Where to Stay in Cambodia: Beaches, Cities, Resorts, and More

In this swift guide, Amber Kampot have brought you the 6 best destinations in the country. We’ve briefly covered the highlights of every hotspot, along with details on who’ll like each one. And to help you on your way, we’ve brought you two accommodation options (one affordable, one luxury) for each destination, with a short description of each. Expect history and heritage, outdoor escapes, some slick city destinations, and a lot of tucked-away luxury. Here’s exactly where you should stay in Cambodia…

SIEM REAP

 Best for: temple-hunters, people who like touristy areas, and some easy-to-access cultural fun.

Why you should stay in Siem Reap?

When most tourists think of Cambodia, they think of Angkor Wat. The biggest religious complex in the world, it’s one of the most famous places in Southeast Asia. And as you might already know, Siem Reap is the best base for exploring it. The city is only 5km (3 miles) from the temple site, and thousands of tourists venture between the two places every day. Other perks of staying in Siem Reap include quiet riversides, the iconic Pub Street (for affordable drinks and late nights), flavor-packed night markets, some surprising pockets of culture and class (think cooking classes, Phare circus, and lots of fine dining), excursions to the floating villages of nearby Tonle Sap, and hidden-away slices of small-town old-world charm.  

Best luxury option in Siem Reap: Two Seasons 

It’s tough to combine cozy with classy, but this 5-star hotel does exactly that. You also get a rooftop infinity pool, great on-site food, perpetually-smiling staff, a central-but-quiet location, and huge comfy beds.

Best low-budget option in Siem Reap: The Twizt Lifestyle Hostel 

Much more impressive than your average hostel, this place offers the perfect blend of sociability and seclusion. Perfect for making friends while enjoying a little elegance. 

KAMPOT

 Best for: Luxury-lovers, those who like small towns, and anyone eager for authenticity.

Why you should stay in Kampot?

Sleepy little Kampot is possibly the most loveable place in all of Cambodia—like most travelers who venture here, you’ll come for a few days, then want to stay forever. It’s a charming corner of laid-back authenticity… in a region where few corners of laid-back authenticity still exist. 

Other high points include close proximity to beaches (and islands!), mountainous and misty national parks, day trips to waterfalls and caves, hyper-local markets, lazy river cruises, luxury resorts, and what might just be the best food in all of Cambodia. If you want to get away from busy crowds and tourist hordes, Kampot is the best place to do it.

For more on the town, here’s our guide to the 10 best things to do in Kampot.

Best luxury option in Kampot: Amber Kampot 

Of course, we can’t mention Kampot without mentioning our own award-winning high-end resort. It combines elegance with authenticity, and serves up lots of luxury without any pretense. Our private-resort villas offer pools, privacy, comfort and class—and all with a laconic backdrop of tree-covered foothills. We also offer wellness packages, fine-dining experiences, and lots of cultural immersion. 

Best low-budget option in Siem Rep: Monkey Republic

Another better-than-your-average hostel, this place offers both private and non-private rooms. Other plus points include bike hire, daily yoga classes, on-site craft beers, a welcoming atmosphere, and a lovely hostel dog.

PHNOM PENH

 Best for: big-city people, anyone who likes bustle, and learning about recent history.

Why you should stay in Phnom Penh?

While Cambodia’s capital once had a (largely unfair) reputation for being a little grimy and grubby, it’s long since shrugged off that label. It’s now a pretty hip place, featuring wine bars, chic cafes, hipster-magnet coworking spaces, trendy eateries, and a whole lot more.… but despite that new-found modernity, Phnom Penh hasn’t lost its identity. You can still expect heady scents of street food. Tooting tuk tuks. Non-stop nightlife. Shoulder-to-shoulder market stalls. And plenty more busy-city southeast-Asian clichés. And, of course, Phnom Penh is also a great spot for sightseeing. It offers some of the most famous tourist spots in Cambodia, including the huge Royal Palace, and the harrowing (but necessary) realities of both Toul Sleng Genocide Museum and Choeung Ek Killing Fields. If you’re a big-city lover, this is where you’ll want to stay in Cambodia.

Best luxury option in Phnom Penh: Rosewood

This world-class hotel is one of the most prestigious venues in the region. It was recently voted as ‘best city hotel in Asia’ by Travel & Leisure… and it also won the ‘best city hotel in Cambodia’ award in their best-for-luxury category. Expect great Mekong views, twice-daily room service, nods to Cambodian culture, and one of the best breakfasts you’ve ever eaten.

Best low-budget option in Phnom Penh: Vacation Boutique Hotel

Way more impressive than your average budget hotel, this place combines affordability with excellent aesthetics. Close to the Royal Palace, its high points include spacious rooms, a perfect location, and a cozy on-site bar.

KEP

 Best for: Beach bums, quiet-sands seekers, and fish-loving foodies.

Why you should stay in Kep?

Right beside Kampot, mainland Kep is one of the most appealing and alluring beachside spots in all of Southeast Asia. If you want a high-end shoreline vacation with a relaxed crowd, this is where you’ll want to stay in Cambodia. Other Kep perks include tucked-away beaches, the best seafood in Cambodia (including lots of tasty blue crab), some world-class sunsets, and the hikes and hills of easy-to-access Kep National Park. it’s an underrated area… but perhaps not for too much longer.

Pro tip: Because Kampot and Kep are so close to one another (around 20 km/12 miles), many tourists use one as a base to explore the other. If you want a laid-back no-fuss vacation, we recommend doing exactly that.

Best luxury option in Kep: Veranda Natural Resort

Sitting inside the green calm of Kep National Park, this resort offers wooden bungalows, hilltop views, and excellent on-site food. It’s like camping in the jungle, but without any of the drawbacks of actually camping in the jungle. (… or, of course, if you want to use Kampot as a base for exploring Kep, you could stay with us at the even-more-luxurious Amber Kampot!)

Best low-budget option in Phnom Penh: Khmer Hands

A welcoming and homely guesthouse, Khmer Hands is also green and scenic, but a chunk more affordable. You get sea views and hill views, a friendly family host, and close proximity to the town’s iconic crab market.

KOH RONG 

 Best for: Young backpackers, busy-beach lovers, and anyone who likes to party.

Why you should stay in Koh Rong?

Sitting off the west coast of Cambodia’s mainland, Koh Rong is pretty close to both Kampot and Kep. But the island is very different from its nearby neighbors. Instead of laconic luxury, Koh Rong is more famous for its busy bustle. Popular with backpackers and young folks, it offers low-cost hostels, all-night parties, enticing drinks deals, and an exuberant bunch of baby-faced island-hoppers. But wander just vaguely beyond that, and you’ll also find some pockets of nature and class. Highlights include affordable but excellent seaside bungalows, white-sand beaches, and inviting forests and trails. 

Pro tip: for something similar but quieter, consider the very-nearby island of Koh Rong Sanloem. 

Best luxury option in Koh Rong: Golden Beach Resort

Only a 2-minute walk from Sok San Beach, this resort is more peaceful and private than most other Koh Rong accommodations. It’s clean and comfortable, and it offers an outdoor swimming pool (along with many more adventures).

Best low-budget option in Koh Rong: Lily’s Riverhouse

A little more rudimentary than most other accommodations we’ve recommended, but a wonderful balance of laid-back and local. Expect warm welcomes, family-cooked meals, some of the island’s best sunrises, and lots of rustic wood.

KRATIE 

 Best for: Dolphin-seeking, those who like lazy villages, and heading a little under the radar.

Why you should stay in Kratie

 Another small riverside town, Kratie is most famous as the nation’s best base for dolphin-spotting. Head slightly north from here, and you can watch highly-endangered freshwater dolphins as they rush down the river. But the relaxing town itself is also a great place to absorb a slice of real life. Sights include traditional stilted homes, many rice fields and lotus farms, local markets, non-touristy temples, and a turtle conservation center. If you like small destinations, you’ll love the place. It’s the perfect balance between well-known and not-so-well known, offering infrastructure without artifice.

Best luxury option in Kratie: Privada Lodge

You won’t find a huge number of elegant options in Kratie—but this is the best of them. Situated right beside the town’s central market, it’s homely and welcoming, with kooky decor and colorful rooms. If you like unique and unusual places, you’ll love it. The beds are comfortable, and the breakfasts are great. 

Best low-budget option in Kratie: Sorya Guesthouse

Basic but smile-inducing, this welcoming guesthouse offers bike hire, very-clean rooms, and a range of options for all budgets. You also get riverside views, kayaking tours, and a very friendly atmosphere.

Where to Stay in Cambodia: Final Thoughts

Okay, that’s the end of this guide—and that’s where to stay in Cambodia!

Again, if you’re looking for classy and cozy in Cambodia, we recommend our Amber Kampot resort. We offer laid-back luxury, some of the most elegant overnight stays in the nation, and a bunch of local-led adventures and experiences. We give you authentic cultural immersion, but without any compromise on class.

For more information on the region, read our guides to the most popular destinations in Southeast Asia, and the best places to visit in Cambodia.

Thanks for reading, thanks for stopping by, and hopefully we’ll see you soon. Enjoy Cambodia!