I have had friends visit Phnom Penh in the past, who said they were underwhelmed by Cambodia's capital, or the city can be avoided altogether, but I have also had friends visit who said they were pleasantly surprised. So I thought it was about time I check it out for myself.

On first impressions, I found the city to be pretty chaotic and quite dirty in places if I'm honest, but after spending a few days there I realised there was more to Phnom Penh then I first thought. The city has a very interesting, and quite sobering at times, history, which I thoroughly enjoyed learning about. The nightlife is vibrant and the markets have a real buzz about them. Highlights of my trip included, visiting the iconic Royal Palace, taking a tour of the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, and enjoying a sunset cruise along the Mekong River. I think a lot of your experience depends on where you stay and how you plan your days. I spent 3 days there in 2024, and feel that was enough time.

There are some beautiful hotels to stay at, to make the most out of your visit, with some having wonderful views over the river and all having outstanding service. Here are my six recommended hotels to check out, offering a range of style, comfort and affordability.

Hyatt Regency

Overview

• Rating: 5 Star

• Location: Located in the Daun Penh area, within walking distance of the Royal Palace, National Museum, and Riverside.

• Rooms: Rooms are spacious, elegantly designed, with a high standard of amenities, including smart TVs.

• Dining: Good mix of international and Khmer cuisine at the hotel’s restaurants. Market Cafe is an all day restaurant, serving the breakfast buffet, afternoon tea and a la carte options. FiveFive is a very cool rooftop restaurant and bar, serving a selection of meats, fresh seafood and cocktails.

• Facilities: Rooftop infinity pool, well equipped gym, spa and event/business facilities.

• Design: Very modern and contemporary design, with subtle Khmer touches.

• Service: Professional, friendly and attentive staff, who speak good English.

The Hyatt Regency is one of the best hotels in Phnom Penh in my opinion, it has a very stylish modern design, with amazing facilities like the rooftop infinity pool and the FiveFive rooftop restaurant. The hotel is well positioned in the city centre, close to the riverside and a short walk to the Royal Palace. Is at a higher price point then the other hotels mentioned in this list, but if you are after a luxury stay in Phnom Penh then it is worth the price.

Price Range: Starting from approximately $160-$180 per night (prices can vary depending on time of year and room type)

55 Street 178, Phnom Penh 12206

NagaWorld 2

Overview

• Rating: 5 Star

• Location: Located along the Riverside area, close to Independence Monument.

• Rooms: Modern and spacious rooms with comfortable bedding and stylish decor. High end amenities, including rain showers, minibars and premium toiletries.

• Dining: There are multiple restaurants serving a variety of international food, including Chinese, Western and Cambodian specialties. There is a good quality breakfast buffet, with a wide variety of options.

• Facilities: Good size outdoor pool, spa and well equipped gym are available for guests (located in Naga 1).

• Design: Grand modern design, with bold colours.

• Service: Friendly and attentive service.

NagaWorld 2 is an extension of the NagaWorld complex in the centre of Phnom Penh, only a short walk from the riverside. The hotel is heavily focused on its casino and various entertainment options, with regular live performances and events. The facilities at the hotel are some of the best in the city, with multiple on site restaurants, bars and shops, as well as the large outdoor pool, spa and gym. The hotel does have a very modern, international style though, so does lack the traditional Cambodian aesthetics that you can find at other hotels in the area, if that was what you were after.

Price Range: Starting from approximately $70-$80 per night (prices can vary depending on time of year and room type)

Chhe Tonle Park, Samdech Hun Sen St, 120101, Phnom Penh

Tribe Hotel

Overview:

• Rating: 4 Star

• Location: Situated in the Post Office Square area, a short distance from the Mekong River.

• Rooms: The rooms are very stylish, and come with features like under bed storage, high quality bedding, and high end amenities.

• Dining: The TRIBE Express café is open 24 hours a day, offering snacks, drinks, and coffee. The rooftop restaurant, Hemisphere, serves a mix of Asian and international cuisine.

• Facilities: The hotel features a good size outdoor pool, gym and business/event facilities. On the ground floor there is a co-working space, perfect for digital nomads.

• Design: Very modern minimalistic design, with an industrial style interior, showing exposed pipes, and bold colours.

• Service: Very friendly and helpful staff

TRIBE is a relatively new hotel, opening in 2022, so is very stylish and modern, with a vibrant, community oriented approach, making it a good choice for digital nomads and remote workers. The hotel is located in the Post Office Square area of Phnom Penh, close to the riverside, markets and multiple restaurants. Rooms are well designed and comfortable. This hotel is maybe suited more towards younger solo travellers and couples.

Price Range: Starting from approximately $90-$110 per night (rates can vary depending on time of year and room type)

No 47 Corner St 01 And St 94 Village 9, Phnom Penh 12021

Harmony Hotel

Overview

• Rating: 4 Star

• Location: Centrally located near the Riverside area, close to the Royal Palace, and markets.

• Rooms: Rooms have very comfortable beds, are clean, spacious, and well equipped with amenities. Some rooms offer views across the river.

• Dining: Rooftop bar and restaurant, serving a range of Western and Asian food. Breakfast buffet available on the 2nd floor.

• Facilities: Rooftop infinity pool, small gym and small car park.

• Design: Modern and clean design, with a very warm comfortable feel.

• Service: The hotel staff are very polite and helpful.

Harmony Hotel is a great mid-range option, located in a central position in Phnom Penh, close to the riverside with many bars and restaurants. Rooms are very comfortable, with a warm feel and are of a good size. The rooftop pool, is really nice with stunning views over the river, but is of a modest size, so the loungers can go quite quickly. For me, this hotel is great value for money in a nice central location.

Price Range: Starting from approximately $55-$70 per night (rates can vary depending on time of year and room type)

25 Oknha Ouk Lonn St. (148), Phnom Penh

Sun & Moon Urban Hotel

Overview

• Rating: 4 Star

• Location: Situated in central Phnom Penh on Street 136, close to the nightlife area and within a 5 minute walk to the Riverside and 10 minute walk to Central Market.

• Rooms: Bright and colourful rooms, with modern amenities.

• Dining: The ground floor restaurant offers a range of international and local dishes. Breakfast buffet offers a good variety and is of good quality.

• Facilities: The hotel includes a rooftop pool, gym, spa, and sauna. A business centre and meeting rooms are also available.

• Design: The hotel is modern with a bright and urban decor.

• Service: Staff are very helpful and polite.

The Sun & Moon Urban Hotel is a very modern hotel with a bright urban design. It has a good range of facilities, with a well equipped gym, rooftop bar and amazing rooftop infinity pool. The hotel may be more suitable to younger travellers and couples though, rather than families or those seeking a high end luxury hotels, as the surroundings are quite lively, with it being located near (2 minute walk) the nightlife area of Street 136. I would point out though, that I wasn't disturbed by any outside noise during my stay.

Price Range: Starting from approximately $50-$70 per night (rates can vary depending on time of year and room type)

68, corner of street 136 and 15 Phar Kandal 1, Phnom Penh

Ohana Hotel

Overview

• Rating: 4 Star

• Location: Centrally located in Phnom Penh (Opposite Harmony Hotel mentioned above). Positioned just a 2 minute walk to the Mekong River promenade.

• Rooms: Rooms are clean, spacious, and well equipped with amenities. Many rooms offer balconies river views.

• Dining: The rooftop restaurant offers a mix of Cambodian and Western dishes, with a good breakfast buffet

• Facilities: 2 swimming pools, jacuzzi, gym and free parking.

• Design: Traditional and colourful design.

• Service: The hotel staff are polite and helpful.

The Ohana hotel is more of a budget friendly option on this list, but offers very good value for money given its location near the riverside. Rooms are comfortable and spacious, but the decor could benefit from updating.

Price Range: Starting from approximately $40-$70 per night (rates can vary depending on time of year and room type)

4&6 Street 148 Phsar Kandal Phnom Penh, Phnom Penh 12204

Final Thoughts

There are a wide range of places to stay in the city, and the above hotels give you a good choice , striking a balance between affordability, style, and comfort. Phnom Penh is definitely worth a visit, but I feel 3 to 4 days is enough time to spend there, as once I had visited the markets, Royal Palace, Killing Fields and Genocide Museum, I didn't feel there was much else to occupy my day with. The nightlife is entertaining, but gets repetitive quite quickly, as it is not vast.

After Phnom Penh, I moved on to Siem Reap, and for me this is the better city to visit in Cambodia and somewhere I would happily spend more time. Please see my blog on Siem Reap