Tuol Sleng (S-21) — Phnom Penh

Former secondary school transformed into a detention and torture center by the Khmer Rouge between 1975 and 1979. Approximately 17,000 people were imprisoned there; fewer than 15 survived. The buildings are preserved as they were on the day of liberation. Photos of the detainees — methodically taken at the entrance — cover the walls of several rooms.

The visit takes 1.5 to 2.5 hours. An English and French audio guide is available at the entrance (3 USD). Several survivors regularly share their testimonies on-site — an experience that completely surpasses the visit alone.

Entry 15 USD (audio guide included since 2022)
Hours 8 AM - 5:30 PM daily
Recommended duration 1.5 to 2.5 hours

Choeung Ek — the Killing Fields

Located 15 km south of Phnom Penh, the Choeung Ek site is one of the 300 execution and mass burial sites of the Khmer Rouge. Prisoners from S-21 were transferred here to be executed. A glass stupa contains the skulls of 5,000 victims. The site is covered with trees and grass — peaceful on the surface, unbearable when you understand what you're walking on.

The audio guide (included in the entry) is one of the best we’ve heard in Cambodia — sober, precise, with testimonies from survivors. Allow 1.5 hours.

Entry 6 USD (audio guide included)
Hours 8 AM - 5:30 PM daily
Access from PP Tuk-tuk (~10-12 USD round trip + waiting) or Grab

National Museum of Phnom Penh

The building itself is worth a look — Khmer architecture from the 1920s surrounding a courtyard with a pond and statues. The collections cover 2,000 years of Khmer art: pre-Angkorian sculptures, Angkor statuary, bronzes, ceramics. Most of the masterpieces saved from Angkor are here, not at the sites.

Entry: 10 USD. French audio guide available. Duration: 1 to 2 hours.

Angkor National Museum — Siem Reap

A modern museum (opened in 2007) designed to prepare visitors for the temple visit. Timeline of Khmer civilization, presentation of Hindu and Buddhist deities, thematic rooms on Angkor Wat and Angkor Thom. Ideal to do the day before your first visit to the temples — it profoundly changes what you understand on-site.

Entry: 12 USD. Well air-conditioned, useful for a break after a morning at the temples.

Our recommendation: If you visit only one museum in Phnom Penh and have the emotional capacity to do so — visit S-21. If you visit both genocide sites, spread them over two days. And give yourself time afterward to decompress, preferably away from the noise of the shopping streets.

Guided museum tours

GetYourGuide — Guided tours of S-21 & Choeung Ek
English-speaking historian guide · In-depth historical context · Transport included
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Yes, photography is allowed in most areas — except for the rooms containing photos of victims, out of respect. Check the signs at the entrance of each building. The site regularly organizes temporary exhibitions — some areas may be partially closed.

1 to 2 hours depending on your interest in Khmer art. If you visit Angkor, this museum is complementary — you will recognize styles, deities, and inscriptions that you will see later on the temples. The shop offers good reproductions at reasonable prices.