Backpackers in Cambodia, congrats on choosing Cambodia as your next destination. We want to introduce you to the 3 best hostels in Phnom Penh to kick start your adventure.
In this list, we share our own favorite places we enjoyed the fullest; perfect for solo-travellers, couples, and also adult travellers.
Make sure you read through our best hostels in Cambodia and the best hostels in Koh Rong.
Your shortcut:
- Mad Monkey Phnom Penh – perfect for solo travellers
- Onederz Hostel – great for female solo travellers
- Sacred Lotus Cafe & Homestay – top pick for backpackers
Money-saving tip: Compare hostel prices with Hostelz.com. They compare prices from Hostelworld, Booking.com and others with 1 click.
This busy capital is a rainbow of opportunity. And it’s very affordable! Not only was this once the hub for the Khmer Empire, it now has a walkable riverfront lined with bars, parks and must-see sights.
As for great hostels in Phnom Penh? Prepare for outdoor pools and great dorms -and lots of fun. Perhaps surprisingly, Phnom Penh is known for its party scene.
In this guide you will come across a mix of hostels that offer party vibes and a more relaxed atmosphere.
This guide is perfect for YOU, when you…
- are tired of crappy hostels!
- want a social Hostel to actually meet people
- are happy to spend $1 to $2 more for a much better experience
We want all traveller types to be happy – scroll through and find the best hostel for you.
- Introduction
- 3 best hostels in detail
- Cheapest hostels in Phnom Penh
- Best hostels in Phnom Penh for solo travellers
- Fun party hostels in Phnom Penh
- How to book?
- More Phnom Penh Hostels worth a mention
- Discounts and promo codes
- All hostel and sights on a map
- FAQ
- Flights
You can find all 5 Star Hostels here with Hostelgeeks and all guides to “Best Hostels In” here.
Quick Introduction to Phnom Penh
Average price for a bed: Hostels in Phnom Penh cost 4€ – 8€ per night for a bed in a dorm. A private room starts from 16€ up to 40€ per night. This is a rough average just to give you an idea.
Prices always depend on season and holidays. Please always check exact rates on Hostelworld.com or Booking.com.
Check-In and Check Out: The average check-in time is from 15:00 (3pm), while the Check Out time is before 11:00 (11am). Hostels usually offer luggage storage in case you arrive earlier or leave later. Make sure you check if luggage storage is free or if there is an extra cost.
🎁 New to Hostels? Read our guide to staying in a Hostel for the First Time here. We especially recommend reading:
- How to book hostels? (and websites to save $)
- 23 clever items: the hostel packing list to download
- How does the Hostelworld App work exactly? Our Advanced Guide
The 3 Best Hostels in Phnom Penh
Let’s jump right into the boutique hostels in Phnom Penh.
- Mad Monkey Phnom Penh – perfect for solo travellers
- Onederz Hostel Cambodia – great for female solo travellers
- Sacred Lotus Cafe & Homestay – top pick for backpackers
We put all three accommodation on the map, you will find the map at the end of the article.
Overview: Best Hostels by Traveler Type
| 🦸 Solo Traveler: | Onederz Hostel |
| 🙎♀️ best for Female Solo Traveler: | Onederz Hostel |
| 🥳 Party Hostel: | Mad Monkey Phnom Penh |
| 👩❤️👨Couple Hostel: | Onederz Hostel |
| 👨👩👦 Family Hostel: | RS III Location Hostel |
| 👩💻 For Digital Nomads: | Mad Monkey Phnom Penh |
| 🎒 For Backpackers: | Sacred Lotus Plant-Based Cafe x Homstay |
| 🌱 For Vegans: | Sacred Lotus Plant-Based Cafe x Homstay |
1. Mad Monkey Phnom Penh
Take off your shoes and come inside to discover the original Mad Monkey Phnom Penh hostel.
Mad Monkey has a seriously strong hostel game and is easily one of the best hostels in Phnom Penh.
Actually scrap that: it is THE best place to stay in Phnom Penh! This is without doubt the choice for social butterflies, whether you’re travelling solo or with your friends.
Don’t even think about leaving the hostel until you have done these 5 things:
- Swim in the outdoor pool
2. Sign up for at least 1 of the awesome tours
3. Enjoy a drink at the poolside bar
4. Challenge someone to a game of football
5. Check out the restaurant menu
I mean come on, why would you want to leave when you have all of that to enjoy?
And of course there is even more to mention.
Let us touch upon the rooms, though don’t get over-excited as they are rather basic. That’s because Mad Monkey wants you to dump your bags and join the fun.
There’s so much opportunity to socialise and chill – it’s your choice. Dorms range from 6-22 beds, with a lovely 8-bed female dorm thrown in for good measure.
Each bed has a plug socket, light, linen & under bed storage. Yet, there are no privacy curtains here which is a shame.
Be aware: most dorms are close to the bar so noise can be heard. The female dorm is the quietest option.
On top of that there are double, triple and twin privates available.
If you love activities and tours, Mad Monkey won’t disappoint. Here they offer all kinds of things from pub crawls to trips to the Killing Fields. No doubt the best place to wind down is the pool. Equally this is the best place to get the night started before heading up to the rooftop bar.
Location: although central, the main sights are still a little walk from the hostel. There is access to public transport which the staff will happily help you with.
Important: You can purchase a so-called Golden Ticket by Mad Monkey. Stay 30, 60 or 90 days in their hostels at a super low rate and one-time payment. Check more info about Golden Ticket here.
This is one of the best hostels in Phnom Penh for
- Solo travellers
- Party lovers
Compare prices and read reviews at: Booking.com | Hostelworld
2. Onederz Hostel
Onederz Hostel is an easy choice if what you’re after is top of the line facilities, fantastic location and a chilled ambience.
Our #2 recommendation veers away from the party scene. It’s time to kick back and relax!
Without doubt the coolest part about this hostel is the rooftop with river view.
Up here it is possible to enjoy the views either under the sun or more comfortably in the shade. There’s even a little bar selling cold drinks!
Let’s have a sneaky peak at the room options:
- 4 & 8-bed female dorms
- 4 & 8-bed mixed dorms
- Private double room
The box-like bunks have all the little necessities including a light, plug, mirror and little shelf.
Everyone is entitled to their own large locker, and the staff will even lend you a padlock if you don’t have one!
In case you need to check your emails, there are 2 computers available 24 hours a day. That goes for reception, too.
Down in the lounge you’ll find a sofa, beanbags and a TV in case none of the books take your fancy.
For a few extra coins you can choose between 5 breakfast menus to kick start your day. We think it’s brilliant value for money.
Yet never fear – tea and coffee is available for free throughout the day.
Location: Onederz Phnom Penh is located in the riverside area which is both safe and quiet. There’s a great public walk way along the river perfect for that morning run or a gentle stroll.
This is one of the best hostels in Cambodia Phnom Penh for
- Female solo travellers
- Older travellers
Compare prices and read reviews at: Booking.com | Hostelworld
3. Sacred Lotus Cafe & Homestay
Welcome to the first ever vegan homestay in Phnom Penh!
That’s right, this lovely new cafe/homestay is a haven for plant-based travellers that want to enjoy a dedicated space where animal products can be completely avoided.
Sacred Lotus Plant-Based Cafe x Homstay is ran by a young couple from England and Cambodia and they have chosen a beautiful historical building to set up their accommodation.
“At the ground floor, we are serving local and western comfort food. At the evening you can see the busy Russian market from our lovely rooftop.”
Super cool: 5% of all profits made from community events is given to underprivileged local children.
So, alongside the really awesome onsite cafe, there is also a selection of rooms to sleep in. They include:
- 10-bed mixed dorm
- Double budget room
- Twin budget room
Be aware that the bunk beds in the dorm room are directly next to each other, but they do all have curtains to give a bit of privacy.
If that feels a bit too cosy for you, for a few extra coins you could upgrade to a twin or double room.
Some other perks of staying here include 24-hour reception, taxes included in the booking price, private parking and a gorgeous rooftop area to hang out on.
See you in one of the hanging chairs!
Location: Very close to the Russian Market (100 yards) on a quiet street. Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum is only 1.5km from here. It’s a little way from the main sights, but a tuktuk will only cost you around $2 to get around.
This is one of the best hostels in Phnom Penh for
- Backpackers
- Vegans
Compare prices and read reviews at: Booking.com | Hostelworld
What about cheapest hostels in Phnom Penh?
Of course, there are always cheap hostels.
We think, it’s not worth it to go with the cheapest hostel out there.
Why?
The difference is usually 1-2€ ($1-2) per night, and a lot of amenities are not included. This can be breakfast or linen.
However, if you are traveling on a shoe-string budget and you wanna save every penny, there are ways to find the cheapest places in Phnom Penh.
- Open Hostelworld with full list of budget places to stay in Phnom Penh
- Order the listing by price
Simple as that.
Read: 15 hacks for booking hostels
Make sure you use then the other filters and rank per price.
Also keep a close eye on the ratings, especially the “extreme ratings”. Meaning, the best and worst. These ratings can give great insight on what to expect.
Best Hostels in Phnom Penh for Solo Travellers?
What is seriously the best hostel in Phnom Penh for solo-travellers?
We actually have a few options for you, dear reader.
- Female solo travellers: Onederz Hostel Phnom Penh, because of the safe location & small female dorms
- Social solo travellers: Mad Monkey Phnom Penh, because of the activities & poolside bar
- Introverted lone dingoes: Sacred Lotus Cafe & Homestay, because of the incredible private pod-beds
If we have to choose only one, we’d go with Mad Monkey Phnom Penh. Theis is best so check availability right away.
It accommodates a wide range of travellers thanks to the room options and offers a welcoming, inclusive atmosphere.
Party Hostels in Phnom Penh
By now it should be quite obvious that Phnom Penh is a top destination if you’re looking to party.
There are actually a few places that create the best party hostels in Phnom Penh.
Our favourite has to be Billabong Hostel Phnom Penh.
Update: Oh no, looks like this hostel has permanently closed. We’d recommend opting for Mad Monkey Hostel instead.
That’s because this is not too over the top, offering the chance to have a good time in a controlled kind of way.
It has all the ingredients to get the good times rolling:
- Large saltwater pool
- Garden area
- Restaurant & bar
- Cosy chill out area
From here the local nightlife is a short walk away. It’s also only 1km to the riverfront and minutes from the central market.
If you should be in need of a crazy party hostel, head to Mad Monkey Phnom Penh – our #1 hostel in the city. Indeed, best party hostel Phnom Penh has to offer.
Here’s a little recap for you as to why this stands to be one of the coolest hostels in Phnom Penh.
There’s a pool, happy hour, pub crawl events and on-site restaurant. Need we say more?
Compare prices and read reviews at: Booking.com | Hostelworld
How to book?
We recommend using Booking.com or Hostelworld for your reservations.
Hostelworld is the most popular website when it comes to hostel bookings.
Read: step-by-step guide on how to book with Hostelworld
On both platforms your credit card is 100% protected and the booking 100% confirmed.
We included the handy links to each of the recommended hostel. Just click on the hostel name. The link will lead you to check prices and availability.
Here is the overview:
- Mad Monkey Phnom Penh: Booking.com | Hostelworld | Offcial Website
- Onederz Hostel: Booking.com | Hostelworld
- Sacred Lotus Cafe & Homestay: Booking.com | Hostelworld
We recommend booking your hostel as early as possible!
All of Phnom Penh best hostels are popular; especially in high-season. To make sure you end up in those stylish hostels, secure your room or bed as soon as you have your travel dates fix.
More Phnom Penh hostels worth a mention
Excited to travel to Phnom Penh in Cambodia? Definitely a great place for a vacation. You will truly enjoy because there are a lot of things to do in Phnom Penh and you can also volunteer to MaD for Good Cambodia if you are up to it!
We have provided you the best guesthouse in Phnom Penh but if you are looking for more, here are more backpacker hostels worth a mention:
- Sla Boutique Hostel – provides a hotel-hostel vibe
- RS III Location Hostel – first hostel in Phnom Penh that has an elevator
- 19 Happy House Backpacker – affordable hostel
Checkout the best hostels Cambodia has to offer! Some of them are like a Phnom Penh hotels.
Sla Boutique Hostel
If you want a Phnom Penh hotel vibe, you should try this hostel. This hostel has a hotel-hostel vibe. Facilities are nice and clean. Breakfast and some communal activities they have every night are a good way to get in touch with other travelers.
The staff in Sla Boutique Hostel are really nice and friendly. You can also prepare your own dinner in their well-equipped kitchen. It is a modern hostel in the center of Phnom Penh City that offers backpackers a place to relax.
Perks at Sla Boutique Hostel:
- Airport shuttle
- Non-smoking rooms
- Family rooms
- Restaurant
- Free WiFi
- Bar
Location: Sla Boutique Hostel is 900 m from Riverfront Park and 1.2 km from Wat Phnom. Phnom Penh International Airport is 9 km away. It is 700 m from Royal Palace Phnom Penh.
Compare prices and read reviews at: Booking.com | Hostelworld
RS III Location Hostel
RS III Location Hostel has a huge comfortable beds with lovely pillows and quilts. It has a very clean airy bathroom and hot shower. They also provide curtains between each bed and they have a little balcony overlooking the city.
The hostel had the vibe of luxury hotels which is kinda awesome! It also has an elevator. Would you believe that? It is really a good place to stay while in Phnom Penh.
Perks at RS III Location Hostel:
- Airport shuttle
- Non-smoking rooms
- Room service
- Restaurant
- Family rooms
- Free WiFi
- Bar
- Good breakfast
Location: The hostel is a 2-minute walk from Sisowath Quay. Royal Palace Phnom Penh is 500 m from the accommodation, while Chaktomouk Hall is 700 m away. Phnom Penh International Airport is 9 km from the hostel.
Compare prices and read reviews at: Booking.com | Hostelworld
19 Happy House Backpacker
19 Happy House Backpacker is a cheap hostel Phnom Penh has to offer. The rooms in this hostel are cheap but the beds are very comfortable! Indeed, it is a value for money.
They also have a restaurant that offers Khmer cuisine, as well as Western dishes and if you want to have some refreshments, cocktails are being served in the bar.
Perks at 19 Happy House Backpacker:
- Airport shuttle
- Family rooms
- Restaurant
- Free WiFi
- Free parking
- Bar
- Breakfast
Location: The hostel is a 15-minute drive from the hostel, while Silver Pagoda is a 17-minute walk away. Phnom Penh International Airport is a 35-minute drive from the hostel.
Compare prices and read reviews at: Booking.com | Hostelworld
Any Discounts?
You can find all our hostel discounts worldwide here. Subscribe to our newsletter to receive the freshest hostel discounts directly in your inbox. We even have special discount codes we only share in the newsletter.
It is completely free to join!
How to book?
The most popular booking platforms are Booking.com and Hostelworld.com. On both platforms, your credit card is 100% protected and the booking 100% confirmed.
We included some handy links to each of the recommended hostel. Just click on the hostel name. The link will lead you to check prices and availability.
Read: Step-by-Step guide on how to book with Hostelworld
We recommend booking your hostel as early as possible! All of Phnom Penh best hostels are popular; especially in high-season. To make sure you end up in those stylish and good hostels, secure your room/bed as soon as you have your travel dates fix.
The coolest Hostel App you need comes as well from Hostelworld. It gives you super cool features like you can contact your hostel mates beforehand, ask questions, and make plans together. Find more details in our review of the app.
Scan the QR Code with your Smartphone to download the Hostelworld App from the App Store - like a real Hostel Geek!
Our Favorite Hostels in Phnom Penh put on a map + sights
Let us have a look on our Phnom Penh map 2020. Below we list all three best Phnom Penh hostels on a map.
Personally, we love to plan our trips with a map having all sights and potential hostels on it. We thought this map will help you with planning your trip too.
We also included the main tourist attractions you’ve to know in this list:
- Royal Palace Phnom Penh
- Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum
- Wat Phnom
- Central Market Phnom Penh
- National Museum of Cambodia
- Phnom Penh Night Market
One of the MUST DO things whilst you’re in Phnom Penh is to visit the Phom Penh Killing Fields and S21 Prison.
More cool ideas:
- Phnom Penh City Tour (small group)
- Cambodian Living Arts, Dance Show
- Mekong Sunset River Cruise (with BBQ buffet)
- Mekong Islands Cycle Tour
Any questions about hostels in Phnom Penh? 🤔
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FAQ
Alright, you should have found your accommodation already. Below we list all the frequently asked questions. Have a look.
Flights to Phnom Penh?
We use Skyscanner and Omio.com to find cheap flights and good connections all over the globe.
Skyscanner has a bunch of cool features like Multi-City Trip. Instead of doing this research step-by-step, Skyscanner offers this flight planning tool.
More guides
Alright, this is your answer to where to stay in Phnom Penh Backpacker!
We did the leg work for you and bring you more hostel guides to destinations:
- best hostels Siem Reap, Cambodia has to offer
- 3 best hostels in Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam
- 3 cool hostels in Hanoi, Vietnam
- best hostels in Kampot, Cambodia
- best hostels in Sihanoukville
- 57 BEST hostels in Thailand
- 3 best hostels in Luang Prabang, Laos
- best hostels in Phu Quoc Island (just off the mainland)
- best hostels in Ayutthaya, Thailand
You can find all our new and updates articles for Best Hostels in here.
We also created a huge guide to hostels. Here we cover how to build lifetime friendships in hostels, the perfect packing list and more.
Over to you
Was this useful? Do you have any questions, doubts?
Then please please leave us a comment. This list of awesome best hostel Phnom Penh should be as informative and useful as possible.
Your question will help me to understand what I have missed to mention.
Therefore, drop us a comment, we are keen to help you!
Last note: Our commitment
This is a genuine article to help you travel a bit smarter and find the best place on a budget! We ONLY recommend places we know you will enjoy, no matter what.
We will never recommend you any place we haven’t evaluated or are not convinced by. We only share with you places we also recommend to our best friends and family!
Enjoy this fine hostel selection and all 5 Star Hostels.
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CLOSED: Eighty8 Backpackers Hostel
Update: Our former #3 hostel has permanently closed its doors. We keep this review here for your information.
The number eight is considered very lucky in Asia. Stay at Eighty8 Backpackers Hostel and enjoy a double dose of luck!
And trust us; you’re going to feel pretty lucky you found this guide when you discover what this hostel has to offer.
This is certainly one of the best hostels in Phnom Penh as the balance of social and chill vibes is spot on.
For those looking to meet new people we suggest:
- Joining a cooking class and/or tour to the Killing Fields
- Popping along to the Happy Hour (17:00-19:00)
- Challenging someone to a game of pool/ping pong
Or perhaps you’re looking to get to know yourself in a social setting. Solo travellers enjoy…
- A dip in the swimming pool
- The free book swap library
- Hiding in your kitted out pod bed
Did someone say pod bed? Yes, that was us..literally just now.
These pods are super cool, there is no denying it!
Each one can be fully closed off to the world. Inside there is AC, USB chargers, reading light and a fan.
Forget being woken in the night by the light going on – in here, you’re in charge.
There are also more traditional-style dorms that have over-sized single beds and lots of space.
Let’s not forget the wonderful private options, either.
All have en-suites and tea & coffee stations, whereas others have a balcony.
Eighty8 has a great common area with restaurant and bar serving both Khmer delights and delish cocktails.
Got the late night munchies? There’s a menu especially designed for you which is available from 10pm-12am.
Be sure to query the staff if you have any travel-related questions. They offer a free travel desk and can help with ongoing transport tickets.
Location: Eighty8 Hostel is located near Wat Phnom, the traditional city centre. All of the essential nightlife and sights are a hop, skip and jump from the property.
