Landmarks in Battambang
- 01
Battambang Railway Station
The station building on the Phnom Penh to Poipet line, opened in 1933 and still well preserved, with a clock famously stopped at 8:02.
- Time needed
- 20 to 30 minutes
- Walking
- Easy
- Best time
- Morning or late afternoon
- Tickets
- No entry fee to look at the exterior. If you plan to travel, confirm timetables and ticket arrangements with the operator, as passenger services have changed repeatedly.
- 02
Phnom Sampeau
A limestone hill southwest of Battambang with Buddhist cave shrines, a hilltop monastery with stupas and the Khmer Rouge killing caves, now a memorial.
- Time needed
- 2 to 3 hours
- Walking
- Demanding
- Best time
- Morning; November to February
- Tickets
- A combined ticket with Wat Banan has been reported at about US$3, but fees change, so ask at the gate. Dress modestly, keep voices low in the memorial cave, and avoid feeding the macaques.
- 03
Sangkae River and Spean Thmor Chas
The Sangkae River winds through the city, and the colonial-era Spean Thmor Chas bridge beside City Hall makes a pleasant, free evening walk.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Walking
- Easy
- Best time
- Late afternoon and evening
- Tickets
- No entry fee. The boat to Siem Reap leaves from the river in the high-water season; Wikipedia reports a 6 to 7 hour service, but schedules and routes change, so confirm locally.
Temples in Battambang
- 04
Wat Banan
An eleventh-century sandstone and laterite temple on a hill in Banan district, reached by a long naga-flanked staircase and topped by five towers that echo Angkor Wat in miniature.
- Time needed
- 1.5 to 2 hours including the climb
- Walking
- Demanding
- Best time
- Early morning or late afternoon; November to February
- Tickets
- A combined ticket with Phnom Sampeau has been reported at about US$3 per visitor, but fees change, so confirm at the gate or with your driver. Cover shoulders and knees, remove shoes where asked, and treat the shrine as an active Buddhist place.
- 05
Wat Ek Phnom
A ruined eleventh-century sandstone temple on the Sangkae River north of the city, with carved lintels, Krishna reliefs and a modern pagoda and large Buddha beside it.
- Time needed
- 1 to 1.5 hours
- Walking
- Easy
- Best time
- Morning or late afternoon; November to February
- Tickets
- No fixed fee was reported by Wikivoyage, but confirm on arrival. Cover shoulders and knees and remove shoes in the modern pagoda. Photography of the ruin is generally fine; be discreet around worshippers.
Places of worship in Battambang
- 06
Bahá'í House of Worship
The Bahá'í House of Worship in Odambang commune, dedicated in 2017 and described as the first Bahá'í House of Worship built to serve a single locality.
- Time needed
- 30 to 45 minutes
- Walking
- Easy
- Best time
- Daytime; check access first
- Tickets
- Visiting arrangements were not found in sources we opened, so ask locally or confirm with the Bahá'í community before going. Dress modestly and be quiet inside.
Experiences in Battambang
- 07
Bamboo Train (Norry)
A short ride on a bamboo-and-wood platform that glides along a stretch of track in Banan district, once a local transport trick and now a tourist novelty.
- Time needed
- 30 to 45 minutes
- Walking
- Easy
- Best time
- Morning or late afternoon; dry months
- Tickets
- Fares are paid on the spot. Wikivoyage reported about US$5 per person when shared and US$10 solo, but that listing may be dated, so confirm with your driver or hotel. There is no formal reservation.
Neighbourhoods in Battambang
- 08
Battambang Colonial Heritage Quarter
The grid of tree-lined streets, shophouses and villas laid out by the French after 1907, now protected as a heritage area of about 800 historic buildings.
- Time needed
- 1.5 to 2 hours on foot
- Walking
- Easy
- Best time
- Early morning or late afternoon
- Tickets
- No entry fee. Many buildings are private shops, homes or hotels, so look from the street and ask before photographing people.
Museums in Battambang
- 09
Battambang Provincial Museum
A small museum in the town centre with Khmer artefacts, including pieces from the Angkorian period and Neolithic finds from the Laang Spean site.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes to 1 hour
- Walking
- Easy
- Best time
- Midday, when other sights are hot
- Tickets
- Wikivoyage reports opening Tuesday to Sunday, 08:00 to 17:30, closed Mondays, with entry about US$1. Hours and fees change, so check locally.
Culture in Battambang
- 10
Phare Ponleu Selpak and Phare Circus
A non-profit arts school founded in 1994 whose students stage acrobatic circus and theatre shows, with ticket sales supporting its training and social programmes.
- Time needed
- 2 to 3 hours for a show
- Walking
- Easy
- Best time
- Evenings on performance days; dry months
- Tickets
- Tickets have been reported at about US$16 per person, but confirm on the official site, where the performance schedule is also published. Book ahead in the high season.
