Activities in Phnom Penh

 Phnom Penh Sport and Activities


Tip: Many events seem almost spontaneous and the best way to find out what is on is by checking the listings on the back page of the English language Cambodia Daily newspaper each Friday.


Bars and Nightclubs The Foreign Correspondents Club has a happy hour between 5 and 7pm. This and other bars and restaurants along the riverfront make superb places to sit and enjoy drinks as the sun goes down. Bia hois (outdoor beer stands) and karaoke halls are popular with the locals and welcome visitors. If dancing is more your style head to Manhattan's Nightclub, near the Holiday International Hotel and boogie till daylight or pop down to Martini's Disco, which also features a food court and an outdoor movie screen.


Bowling The Phnom Penh Bowling Club or Superbowl, are the places to be for this more leisurely sport. Both places are both open until late. Superbowl is located at 113, Mao Tse Toung (Parkway Square) and the Phnom Penh Bowling Club is 34-38, Street 294. Tel: (23) 365303.


Billiards If your hotel doesn’t cater for this activity there are numerous places that do. Kambol F1 where you can also go go-carting is one venue or for the more ‘professionally’ minded The Walkabout Hotel hosts a pool competition every Tuesday night. If you want to play with the locals, small pool halls of varying standards can be found down almost any street as the game is almost a national obsession.


Bridge There is a popular Bridge Club in the city and newcomers and visitors are always more than welcome to join in. They have meetings every Thursday at 7 p.m. at the Hotel Le Royal. For more information on joining a game contact 012-804551.


Canoeing The Cambodia River Tours or Adventure Canoes offer anything from a short paddle near Wat Phnom to a marathon journey through the provinces. These are the better established canoeing businesses in the area but there are others worth trying. Ask for more information at your hotel on arrival, or contact us.


Cinema The French Cultural Centre regularly screens a good range of French language movies, often with English subtitles. There is also the Mittapheap Cineplex located at 262, Monivong Boulevard, Khan Daun Penh which shows regular films. Other than that, there are almost no cinemas in Phnom Penh. Latest release foreign movies are often on television within days of release due to almost non-existent copyright laws and Cambodia's film industry consists mainly of karaoke video makers. Visitors wishing to see a Khmer movie on the big screen can do so in relative comfort at the Vimeantip Cinema on Monivong Boulevard.


Cultural Entertainment Early risers can see Cambodia's world-famous classical dancers rehearse most mornings at the Royal University of Fine Arts between 7.30 and 9.30am. Sovanna Phum, located at 111 Street 360, stages occasional, performances of Khmer shadow puppet theatre and Khmer circus. Tip: Productions of Khmer classical theatre and circus are irregular and are best located by checking local magazines and newspapers. The French Cultural Centre sometimes hosts exhibitions, plays and other events.


Diving There is no where in Phnom itself to dive but a 3 hour drive or a 30 min flight from Phnom Penh will take you to Sihanoukville's pristine beaches and diving adventures. Visit this for further information about diving in Cambodia. 


Elephant Riding Can be done at Wat Phnom on weekends and some evenings. For more information ask at your hotel on arrival.


Gambling can be done at Phnom Penh's only casino, Naga Floating Casino, located on a former ocean liner and easily spotted on the river.


Go-Carting Prospective Formula One racers can try go-carting at Kambol F1 Call them on 012-804620 for more information.


Golf There are 2 golf courses and 2 driving ranges in Phnom Penh the Cambodia Golf and Country Club offers an 18-hole course and can be found on Route 4, 35km south of Phnom Penh. Give them a call on Tel: (23) 363666 for more information. The other option is the CVK Royal Golf Club, also an 18 hole course that is located on Route 4, 5 km south of Phnom Penh. Tel: (23) 366689 to make more enquiries. If playing 18 holes is a bit much, put some practice in at Parkway Square which is a rooftop driving range and putting green located at 113, Mao Tse Toung. Another driving range is located at the Royal Phnom Penh Hotel on Sothearos, Sangkat Tonle Bassac. Give them a call on (23) 982670  


Fitness Centres The Clark Hatch gym at the Hotel Inter-Continental Phnom Penh is probably the best equipped. Phone it on (23) 424888 for more information. There is another good one at the Royal Phnom Penh Hotel if somewhat small. Call them on (23) 982670 for more information. There are others dotted around the city and a few other hotels also have gymnasiums within their complexes.


Flying Angkor Aile offer Ultra-light flights over the city and can be contacted on Tel: (23) 430204 for more information.


Fun Runs Go on a run with the Phnom Penh Hash House Harriers. This is a great way to meet the locals and get to see parts of Phnom Penh not normally traversed by visitors. To find out more about this family event…yes, the kids can join in too… pop down to the Phnom Penh Railway Station on any Sunday afternoon at 3:00. Meet at 2:45 at the Railway Station at the intersection of Monivong and Street 106 or contact Mat Wheeler: mwheeler@bigpond.com.kh who knows all about it.


Jet Skiing The Alligator Ski Club offers jet skiing and water skiing from their floating bar on the Mekong River. Cross the Chruoy Changvar bridge, go about 1.7 km. Look for the Alligator Ski sign in front of the Klein Klang pagoda on the right. Tel: 012-835859 for more information.


Kickboxing is held on Sundays at the TV5 studios. Cambodians are passionate about their kickboxing, which is very similar to Thailand's Muay Thai, also believed to be a Khmer invention. Big crowds gather to watch local heroes, especially when they fight foreign contenders.


Live Music Sunday is jam day at the Globe Bar and Restaurant and any musician is welcome to join. The Elephant Bar at Hotel Le Royal along with a few of the larger hotels such as Monirom Villa and Royal Phnom Penh Hotel stage regular cabaret-style or sedate piano performances.


Massage Blind masseurs are the people to visit for the best massages. Seeing Hands Massage, a co-operative of blind Khmer masseurs, practices the ancient art of Shiatsu massage.


Soccer Cambodian National Soccer League games and occasionally internationals are held at various locations and when games are on their venues are listed in the Cambodia Daily.


Shooting Range The Thunder Ranch Shooting Range is located off the road to the airport, on the outskirts of Phnom Penh. They have about 20 different guns you can choose from, ranging from AK-47's to M60 machine guns.


Water Skiing The Alligator Ski Club on the Mekong River has boats and skis and for those who don’t want to whiz around on the water, there’s a floating bar to lounge around in and if you think you’ll get hungry while there, bring sausages and have a barbeque.

Tip: For current events check the back page of the Friday Cambodia Daily and the listings in the Phnom Penh Post. Other activities listed in the Friday Daily include softball, pool tournaments, religious services, quiz night, art exhibitions, lectures and performances.