Dark Tourism: Visiting Places That Hold Difficult Histories
This is a growing series — I’ll continue to add to it as I visit more places that hold difficult histories.
What Is Dark Tourism?
“Dark tourism” is the term often used to describe travel to places associated with death, tragedy, or historical suffering.
That might sound stark — and in many ways, it is.
These are not destinations we visit for enjoyment in the usual sense. They are places that ask something different of us.
Places like:
They are places where history feels close. Where the past is not just something you read about, but something you stand within.
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Why Visit Places Like This?
It’s a fair question.
Why would we choose to visit places connected to such suffering?
For me, it comes down to one word: understanding.
Reading about history is one thing.
Standing in the place where it happened is something else entirely.
When I visited Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, I felt a physical reaction to what I was seeing — something I had never experienced before.
At Choeung Ek Genocidal Centre, it was the quietness of the place and the small, human details that stayed with me.
And at Jallianwala Bagh, it was the realisation of how easily lives can be lost when power goes unchecked.
These visits don’t provide answers.
But they do deepen your understanding.
Not “Things to Do” — But Places to Witness
I don’t think of these places as attractions.
They are not “must-see sights” in the usual travel sense.
They are places where we bear witness.
Where we pause.
Where we reflect.
Where we acknowledge what happened — and the people it happened to.
That feels important to me.
The Question of Ethics
There is, of course, a conversation around whether visiting these places is appropriate.
Some worry about:
commercialisation
insensitivity
turning tragedy into tourism
I understand those concerns.
But my own experience — particularly in Cambodia — was very different.
At both Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum and Choeung Ek Genocidal Centre, I found spaces that were respectful, informative, and quietly powerful.
Not perfect, perhaps — but meaningful.
For me, the key is how we visit.
How to Visit Respectfully
If you choose to visit places like these, I believe there are a few simple things that matter:
Dress modestly and appropriately
Keep your voice low
Take your time — don’t rush through
Avoid intrusive photography
Be mindful that for some people, this is not history — it is lived memory
Most of all, approach with humility.
The Emotional Impact
These places stay with you.
Not always in ways you expect.
Sometimes it’s something small:
a photograph
a name
a fragment of clothing
an empty room
Sometimes it’s a feeling you can’t quite put into words.
After visiting Tuol Sleng, I felt a physical heaviness.
At Choeung Ek, it was the quietness that lingered.
These are not experiences you “tick off.”
They are experiences you carry with you.
A Final Thought
We travel for many reasons.
To explore.
To relax.
To experience something new.
But sometimes, we travel to remember.
And perhaps, in remembering, we play a small part in ensuring that these stories are not forgotten.
Watch this Video for Another Explanation of Dark Tourism
A Growing Journey
This is not a single visit or even a single country.
It’s a thread that runs through many places in the world.
In this series, I’m sharing my own experiences of visiting sites connected to difficult histories — not as an expert, but as a traveller trying to understand more.
Read next:
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