Major city · Cambodia
Battambangបាត់ដំបង
Stop in Battambang for a night or two for its French-era streets, the bamboo train and countryside day trips, on the road between Siem Reap and Phnom Penh.
- Weather
- see forecast
- Best months
- Nov–Feb (cooler and dry, best for the countryside day trips)
- avoid Mar–May (very hot) and Jun–Oct (rain turns rural roads to mud)
- Airport
- none nearby
- Nights
- 1–2
Rules in force · 5Drug trafficking can carry the death penalty in Singapore…
- Southeast Asia ↗Drug trafficking can carry the death penalty in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, Brunei and Myanmar; never carry a bag or parcel for anyone.
- Southeast Asia ↗Carry a passport valid for at least six months from entry with two blank pages; airlines refuse boarding on less.
- 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 population, set in the north-west rice-growing plain along the Sangkae river. Its riverside old quarter of French-colonial shophouses, a well-known bamboo train and nearby caves and temples make it a quieter, less touristed alternative to Siem Reap. Most visitors use it as an overnight stop rather than a base.
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- none nearby: arrive by land or via another city
Weather and climate
Battambang: next 7 days
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Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
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Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
The old quarter is walkable; tuk-tuks and motorbike taxis (often arranged as a half-day countryside loop) reach the bamboo train, Phnom Sampov and the outlying temples. The nearest airport is at Siem Reap, about 3 hours away by road; buses and shared taxis connect Battambang to both Siem Reap and Phnom Penh.
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
Riverside old quarter
Walkable to cafes, galleries, the market and the night market.
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Watch out
- Countryside roads to the temples and caves turn muddy or become hard to pass in the rainy season.
- Unexploded ordnance from past conflicts is still found in rural parts of Cambodia: stay on marked paths outside town.
- Phare Ponleu Selpak's circus shows run on limited nights and sell out: book ahead rather than turning up.
- ATMs are sparse outside the town centre: carry enough cash before a countryside day trip.
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
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.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: Nov–Feb (cooler and dry, best for the countryside day trips) · avoid Mar–May (very hot) and Jun–Oct (rain turns rural roads to mud)
- 0 airports and 1 area to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast
- 4 things to watch out for
Coming as the guide grows
- An airport-to-bed path that says whether a late landing still works
- Walking clusters with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Field-verified times and fares
Sources
- officialMinistry of Tourism of Cambodia
- secondaryWikivoyage — Battambang