A Complete Battambang Itinerary – Everything You Need to Know About Visiting

Battambang is a special place – somewhere I can’t even put into words.  Have you ever traveled somewhere and just felt pulled to a place?  Whether it’s the people, the atmosphere, the activities; you just feel connected.  That’s how I felt in Battambang.  Connected.  And I know that writing this and sharing this, not everyone will have the same perspective and experience that I did… (Battambang was my boyfriends least favorite stop in Cambodia).  But there was just something about the city that made me fall in love.  So if you’re traveling to Cambodia, I urge you to make a stop in this quirky town.  This is your complete Battambang itinerary; everything you need to know about visiting.

 

If you’re planning on visiting Cambodia, don’t miss:

• Everything You Need to Know About Planning a Trip to Cambodia
• The Ultimate Cambodia Packing List

 

MAKE SURE TO CHECK OUT THIS TOUR TO SEE ALL OF THE HIGHLIGHTS IN BATTAMBANG!

 

Where is Battambang?

Located in Northeastern Cambodia near the Thai border, Battambang is northwest of Phnom Penh and west of Siem Reap.  It’s the capital of the Battambang Province and is the third largest city in Cambodia (behind Phnom Penh and Siem Reap).

 

Is Battambang Worth Visiting?

I would wholeheartedly say that yes – Battambang is worth a visit.  It’s such a different feeling than the other large cities in Cambodia and the west has a different vibe than the south, etc.  That reason alone is enough for me to say that Battambang should be on your Cambodian travel list.  But Battambang is also famous for rice fields (it’s the largest rice producer in Cambodia), ancient temples, and a laidback atmosphere.  I truly felt like Battambang was unique and unlike anywhere I’ve been in Cambodia or in Southeast Asia.

 

How Many Days Should You Spend in Battambang?

Battambang can be seen in as little as one day, but I personally felt like half of the charm was also exploring outside of the city.  For that reason, I’d recommend two full days in Battambang.  One to hang around the city and one to explore the outskirts.

Of course, if you’re limited on time and only have one day to spend, I’d still recommend making your way to Battambang.

 

How to Get to Battambang

Getting to Battambang is pretty easy no matter where you’re coming from in Cambodia.  The main mode of transportation in Cambodia is bus, and you can easily buy bus tickets and search for routes using Bookaway or 12Go.  The most popular ways to travel to Battambang are from Siem Reap and Phnom Penh.  I traveled to Battambang from Kampot, and it despite needing to change buses, it was a smooth ride.  I had to buy a bus ticket from Kampot to Phnom Penh and then a separate bus ticket from Phnom Penh to Battambang.

 

Siem Reap to Battambang

If you’re traveling from Siem Reap to Battambang the cheapest way is by bus which will take you around three hours.  However, if you’d like a more leisurely way of getting to Battambang, you can take a ferry through Tonle Sap Lake which will take about six hours.  The ferry goes through floating villages and is quite peaceful.  It is more expensive but it’s a more scenic way to head west.

Lastly, your easiest option would be to book a private driver from Siem Reap to Battambang.  You can book that here and a driver will pick you up at your hotel in Siem Reap and drop you off at your hotel in Battambang.

 

If you’re traveling from Siem Reap to Battambang, don’t miss:

• The Ultimate 3 Day Siem Reap Itinerary

 

Phnom Penh to Battambang

If you’re traveling from Phnom Penh to Battambang, the cheapest way to travel is by bus.  The ride will take around five hours and you can expect to be given a break to use the bathroom and grab food if you’re hungry.  An alternative way to get to Battambang is to book a private driver.  You can do that here and a driver will pick you up at your hotel in Phnom Penh and drop you off at your hotel in Battambang – surely the easiest way to travel north.

 

If you’re traveling from Phnom Penh to Battambang, don’t miss:

• 1 Day Phnom Penh Itinerary

 

BOOK A BUS TICKET TO BATTAMBANG HERE!

 

Where to Stay in Battambang

Battambang is quite small and easily walkable.  No matter where you stay, you can easily get around on foot or by waving down a TukTuk driver.  It does seem that most of the best bars and restaurants are near the Sangker River, in the north of the city; so if you’re looking for a place to stay make sure that you’re north, near the river.

My top two recommendations for Battambang include…

• Delux Villa Hotel – I stayed here and the room was very big and comfortable, there was also a pool to enjoy, and the hotel was affordable.
• Bambu Battambang Hotel – This is another great option in Battambang with both a pool to enjoy and an open air bar.  I met tons of travelers who stayed here and had great things to say about the hotel!

 

How to Get Around Battambang

The charm of Battambang is that there’s a lot of interesting things to see and do outside of the city.  So while Battambang itself is quite walkable, you’ll definitely need transportation to get a good feel for the province.

The most flexible way to get around Battambang Province is to rent a motorbike and plan a self-guided tour.  Motorbikes in Battambang cost about $8 for the day (although prices are negotiable) and a well-known rental spot is The Real Place.

If you don’t feel comfortable renting a motorbike and driving yourself around, another option would be to get a TukTuk.  The best way to do this is to just waive one down; just make sure to negotiate a price before you get in.  The frustrating thing about Battambang was that tuktuk’s were much more expensive than elsewhere in Cambodia.  Generally, you can expect to pay about $1 for a 10-minute ride but in Battambang drivers were charging upwards of $3 for 10-minutes.  Word is that for the entire day they charge $35; while in Phnom Penh I only paid $25 for a driver.  (You can book this TukTuk tour of Battambang for $20).

Lastly, Battambang does not have Grab so you can’t rely on it for more affordable or reliable transportation.  They do utilize the Pass app but you must have a Cambodian number to use the app.

 

The Best Restaurants in Battambang

I was impressed with the food scene in Battambang for several reasons.  Not only do they have great local restaurants (and great cooking classes where you can learn to make local food!), but they also have great healthy cafes and international food.  (I was especially impressed with all of the healthy cafes).  Below are my favorite restaurants in Battambang.

 

FLAVORS OF INDIA

If you’re craving international cuisine, look no further than Flavors of India.  Not only is the food amazing, but the portions are huge and affordable.  You’ll definitely have a full stomach when you dine here.

 

JAAN BAI

If you only have time for one restaurant in Battambang – Jaan Bai should be it.  Not only was it my favorite restaurant in Battambang, but it might have even been my favorite restaurant in Cambodia as a whole.  The cuisine is local Cambodian cuisine and the restaurant does a lot of work with children in need throughout the province.

 

THE CAFF BY BATTAMBANG FINE FOODS

The Caff is a great spot for your morning coffee and breakfast.  I was seriously impressed with the food here (the banana crumble cake was out of this world) and I have to admit – I also enjoyed the pumpkin spice latte (a seasonal drink) more than once.  The Caff was opened by a mom and daughter who moved from England to Cambodia to work as missionaries.

 

THE FRINGE

This cute and quirky cafe is a great option if you’re craving healthy, delicious food.  I always find that when I travel through Southeast Asia I’m missing some of those healthier food options and even get the craving for a good salad from time to time.  The Fringe satisfied my need for a healthy meal (don’t skip out on the peanut butter chocolate balls for dessert) at an affordable price.  Plus the cafe has games that you can play so it’s also a great place to come with a friend for drinks and games.  Lastly, The Fringe offers yoga classes (Tuesdays-Saturdays) if you’re in need of a good stretch and sweat!  You can check updated times for yoga and any other happenings at The Fringe on their Facebook page here.

 

EAT LIKE A LOCAL – JOIN AN AUTHENTIC CAMBODIAN FOOD EXPERIENCE HERE!

 

The Best Things to do in Battambang

There are so many great ways to spend your days and nights in Battambang.  Below you’ll find a list of unique things to see and do in Battambang that I would personally recommend.  You’ll notice that I do not have the killing cave or bat cave here – that’s because on my way to visit I crashed my motorbike and had to go back to the city.  I would however, highly recommend to do these things as I have heard from many tourists that it was the highlight of their stay.

 

IF YOU WANT TO BOOK A FULL TOUR OF BATTAMBANG WITH A TUKTUK DRIVER – BOOK HERE

 

BAMBOOTRAIN BATTAMBANG

I’ve heard a lot of conflicting thoughts about whether or not the bamboo train is “overrated” and a “rip off”, but I personally loved it!  When you arrive to the railway there are men there that build the bamboo train in front of you.  $5 will get you a 20-minute ride on the railroad tracks – which is how Cambodian people used to travel back in the day.  Once you are done with your ride, they will ask for a tip so that’s up to your discretion.

Please note:  There is an old bamboo railway and a new bamboo railway.  You want to make sure to visit the old one as it’s much more authentic.

 

BANAN TEMPLE

The Banan Temple is an 11th-century temple located 10+ miles south of Battambang city.  The temple was built by King Odayadityavarman II as a way to give thanks, ask for help, and pray to God.  The entrance to the temple is $2/person and you have to climb 300+ steps to make it to the top.

 

BATTAMBANG CENTRAL MARKET

I highly recommend walking around the central market while you’re in town.  There’s tons of interesting foods here and the market itself is so – colorful.  It’s a great way to pass some time and get a feel for how Cambodian people eat and shop.  By the way, Cambodian people go to the market every single day for fresh food.  They don’t buy in bulk like people in the west do.

 

TAKE A COOKING CLASS AT COCONUT LYLY

A great way to learn about Cambodian cuisine and culture is by participating in a cooking class.  I joined the class at Coconut Lyly and thoroughly enjoyed it!  The class was 3+ hours and we visited the local market and then learned how to make some traditional Cambodian food.  If you’re in town, make sure to book ahead of time so the family is expecting you!

 

ROMCHEIK 5 ARTSPACE & CAFE

Romcheik 5 was a pleasant treat in Battambang.  This modern art museum contains works from Cambodian artists across the country and has some of the more unique art I’ve ever seen.  Plus at the top of the museum there’s a cafe where you can grab a cup of coffee and marvel at the great views.  The cost to enter is $5/person.

 

Battambang Itinerary – How to Spend 2-Days in the City

Here’s my ideal itinerary for spending 2 days in Battambang.  On day one I highlight what I believe shouldn’t be missed when you visit.  And if you’re able to spend two days in Battambang, day two would be other things that I would recommend seeing and doing.

 

Day 1 in Battambang

• Rent a motorbike or hire a driver for a tour of Battambang
  • Bamboo Railway
  • Banan Temple
  • Killing Cave
  • Bat Cave Phnom Sampov
• Dinner at Jaan Bai

 

Day 2 in Battambang

• Coffee and breakfast at The Caff
• Visit Romcheik 5
• Cooking class at Coconut Lyly
• Massage at Lemongrass Garden Spa & Massage
• Dinner at The Fringe or Flavors of India

 

Cambodia Essentials – What You Need & Need to Know About Visiting Cambodia

 

I hope that reading this will convince you that Battambang should be on your Cambodian itinerary.  If you have any questions, please let me know in a comment below!

 

If you’re traveling through Cambodia, don’t miss:

• The Ultimate 10 Day Cambodia Itinerary
• 10 of the Best Things to do in Kampot, Cambodia
• What You Need to Know About Visiting Angkor Wat

 

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For more information on things to see and do in Battambang, make sure to check out my Instagram page/highlight reel by searching “#ppincambodia” or under my highlights for “Cambodia”; alternatively, head to my TikTok and search for the saved “Cambodia” highlight

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