15 Best Hostels for Travel to Cambodia
Hostels in Cambodia vary wildly, from jungle cabins in remote Khmer villages, to near luxury villas with indoor pools and rooftop bars in Phnom Penh. You can choose a hostel for only $2 per night or splurge for a private room for $40 per night and still share in the hostel social vibe most backpackers and young travelers have come to expect from South East Asia. So we’ve picked out the 8 most popular destinations in Cambodia, highlighting the best hostels in each place. Consider this our master list of hostel picks for Cambodia.
Unlike neighboring Vietnam, breakfast is rarely included in the hostel fee. Most of the hostels and even homestays have in house restaurants or will prepare a family dinner for a few dollars. So take the price of the hostel and add a $5-$8 USD for breakfast and dinner. It’s important to expect that before you go. I recommend determining if you are someone who absolutely needs a mosquito net and aircon before choosing a hostel. Not all hostels have them. I never get bit by mosquitoes, so I don’t mind not having a net. Read through our list of info on cash vs credit, check-in times and tour offering for hostels in Cambodia before moving on to the destinations.
A Few Words on Hostels in Cambodia
In this article, I’ll be using the term hostels to include a variety of accommodations. Cambodia isn’t as developed as neighboring Thailand or Vietnam, however the Angkor Temples attracts tourists from around the world, from young backpackers to rich seniors in their retirement years. Outside of the major cities and tourist centers, local homestays with a family may be your only choice of cheap accommodation.
Please Read: Mosquito nets are hit and miss in hostels in Cambodia, bring spray even for sleeping. Also, always bring toilet paper, most hostels have it but not all. Just always bring some. Check out our article on How to use a squat toilet in Asia, because you’ll need to. Hostels are not hotels, not all include towels, so be sure to bring your 5 hostel essentials. We also wrote a guide for the basic backpacking essentials covering things like travel adapters and microfiber towels.
Social Atmosphere
The one factor I value above all others when looking for a hostel is location. After that, it’s the social atmosphere. Usually, the best locations tend to attract great travelers. As a solo traveler, meeting awesome people is so important. It gets lonely on the road, so having a buddy to team up with for some sightseeing, bar hoping or tours is great. This is especially true for Angkor or other tours when you can split the cost of a Tuk-Tuk or local Guide.
Hostel Staff Service & Check in Times
Tourism is one of Cambodia’s biggest industries, many of the hostels in Cambodia are family owned and represent their only source of real income. $2-3 per person per night might not seem like a lot to a tourist, but it’s a family’s livelihood in Cambodia. I found the hostel staff and family owners extremely nice and helpful. But they always want to up-sell food, tours, booking bus tickets to their guests. It’s business.
When I arrived in Phnom Penh after 10 pm and had trouble finding a vacant hostel, the staff prepare an extra room despite the late hour and no booking. Given the arrival times of the night buses in Asia, which can range from 4 am to midnight, hostels open early and are staffed late.
Cash & Credit Hostels
Assume all hostels in Cambodia are cash only. Cash is in US dollars only.
Dorm Costs
A hostel in Siem Reap, outside of Angkor can be quite expensive at $15/night, with a pool, patio, bar and that precious aircon. But walk 5 minutes away and you’ll find hostels as low as $2/night with nothing but the essentials: A bed and a fan.
So assessing the value is very subjective. I spent over 4 months in Asia when I first visited Cambodia, so that $15/night was quite expensive. I could spend less for an entire week of hostels.
Booking Tours
Most hostels in Cambodia will recommend tours to their guests. When I went price shopping in Siem Reap, I found that my hostel offered a very good price. A tour agency will charge as much or more for the same tour. Unless it’s a specialty tour like off-roading around the Angkor Temples or an excursion to waterfalls 80 km out of town, most of the tours are the essentially the same. If you book through your hostel, you may even end up in the same group as other travelers who booked through an agency.
Banlung – North East
Banlung is a small town located in North East Cambodia near the Vietnam and Loas borders. Visiting Banlung is all about immersing yourself into the local village life and visiting the stunning nature parks. Picture rich jungle forests, beautiful waterfalls and little wooden houses. At the top of the list is Yeak Laom Volcanic Lake, a crater lake of crystal clear water over 48 m (157 ft) deep.
- Location Score: 7/10
- Air-con Rooms: No
- Private Rooms: Queen Bed with Ensuite Bathroom
- Bunks to a Room: 3 Bed Mixed Dorm
- Female Only Room: No
- Security Locker: No
- In-House Restaurant & Bar: Yes, Homestay Cooking
- Free to Use Kitchen: No
- Breakfast Included: No
- Towel: No
- Price: $3 USD per night for a single bed, $5 USD per night for a Private Room
The host, Puthea and his son run the small homestay on the edge of town. they offer local homecooked meals, can help book jungle trekking tours, rent motorbikes or give you a lift around town in their Tuk-Tuk. the rooms are spacious, the views from the deck ever more so.
- Location Score: 10/10
- Air-con Rooms: No
- Private Rooms: 1 Double Bed, Private Cabin
- Bunks to a Room: No dorms
- Female Only Room: No dorms
- Security Locker: No
- In-House Restaurant & Bar: Yes, Homestay Cooking
- Free to Use Kitchen: No
- Breakfast Included: No
- Towel: No
- Price: $5 USD per night for a 1 Double Bed room, $7 USD per night for a private cabin
Battambang – North West
Krong Battambang is the second largest city in Cambodia after the capital Phnom Penh. But it’s relatively small for an Asian city with only 200,000 people. It’s located in the North-West of Cambodia along the Sangker River.
Battambang has a long and interesting history. Once part of the Kingdom of Cambodia, it was annexed by the Siamese Kingdom (modern Thailand) and then ceded to the French Colonial Empire as part of the French Protectorate of Cambodia. But unlike Vietnam which the French invaded, it was King Norodom of Cambodia who requested the protection of the French in 1867.
The French began developing Battambang, creating an urban plan with grid style main roads, modern building and factories. They even had a railway to Phnom Penh constructed, although with local laborers. Today the train lines have re-opened to the city which is a strange mix of colonial architecture, surrounded by ancient Khmer temples and rural villages.
- Location Score: 10/10
- Air-con Rooms: No
- Private Rooms: 1 Private Single Bed, 1 Private Double Bed
- Bunks to a Room: No dorms
- Female Only Room: No
- Security Locker: Yes
- In-House Restaurant & Bar: Yes
- Free to Use Kitchen: No
- Breakfast Included: No
- Towel: Yes
- Price: $6 USD for a Private Single Bed, $11 USD for a Private Double Bed
- Location Score: 10/10
- Air-con Rooms: Yes
- Private Rooms: Double Bed Ensuite
- Bunks to a Room: 6 Bed Mixed Dorm
- Female Only Room:
- Security Locker: Safe Deposit Box
- In-House Restaurant & Bar: Yes
- Free to Use Kitchen: No
- Breakfast Included: No
- Towel: Yes
- Price: $6 USD for a bunk, $12+ for a Private Double Bed with Ensuite Bathroom
Kampot – South
Kampot is a small coastal town in Southern Cambodia. The town is famous for the nearby Bokor National Park. The mountains in the nature park are the main draw, but ongoing construction of a major casino is turning nature lovers towards other more pristine parks.
Kampot is another area with influences from French colonialism. There are many old buildings in the town and large pepper and fruit farms in the surrounding countryside. Most travelers visit Kampot for easy relaxation by the river, bike tours of the local villages and shopping in the old markets. For Hostels, you can go one of two ways: Modern Resorts or Village Hut, so I’ve included one of each.
- Location Score: 10/10
- Air-con Rooms: No
- Private Rooms: Double Bed, Double Bed Ensuite, 2 Double Bed Family Room
- Bunks to a Room: No
- Female Only Room: No
- Security Locker: No
- In-House Restaurant & Bar: Yes
- Free to Use Kitchen: No
- Breakfast Included: No
- Towel: No
- Price: $11.50 USD for a private Double, $17.25 USD for a 2 Bed Family Room
- Location Score: 10/10
- Air-con Rooms: Yes
- Private Rooms: Double Bed Ensuite, 3 Bed Ensuite
- Bunks to a Room: 4,6 & 10 Bed Mix Dorms
- Female Only Room: 4 Bed Female Dorm
- Security Locker: Yes
- In-House Restaurant & Bar: Yes
- Free to Use Kitchen: No
- Breakfast Included: No
- Towel: Yes
- Price: $6 USD for a bunk, $20 USD for a Private Double Ensuite
Kep – South
Kep is a small coastal town not far from Kampot in Southern Cambodia. Kep and Kampot are so close, you can often stay at one and rent a motorbike to visit the other. The advantage of staying in Kep is the proximity to the beautiful beach. Most of the places to stay in Kep are best for couples or larger groups. Hostels with bunks and a lot of solo travelers aren’t as common. The one advantage of Kep is staying within easy walking distance to the Beach and enjoying the peaceful countryside. Boats can take you to nearby Rabbit Island for a spa day on a remote island beach. Pollution like plastics and waste is an ongoing problem in Cambodia, so just adjust your expectations and wear sandals.
- Location Score: 7/10
- Air-con Rooms: No
- Private Rooms: 1 Single Bed, 1 Double Bed Ensuite, 2 Double Bed Ensuite, 3 Double Bed Ensuite
- Bunks to a Room: No Dorms
- Female Only Room: No Dorms
- Security Locker: No
- In-House Restaurant & Bar: Yes
- Free to Use Kitchen: No
- Breakfast Included: No
- Towel: Yes
- Price: $6 USD for a Single Bed, $12+ USD for a Double Bed with Ensuite
Khmer House is 2 km from the Kep Beach but bicycle rentals are available from $1.50/day. It’s walking distance fro ma number of shops, crab market and local restaurants. This isn’t a party hostel, it’s a little out of the way and optimal for couples rather than solo backpackers. Being out in the countryside, it’s very peaceful.
- Location Score: 8/10
- Air-con Rooms: No
- Private Rooms: 1 Single Bed Ensuite, 1 Double Bed Ensuite, 2 Double Bed, 3 double Bed Ensuite
- Bunks to a Room: No Dorms
- Female Only Room: No Dorms
- Security Locker: No, luggage storage
- In-House Restaurant & Bar: Yes
- Free to Use Kitchen: No
- Breakfast Included: No
- Towel: Yes
- Price: $15 USD for a Single Bed, $18+ USD for a Double Bed with Ensuite
Boat House is located very close to Kep Beach, but again it’s not a Solo Backpacker’s hostel. Most rooms are for two, although single are available you may find the social atmosphere lacking on your own. There are two main buildings, one French colonial and one local Khmer. Kep has many abandoned French Villas from the 1960s. You will often drive by them on the main roads. For solo travelers, I recommend staying in Kampot and taking a day trip to the nearby seaside beaches.
Kratie – North East
Kratie (kra-chey) is a s,all villate is North Eastern Cambodia. It’s not one of the more visited tourist destinations in Cambodia but has gained popularity among backpackers looking for a rural homestay.
The village is situated along the Mekong River and is popular for both river dolphin and bird watching. Simply, Kratie is a tranquil place, not likely to attract any party goers. Consider bringing a book to read and biking around to the nearby villages and temples.
- Location Score: 7/10
- Air-con Rooms: No
- Private Rooms: No
- Bunks to a Room: Futon Bed Dorm
- Female Only Room: No
- Security Locker: Yes
- In-House Restaurant & Bar: Yes
- Free to Use Kitchen: Yes
- Breakfast Included: Yes
- Towel: Yes
- Price: $8 USD per Futon
Pomelo Homestay is located on Kaoh Trong Island, in the middle of the Mekong River and across from the town of Kratie. This is a true homestay with a Khmer family, dining with them, enjoying their company and overcoming a slight language barrier as the host, Vireak is self taught English. If you’ve never experienced a homestay, understand that this isn’t a hotel, you are being welcomed into a local household to live as they do.
- Location Score: 10/10
- Air-con Rooms: Yes
- Private Rooms: 1 Private Twin Bed, 1 Double Bed Shared Bath, 1 Twin & 1 Queen Family Room Shared Bath
- Bunks to a Room: 6 Bed Mix Dorm
- Female Only Room: No
- Security Locker: Yes
- In-House Restaurant & Bar: Yes
- Free to Use Kitchen: No
- Breakfast Included: No
- Towel: Yes
- Price: $6 USD for a bunk, $17 USD for a Double Bed with Shared Bathroom
Phnom Penh – Capital City
Phnom Penh meaning “Penh’s Hill” is the capital and largest city in Cambodia with 1.5 million people. The city dates back to as early as the 1430s with modern settlements and flourished into a major industrial hub during the French Colonial era in the early 20th century. I spent a few days in Phnom Penh, visiting the infamous Killing Fields and S21 Prison Museum. It was a somber experience that still brings me to tears even 2 years later. The city also have a number of wonderful temples and even some remaining French architecture.
Phnom Penh was the only city in South Asia where I felt I wasn’t 100% safe walking around town late at night and I’m much larger than most men in Cambodia. “Feeling” unsafe isn’t an objective fact on the risk of crime, but nonetheless I was on edge a bit walking around. I recommend booking a cool hostel in Phnom Penh and partying there, rather than hitting up the bars in town.
- Location Score: 10/10
- Air-con Rooms: Yes
- Private Rooms: 1 Double Bed Shared Bath
- Bunks to a Room: 8 Bed Mixed Dorm
- Female Only Room: 8 Bed Female Dorm
- Security Locker: Yes
- In-House Restaurant & Bar:
- Free to Use Kitchen: No
- Breakfast Included: No
- Towel: Yes
- Price: $16.50 USD for a bunk, $35.50+ USD for a Private Room.
Feliz Hostel Bar & Cafe is perfectly located in downtown Phnom Penh, a short walk from the riverside and Royal Palace & Silver Pagoda. This is what I’d call a luxury hostel because it’s brand new, well equipped with amenities and aircon, has a rooftop bar with awesome views of the city. The food at the restaurant is cheap and incredible but there isn’t really a common room like you’d expect at most hostels. This isn’t a party hostel, and there is no pool. For those, I’d look at Mad Monkey below.
- Location Score: 9/10
- Air-con Rooms: Yes
- Private Rooms: 1 Twin Bed, 1 Double Bed Ensuite, 3 Twin Bed Shared Bathroom, 2 Double Bed Family Ensuite
- Bunks to a Room: 6, 8 ,12 & 22 Bed Mix Dorms
- Female Only Room: 8 Bed Female Dorm
- Security Locker: Yes
- In-House Restaurant & Bar: Yes
- Free to Use Kitchen: No
- Breakfast Included: No
- Towel: Yes
- Price: $5.50 for a bunk, $22+ USD for a Private Room
Siem Reap – Angkor Temples
Siem Reap is the large tourist town on the outskirts of Angkor, one of the most famous marvels of the ancient world. Angkor used to have up to 1 million people in the 11th to 12th century, putting on par with some of the largest cities of the ancient world, like Rome, Alexandria, Baghdad and Nanjing. I recommend doing the 3 day pass for Angkor over 5 days or more. There is a 1 day pass for Angkor but that’s not enough. It’s a once in a lifetime experience, go for 3 days with a rest day or two in between. Lounging around Siem Reap on a rest day is great too, stay in by the pool, visit the local markets and head out on the town after dark for some awesome partying! Pub street is a blast, it’s just one club after another all side by side. The party goers even break out into the streets with dancing like it’s Cambodian Mardi Gras!
- Location Score: 10/10
- Air-con Rooms: Yes
- Private Rooms: 2 Twin Beds Ensuite, 1 Double Bed Ensuite, 2 Double Bed Ensuite.
- Bunks to a Room: 10 Bed Mix Dorm
- Female Only Room: 10 Bed Female Dorm
- Security Locker: Yes
- In-House Restaurant & Bar: Yes
- Free to Use Kitchen: No
- Breakfast Included: No
- Towel: Yes
- Price: $10 USD for a bunk, $40+ fora Private Room
- Location Score: 10/10
- Air-con Rooms: Yes
- Private Rooms: 1 Double Bed Ensuite
- Bunks to a Room: 4,6 & 8 Bed Mix Dorm
- Female Only Room: 8 Bed Female Dorm
- Security Locker: Yes
- In-House Restaurant & Bar: Yes
- Free to Use Kitchen: No
- Breakfast Included: No
- Towel: Yes
- Price: $5 USD for a bunk, $31 USD for a Private Room
Sihanoukville – South
Sihanoukville is arguably the third most popular destination in Cambodia after Siem Reap and Phnom Penh. The coastal town is located in the South of Cambodia on the Gulf of Thailand. It was Cambodia first deep sea port town and developed quickly as a location for resort getaways back in the 1960s. But the town’s strategic importance as a port made it a target during the Khmer Rouge era. For many years bullet holes could be found in the walls of the town’s hotels like the famous 7 story Independence Hotel opened in the 1960s. Warning: A lot of the city is under construction, all day and night. It’s unavoidable.
The Khmer Rouge seized a US cargo ship in the late 1970s and naturally, the US bombed the town to pieces in response. It took decades to rebuild the town, which was hampered further by mass corruption of government officials. Hotel property along the beaches were seized and handed out like end of year Christmas bonuses to influential politicians every time there was a change of power in Phnom Penh. It’s fair the say the town has an interesting history.
- Location Score: 7/10
- Air-con Rooms: Yes
- Private Rooms: No
- Bunks to a Room: 6 & 8 Bed Mix Dorm
- Female Only Room: 8 Bed Female Dorm
- Security Locker: Yes
- In-House Restaurant & Bar: Yes
- Free to Use Kitchen: Yes
- Breakfast Included: No
- Towel: No
- Price: $9 USD for a bunk
- Location Score: 6/10
- Air-con Rooms: Yes, but not in all dorms
- Private Rooms: No
- Bunks to a Room: 6, 8 & 10 Bed Mix Dorm
- Female Only Room: No
- Security Locker: Yes
- In-House Restaurant & Bar: Yes
- Free to Use Kitchen: No
- Breakfast Included: No
- Towel: No
- Price: $8 USD for a bunk
BOHO is located way out of town but close to the Otres beach and this is a blessing given the construction work along the main strip of Sihanoukville. There is still some construction but it’s a little better around BOHO. The food is very good but the power goes out on occasions throughout the day. Again, I recommend staying for a night and then waking up early to get the ferry to the islands off the coast.
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More Info for Cambodia
If you are still planning your trip to Cambodia, check out our List of Articles for Cambodia.They are based on my own travels a few years ago and I also dive into some of the historical characters and history. I’ve been meaning to update the Angkor articles to the new format of the articles for China, Japan and Chile from my more recent trips, so stay tuned and subscribe to our blog.
For your pre-trip downtime, check out our List of Recommended Books, Movies and Podcasts! We are always adding more good stuff you might like.
Lastly, I recommend picking up a Prepaid SIM Card and downloading these Great Apps for Cambodia and the 15 essential travel apps for any country.
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