Where to stay · Phnom Penh · Cambodia
Where to stay in Phnom Penh
7 neighbourhoods compared, with the trade-offs hotel listings don't tell you.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Christophe95, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
For a first visit, stay in Riverside (Sisowath Quay). Guesthouses, bars and river views along the promenade facing the Tonle Sap. Best alternatives — families: Chroy Changvar.
Key facts
- First visit
- Riverside (Sisowath Quay)
- Families
- Chroy Changvar
- Budget
- Riverside (Sisowath Quay)
- Nightlife
- Riverside (Sisowath Quay)
Best area for each kind of trip
| Trip type | Area | Why |
|---|---|---|
| First-timers | Riverside (Sisowath Quay) | Guesthouses, bars and river views along the promenade facing the Tonle Sap |
| Families | Chroy Changvar | Peninsula across the Tonle Sap with river views back to the palace |
| Couples | Royal Palace and Street 240 | Boutique hotels, cafés and design shops in the quiet streets south of the palace |
| Budget | Riverside (Sisowath Quay) | Guesthouses, bars and river views along the promenade facing the Tonle Sap |
| Luxury | Chroy Changvar | Peninsula across the Tonle Sap with river views back to the palace |
| Nightlife | Riverside (Sisowath Quay) | Guesthouses, bars and river views along the promenade facing the Tonle Sap |
| Food lovers | BKK1 (Boeung Keng Kang 1) | Leafy expat district of restaurants, cafés and small bars south of the Independence Monument |
| Solo travellers | BKK1 (Boeung Keng Kang 1) | Leafy expat district of restaurants, cafés and small bars south of the Independence Monument |
| Shopping | Royal Palace and Street 240 | Boutique hotels, cafés and design shops in the quiet streets south of the palace |
| Quiet stays | Royal Palace and Street 240 | Boutique hotels, cafés and design shops in the quiet streets south of the palace |
Phnom Penh neighbourhoods in detail
$$ · Best for first-timers, nightlife and budget
Riverside (Sisowath Quay)
Sisowath Quay runs for about 3 km along the Tonle Sap from the Royal Palace north towards the Night Market, lined with hotels, cafés and bars facing the water. It is the most convenient base for first-timers, with the palace, National Museum and Wat Ounalom within walking distance and boats for sunset cruises leaving from the quay.
- Good
- Walk to the main sights; River views and evening promenade; Plenty of tuk-tuks and restaurants
- Watch out
- Touristy restaurants and touts; Traffic noise and some seedy bars on side streets
- Nearby
- Royal Palace, National Museum of Cambodia, Wat Ounalom, Sisowath Quay
$$$ · Best for couples, shopping, first-timers and quiet stays
Royal Palace and Street 240
Streets 240 and 240½, just south of the Royal Palace, are lined with small boutiques, bookshops and cafés under shady trees, and the surrounding blocks hold many of the city's boutique hotels with pools. It is calm at night yet a five-minute walk from the riverside and the National Museum.
- Good
- Central but quiet; Good boutique hotels with pools; Independent shops and cafés
- Watch out
- Fewer cheap eats than the markets; Limited nightlife
- Nearby
- Royal Palace, Silver Pagoda, National Museum of Cambodia, Independence Monument
$$$ · Best for food lovers, nightlife, couples and solo travellers
BKK1 (Boeung Keng Kang 1)
Boeung Keng Kang 1 is where much of the city's international dining is concentrated, from Khmer fine dining to French bistros and Japanese restaurants, alongside serviced apartments and mid-range hotels. Bassac Lane, a tiny alley off Street 308, packs several cocktail bars into a few metres.
- Good
- Widest choice of restaurants; Good bars and coffee; Quieter streets than the riverside
- Watch out
- A tuk-tuk ride from the riverside; Construction in some blocks
- Nearby
- Independence Monument, Bassac Lane, Wat Langka
$$ · Best for budget, food lovers, shopping and solo travellers
Toul Tom Poung
Toul Tom Poung grew up around the Russian Market and now mixes local life with independent cafés, small galleries, vintage shops and good-value guesthouses. Mornings are best for the market's food stalls and the noodle shops in surrounding streets.
- Good
- Local atmosphere with good cafés; Lower prices than the centre; Close to Tuol Sleng
- Watch out
- About 15 minutes by tuk-tuk to the riverside; Hot, crowded market lanes
- Nearby
- Russian Market, Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum
$$ · Best for culture, first-timers and shopping
Wat Phnom and Central Market
The area around Wat Phnom holds some of the city's best French colonial buildings, including the old post office, and the Raffles Hotel Le Royal from 1929. To the south-west, the domed Central Market and its surrounding streets are full of shops, jewellers and food stalls.
- Good
- Historic architecture; Central for markets and riverside; Wide range of hotel prices
- Watch out
- Heavy daytime traffic; Quiet after dark away from the river
- Nearby
- Wat Phnom, Central Market, Raffles Hotel Le Royal
$$$ · Best for quiet stays, families and luxury
Chroy Changvar
Chroy Changvar is the long peninsula between the Tonle Sap and the Mekong, reached by the Japanese Friendship Bridge. It holds large hotels and residential developments with views across the water to the riverside and the Royal Palace, and local riverside restaurants at its northern end.
- Good
- Calm, with big-hotel pools; Views back across the river; Closer to Koh Dach
- Watch out
- Bridge traffic to the centre; Few restaurants within walking distance
- Nearby
- Sisowath Quay, Koh Dach
$$$ · Best for luxury, families and shopping
Tonle Bassac and Koh Pich
South of the Royal Palace, the Tonle Bassac area and Koh Pich (Diamond Island) are the modern face of the city, with international chain hotels, the NagaWorld casino complex, Aeon Mall and convention halls. It suits travellers who want large hotels and malls rather than character.
- Good
- International hotels with full facilities; Malls with air-conditioned dining; Easy access to the airport road
- Watch out
- Little historic character; Spread out and car-dependent
- Nearby
- Aeon Mall, Independence Monument, Royal Palace
Areas compared
| Area | Price | Nearby |
|---|---|---|
| Riverside (Sisowath Quay) | $$ | Royal Palace, National Museum of Cambodia, Wat Ounalom, Sisowath Quay |
| Royal Palace and Street 240 | $$$ | Royal Palace, Silver Pagoda, National Museum of Cambodia, Independence Monument |
| BKK1 (Boeung Keng Kang 1) | $$$ | Independence Monument, Bassac Lane, Wat Langka |
| Toul Tom Poung | $$ | Russian Market, Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum |
| Wat Phnom and Central Market | $$ | Wat Phnom, Central Market, Raffles Hotel Le Royal |
| Chroy Changvar | $$$ | Sisowath Quay, Koh Dach |
| Tonle Bassac and Koh Pich | $$$ | Aeon Mall, Independence Monument, Royal Palace |
Getting to your hotel
Techo International Airport (KTI), which took over from the old Phnom Penh International Airport in 2025, lies roughly 20–30 km south of the centre. Allow about 45 minutes to an hour or more depending on traffic by taxi or ride-hailing car, and check the airport's own information for shuttle buses.
Questions travellers ask
+What is the best area to stay in Phnom Penh for first-time visitors?
Riverside (Sisowath Quay). Sisowath Quay runs for about 3 km along the Tonle Sap from the Royal Palace north towards the Night Market, lined with hotels, cafés and bars facing the water.
+Where should families stay in Phnom Penh?
Chroy Changvar: Calm, with big-hotel pools.
+Which area of Phnom Penh is best for a budget stay?
Riverside (Sisowath Quay) ($$): Guesthouses, bars and river views along the promenade facing the Tonle Sap.