There are 14 modern, spacious rooms with hints at Khmer style, and a lovely terrace with views of the city and a lounge bar. And you’re just seven minutes from the Independence Monument.
• Also in Phnom Penh, The Blue Lime Hotel is a modern, airy, 23 room hotel in a quiet alley behind the National Gallery and near the Royal Palace. The tropical garden and luxurious looking salt-water pool behind the hotel are a lovely bonus. Some of the more expensive rooms have their own private plunge pools too.
• In a similar spot behind the Royal Palace and National Gallery is the Okay Boutique Hotel, a 40 room hotel which is very affordable but still feels quite luxurious. Its rooms are large and airy, in the classic Khmer style.

Prefer an Apartment or Private Villa?

• If you’d prefer to stay in an apartment or private villa we recommend you visit our online partner, booking.com.

Travel Information

• Cambodia has two international airports: Phnom Penh International Airport, located 7km away from the city centre, and Siem Reap International Airport, which is also about 7kms away from the centre of town. To fly to Phnom Penh you’ll need to go via Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur, Vientiane, Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh City or Beijing. To fly into Siem Reap you can travel via the above airports plus Doha, Singapore and Hanoi.
• If you’re thinking about hiring a car we recommend checking what our online partners, Rentalcars have to offer.
• The high season for visiting Cambodia is between November and March, which is the dry season, and between November and February it’s also the cool season. Between March and May it’s hot — 33–35°C, and between June and October it’s rainy, which can involve regular daily deluges, but can also be exceptionally beautiful

Still not sure?

• You could refine your search to the best places to stay in Phnom Penh?
• or the best places to stay in Siem Reap? or the best places to stay in Battambang?
• or Sihanoukville?
• or you could contact one of our friendly Gurus for personalised advice.