Centre
First-timersNear the river and market, walkable.
Battambang city guide
Things To Do In Battambang
Cambodia's second city is a relaxed riverside town of French colonial shophouses, with a bamboo train, a circus school, hilltop temples and millions of bats at dusk.
6
Hostels in the city
7.7
Average, from 2,757 reviews
Millions
Bats at dusk
3 h
To Siem Reap
1994
Phare Ponleu Selpak founded
The relaxed second city
Battambang sits on the Sangker river in the rice-growing north-west, and its centre is one of the best-preserved French colonial towns in Cambodia, with shophouses, a market and old villas.
It is also the home of Phare Ponleu Selpak, the arts and circus school founded after the Khmer Rouge years, and of a strong art scene.
The countryside around it has temples on hills, the bamboo train and a cave from which millions of bats pour out at sunset. Two or three days is right.
Where to stay
Stay in the centre, along the Sangker River and near the Central Market, where the colonial shophouses, cafés and guesthouses are walkable. Quieter guesthouses lie across the river and just outside town.
Orange labels are neighbourhoods, dots are the 4 top-rated hostels. Map data from OpenStreetMap contributors.
Things to do
Things to do in Battambang
Battambang, Cambodia's second city, is a relaxed riverside town of French colonial shophouses, surrounded by rice fields, temples and villages.
The classic way to see the countryside is a tuk-tuk tour with one of the town's English-speaking drivers. At dusk, watch millions of bats stream out of a cave at Phnom Sampeau, a hill of temples; on the way up, the killing caves are a memorial to Khmer Rouge victims. Wat Banan, an Angkor-era temple on a hilltop, is reached up 358 steps.
The bamboo train, the norry, is a bamboo platform on wheels that once carried locals along the railway; it now runs as a short tourist ride. Ek Phnom, a ruined eleventh-century temple, has a giant Buddha beside it.
In town, walk the colonial streets around the Central Market, an Art Deco building, see the Battambang Museum, and take a Khmer cooking class.
In the evening, Phare Ponleu Selpak, an arts school founded in 1994 that trains young people in circus, music and art, puts on circus shows, one of the best things to do in Cambodia.
Free things
Free things to do in Battambang
Walking the colonial streets, the riverside and the Central Market is free, and so is watching the bats at Phnom Sampeau from the foot of the hill.
Many pagodas around town are free, and the countryside roads are free to cycle.
Food and drink
Eating and drinking in Battambang
Battambang is known for its rice, grown in the province, called Cambodia's rice bowl, and its fruit, especially oranges and pomelos. Nom banh chok and kuy teav are the breakfast noodles, and fish amok and lok lak are everywhere.
The Central Market's food stalls are cheap, and the town has good cafés and cooking classes. A meal is €1.50 to €6.
Nightlife
Going out in Battambang
Battambang is quiet at night, with a few bars along the riverside and on Street 2.5. The Phare Ponleu Selpak circus shows are the main evening out.
A beer is €1 to €2.50.
Getting around
Getting around Battambang
The centre is walkable; tuk-tuk drivers run countryside tours for the day. Book tuk-tuks through PassApp or Grab to avoid haggling.
Buses reach Siem Reap in about three hours and Phnom Penh in about five. In the wet season, roughly August to January, a boat runs to Siem Reap along the Sangker River and across the Tonlé Sap, a long but beautiful trip.
Land crossings with Thailand have been closed or heavily restricted since mid-2025 because of a border dispute and fighting; check the current situation before planning to travel overland, and expect to fly between the two countries.
Costs
What Battambang costs
Battambang is very cheap. Dorms start around €5 and a careful day is €15 to €25.
A countryside tuk-tuk tour is €15 to €20 for the day, the bamboo train a few euros, and Phare Ponleu Selpak shows around €10 to €15.
Cambodia uses two currencies: US dollars for most prices, and the riel (about 4,000 to the dollar) for small change. Prices here are euro equivalents. Bring clean, untorn dollar notes; ATMs dispense dollars but charge fees. Cards work only in hotels and upmarket places.
Safety
Staying safe in Battambang
Battambang is very safe.
In the countryside, stay on paths; unexploded ordnance remains in rural parts of the north-west, especially towards the Thai border. Avoid areas close to the border while the dispute continues.
Emergency: 117 police, 119 ambulance.
Day trips from Battambang
Bats, hilltop temples and the bamboo train.
Phnom Sampeau
Killing caves and bats at dusk.
Wat Banan
An Angkor-era hilltop temple.
What's on
What is on while you are there
The circus performs through the year.
Year-round
Circus shows
Phare Ponleu Selpak
Performances by the school.
Mid-April
Khmer New Year
Battambang
The new year.
Hostels
Where to stay in Battambang
The top-rated places to stay in Battambang right now, live from Hostelworld.
When to go
November to February is cool and dry.
Jan
Cool and dry
Feb
Dry
Mar
Hot
Apr
Khmer New Year
May
Rains
Jun
Wet
Jul
Wet
Aug
Wet
Sep
Wet
Oct
Boat season
Nov
Drying
Dec
Peak
Bar height is temperature. Colour is how busy it gets:
quiet
busy
peak
Average highs.
What your trip will cost
Pick how you travel. Per person per night, in euros.
Prices are in dollars and riel locally; these are euro equivalents.
—
- Beds—
- Food and drink—
- Getting around—
- Doing things—
Battambang travel questions
The ones we get asked most.
When do the bats come out?
At dusk, from a cave at Phnom Sampeau; arrive by about 5.30pm.
Is the bamboo train still running?
As a short tourist ride, yes; the original line is now used by trains again.
What is Phare Ponleu Selpak?
An arts school founded in 1994 that trains young people; its circus shows are excellent.
Can I take the boat to Siem Reap?
In the wet season, roughly August to January, when the water is high enough.
How many days do you need?
Two.
When is the best time to visit?
November to February.
Is it safe near the Thai border?
Avoid the border areas while the dispute continues; unexploded ordnance also remains in rural areas.
Say yes to hostels, meet the world
Compare Battambang hostels — live prices, real reviews and free cancellation on most bookings. Then meet the people already there in the app.
Get the App.