Major city
Battambangបាត់ដំបង
Stop in Battambang for a night or two for its French-era streets and rural day trips, on the road between Siem Reap and Phnom Penh.
Rules in force · 3
- Cambodia ↗Apply for the e-visa only on the official government portal; lookalike sites charge extra. Some nationalities can also get a visa on arrival.
- Cambodia ↗Angkor Wat and other active temples enforce a dress code: shoulders and knees covered, or you are turned away at the gate.
- Cambodia ↗US dollars are used for most tourist prices; carry clean, undamaged small notes and some riel for change under one dollar.
Battambang is Cambodia's second-largest city by many counts, in the north-west rice-growing plain. It has a riverside old quarter of French-colonial shophouses and is a base for nearby temples, caves and countryside. It is a quiet alternative to the main tourist centres.
At a glance
- Known for
- French colonial architecture · Bamboo Train (Norry) · Phnom Sampov caves · Circus performances · Countryside temples
- Best months
- Nov–Feb
- Avoid
- Mar–May (very hot) and Jun–Oct (rain)
- Nights
- 1–2
- Airports
- none nearby: arrive by land or via another city
Where to sleep
Riverside old quarter
Walkable to cafes, galleries and the market.
Getting around
The centre is walkable; tuk-tuks and motorbike taxis reach the sights. The nearest airport is at Siem Reap; buses run between the cities.
Watch out
- Countryside sights can be muddy or inaccessible in the rainy season.
- Stay on marked paths in rural areas; unexploded ordnance is still found in parts of Cambodia.
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Battambang. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
Sources
Sources
- Ministry of Tourism of Cambodia (official)
- Wikivoyage — Battambang (secondary)