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.
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.
More ways in
Local time, weather, currency, airports
- 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.
What is in this basic guide4 covered · 4 not yet ▾
In this guide
Not in this guide yet
- Walking areas with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
- Field-checked times and prices
Official sites
EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Battambang, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?US dollars for hotels, tours and restaurants; riel (KHR, about 4,000 to the dollar) for change and small street purchases.Cambodia-wide
- SIM or eSIMSmart, Cellcard and Metfone sell tourist SIMs at the airports with passport registration; a week of data costs a few dollars.Cambodia-wide
- Tap waterNot drinkable from the tap.Cambodia-wide
- TippingSit-down restaurant: Round up or leave US$1–2 where no service charge is added.Cambodia-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets A/C/G. US/Canada (A/B): fits · UK/Ireland (G): fits · Australia/NZ (I): adapter. 230 V: US 120 V-only devices (hair dryers) need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.Cambodia-wide
- RestroomsWestern toilets in hotels, restaurants and at the Angkor ticket office and main temples; squat toilets with a hose or scoop on the road.Cambodia-wide
Show all 10 answers
- Emergency numbers117 police · 118 fire · 119 ambulance (not 911, 999 or 000)Cambodia-wide
- Sundays & holidaysMany shops close for Khmer New Year and Pchum Ben; government offices close all public holidays; Angkor temples open every day.Cambodia-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- Getting aroundThe old quarter is walkable; tuk-tuks and motorbike taxis (often arranged as a half-day countryside loop) reach the bamboo train…
DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works
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
Best months at a glance
From the guide's best and avoid lists
Jan
Best
Feb
Best
Mar
Avoid
Apr
Avoid
May
Avoid
Jun
Avoid
Jul
Avoid
Aug
Avoid
Sep
Avoid
Oct
Avoid
Nov
Best
Dec
Best
Best: Nov–Feb. Avoid: Mar–Oct. Month by month →
Weather and climate
Battambang: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
Loading…
Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
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.
Nearest full guides
Straight-line distance, not travel time
Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in
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.
PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
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 diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources
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