The 10 Best Hotels in Siem Reap (Verified Ratings and Prices)

I have spent a fair amount of time in Siem Reap. And there is one thing here I have not seen anywhere else in Southeast Asia: the level of the hotel ratings. Two properties sit at 9.9 out of 10. Three more are at 9.8. In most cities, hitting 9.5 is already an achievement.

The explanation comes down to competition and staff. Siem Reap lives off Angkor tourism, hotels fight for every booking. Khmer service does the rest. The result: you sleep for $50 in a place that would cost $200 elsewhere.

Here are the 10 best hotels in Siem Reap, ranked by guest score. Rates were checked for one night in December, two people, so peak season. Out of season, expect to pay around a third less. The rest of our Cambodia guides are on voyages-yolo.fr/blog.

The list at a glance

1. Viroth's Hotel, the benchmark 9.9

The highest score in Siem Reap, across nearly 900 stays. Viroth's is a design hotel, all clean lines and greenery, a seven-minute walk from the centre. Pool, spa, and a service guests describe as anticipating what you need before you do.

It is the priciest on my list at around $235 a night in December. At that level you are at the top of the Cambodian range, but 9.9 across 877 reviews is not something you fake.

• Who for: honeymoon, birthday, big occasion
• Budget: around $235 a night
• The detail that matters: walking distance from the old market, so no tuk-tuk for dinner

Rooms go several weeks ahead for December and January. See the price at Viroth's for your dates.

2. Mango Kesararam, the same score for a fifth of the price

This is the one I recommend to everybody first. Mango Kesararam posts exactly the same score as Viroth's, 9.9 across 745 stays. And it costs $51 a night.

Small property, 600 metres from the centre, family welcome. The kind of place where staff have your first name after three hours. If I had to sum up Siem Reap in one address, this would be it.

• Who for: more or less everyone, couples especially
• Budget: around $51 a night
• The detail that matters: the best score-to-price ratio in town

Small, very high-scoring properties fill first from December to February. If your dates are fixed, lock it in early.

Check availability at Mango Kesararam before you lock in the rest of the trip.

3. The Jungle, the most road-tested in Siem Reap

Nearly 3,000 rated stays for an average of 9.8. At that volume the score can no longer be a fluke. The Jungle plays the green card, pool surrounded by foliage, nine minutes from the centre. Around $69 a night.

• Who for: travellers who want a sure thing with no surprises
• Budget: around $69 a night
• The detail that matters: 2,908 reviews, maximum statistical weight

At that booking volume the calendar fills fast. See what is still free at The Jungle.

4. The Bliss Angkor, the sensible middle

9.8 across more than 600 stays, $65 a night, 800 metres from the centre. The Bliss ticks every box without overdoing any of them. If Mango Kesararam is full, this is your next move.

• Who for: couples, solo travellers, three to four night stays
• Budget: around $65 a night
• The detail that matters: close enough to do everything on foot

Compare the nights at The Bliss Angkor for your dates, the gap between November and January is wide.

5. Sokkhak Boutique Resort & Spa, for the spa

Also 9.8, 2.1 km from the centre, around $114. Sokkhak stands out for its spa. Exactly what you will want after a day climbing the steps of Ta Keo in 34 degrees. A little out of the way, so budget for tuk-tuks at dinner.

• Who for: anyone recovering between temple days
• Budget: around $114 a night
• The detail that matters: the spa, the actual reason to come

Add the evening tuk-tuk to the budget if you sleep out here. See the rate at Sokkhak for your dates.

6. Angkor Village Hotel, the institution

A Small Luxury Hotels of the World member, 9.7 across more than 1,270 stays, $234 a night. Angkor Village is one of the oldest properties of character in town, built in wood in traditional Khmer style, with gardens and ponds.

This is the heritage option. The place has been part of the town's landscape for a long time, the walls have a history.

• Who for: architecture lovers, old-fashioned stays
• Budget: around $234 a night
• The detail that matters: the Small Luxury Hotels of the World label

Check the calendar at Angkor Village to see what peak season does to a property of this kind.

7. Khmer Mansion Boutique Hotel, the townhouse

9.7 across more than 360 stays, $70 a night, 800 metres from the centre. A small, charming property on a human scale, where they recognise you by the second morning. The ideal format for a first stay in Siem Reap.

• Who for: couples, anyone who hates big hotels
• Budget: around $70 a night
• The detail that matters: the size, barely twenty rooms

Twenty rooms leaves very little slack in high season. Check the calendar at Khmer Mansion.

8. The Community, 5,285 reviews and still 9.6

The number is extraordinary. More than five thousand rated stays. The average holds at 9.6. No other property in Siem Reap comes close to that volume. All for $37 a night, 1.4 km from the centre.

The obvious choice if you are in a group, staying a while or you simply want somewhere that has proved itself thousands of times.

• Who for: groups, long stays, tight budgets
• Budget: around $37 a night
• The detail that matters: 5,285 reviews, a local record

See the price at The Community for your dates, the best entry point when the budget calls the shots.

9. The Elephant, the safe bet at $52

9.6 across nearly 2,500 stays for $52 a night. The Elephant belongs to that category of places nobody posts about on Instagram but everybody returns to. At 1.4 km from the centre, allow five minutes by tuk-tuk to get to dinner.

• Who for: standard three to five night stays
• Budget: around $52 a night
• The detail that matters: consistency, across 2,453 reviews

Compare the nights at The Elephant before you pick between the two addresses at 1.4 km.

10. The Tree, adults only and the cheapest here

$26 a night. For a 9.6 across 645 stays. The Tree is adults only, which guarantees a quiet that is fairly rare in Siem Reap. It is 900 metres from the centre. For couples who want silence without paying for it, unbeatable.

• Who for: couples, travellers who want to sleep
• Budget: around $26 a night
• The detail that matters: adults only, so a quiet pool

Start here when the budget is the first thing you look at. See which dates are still open at The Tree.

Three more that nearly made it

• Angkor Heart Bungalow: 9.6 across more than 1,280 stays, around $78, at 1.9 km. Bungalows in a garden. See the price.
• The Nature & Villas: 9.7 across more than 1,170 stays, around $65, at 2.5 km. The greenest of the lot. See the price.
• Angkor Land Urban Boutique: 9.6, around $54, 450 metres from the centre. The most central position. See the price.

Which part of Siem Reap should you stay in?

• Around the old market and Pub Street: everything on foot, restaurants, night markets. Noisy until 1 am at weekends.
• Wat Bo, east bank: the guesthouse-with-character district, quiet, ten minutes' walk from the centre. My favourite.
• Charles de Gaulle road: the temple road, handy for early starts to Angkor, less handy for dinner.
• Beyond 2 km: greener, quieter, cheaper. Budget for a tuk-tuk by the day.

The district moves the price more than it moves the standard in Siem Reap. Compare the hotels on the map to see what each area is worth for your dates.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best hotel in Siem Reap?

Viroth's Hotel and Mango Kesararam both sit at 9.9 out of 10. Viroth's for the design and high-end service at $235, Mango Kesararam for exactly the same score at $51.

How much is a good hotel in Siem Reap?

Budget $26 to $40 a night for somewhere rated above 9.5. Budget $50 to $75 for a boutique hotel with a pool. Past $110 you are into luxury.

Do you need to book ahead?

December to February, yes, several weeks ahead for the small properties. May to September you will find something on the spot, often a third cheaper.

Compare the nights for your dates and measure the high season gap yourself.

How many nights in Siem Reap?

Three nights minimum to do Angkor without rushing. Four if you also want a day off.

Do hotels arrange Angkor tours?

Every single one. They have their own tuk-tuk driver and rates are standardised across town. Ask the evening before, that is enough.

The verdict

If you want one address: Mango Kesararam, 9.9 out of 10 for $51. It is the most blatant pricing anomaly I have found anywhere in Southeast Asia. The Tree at $26 if money is tight, Viroth's if you are celebrating something.

Once you are settled, Siem Reap goes well beyond the temples. Our list of coworking spaces in Siem Reap and our piece on Lofi Café will fill a few afternoons.

Stayed at any of these? Leave your verdict in the comments, I update the list regularly.