An artsy part of Cambodia with charming French colonial architecture and a dazzling untouched countryside.
What To Do
Explore the countryside of Battambang on a bicycle to get closer to its untouched nature and quaint villages. Soksabike is a tour company that provides full or half-day tours to get the best Cambodian back road experience. Discover the wonderful locals and even get a chance to chat with a Buddhist monk with these bike tours.
Battambang is known to be the art capital of Cambodia with an artistic community of painters and performers. Pop by Khmer Art Space for exhibitions by local artists inspired by the beauty of the province. The Phare Ponleu Selpak is a circus troupe where troubled kids are given the opportunity to train in circus acts by local professionals. They do tours in Cambodia so check out their schedule.
How To Get There
There are no scheduled flights to Battambang so your best bet is via road or water. From Phnom Penh, you can take 5-hour daily buses up to the quaint province. If you travelling during the wet season, take the ferry up the Sangkar River for a picturesque view of the Cambodian countryside and a chance to do some bird-watching.
Where To Stay
An artistic town would definitely have some unique accommodations and Battambang does not disappoint. Stay in a refurbished colonial building with a classy interior at Bambu Hotel, a villa-style hotel with a hype that has not died since its opening in 2010. Artsy and different can be found at Bric-a-Brac that host uniquely decorated rooms and a well-stocked bar called the Libations Bar that serves homemade rillettes.
Amok, a traditional Khmer dish with chicken or fish, Battambang, Cambodia
What To Eat
Khmer cuisine with its spices and variety of rice dishes will make you salivate with joy and the influence of the French brings some range into their food choices. We urge to nosh on the steamed fish curry called Amok as it is known to originate from the Battambang area. Restaurant wise, Jaan Bai is known for its delectable Khmer tapas-sized dishes where they serve a mean curry. For some Khmer-French fusion, the Pomme D’Amour is a favourite eatery of the expat community.
Local Tips & Facts
- For a taste of the local transportation besides the tuk-tuk, Battambang has a quirky railway with a bamboo train powered by a small engine that locals use to shuttle rice and livestock
- Cambodia has a disturbing past link to the Khmer Rouge regime where the caves of Phnom Sampeu were used as prisons. One of the caves, the Killing Cave has turned into a temple with a memorial of made up of human bones looked after by a Buddha statue.
- Battambang is known for its large and juicy pursat Green on the outside with orange flesh, the pursat orange is loved by locals so get them at your local markets. Harvest time is from June until August.
