2 Best Sights in Cambodia

Battambang's compact historic center has the highest density of heritage buildings in Cambodia, including refurbished French colonial administrative buildings and banks, dilapidated art deco cinemas, Chinese shophouses, and gilded pagodas in leafy grounds. Focus your explorations on the cluster of blocks between Street 1, parallel to the Sanker River, and Street 3, all the way down to Street 127, which has the widest variety of architecture. Ask your hotel to print out the annotated walking map by Khmer Architecture Tours and explore on foot, punctuating your walk with food and drink stops.

Don't miss the fascinating free museum at the Governor's Mansion, itself an exquisite piece of colonial architecture.

This historic central market, built in the art deco style during the French protectorate, is a great spot to buy cooked street food and Battambang's famous fruit—green-skinned Pursat oranges. Inside, vendors sell everything from the colorful batik sarongs beloved by villagers to gold jewelry destined for dowries.