Top 6 best museums in Cambodia2026 ranking

The Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum is a former school in downtown Phnom Penh, converted into a detention and torture center by the Khmer Rouge. Preserved exactly as it was found on January 7, 1979, the site comprises four buildings enclosing a schoolyard.

Visiting is difficult and not recommended for children or sensitive visitors. You will see the direct results of human cruelty and the horrors of a regime that lost its way.

Opened in 1920 in Phnom Penh, the National Museum of Cambodia houses the world largest collection of Khmer sculpture. Explore over 14,000 pieces spanning two millennia, including masterpieces from Angkor. The building itself, designed in traditional Khmer style by George Groslier, is a highlight. A major rehabilitation project is currently underway with support from the Musee Guimet.

The Battambang Museum is a modest space located right in the city center along the riverbank. It houses a surprising collection of historic and prehistoric architectural artifacts. You can often find a monk in saffron robes nearby who may offer to guide your visit. A second gallery next door displays renovation photos, religious ceremony decorations, and fine traditional furniture.