Where to Stay in Kampot: Best Areas, Riverside Bungalows & Hotels

A room in a former Art Deco cinema, a bamboo bungalow suspended above the river, or a private-pool villa surrounded by tropical gardens? In Kampot, choosing where to stay is almost as interesting as deciding what to see.

But there’s one thing worth knowing before you book: some of Kampot’s most beautiful riverside hotels are well outside the walkable town centre. That peaceful bungalow might look perfect until you realise you need a tuk-tuk every time you want dinner.

I came across some fascinating places while researching accommodation in Kampot, from restored historic buildings to rustic wooden houses and modern luxury resorts. This is my shortlist, not a ranking based on personal hotel stays.

The right choice depends less on the hotel’s star rating and more on how you want to spend your days.

Where to Stay in Kampot at a Glance

For a first visit, I’d lean towards the Old Town. You can walk to cafés, restaurants and the riverfront without worrying about transport.

If you’re coming to Kampot to slow down, though, staying beside the river can be the highlight of the trip.

What you’re looking for	Where to stay	Hotels to consider
Walkable location & historic atmosphere	Old Town	Hotel Old Cinema, The Columns, Rikitikitavi
River views & a relaxing escape	Riverside outside the centre	Sabay Beach, Villa Vedici
Affordable riverside accommodation	Riverside	River Nest Hostel
Nature & traditional bungalows	Countryside and upriver	Eden Eco Village, Champa Lodge
Pools, spa & relaxed prices	Outskirts	Bohemiaz Resort & Spa
Modern luxury & private pools	Luxury riverside resorts	Amber Kampot, Castle Bayview Resort & Spa

Short stay or no scooter? Choose central Kampot.

Three or more nights with time to relax? Consider a riverside bungalow, especially if the property has its own restaurant.

Travelling with children or prioritising comfort? A hotel with a swimming pool and established resort facilities may be easier than a rustic eco-lodge.

Here’s how the different options compare.

Old Town Kampot: Best for First-Time Visitors

Kampot’s historic centre is compact, with cafés, restaurants, local shops and the waterfront close together. It’s a practical base for exploring the town and organising trips to pepper plantations, Bokor Mountain or nearby Kep.

It’s also where you’ll find some of the most characterful boutique hotels.

Hotel Old Cinema: A Former Movie Theatre Turned Boutique Hotel

Choose this one if you want the hotel itself to be part of the experience.

Hotel Old Cinema occupies a former cinema building that has been transformed into a small boutique property.

Instead of a typical hotel lobby and identical corridors, you get an Art Deco-inspired atmosphere, vintage furnishings and an inviting pool inside the building.

It’s an interesting choice for anyone who appreciates restored architecture but doesn’t want to compromise on location.

And that’s what sets it apart from Kampot’s countryside retreats: you can spend the day exploring town, then return to a hotel that feels like a destination in its own right.

See inside Hotel Old Cinema and explore the rooms

The Columns: Colonial Character in the Heart of Town

For travellers who love old architecture but prefer something understated.

The Columns occupies restored colonial-era buildings and preserves the character of Kampot’s historic streetscape.

Wooden furnishings, traditional architectural details and an intimate boutique-hotel setting give it a different feel from the riverside resorts.

Compared with Hotel Old Cinema, the appeal here is less about a dramatic design concept and more about staying in a building that reflects the town’s past.

It’s a particularly good option if you’re planning to spend most of your time exploring rather than using hotel facilities.

Explore the colonial-style rooms at The Columns

Rikitikitavi: River Views Without Leaving the Centre

A strong choice if you can’t decide between Old Town convenience and a riverside atmosphere.

Rikitikitavi sits along Kampot’s waterfront road, with a restaurant and upper-level terrace overlooking the river.

Its guest rooms are housed in a historic wooden-framed building, with vintage-style furnishings and modern bathrooms.

One particularly interesting detail is the choice of room layouts. Alongside standard doubles, there are two-level Superior rooms with a mezzanine bedroom and a separate living area, plus family accommodation.

That makes it more versatile than a typical small boutique hotel.

The main advantage, though, is being able to enjoy the riverfront atmosphere and still walk to restaurants and cafés around town.

Unlike a secluded bungalow, you’re not choosing between evening convenience and a view.

See Rikitikitavi’s rooms and riverside setting

Riverside Hotels in Kampot: Best for Slowing Down

If your idea of Kampot involves hammocks, kayaking and spending hours watching the river, the properties outside town might be more appealing.

Here, accommodation is about more than having a comfortable bed. You might spend half the day at your hotel simply because there’s no reason to leave.

The trade-off is location. Many riverside properties require transport into central Kampot.

Sabay Beach: Treehouses and Bungalows by the River

For a riverside escape that feels special without being completely rustic.

Sabay Beach is one of the most distinctive places on this list, with accommodation set among tropical greenery beside the river.

Treehouse-style rooms and waterfront bungalows offer a different experience from a conventional hotel.

The property’s restaurant and bar are also an important part of the appeal. When you’re staying away from town, being able to eat and relax on-site makes a considerable difference.

This is the place I’d compare with Eden Eco Village if I wanted a nature-focused stay.

Sabay Beach leans towards a more developed riverside retreat, while Eden is particularly interesting for its simpler bamboo-bungalow concept.

If you’re hoping to spend evenings exploring central Kampot on foot, neither offers the convenience of an Old Town hotel.

Explore the treehouses and river bungalows at Sabay Beach

Villa Vedici: Riverside Space and a Swimming Pool

A practical alternative to secluded treehouses, especially for families or groups.

Villa Vedici combines a riverside location with spacious grounds and a swimming pool.

Its appeal is straightforward: somewhere to relax by the water without making the river itself your only option for cooling off.

Compared with smaller eco-lodges, Villa Vedici is worth considering if you want a more conventional resort experience and room to spend time outdoors.

It can also make sense for a group with different preferences. Some people can enjoy the pool while others relax by the river.

Compare the rooms and facilities at Villa Vedici

River Nest Hostel: Riverside Atmosphere on a Smaller Budget

For travellers who want the river experience without committing to an upscale resort.

River Nest offers a mix of accommodation, including shared dormitory beds, private rooms and bungalows.

That variety is its biggest advantage.

A solo traveller can choose a more social and affordable stay, while a couple can look at private accommodation without moving to an entirely different property.

The riverside setting makes it appealing for relaxed days, but the atmosphere is different from an exclusive romantic retreat.

If your priorities are meeting other travellers, enjoying the surroundings and keeping accommodation costs flexible, River Nest deserves a look.

Explore River Nest’s private rooms, bungalows and dorms

Eco-Lodges and Countryside Retreats: Kampot’s Quieter Side

Some of Kampot’s most unusual accommodation lies beyond the town and its busier riverfront.

This is where you’ll find bamboo structures, traditional wooden houses and properties surrounded by gardens or rural landscapes.

Just remember that eco-style doesn’t necessarily mean the same thing everywhere. Some places offer simple fan-cooled accommodation, while others have pools, spa facilities and conventional hotel rooms.

Eden Eco Village: Bamboo Bungalows Above the Water

For travellers who want to feel as close to the river as possible.

Eden Eco Village is known for its bamboo-and-thatch bungalows, including accommodation positioned on stilts above the water.

The attraction is the setting rather than conventional luxury.

Imagine opening your bungalow door to the river, spending the afternoon reading outside and letting the sounds of the surrounding countryside replace traffic noise.

This is a very different experience from checking into a modern hotel with sealed windows and central air conditioning.

But that simplicity is exactly why it’s important to choose the right room. If sleeping without air conditioning would make you uncomfortable, look carefully at the facilities before booking.

See Eden Eco Village’s bamboo riverside bungalows

Champa Lodge: Sleep in a Traditional Khmer Wooden House

One of the most interesting choices for architecture lovers.

Instead of designing modern rooms to look vaguely traditional, Champa Lodge uses Khmer-style wooden houses as the centrepiece of its accommodation.

Raised wooden structures, traditional materials and a rural setting create a very different atmosphere from Kampot’s colonial boutique hotels.

If Hotel Old Cinema reflects one chapter of the region’s architectural history, Champa Lodge offers a chance to experience another.

It’s the kind of property I’d consider when the building itself matters as much as the location.

Make sure you’re looking at Champa Lodge rather than the separately listed Champa Village when selecting accommodation.

Explore the traditional wooden houses at Champa Lodge

Bohemiaz Resort & Spa: Countryside Retreat with Pools and a Spa

For those who like the idea of escaping town but don’t want to give up swimming pools and hot water.

Bohemiaz occupies a different niche from Kampot’s bamboo eco-lodges.

It combines a relaxed countryside atmosphere with leisure facilities such as swimming pools, a jacuzzi, sauna and spa services.

There are different accommodation styles, including simpler budget-oriented options and more conventional rooms.

That flexibility makes it appealing if you’re travelling for longer or want somewhere to relax without paying for a high-end private-pool villa.

The main reason to choose Bohemiaz over Eden Eco Village isn’t the landscape. It’s the availability of resort-style facilities and a wider range of accommodation types.

Compare accommodation and spa facilities at Bohemiaz

Luxury Resorts in Kampot: Private Pools and Modern Comfort

Not everyone dreams of bamboo walls and open-air bathrooms.

If you prefer polished interiors, a large bathroom, reliable air conditioning and the option of swimming in your own pool, Kampot has luxury properties that feel worlds away from its rustic bungalows.

Two resorts stand out for different reasons.

Amber Kampot: Contemporary Villas with Private Pools

For privacy, design and a stay built around your own villa.

Amber Kampot offers modern one- and two-bedroom pool villas in a riverside setting.

The design is contemporary, with generous indoor living space and private outdoor pools.

The one-bedroom villas are particularly appealing for couples, while two-bedroom accommodation provides an alternative for families or friends travelling together.

Rather than using the hotel as a base for sightseeing, this is the kind of property where you might deliberately plan a day with no excursions at all.

Compared with a bamboo bungalow, the experience is almost the opposite: enclosed comfort, privacy and a much more polished resort environment.

Explore the private-pool villas at Amber Kampot

Castle Bayview Resort & Spa: A Full-Service Luxury Resort

For travellers who want a larger resort with plenty of facilities.

Castle Bayview offers several accommodation styles, including hotel rooms, suites, bungalows and private-pool villas.

Its facilities include swimming pools, a fitness centre and spa amenities. The resort also has a tower building with elevated views across the Kampot countryside.

This makes it quite different from Amber Kampot.

Amber is particularly attractive if your priority is a private villa experience. Castle Bayview gives you a broader choice of rooms and a more extensive resort environment.

Families may find the two-bedroom pool villas especially interesting, while couples who don’t need a private pool can compare the hotel’s other room categories.

One detail worth checking is the view. A hotel room, river-view suite and private-pool villa are very different experiences, even within the same resort.

Compare Castle Bayview’s rooms, suites and pool villas

What to Know Before Booking Accommodation in Kampot

Before choosing a hotel, I’d check three things that can make a bigger difference than the star rating.

Location and transport. A riverside property may look close to Kampot on a map but still require a tuk-tuk or scooter for every trip into town. Think about where you’ll eat in the evenings, not just what the view looks like at breakfast.

Air conditioning. Kampot can be hot and humid, and not every bungalow or eco-lodge has air conditioning. If you sleep badly in the heat, treat this as an essential requirement rather than a minor detail.

The exact room category. A resort may offer everything from standard rooms to private-pool villas, while a riverside lodge may have both basic rooms and waterfront bungalows. The most attractive photograph on the hotel’s page isn’t necessarily the room you’re booking.

It’s also worth checking recent guest reviews and booking conditions for your travel dates, particularly if you’re visiting during the rainy season.

My Recommendation: Which Part of Kampot Would I Choose?

For a first visit of two or three nights, I’d stay in central Kampot.

Being able to walk to cafés, restaurants and the riverfront makes exploring easier, especially if you’re organising day trips to Bokor Mountain, pepper plantations or Kep.

Hotel Old Cinema would be my choice for an unusual boutique experience, while Rikitikitavi is particularly tempting for its combination of historical character and river views.

For a slower visit, the choice becomes more interesting.

I’d look at Sabay Beach for a comfortable riverside escape, Eden Eco Village for a simpler nature-focused stay, or Champa Lodge for its traditional wooden architecture.

And if the hotel itself were the main reason for the trip, rather than simply a place to sleep, Amber Kampot and Castle Bayview would be worth comparing.

The key is deciding what kind of Kampot you want to experience.

You can spend your evenings walking along the waterfront, wake up surrounded by river scenery or retreat to a private pool with almost no reason to leave.

It’s the same destination, but a completely different holiday depending on where you stay.

Some hotel links in this article are affiliate links. If you book through them, I may earn a commission at no additional cost to you.