Discover the best time of year, based on historical climate, temperature, and precipitation.
The best weather in Battambang is from January, February, December. — consistent weather climate
⛈Hot & rainy
| Score | 92 | 80 | 56 | 47 | 42 | 54 | 43 | 50 | 30 | 36 | 67 | 90 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Climate | Hot & dry | Hot & dry | Hot & dry | Hot & rainy | Hot & rainy | Hot & rainy | Hot & rainy | Hot & rainy | Hot & rainy | Hot & rainy | Hot & rainy | Pleasant |
| Temperature | 21–32°C | 23–34°C | 25–36°C | 26–36°C | 26–35°C | 26–35°C | 25–33°C | 25–33°C | 24–31°C | 23–30°C | 23–30°C | 21–30°C |
| Feels like | 23–34°C | 25–37°C | 29–40°C | 31–41°C | 31–40°C | 30–39°C | 30–38°C | 30–38°C | 29–37°C | 28–36°C | 26–35°C | 23–33°C |
| Precipitation | 17mm 2 days | 38mm 4 days | 77mm 8 days | 114mm 11 days | 164mm 15 days | 106mm 10 days | 187mm 19 days | 147mm 16 days | 290mm 27 days | 302mm 25 days | 135mm 14 days | 36mm 5 days |
| Sunshine | 10.4h ☀︎ 91% | 10.7h ☀︎ 92% | 10.8h ☀︎ 90% | 9.8h ☀︎ 79% | 6.9h ☀︎ 54% | 6.3h ☀︎ 49% | 5.3h ☀︎ 42% | 5.5h ☀︎ 44% | 4.4h ☀︎ 36% | 4.7h ☀︎ 40% | 7.7h ☀︎ 66% | 9.7h ☀︎ 85% |
| Wind | NE · 14 km/h | E · 14 km/h | SW · 15 km/h | SW · 15 km/h | SW · 15 km/h | SW · 18 km/h | SW · 17 km/h | SW · 17 km/h | SW · 14 km/h | N · 12 km/h | NE · 13 km/h | NE · 14 km/h |
| Humidity (%) | 61% | 61% | 65% | 67% | 73% | 72% | 78% | 77% | 84% | 85% | 79% | 69% |
| Day length | 11.4h | 11.7h | 12.1h | 12.4h | 12.7h | 12.9h | 12.8h | 12.5h | 12.2h | 11.8h | 11.5h | 11.4h |
Battambang holds its own Bon Om Touk celebration, typically ahead of the national festival in Phnom Penh, with colorful…
Battambang is at its absolute best in December and January, when dry skies and manageable warmth make exploring its heritage streets effortless; whatever you do, do not follow the crowd peak in August, when muggy downpours collide with peak visitor numbers.
Spreading quietly along the fertile bends of the Sangkae River, Battambang is Cambodia's cultural counterweight to the frantic tourist engines of Siem Reap and Phnom Penh. Travellers come here drawn by early-twentieth-century French colonial shophouses, an acclaimed culinary heritage recognized by UNESCO, and rural landscapes peppered with ancient Khmer shrines. But the rhythm of this city is intimately tied to water and heat. When the monsoon retreats and the air clears in early winter, the riverside comes alive with cafe tables, bicycle rambles, and evening promenades. Arrive at the wrong turn of the calendar, however, and you will find yourself ducking between torrential afternoon squalls or retreating indoors to escape suffocating pre-monsoon heat that makes daytime exploration an ordeal.
If you want to understand why travellers fall under Battambang's understated spell, come in December or January. This is the undisputed sweet spot of the provincial year. The rains of the late monsoon have flushed the surrounding rice paddies into brilliant green before receding, leaving the Sangkae River high and tranquil and the skies washed clean. Daytime temperatures sit comfortably around 30 degrees, dropping to genuinely pleasant, breezy conditions once dusk settles over the water.
Everything in town feels built for this weather. The wide colonial-era avenues and shuttered shophouses are best appreciated at walking pace or from the seat of a bicycle, poking into art spaces and stopping for iced coffee without breaking into an immediate sweat. It is also the finest window for day trips out into the countryside. A morning ride south toward the hilltop temple steps of Wat Banan or north along the river to the ruins of Wat Ek Phnom is crisp and dust-free, shielded by morning cloud cover that burns away into long, sunny afternoons. January carries an added advantage over the surrounding months: while visitor numbers swell sharply in February, January remains relatively calm, giving you the best weather of the year with plenty of breathing room along the waterfront.
February sees a sharp spike in travel footfall, but the weather begins an unmistakable transition. The ambient air dries out entirely, the gentle breezes of midwinter fade, and the sun turns relentless. By late February and throughout March, afternoon temperatures climb relentlessly toward 36 degrees, feeling closer to 40 against the pavement. The lush green countryside around town quickly fades to pale gold and dusty ochre.
Exploring Battambang during these months demands an early start. The city awakens before dawn, when the morning markets are bustling and the air along the Sangkae River retains a fleeting coolness. By midday, sensible travellers mimic the locals: pull the shutters closed, retreat to shady courtyards, and suspend all outdoor ambition until late afternoon. If you plan to visit Phnom Sampeau to watch the sunset flight of bats emerging from the limestone caves, schedule your tuk-tuk ride for the tail end of the day when the limestone rock faces finally stop radiating the midday glare.
April is the most punishing month of the year. The pre-monsoon heat reaches its zenith, locking the low-lying river basin in a thick, stifling haze where apparent temperatures routinely push past 41 degrees. Walking more than a block or two under the unshaded midday sun is thoroughly draining. While the Khmer New Year in mid-April brings celebratory water fights and family gatherings that temporarily infuse the town with joyful energy, the daily climate makes routine sightseeing arduous.
May brings the first major breaks in the heat through violent, thundering afternoon storms. The rain arrives not as an all-day drizzle, but as sudden downpours that drop heavy sheets of water over the city within minutes. The baked earth drinks it in with a distinctive earthy smell, but the humidity surges instantly afterward. Unless you thrive in dense tropical heat, this is a transitional period best avoided in favour of the cooler months ahead.
June and July bring the full arrival of the southwest monsoon, bringing regular afternoon squalls interspersed with bright, overcast intervals. The landscape transforms almost overnight back into vibrant neon green as farmers flood their paddies across the surrounding plains. The rain is heavy when it falls, but mornings frequently offer a three- or four-hour window of dry weather suitable for rural wanders.
The real puzzle of the Battambang calendar arrives in August. Driven by European holiday schedules, August registers as the busiest month of the entire year for visitors, even though the weather is objectively difficult. The air is muggy, the heat index stays hovering near 38 degrees, and rain falls frequently enough to disrupt cycling itineraries and rural excursions. If you find yourself in Battambang in August, you will share the riverside cafes and ancient ruins with more tourists than at any other point in the year, all while navigating muddy backroads and sodden afternoons. If your schedule allows any flexibility, waiting for the winter dry season delivers a vastly superior experience.
September and October represent the rainiest chapter of the Battambang year, with monthly rainfall regularly surpassing 300 millimetres. The Sangkae River swells to its brim, coursing swiftly past the town centre. Rural roads can turn to slick mud, and afternoon excursions require rubber boots and flexible plans. Yet this wet culmination brings a distinct cultural payoff as the season begins to turn.
Late October and November mark the transition out of the deluge. Around this time, the city hosts the Battambang Water Festival along the Sangkae River ahead of the national celebrations in the capital. Sleek, brightly painted longboats race down the river flanked by cheering crowds, food vendors frying river fish, and music echoing across the embankments. By November, visitor numbers climb back toward their winter peak, and while lingering moisture can still trigger occasional showers, the skies begin their final clearing toward the pristine conditions of December.