Where to stay in Phnom Penh: neighbourhoods compared

Phnom Penh is compact, so no central neighbourhood is a bad choice, but they have distinct characters. Here is how the main ones compare for a visitor.

BKK1: the all-rounder

Boeung Keng Kang 1 is the district most first-timers and returning visitors settle on. It's walkable, leafy in parts, and dense with cafés, wine bars, bakeries and mid-range to upper hotels. It's also where much of the remote-work and long-stay crowd lives, so services skew international. Downside: it's a 10–15 minute ride from the riverfront, and prices here are the highest in the city. Good for: first trips, longer stays, anyone who wants coffee and dinner within a short walk.

Riverside: the view, and the noise

Riverside puts you on Sisowath Quay with the Mekong out front and the Royal Palace a short walk away. It's the most "holiday" part of town: rooftop bars, tourist restaurants, river breeze at night. It can be loud and a little hustly right on the strip. Good for: short stays focused on sights, sunset drinks, people who want to step out of the hotel into the action.

Daun Penh: old town character

Daun Penh is the historic core: colonial-era buildings, Wat Phnom, the Post Office square, and a mix of boutique hotels and guesthouses. It blends into Riverside on its eastern edge. Slightly quieter than the quay itself, with a strong sense of place. Good for: travellers who like walkable old quarters and being near the museums and monuments.

Tonle Bassac: new towers and the Koh Pich crowd

Tonle Bassac runs south from BKK1 toward the diamond-shaped Koh Pich (Diamond Island) development. It's the district of newer high-rises, serviced apartments, malls and a growing restaurant scene. More spread out; you'll ride more than walk. Good for: longer stays in a serviced apartment, business trips, anyone who wants a newer building with a pool and gym.

Tuol Tom Poung: local, creative, cheaper

Tuol Tom Poung, known to visitors as the "Russian Market" area, has become the city's design-and-cafe quarter: independent coffee shops, tailors, homeware stores and a well-known covered market. It feels more residential and more Cambodian than BKK1, at lower prices. Good for: repeat visitors, people staying a week or more, anyone who wants a neighbourhood rather than a hotel strip.

Quick guide

• First trip, want it easy: BKK1.
• Short trip, here for the sights: Riverside or Daun Penh.
• Two weeks or more: Tuol Tom Poung or a serviced apartment in Tonle Bassac.
• Working while you travel: BKK1 for walkability, Tonle Bassac for building amenities.

Whichever you pick, the Phnom Penh directory lets you filter places by area so you can see what's within walking distance of your hotel.