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Sight V&A Waterfront, Cape Town

Robben Island Museum

A sight in V&A Waterfront, Cape Town, moderately priced ($$) and worth about 4 hours. Best time to go: Morning.

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Robben Island Museum in V&A Waterfront, Cape Town
Photo: De'Von Walker · Google

Why go

Ferry to the island prison where Nelson Mandela was held, with tours led by former political prisoners.

It is one of 10 curated places we feature in Cape Town, alongside 3 sights, 2 places to eat and 2 outdoor spots. The closest of our other picks is Zeitz MOCAA, 0.2 km away as the crow flies. Set aside about 4 hours here; it works best as the anchor of a day rather than a quick stop.

Type
Sight · Culture
Neighborhood
V&A Waterfront
Price
$$
Time needed
4 hr
Best time
Morning

Nearby

The 6 closest curated picks in Cape Town, measured as straight-line distance.

  1. 1
    Zeitz MOCAA

    Contemporary African art inside a converted grain silo, with a striking carved atrium.

    Sight · 0.2 km straight-line
  2. 2
    Bo-Kaap

    Hillside quarter of bright houses and mosques, the historic heart of the Cape Malay community.

    Sight · 1.8 km straight-line
  3. 3
    Truth Coffee Roasting

    Steampunk-styled roastery and cafe in the city center, serving house-roasted single origins.

    Drinks · 2.4 km straight-line
  4. 4
    Kloof Street House

    Victorian house turned restaurant with a garden terrace and a menu of steaks, seafood and cocktails.

    Food · 2.6 km straight-line
  5. 5
    Neighbourgoods Market

    Saturday food and design market inside the Old Biscuit Mill, with local producers and street food.

    Food · 4.0 km straight-line
  6. 6
    Table Mountain Aerial Cableway

    Rotating cable car to the flat summit, with trails and views over the city, Robben Island and the Twelve Apostles.

    Sight · 5.0 km straight-line

On these curated routes

Robben Island Museum is a stop on our Cape Town, Winelands & Garden Route. Open it to see the full day-by-day plan.

More to do in Cape Town

Robben Island Museum is our only sight pick in Cape Town; here is what else we recommend there. See the full Cape Town guide.

When to go

Average daily highs in Cape Town run from 16°C in August to 22°C in February; June is usually the wettest month. For Robben Island Museum itself, we suggest: Morning.

Modelled monthly averages for Cape Town from NASA POWER, not a forecast. Full Cape Town weather by month.

Getting there

Map links open a live search for Robben Island Museum, so hours and directions come straight from the map app.

Address
V&A Waterfront, Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, Cape Town, 8001, South Africa
Coordinates
-33.90649, 18.42240
Destination
Cape Town, South Africa
Website
robben-island.org.za

Robben Island Museum: quick answers

How much time do you need at Robben Island Museum?

Plan on about 4 hours at Robben Island Museum. That is our curated estimate for a typical visit; groups that linger will want more.

When is the best time to visit Robben Island Museum?

Our pick: Morning. Insider tip: Book ahead; ferries leave from the Nelson Mandela Gateway at the V&A Waterfront.

Where is Robben Island Museum?

Robben Island Museum is at V&A Waterfront, Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, Cape Town, 8001, South Africa. The Google Maps and Apple Maps links on this page open it for directions.

Which TripsCircle routes include Robben Island Museum?

Robben Island Museum appears on Cape Town, Winelands & Garden Route, a curated route you can open on TripsCircle and plan with your group.

Add Robben Island Museum to your crew's plan

Save it to a shared TripsCircle itinerary, settle the timing with a quick poll, and split the costs with everyone going to Cape Town.

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Curated recommendation, not live listing data. Confirm hours, prices, bookings and access before you go.