Phnom Penh is compact, and the central districts hold almost every sight in this guide, so the choice of hotel is mostly about atmosphere, pool and price rather than distance. A tuk-tuk gets you from one to the other in a few minutes. Here are the three areas that work best for a first visit, with our picks in each.
Daun Penh and Wat Phnom: for colonial character
The leafy streets around Wat Phnom, the old French quarter and the riverside avenues are the most atmospheric part of the city, with colonial buildings, cafes and the riverfront a short walk away. Raffles Hotel Le Royal is the splurge: a 1929 landmark near Wat Phnom with two outdoor pools in tropical gardens, Raffles Spa, the Elephant Bar and free parking. If you want one memorable night or a week in elegant surroundings, this is the address. Okay Boutique Hotel, on Street 19Z in the same district, is the family-friendly mid-range pick, with a pool, a children’s pool, a spa, a rooftop terrace, free parking and family rooms for up to four adults.
Chaktomuk and the palace area: for sightseeing on foot
Street 19 and the streets around the Royal Palace and National Museum put you within walking distance of the sights and the riverfront promenade, where the sunset cruise leaves. Pavilion is our quiet, design-minded pick: a French-Khmer heritage villa on Street 19 with two big pools, an à la carte breakfast beside the water, afternoon tea, and rooms that the booking page lists as adults only. For a budget stay in the same part of town, Mad Monkey on Street 242 offers dorms from four to twelve beds, private rooms, a pool, a restaurant and bar, and its own tours to the memorial sites, in a social atmosphere that suits solo travellers.
Tonle Bassac: for space and dining
South of the palace, the Tonle Bassac district around Sothearos Boulevard is where you find larger hotels and modern restaurants. Sofitel Phnom Penh Phokeethra sits in about seven hectares of gardens, 500 metres from the Independence Monument and about a kilometre from the National Museum. It has four restaurants, a spa, a guest pool and a sports club with tennis, squash and its own pool, which makes it a good base for travellers who like everything under one roof.
The two newer arrivals
Rosewood Phnom Penh occupies the upper floors of the Vattanac Capital Tower on Monivong Boulevard, with an indoor lap pool, a spa, five restaurants and free parking, and Central Market and Wat Phnom are each within a short walk. Hotel Cambodiana is the big riverside family hotel near the Royal Palace and the Independence Monument, with an outdoor pool, a children’s pool, tennis courts and a playground. Between them they cover the modern luxury and the family resort ends of the market.
Matching base to trip
For a special occasion and a sense of history, choose Raffles Hotel Le Royal. For families, Okay Boutique Hotel. For a quiet couple’s stay near the palace, Pavilion. For variety, dining and space, Sofitel Phnom Penh Phokeethra. For a low-cost, sociable bed, Mad Monkey.
How long to stay
A stay of three to four nights covers the central sights at a relaxed pace, and a week allows for the memorial sites, a cooking class and a day trip as well. If you are combining Phnom Penh with Siem Reap or the coast, it is usually better to take the longer stay in the capital at the start of the trip, when the city is new, and use the later nights for the temples or the beach. Hotels in the central districts are so close to one another that switching bases mid-stay is rarely worth the effort, unless you want to try both the colonial and the modern ends of the market.
Practical tips
November to February is high season, with the coolest, driest weather and the highest prices, so book early. A pool matters more here than almost anywhere, given the heat, so check what the hotel offers. Ask whether breakfast and airport pickups are included, since they are surcharged at some properties, and ask your hotel to arrange a trusted tuk-tuk driver or car for the memorial sites and day trips. Check that a hotel suits your party before booking, particularly if you are travelling with children.
