Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum
Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum
4.5
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
About
The Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum is the memorial site of the S-21 interrogation and detention center of the Khmer Rouge regime. Located in the heart of Phnom Penh, it preserves a tragic period in history with the aim to encourage visitors to be messengers of peace. Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum is the memorial site of “Security Office 21” (S-21) of Democratic Kampuchea (also known as the Khmer Rouge regime) and located in what was then the abandoned city of Phnom Penh, whose citizens had been evacuated on 17 April 1975. S-21 served as the central hub of a vast prison system throughout the country and was used throughout the period as a secret facility for the detention, interrogation, torture and extermination of those deemed “political enemies” of the regime. Due to a policy of guilt-by-association, at times whole families were detained at the center. Only 12 former inmates survived the opening of S-21 when Phnom Penh was liberated. Four of them were children.
Suggested duration
2-3 hours
Suggest edits to improve what we show.
Improve this listingTours & experiences
Explore different ways to experience this place.
Full view










What is Travelers’ Choice Best of the Best?
This award is our highest recognition and is presented annually to those businesses that are the Best of the Best on Tripadvisor, those that earn excellent reviews from travelers and are ranked in the top 1% of properties worldwide.
Plan your visit
The area
Address
Best nearby
Restaurants
1,506 within 3 miles
Attractions
124 within 6 miles
See what travelers are saying
- Sara10 contributionsTouring Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum and Killing Fields - Phnom PenhOne of the most important sites of our trip was to visit Tuol Sleng - the High School Prison - and the Killing Fields. We weren’t sure whether we needed a guide or not, but after a very good experience at the Land Mine museum in Siem Reap which had a full English interpretation on site we decided to risk it without a guide. This was a good decision. We hired a car for five adults with a driver for $30 USD for the day. Both sites had some the of best interpretive information I’ve experienced and both had excellent headsets in multiple languages. We spent about two hours at each site and listened fully to all information on the headsets. Our two teens 14 and 17 also listened in full, following which we have had some important conversations about these issues. While we found it very confronting, it is too important not to visit. Tuol Sleng high school is in the city and It is about 20 minutes drive between the sites. Entry to Tuol Sleng is $6 USD per adult with a headset and similar for the Killing fields. You’ll need proof of age for a teen discount - we had photos of our passports on our phone which was sufficient.Visited January 2020Traveled with familyWritten January 2, 2020
- Travis S142 contributionsReally good audio tourWhilst the content of this museum is incredibly sad, it's important history is very well documented and served by the museum. I would particularly recommend the audio tour which is included with the entry price, it was hands down the best audio tour I've done at any museum. It even recommends which ones to skip if you are in a bit of a hurry, and has extra content if you'd like to listen. The $8 entry fee is quite reasonable compared to similar things in Cambodia, and includes the audio guide which is great.Visited January 2020Traveled soloWritten January 17, 2020
- MM1909Marlborough, United Kingdom61 contributionsSad but should be doneOne of our main reasons for visiting Phnom Penh was to visit the museum. We knew it would difficult but having read up and seen various films we felt the need to go. We did not take an official tour. Our hotel was in walking distance and we went solo and used the audio guide. We believe this is the best way to do it as we could do it in our own time and take time to reflect. We spent about three hours here. If you do an official tour you will have far less time. It was only $8 dollars including the audio set. We did not go onto the killing fields as we felt we had seen enough. If you go in an official tour you will probably do both but they go to the killing Fields first, which is the wrong way round in my opinion. If you want to follow the journey of the victims you should start at S21. It opens at 8am and it is best to go as early as you can - you will then miss the group tours. They have some of the survivors there who will sign books for you and answer questions. It is a hard visit to do but worth it if you really want to understand what went on here.Visited February 2020Traveled as a coupleWritten February 5, 2020
- Haydn0342Rye, Australia43 contributionsAgain part of our tour to Vietnam & CambodiaThankfully not as depressing as the Killing Fields but still not somewhere that most travellers would need to go to when there are far more nicer places to see in Phnom Penh. Again some of group sat outside as they did not want to see the torture chambers & photos of the deceased. At least here were two of the survivors of this terrible part of their lives. Or shopping at their markets for bargains way below the cost of what we see in Australia Spend more time walking alongside the river in the city.Visited November 2019Written January 4, 2020
- Kara C14 contributionsA difficult but necessary remembrance of past atrocitiesShowed up right when the museum was opening so there was a small crowd that continued to grow thoughout the morning. The audio tour was worth the $3 extra, it added a lot of color to what you were seeing in the physical space. I wasn't impressed by either special exhibition but it was a moving experience. This is a site where awful things happened. Come to learn and pay respects to the victims. Remember to dress conservatively. Shoulders and knees must be covered or you'll be asked to deposit money and wear clothes they have to lend.Visited January 2020Traveled soloWritten January 3, 2020
- Deanosaur89Edmonton, Canada1,990 contributionsSorrowful History of CambodiaThis prison is dedicated to victims of a terrible regime in Cambodia. Take your time to reflect on the museum and be respectful. We would highly recommend paying for admission with audio guide tour for $8 US. There are many benches to take breaks and the audio tour will warn you which exhibits could be more overwhelming.Visited February 2020Traveled as a coupleWritten February 21, 2020
- VikkiBeeHoughton-le-Spring, United Kingdom644 contributionsVery Interesting But Heartbreaking TourI actually visited in February 2019, however due to travelling all over the world for the last 12 months, I am just in the process of writing all the reviews. I would definitely recommend visiting S-21 Prison however it can be distressing at times. The audio guide is a fantastic way to tour the buildings; it was very informative and easy to follow. You can take the tour at your own pace and there’s plenty of visual aids and some blocks of text which you can also read. There’s a memorable statue and also the opportunity to meet survivors which is heart breaking but also incredible at the same time. The prison has been preserved well and is definitely worth visiting to learn about the country’s history which sadly only took place 45 years ago!Visited February 2019Traveled with familyWritten January 17, 2020
- Jo GGuildford, United Kingdom247 contributionsBest place to visit in a city with few attractionsOne pays extra for an audio guide at this museum but it really is well worth it, not to say essential. This museum really explains not only what happened under Pol Pot but also why Phnom Penh and Cambodia in general are as they are now. They are derelict because they were destroyed, not very long ago. A very interesting and atmospheric museum.Visited February 2020Written March 5, 2020
- amanda5805Duncan, Canada4,946 contributionsMust Visit but Very GraphicsWe were on a group private tour. it cost about $8usd per person to enter. This place is very sad and very graphic. It was a secondary school turned into a torcher and execution facility before sending the prisoners to the killing fields. There are 4 building all 3 stores tall. Even the swing set & the triple horizontal bars are still in place and used as a torture device. Most of the people seemed to be young men and young woman with babies/kids. There are blood stains on the floors. Pictures of the last Found victims in the rooms they were found in. Arrival pictures and after death photos. Over 14,000 people have been documented to have been forced to entered this facility. Only 7 people survived. There is still 3 men who are alive who spent up to 2 years here and have written books about their experiences. We got the change to meet 2 of them while there. It was very graphic but was worth visiting. We spent just over 2 hours here.Visited December 2019Written May 24, 2020
- theandrews031211 contributionsVery informativeAt times I found this tour upsetting and hard to look at the photos or enter the rooms where such terrible things took place. I did find the audio tour very informative and I made the decision to visit here to try and understand what the people of Cambodia suffered during the Pol Pot period. This is part of Cambodia's history. It is worth the visit, the audio guide does warn you in advance should you not want to enter certain rooms.Visited December 2019Written January 6, 2020
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Contribute
Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
12,847 reviews
Excellent
8,595
Very good
3,392
Average
716
Poor
101
Terrible
44
Haydn0342
Rye, Australia43 contributions
Nov 2019
Thankfully not as depressing as the Killing Fields but still not somewhere that most travellers would need to go to when there are far more nicer places to see in Phnom Penh.
Again some of group sat outside as they did not want to see the torture chambers & photos of the deceased.
At least here were two of the survivors of this terrible part of their lives.
Or shopping at their markets for bargains way below the cost of what we see in Australia
Spend more time walking alongside the river in the city.
Again some of group sat outside as they did not want to see the torture chambers & photos of the deceased.
At least here were two of the survivors of this terrible part of their lives.
Or shopping at their markets for bargains way below the cost of what we see in Australia
Spend more time walking alongside the river in the city.
Written January 4, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kara C
14 contributions
Jan 2020 • Solo
Showed up right when the museum was opening so there was a small crowd that continued to grow thoughout the morning. The audio tour was worth the $3 extra, it added a lot of color to what you were seeing in the physical space. I wasn't impressed by either special exhibition but it was a moving experience.
This is a site where awful things happened. Come to learn and pay respects to the victims.
Remember to dress conservatively. Shoulders and knees must be covered or you'll be asked to deposit money and wear clothes they have to lend.
This is a site where awful things happened. Come to learn and pay respects to the victims.
Remember to dress conservatively. Shoulders and knees must be covered or you'll be asked to deposit money and wear clothes they have to lend.
Written January 4, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Deanosaur89
Edmonton, Canada1,990 contributions
Feb 2020 • Couples
This prison is dedicated to victims of a terrible regime in Cambodia. Take your time to reflect on the museum and be respectful. We would highly recommend paying for admission with audio guide tour for $8 US. There are many benches to take breaks and the audio tour will warn you which exhibits could be more overwhelming.
Written February 22, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
VikkiBee
Houghton-le-Spring, UK644 contributions
Feb 2019 • Family
I actually visited in February 2019, however due to travelling all over the world for the last 12 months, I am just in the process of writing all the reviews. I would definitely recommend visiting S-21 Prison however it can be distressing at times. The audio guide is a fantastic way to tour the buildings; it was very informative and easy to follow. You can take the tour at your own pace and there’s plenty of visual aids and some blocks of text which you can also read. There’s a memorable statue and also the opportunity to meet survivors which is heart breaking but also incredible at the same time. The prison has been preserved well and is definitely worth visiting to learn about the country’s history which sadly only took place 45 years ago!
Written January 17, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jo G
Guildford, UK247 contributions
Feb 2020
One pays extra for an audio guide at this museum but it really is well worth it, not to say essential. This museum really explains not only what happened under Pol Pot but also why Phnom Penh and Cambodia in general are as they are now. They are derelict because they were destroyed, not very long ago. A very interesting and atmospheric museum.
Written March 5, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
amanda5805
Duncan, Canada4,946 contributions
Dec 2019
We were on a group private tour. it cost about $8usd per person to enter.
This place is very sad and very graphic. It was a secondary school turned into a torcher and execution facility before sending the prisoners to the killing fields. There are 4 building all 3 stores tall. Even the swing set & the triple horizontal bars are still in place and used as a torture device. Most of the people seemed to be young men and young woman with babies/kids. There are blood stains on the floors. Pictures of the last Found victims in the rooms they were found in. Arrival pictures and after death photos.
Over 14,000 people have been documented to have been forced to entered this facility. Only 7 people survived. There is still 3 men who are alive who spent up to 2 years here and have written books about their experiences. We got the change to meet 2 of them while there.
It was very graphic but was worth visiting. We spent just over 2 hours here.
This place is very sad and very graphic. It was a secondary school turned into a torcher and execution facility before sending the prisoners to the killing fields. There are 4 building all 3 stores tall. Even the swing set & the triple horizontal bars are still in place and used as a torture device. Most of the people seemed to be young men and young woman with babies/kids. There are blood stains on the floors. Pictures of the last Found victims in the rooms they were found in. Arrival pictures and after death photos.
Over 14,000 people have been documented to have been forced to entered this facility. Only 7 people survived. There is still 3 men who are alive who spent up to 2 years here and have written books about their experiences. We got the change to meet 2 of them while there.
It was very graphic but was worth visiting. We spent just over 2 hours here.
Written May 24, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
theandrews031
south queensferry211 contributions
Dec 2019
At times I found this tour upsetting and hard to look at the photos or enter the rooms where such terrible things took place. I did find the audio tour very informative and I made the decision to visit here to try and understand what the people of Cambodia suffered during the Pol Pot period. This is part of Cambodia's history. It is worth the visit, the audio guide does warn you in advance should you not want to enter certain rooms.
Written January 6, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Developing Workers
Tempe, AZ11 contributions
Jan 2020
I highly recommend this museum to understand the culture of Cambodia. Get the audio recording for the walkthrough. Listen to the stories. It is hard to listen to the audio as you hear such horror stories but so informative. My team was getting ready to go to the countryside to do a medical clinic for 5 days. As we interacted with the adults it was obvious who lived through the horror and lived to tell about it.
Take your time, look at the pictures of the things you personally can handle. It is devastating what happened to such friendly people.
Take your time, look at the pictures of the things you personally can handle. It is devastating what happened to such friendly people.
Written January 22, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jesse M
San Jose, CA31 contributions
Jan 2020 • Couples
The self tour was a reasonable $5 but I highly recommend the audio tour ($8)
The tour shows the worst of mankind and what they’re capable of....the evil and wickedness.
It is sobering to see how much the Cambodians suffered...you actually stand in the same rooms that they were held. (The torture beds are still in place)... S21 is a memorial to those who died unjustly and honor the life they had
The tour shows the worst of mankind and what they’re capable of....the evil and wickedness.
It is sobering to see how much the Cambodians suffered...you actually stand in the same rooms that they were held. (The torture beds are still in place)... S21 is a memorial to those who died unjustly and honor the life they had
Written January 28, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Nicky E
Hertfordshire, UK130 contributions
Mar 2020
It feels wrong to give this place and "excellent review" as it was the site of so much horror, but as a means of demonstrating the terror of the Pol Pot regime it is definitely worth visiting. This is not a place to visit lightly and I would recommend leaving yourself some reflective time after your visit. The photos and stories are harrowing and the reality of seeing the shackles and instruments of torture used in our own lifetime are very sobering. I wish I had known that survivors would be there selling their books - bring some money, they deserve our support.
Written March 22, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Chris H
1 contribution
Hi, do you close over the Khmer New Year celebrations? I will be visiting PP on the 17th April this year and would like to visit the Museum and Killing Fields while I am there.
Many thanks
Aimless Vagabonds
Gurugram (Gurgaon), India58 contributions
All I can say is that I was in PP during the Water Festival from 7-9 November, which is a National holiday just like Khmer New Year, and both the museums were open on those days. Even the website says open on all days.
But if there's one thing I've learnt from my trip- Things are pretty uncertain in Cambodia. So may be do a quick check with them.
Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum
Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Thank you for recommend
Good_Partner
Sydney, Australia4,238 contributions
It's the best attraction in Phnom Penh for me. Enjoy
Chethan_12345
Providence, RI21 contributions
Hello,
I will be in Phnom Penh for a day next week. So. Would appreciate the boarders who have travelled to Phnom Penh to guide me on my query.
I would like to cover Royal palace, Silver pagoda, S21 museum and Killing fields.
My query is -
1) I plan to use the audio guide for both S21 and Killing fields. So, do I still need a tour guide to cover any of these places in my itinerary?
2) can I cover all the above mentioned places in day?
3) how much will it cost for a tuk tuk to cover all the these places and back to hotel? I plan to stay at Tea House.
Thank you,
With Regards,
Chethan
jimbobjimma
Christchurch, New Zealand19 contributions
Hi there.
Download “pass App” it will call you quick and very cheap tuk-tuk. The audio guide at killing fields is included in the $5 entry and no guide is needed.
The S21 prison is quite upsetting enough without either a guide or an audio headset. It gets more depressing as you move around. We managed to talk to a survivor-1 of very few.
The palace is very overrated the silver pagoda has no visible silver. The National museum is great if you have an interest in Khmer/Siamese historical artefacts and a headset is a good idea here.
The old market near Wat Prohm is a great spot......
Hope this helps.
ceccolive
Oleggio Castello, Italy1 contribution
Quanto costa il biglietto?
Macarena B
14 contributions
son $5 la entrada y audioguia $3.
recomiendo la audioguia.
ceccolive
Oleggio Castello, Italy1 contribution
Quanto costa il biglietto?
Giorgio4450
Comano, Switzerland41 contributions
non saprei, in quanto era tutto compreso nel tour
Lakshmi S
52 contributions
Moet ik perse met een tour guide doen of kan ik dit ook zelfstandig zien. ?
En is er evt audio er bij?
Annemarie K
Amsterdam, The Netherlands31 contributions
Je hebt geen Tour guide nodig hoor. Je krijgt audio in je eigen taal en deze is top! (Ik zou wel met audio doen, dit is 1 of 2 dollar per persoon meer maar wel echt een aanvulling.)
manou738
Villejuif, France2 contributions
Bonjour,
Nous nous rendons en août prochain au cambodge, avec nos enfants de 11 et 13 ans. Cet age vous paraît-il adapté pour la visite de la S21? C'est bien sûr subjectif mais un avis m'aiderait!
Merci!
mdg18
Madrid738 contributions
Personalmente creo que si es adecuada la visita, si se les va explicando lo que están viendo de una forma que ellos puedan comprender bien. Yo lo he visitado con mis hijos y creo que fue una visita muy instructiva sobre que es lo que nunca tiene que volver a pasar en ninguna parte del mundo.
dumbblonde83
Redditch, UK149 contributions
Is it possible to get a guide instead of an audio guide and what’s the average price for this? Which would you say gives the best experience?
Thank you.
Sredna1
Stockholm, Sweden318 contributions
Hi, I think you can get a guide but the audio guide is very good and offers flexibility when to listen and to what part.
Recently viewed
Is this your Tripadvisor listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim your listingTuol Sleng Genocide Museum, Phnom Penh
Frequently Asked Questions about Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum
- Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum is open:
- Sun - Sat 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
- Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum admission prices can vary. Entrance tickets currently cost $9.00, while a popular guided tour starts around $15.00 per person. See all 128 Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum tickets and tours on Tripadvisor
- Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum can be crowded, so we recommend booking e-tickets ahead of time to secure your spot. If you book with Tripadvisor, you can cancel at least 24 hours before the start date of your tour for a full refund. See all 128 Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum tickets and tours on Tripadvisor
- Hotels near Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum:
- (0.04 mi) Sla Malou
- (0.10 mi) The Flora Boutique Hotel
- (0.07 mi) Krorma Yamato Guest House Phnom Penh
- (0.08 mi) Calming 2 Bed Apartment 1 min to Tuol Sleng S21
- (0.09 mi) Stylish City Studio 1 minute to Tuol Sleng Museum
- Restaurants near Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum:
- (0.02 mi) Bay Mak
- (0.02 mi) JUM Boutique Arts & Crafts Cafe
- (0.03 mi) Spider Restaurant
- (0.04 mi) Pandan Leaf Restaurant
- (0.07 mi) 350 BBQ Cafe
Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum Information
| Excellent Reviews | 8,594 |
|---|---|
| Very Good Reviews | 3,392 |
| Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum Photos | 6,658 |












































































































