Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum (S-21)

A visit to the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum is not a typical tourist activity; it is a profound act of remembrance. Located in the heart of Phnom Penh, this former high school was transformed into the Khmer Rouge's most notorious torture center: Security Prison 21 (S-21).

Visitor Essentials

• Hours: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM (Last entry 4:30 PM).
• Entrance: $5 USD.
• Audio Guide ($5): Essential. The physical signs are sparse; the audio guide tells the full story through survivor testimonies.
• Dress Code: Shoulders and knees must be covered. Silence is expected in the hallways.

From School to Prison

The Barbed Wire

As you look at the buildings, notice the barbed wire covering the balconies of Building C. This wasn't to keep people *out*. It was installed to stop tortured prisoners from committing suicide by jumping off the edge.

What You Will Witness

The museum has been left largely as it was found in 1979.

• Building A: The interrogation rooms, still containing the rusted iron bed frames and shackles.
• Building B: The photo galleries. Thousands of black-and-white mugshots of men, women, and children stare back at you.
• Building C: The tiny brick cells built inside the former classrooms.

🤝 Meet the Survivors

Of the roughly 20,000 people imprisoned here, only 12 are known to have survived. Today, two of them—Chum Mey and Bou Meng—often sit in the museum courtyard to sign copies of their books. Meeting them is a rare chance to shake hands with history.