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Far from a bustling metropolis, Cambodia’s third-largest city is one of the most laid-back places in Cambodia, boasting colorful colonial architecture, friendly cafes spilling onto the streets, and one of the best art scenes in the country. It isn’t all beautiful buildings and bakeries, though—some of the best things to do in Battambang are outside the city, like visiting historic temples, the funky Bamboo Train, and rice paddies as far as the eye can see.
Battambang is at its glorious greenest at the end of the rainy season and the beginning of the dry season—roughly September to December. This is also a great time to watch the beginning of the rice harvest, although, as the monsoon doesn’t officially end until November, you’ll probably want to bring a rain jacket. January and February are also popular to visit, whereas March and April are hot, dry, and dusty.
Battambang’s city center is easily walkable, with most travelers exploring on foot or by bicycle. If you want to get around a little faster—or stay dry in the rain—tuk-tuks can also be a fun and affordable way to explore the city. However, they can be pretty slow and bumpy over long distances, so if you plan a day trip around the countryside, you’re better off pre-booking a tour or hiring a taxi or motorbike taxi.
Whether you pre-book a tour or hire a driver locally, don’t skip out on visiting the attractions in the countryside around Battambang. Most trips follow a cookie-cutter itinerary, including the Bamboo Train, visits to Angkor-era temples, the Killing Caves, the Bat caves, and wooden-stilted villages. However, just ask if you want to go a little more off-script. Most drivers are more than willing to mix things up, especially if you are actively interested in the local culture.
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Yes, Battambang is definitely worth visiting, especially if you love nature, culture, and history and want to experience a more rural side of Cambodia. However, if time is limited, you may want to skip it in favor of the bigger tourist attractions like Siem Reap, Angkor Wat, and Phnom Penh.
...MoreTwo full days in Battambang is usually enough for most visitors. While you could spend longer exploring the beautiful countryside and temples dotted around Cambodia’s rice bowl, most travelers spend one day exploring the city and another on a day trip to Wat Banan and Phnom Sampeau.
...MoreBattambang is best known as the home of the Bamboo Train—AKA the nori. Once a low-cost way of transporting people and goods around the country, the Bamboo Train consists of flat bamboo carriages that can travel along the existing train tracks. It has now become one of the most popular tourist attractions in Battambang.
...MoreBattambang’s main attractions are the Bamboo Train, Phnom Sampeau Killing Cave and Bat Cave, and Wat Banan, an 11th-century Angkorian temple said to resemble Angkor Wat. The city center is also home to some of Cambodia's best-preserved colonial French architecture, great cafes, and outstanding social enterprises, including Phare Ponleu Selpak circus school.
...MoreBattambang is hot and dry for six months of the year and hot and wet for the rest of the year, with an average temperature of around 29°C (80°F). March and April are the hottest months of the year before the monsoon breaks in May, while December and January are the coolest.
...MoreYes, you can do a day trip to Battambang from Siem Reap, but with the journey taking around three hours each way (by taxi), most visitors prefer to stay overnight. This also gives you more time to explore all the attractions in Battambang, including Phnom Sampeau and the Bamboo Train.
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