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“Museums are the custodians of our collective memory, the keepers of our cultural heritage”

- Unknown

Cape Town, and the Cape Peninsula, is rich when it comes to museums. Here are 58 interesting museums to visit, all displaying different aspects of our history and heritage. Some are large by international standards and others are small, focusing on local area history or on collections built up by individuals or institutions over time and have become a source of interest to the public. One thing is for sure, there is something for everyone to see, enjoy and learn. This guide will give you all you need when visiting, providing everything from the opening times, information about each museum and whether you should book or not.

Museums

OF THE CAPE PENINSULA

‍The Castle of Good Hope

‍Within the Castle are three museums worth visiting. These include the Military Museum focusing on the Castle’s history, The William Fehr Collection which houses items and artwork that define the early Cape Colonial period and the Cape Heritage Museum which showcases the lives of the people of early Cape Town.

‍Location: Castle Street, Foreshore

‍Hours: Daily 9am-4pm.

‍Key Ceremony: Mon-Sat 10am-12pm

‍Firing of Signal Cannon: Mon-Sat 10am,11am, 12pm.

‍Guided Tours: 10am-12pm; resumes 2pm-3pm

‍Information: 021 461 4673/6. • www.castleofgoodhope.co.za

‍Price: Small fee

‍District Six Museum

‍This museum (est. 1994) deals with the memory of the vibrant racially-mixed area named, in 1867, after the sixth municipal district of Cape Town. In 1901, the first wave of removals took place. In 1966, it was declared a White area under the Group Areas Act and all ‘non-Whites’ were forcibly removed. District Six was flattened by bulldozers.The District Six Museum tells of the memories, experiences and history of forced removals.

‍Location: 25A Buitenkant Street, CapeTown

‍Hours: Mon-Fri: 9am-4pm

‍Information: www.districtsix.co.za

‍Price: Free

‍Nelson Mandela Legacy Exhibition

‍Cape Town City Hall presents a permanent exhibition detailing the legacy of late President Nelson Mandela. The museum-like exhibition includes a timeline of Mandela’s early days, his resistance to Apartheid, his time on Robben Island along with other struggle veterans, as well as his release on

‍11 February 1990 and subsequent speech delivered on the balcony of City Hall.

‍Location: Cape Town City Hall

‍Hours: Tue-Fri: 10am-4pm

‍Information: www.capetown.gov.za/MandelaExhibition

‍086 010 3089

‍Price: Free.

‍The South African Jewish Museum

‍Officially opened by Nelson Mandela in 2000, this museum, through the use of interactive and innovative multimedia displays, tells the story of South African Jewry from their earliest arrival in Southern Africa. The museum includes rare Judaica artifacts, a reconstructed Lithuanian village, animated

‍video footage and an exclusive award-winning documentary film Nelson Mandela, A Righteous Man. It also holds one of the world’s finest private collections of Netsuke (miniature Japanese art).

‍Location: Hiddingh Campus, Orange Street, Cape Town

‍Hours: Thu and Fri from 9am-4pm

‍Information: www.sajewishmuseum.co.za/

‍Price: Small fee.

‍Desmond Tutu Truth to Power Museum

‍This world-class museum showcases the struggle against Apartheid through the church and the life and legacy of Nobel Prize winner, the late Archbishop Desmond Tutu. This museum also focuses on the healing process post-Apartheid with the advent of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC)

‍Location: Desmond & Leah Tutu House, 11 Buitenkant Street, District Six (Museum entrance Cnr Longmarket Street

‍Hours: Mon: 10.30am-3.30pm, Tues-Fri: 9.30am-3.30pm

‍Information: www.tutu.org.za

‍Price: Small fee (cash-free zone)

‍The Attic Exhibition

‍This exhibition gives visitors a chance to come and rummage through the city’s “attic”.The exhibition tells the story of the history and development of Cape Town, through the art and artefacts in the City’s collection. Together, they create a picture of the people, technology, ideas, and events, as well as the changing values of city governance, that have shaped Cape Town over the years.

‍Location: Cape Town City Hall

‍Hours: Mon-Fri 9am-3pm

‍Information: www.capetown.gov.za/TheAttic

‍Price: Free

‍Rust en Vreugd (Iziko)

‍This house, which was once on the edge of town, reflects a prosperous late-1800s dwelling, when the Cape was still under Dutch rule. Rust en Vreugd was built in 1778 as a residence for the Dutch East India Company’s (VOC) Cape fiscal, Willem Cornelis Boers. It houses the William Fehr Collection of pictorial Africana which is a collection comprising superb watercolours, etchings and lithographs.

‍Location: 78 Buitenkant Street, Cape Town

‍Hours: Thu and Fri from 9am-4pm

‍Information: www.iziko.org.za/static/page/rust-en-vreugd

‍Price: Small fee.

‍Cape Town Holocaust & Genocide Centre

‍The Cape Town Holocaust & Genocide Centre, the oldest Holocaust Centre in Africa, explores the Holocaust, the origins of antisemitism, and the destruction of European Jewry, while examining genocides in Africa and the legacy of Apartheid. Through history and testimony, the Centre inspires empathy,

‍critical reflection, and a commitment to human rights and justice.

‍Location: 88 Hatfield Street, Gardens, City Centre

‍Hours: Sundays to Thursdays 10am-5pm, Fridays 10am-2pm. Closed on Saturdays and Jewish holidays

‍Information: www.holocaust.org.za
Tel: 021 462 5553

‍Price: Small fee.

Click here to download a high resolution PDF print file or scroll down to read the entire guide online.

‍Bertram House (Iziko)

‍This house, situated at the top of Government Avenue, is the only remaining example of the English Georgian-style red brick houses that were once common in Cape Town. It was built in 1839 by an English immigrant and notary, John Barker, who named it in memory of his first wife, Ann Bertram Findlay. Everything within this house, from furniture to appliances, reflects the lifestyle of a prosperous,early 19th century English family.

‍Location: Hiddingh Campus, Orange Street, Cape Town

‍Hours: Thu and Fri from 9am-4pm

‍Information: www.iziko.org.za/museums/bertram-house

‍Price: Small fee.

‍Museum of Illusions Cape Town

‍Visitors can expect 60 jaw-dropping illusions and mind-bending experiences, ideal for both young and old, at this globally renowned museum.The museum takes you on an extraordinary journey through the world of optical illusions, interactive installations and immersive rooms that challenge perceptions and ignite curiosity.

‍Location: 10 Kloof Street, Gardens, City Centre

‍Hours: Friday and Saturday 9am-10pm, Sunday to Wednesday 9am-8pm.

‍Information: www.moicapetown.co.za
Tel: 021 541 0744

‍Price: Fee.

‍South African Museum (Iziko)

‍The oldest museum in sub-Saharan Africa, the South African Museum was established in 1825. It has been adding to its collections for nearly 200 years. The main focus is on South African material and the cultural heritage of our indigenous populations, as well as local dinosaurs, whales, animals, birds, fossils and more.

‍Location: In the Company’s Garden off Queen Victoria Street.

‍Hours: Daily 10am-5pm. Closed: Workers’ Day and Christmas Day
Information: www.iziko.org.za/museums/south-african-museum

‍Price: Small Fee.

‍Planetarium and Digital Dome (Iziko)

‍This Planetarium was opened in 1987 and, with numerous upgrades to a Digital Dome in 2017, it has become the most advanced digital planetarium on the African continent. Besides exploring our universe, this multi-sensory edutainment full dome theatre, through animation and 360-degree cinema, also explores the inner workings of the human body or the intricacies of what makes an atomic structure possible.

‍Location: Within the South African Museum, The Company’s Garden off Queen Victoria Street.

‍Hours: Tues to Sun from 9am-5pm
Information: www.iziko.org.za/museums/planetarium/Price: Small Fee.

‍SA National Gallery Annexe (Iziko)

‍The Annexe was founded as far back as 1867 to service the community and, today, it is situated just left of the South African National Gallery. This Art Collection Library is one of the oldest and most extensive art libraries in South Africa containing the Human Resource Department; as well as the Art Education Unit. The Gallery Annexe is an educational space of exploration and discovery.

‍Location: Left of the National Gallery, on St Johns Road

‍Hours: Mon-Sat 9am-4pm
Information: www.iziko.org.za/museums/south-african-national-gallery/

‍Price: Small Fee.

‍Company’s Garden Heritage Shop

‍The Cape Town Heritage Trust runs this small shop in the Company’s Garden and, as part of their mandate, they have dedicated one of the rooms to the history of the Company’s Garden with beautiful displays detailing the history of the garden from as far back as 1652 when the major reason for a refreshment station at the Cape was a garden full of fruits and vegetables to supply passing ships on route between Europe and the Far East.

‍Location: 19 Queen Victoria Street, Company’s Garden

‍Hours: Mon-Sat 9am-4pm
Information: www.heritage.org.za/heritage-shop/ +27 21 426-2157

‍Price: Free.

‍Museum of Dogs

‍This is the only museum of its kind in the world, dedicated solely to celebrating dogs and exploring their role in history as comforters, friends, and workers, through captivating stories and interactive displays. The museum regularly hosts solo concerts, workshops, academic talks, movie nights and more.All well-trained and leashed dogs are welcome.

‍Location: 95 Keerom St, Gardens, Cape Town

‍Hours: Monday openings for groups, Mon-Sun: 10am-5pm
Information: www.museumofdogs.co

‍Price: Fee.

‍Social History Centre (Iziko)

‍This world-class museum houses things, things that people used on a daily basis and items that made their lives work. These items vary from indigenous cultural material from Southern Africa, artefacts from the Colonial period at the Cape, including maritime and historical archaeology, to collections of world ceramics, furniture, coins, textiles and more.

‍Location: 17 Church Square, Cape Town

‍Hours: Mon to Fri, 10am - 5pm
Information: www.iziko.org.za/museums/social-history-centre

‍Price: Small Fee.

‍Gold of Africa Museum

‍This has to be one of the best museums dedicated to the skilful artistry of ancient African civilisations, mainly West African gold artefacts and some ancient civilisations of Southern Africa. Another highlight is the museum housed in the Martin Melck House, built in 1783, which is one of the finest examples of early Cape Town architecture.

‍Location: 17 Church Square, Cape Town

‍Hours: Mon-Sat, 9am-9pm
Information: www.artubuntu.org/exhibitions/in-the-name-of-all-humanity/the-gold-of-africa-museum/ • 021 405 1540

‍Price: Guided Tours (by appointment)

‍SA Sendinggestig Museum

‍The Suid-Afrikaanse Sendinggestig Museum (South African Missionary Museum) is housed in an old slave chapel built by the South African Missionary Society in 1804. The restored building exhibits details of the early Christian missionaries in the Western Cape. It is part of the UNESCO Slave Route. If you are planning a tour or visiting any mission station in the Western Cape, this is the place to start. Concerts, book launches and talks take place here.

‍Location: 40 Long Street Central Cape Town

‍Hours: 9am-4pm; Sat: 9am-12pm
Information: www.capetownmuseum.org.za/the-sa-sendinggestig Phone: 021 423 6755
Price: Small Fee.

‍Prestwich Memorial

‍Everyone knows about District 6, but very few know the story of District 1. This memorial came to be after a building development, preceding the 2010 Soccer World Cup, was stopped in its tracks when burial sites were unearthed, which caused a chain of events resulting in aVisitors Centre. It houses over 2 500 boxes inside the ossuary, as well as information about the area, its dark days and forced removals of non-Whites during the 1960s (visit Truth Coffee Shop).

‍Location: Corner of Somerset and Buitengracht Streets, Cape Town

‍Hours: Mon-Fri 7am-5pm | Sat-Sun 7am-2pm
Information: www.sahistory.org.za/place/prestwich-memorial-and-garden

‍Price: Free

‍Eye Witness - A Private Collection

‍Within the popular African Trading Port Shop in the V&A Waterfront is a free-to-visit unique private collection of African art. This is a collection gathered from across the African continent over 20 years.The museum houses never-before-seen artefacts and treasures. Spend some time there and absorb the untouched essence of African art.

‍Location: African Trading Port, Old Port Captain’s Building (Top floor) Dock Road, V&A Waterfront

‍Hours: 9am-4pm; Sat: 9am-12pm
Information: www.africantradingport.com/pages/eye-witness
Price: Free.

‍Chavonnes Battery

‍Completed in 1726, this battery was the first coastal defence to deter seaborne aggressors. Named after Governor Maurice Pasque de Chavonnes, it was built on the rocks at the water’s edge.It mounted 16 large cannons,which enabled its gunners to bring accurate fire to bear on any hostile ships entering the bay. The battery was partly demolished and buried in 1860 in what is now the V&A Waterfront, the oldest working harbour in South Africa. In 1999, it was excavated and conserved in a spectacular museum. Sadly, the museum is currently closed but it is worth exploring the battery from the outside.

‍Location: V&A Waterfront, Cape Town

‍Hours: Mon-Fri 7am-5pm | Sat-Sun 7am-2pm
Information: www.chavonnesbattery.co.za

‍Price: Free

‍Waterworks Museum

‍Now this is a museum with a difference and you will have to put in a lot of effort to see it. The small museum is found on the Back Table on Table Mountain between the Woodhead and Hely-Hutchinson Reservoirs, both built between 1894-1904. Founded by Terence Timoney in 1972, the museum houses a display of memorabilia from the construction of the dams. The highlight is a beautifully restored narrow gauge steam

‍engine used in the construction of the dams.
Location: Hike up Kasteels Port to the Dams

‍Hours: 9am-3pm daily
Information: Phone ahead to see if it is open

‍- 021 686 3408

‍Price: Free.

‍Hout Bay Museum

‍This museum has displays on the history of the Hout Bay valley and its people, focusing on forestry, mining and the fishing industry up to modern times. The museum also organises weekly guided nature walks into the surrounding mountains. It is a small rustic unpretentious museum for people who want to learn more about Hout Bay’s history.

‍Location: 4 Andrews Road, Hout Bay

‍Hours: Mon-Fri 9am-4pm
Information: www.houtbaymuseum.co.za/

‍Price: Small Fee

‍Iziko Slave Lodge

‍This is the only museum This is one of the oldest buildings in Cape Town,built in 1679 as the slave lodge of the Dutch East India Company (VOC). Through its long history it has served many purposes.Today, this building houses a museum dedicated to the slave trade that shaped Cape Town. You will also discover a museum at the back with artefacts of the Colonial period and a brilliant Egyptian artefacts section.

‍Location: Corner Adderley and Wale Streets, Cape Town

‍Hours: Mon-Sat: 9am-5pm
Information: www.iziko.org.za/museums/slave-lodge

‍Price: Small Fee.

‍Old Town House (Iziko)

‍This beautiful 1755 Cape Rococo style building was once Cape Town’s City Hall and served as the initial starting point for measuring all road distances leaving Cape Town.A new Town Hall was built next to the parade in 1905 and, that same year, the renowned Michaelis Collection of old Netherlandish art from the 1700s Golden Age went on display. Today, this permanent collection is enhanced by special, temporary exhibitions broadening the interest of Capetonians and tourists alike.

‍Location: Greenmarket Square, Cape Town

‍Hours: Mon to Fri,9am-5pm,Sat 8.30am-4pm
Information: www.iziko.org.za/museums/old-town-house/

‍Price: Small Fee.

‍Hisense Tevolution Museum

‍The first television was invented in the 1920’s and, in the same decade, live transmission paved the way for a viable medium. The first public broadcasting, by the BBC, arrived in 1936. SouthAfrica only received television in 1976 due to the ruling National Party's Apartheid Government who feared that TV would threaten Apartheid control by exposing citizens to outside ideas, undermining Afrikaans culture, and promoting racial integration. This museum will take you down memory lane, showcasing TVs of yesteryear to the latest monster displays and cutting edge technology.

‍Location: 42 Long St, Cape Town City Centre

‍Hours: Mon-Fri, 9am-4pm
Information: www.hisense.co.za/campaign/the-tevolution-exhibition/ • 021 483 9678

‍Price: Free.

‍Koopmans-de Wet House

‍This is the oldest museum in SouthAfrica which is furnished as a home for a well-to-do Cape family during the late 18th century. It contains some of the best pieces of Cape furniture and silver, in addition to a priceless collection of ceramics. A household such as this would have only been able to function with its share of servants and slaves; recent research has brought to light information about who lived in the house, as well as the kinds of activities they would have engaged in.

‍Location: 35 Strand Street, Cape Town

‍Hours: Thursday 10am to 2:30pm; Friday 10am to 2:30pm
Information: www.iziko.org.za/museums/koopmans-de-wet-house • Tel: 021 481 3935
Price: Small Fee.

‍Cape Town Diamond Museum

‍Discover the story behind the world's most precious gem. From a historic diamond discovery to timeless brilliance, experience the fascination of diamonds in the heart of the Clock Tower District.A must-see for lovers of beauty, history, and craftsmanship.

‍Location: Clock Tower District, V&A Waterfront

‍Hours: Daily from 9am-8pm
Information: www.capetowndiamondmuseum.org/

‍021 421 2788

‍Price: Fee.

‍Zeitz MOCAA

‍In 1924, the Grain Silo, at 33 m high, was the tallest building in Cape Town but, with the advent of the V&A Waterfront, the historic silo was destined for destruction. This is where history and art meet. Architect, Thomas Heatherwick, through Ravi Naidoo, saved the building by repurposing it as an art venue. Jochen Zeitz built up a collection of contemporary art from Africa and its diaspora to house within the award-winning redesigned building. The Zeitz MOCAA opened its doors to the public in 2017 as the premier largest art exhibition in Africa showcasing contemporary African art.

‍Location: V&A Waterfront Silo District, South Arm Rd, Waterfront

‍Hours: Tue-Sun: 10am-6pm with last entry at 5.30pm.
Information: www.zeitzmocaa.museum • Tel: : 087 350 4777
Price: Fee.

‍Cape Medical Museum

‍This is a small museum, established in 1986, focusing on the medical history of a bygone era, encompassing both western and traditional medicine in the Cape. The museum is housed in the residence of the Medical Superintendent of the City Hospital, built by Sir George Grey, the Governor of the Cape in 1859.

‍Location: Old City Hospital Complex, Portswood Road, Green Point

‍Hours: Mon-Fri: 9am-4pm
Information: www.capetownmuseum.org.za/the-cape-medical-museum • 021 418 5663

‍Price: Free.

‍Dennis Goldberg House of Hope

‍This is a living wish of Dennis Goldberg who was the only white person sentenced to life imprisonment at the infamous Rivonia Trial in 1963 during the struggle against Apartheid. His desire was to have a celebration of creativity and expression arts and culture education centre in Hout Bay and to showcase his life and his art collection. There is also a teaching area and a mezzanine area for a library and archive.

‍Location: 4 Andrews Rd, Hout Bay

‍Hours: Mon-Fri: 8.30am-5pm, Sat: 8.30am-1pm

‍Information: www.denisgoldberg.org/denis-goldberg-house-of-hope/ Tel: 082 579 6697
Price: Donations.

‍The Origins of Early Southern Sapiens Behaviour Exhibition

‍The exhibition showcases the discovery of early innovative material culture made by our own species, homo sapiens, in Southern Africa and attempts to recreate the life experiences of our early ancestors, living in partnership with nature, including the Great African Seaforest, about 100 000 years ago.

‍Location: BuffelsfonteinVisitors Centre, Cape Point

‍Hours: 9am, 11am, 1pm, 3pm daily
Information: www.iziko.org.za/exhibitions/origins-of-early-sapiens-behavior/

‍Price: Free, booking essential.

‍Bo-Kaap Museum (Iziko)

‍The colourful area of the Bo-Kaap grew mainly as a Muslim area going back to the 1700s and freed slaves added to their numbers after 1834. During Apartheid, only Malays were allowed to live in this area and all other residents were removed. This small museum is one of the earliest homes built in the Bo-Kaap. The house showcases local Islamic culture and heritage.

‍Location: 71 Wale Street, Bo-Kaap, Cape Town

‍Hours: Mon-Sat: 9am-5pm
Information: www.iziko.org.za/museums/bo-kaap-museum/

‍Price: Small Fee.

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‍Museum of Gems and Jewellery

‍This museum tells the fascinating story of ancient, indigenous to modern and priceless jewellery that has shaped our world and the value we have placed on it. It explores gold, diamonds, gems and precious metals and how the creativity of humankind through the ages has transformed earthly treasures into precious heirlooms.

‍Location: 66 Loop St, Cape Town

‍Hours: Mon-Fii, 9am-5pm, Sat 9pm-1am
Information: www.prinsandprins.com/diamond-museum-in-cape-town/

‍Price: Free.

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‍Warrior Toy Museum

‍This quaint little museum is the place for kids and adults who are young at heart. On permanent display are 4000 model cars, 500 dolls and teddy bears, miniature doll’s houses, two fully operating railroads, lead soldiers, Meccano, ships and much more. Percy van Zyl, the curator of the museum, has created a heaven for collectors of toy cars, buses, airplanes, trucks and lead soldiers.
Location: St George’s Street, Simon’s Town

‍Hours: 10am-2pm daily
Information: 021 786 1395

‍Price: Small Fee.

‍Assegaai Submarine Museum

‍This 58 metre long, 700 ton Daphné-class submarine, ordered from France in 1968, served the SAS till 2003. After its long service, it became a museum from 2010 to 2015, docked alongside the outer wall of Simon’s Town harbour. Since the closure of the first museum, the submarine was taken out of the water and a major refurbishment project was undertaken. The submarine was relocated to a new location in Simon’s Town which is more convenient for visitors. The museum opened in 2024.

‍Location: St George’s Street, Simon’s Town (End of the Cole Point parking area, next to the new NSRI Station 10 building.)

‍Hours: Mon to Sat 9am-3.30pm
Information: www.assegaai-submarine.co.za

‍Tel: 021 787 4686
Price: Small Fee.

‍Amlay House

‍This small museum in the Amlay’s house, built in 1858, is a window into the rich Muslim culture that existed in Simon's Town from the Dutch East India Company period until the forced removals of more than 7000 people under the Group Areas Act in 1967. This is very much a human collection of the family that lived here and friends and people from the community.

‍Location: Amlay House, King George's Way, Simon's Town

‍Hours: Tue-Fri: 11am-4pm, Sat: 11am-3pm
Information: www.amlay.co.za/amlay-house/

‍Price: Small Fee

‍Naval Museum

‍This interesting museum is full of naval artefacts and exhibitions that tell the story of the South African Navy, from vintage navigational and divers’ equipment, model ships and submarines, uniforms and medals, to weaponry. The museum is housed in the historical Dockyard Magazine and Storehouse of 1743 which was enlarged in 1810 to become the three-storey building we see today.

‍Location: 500m from Simon’s Town train station, on the left

‍Hours: Daily 9.30am-3.30pm except Good Friday, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.
Information: www.facebook.com/SANavalMuseum/

‍Price: Free.

‍Simon’s Town Museum

‍This museum was established in 1977 to showcase the local history and events that have shaped Simon’s Town’s history from 100 000 years ago, through the Colonial period until recent times. The building that houses the museum, The Residency, was built in 1777 as the winter residence for the Dutch East India Company governor at the Cape.
Location: Court Rd. Simon’s Town

‍Hours: Mon-Fri, 10am-4pm and Saturdays, 10am-1pm
Information: 021 786 1395

‍Price: Small Fee.

‍Glencairn Private Museum

‍The museum belongs to retired rear admiral Arne Söderlund, who has been collecting all manner of paraphernalia since the late 1950s. As the False Bay Echo said, “Military uniforms, moustache-curling-tong warmers, perfume bottles, hundreds of airsick bags, antique tins and powder compacts – you name it and the Den of Antiquity – Junk and Disorderly, a private museum in Glencairn, has it all”.

‍Location: 102 Main Road, Glencairn.

‍Hours: By appointment - Tues-Sat 1pm-4.30pm
Information: Call Admiral Söderlund 021 786 3283 or email angel45@iafrica.com
Price: Donations go to the South African Bone Marrow Registry.

‍Fish Hoek Valley Museum

‍This is a small quirky museum that houses a treasure of information about early Fish Hoek, displays on whales and dolphins and the history of Peer’s Cave, including local stone age implements. It is a private museum. Talks on Peer’s Cave or local history can be arranged for groups of up to 20 people.

‍Location: 59 Central Circle, Fish Hoek

‍Hours: Tue-Fri: 9.30am to 12.30pm
Information: www.fishhoek.com/museum • 062 576 6166

‍Price: Small Fee

‍Rhodes Cottage Museum & Tea Garden

‍This humble cottage was where Cecil Rhodes, one of the richest men in the world in his time, spent his last days. This man shaped Southern Africa like no one else, had two countries, which he virtually owned, named after him and was a colossus in the diamond, gold and fruit industry. He was the ‘poster boy’ of colonisation.

‍Location: 242 Main Road, Muizenberg

‍Hours: Thur-Sun: 10:00am-3:30pm
Information: www.rhodescottage.co.za

‍Price: Donation.

‍The South African Police Service Museum

‍Hours: Mon-Fri, 10am-4pm and Saturdays, 10am-1pm
Information: 021 786 1395

‍Price: Small Fee.

‍Het Posthuys Museum

‍De Post Huys, built in 1673 by the Dutch East India Company, was used as a signal house and fort and is likely the oldest existing building in South Africa, considering the Castle of Good Hope was only declared finished in 1678. This rustic little building has seen the Battle of Muizenberg (1795) during which it came under fire from British forces, the first road to Kalk Bay and the building of the railway.

‍Location: 182 Main Rd, Muizenberg

‍Hours: Sat and Sun 10 -2pm • private tours available on request at info@muizenbergheritage.com
Information: www.theheritageportal.co.za/article/short-history-one-oldest-houses-south-africa
Price: Free.

‍Norval Foundation

‍The Norval Foundation opened its doors to the public in 2018 in their beautiful contemporary building, designed by dhk Architects, and exquisite garden. This is an art museum and sculpture garden with a mission to promote modern and contemporary art of Africa and the diaspora through curated exhibitions specialising in 20th and 21st century works. The Foundation also has educational programmes and a top notch restaurant.

‍Location: 4 Steenberg Road Tokai

‍Hours: Wed-Sat: 10am-5pm, Sun and public holidays: 10am-4pm
Information: www.norvalfoundation.org • 087 654 5900

‍Price: Fee.

‍Groot Constantia

‍This was one of the first wine farms to be established in South Africa in 1685 by the governor of the Cape of Good Hope, Simon van der Stel.What a masterpiece he created!This is the finest example of a Cape Dutch wine farm and must be visited. Today, it is still a working farm but is geared for tourists and wine lovers who can walk away with some of the finest wines.

‍Location: Turn off Constantia Main Road (in Constantia) into Groot Constantia Road; follow this road to the end.

‍Hours: Daily 9.00am-6.00pm except Good Friday, Christmas Day.
Information: www.grootconstantia.co.za • Tel: 021 794-5128

‍Price: Free, small fee for museum.

‍Drumstruck

‍Drumstruck has the largest collection of SouthAfrican musical instruments in the world. It is a museum with a difference as it is entertainment meeting education. The shows starts daily at 3pm and are 1.5 hours long and you are taken through the evolution of African instruments and drums in the most entertaining way with your participation included. Tastings of Silvermist Estate’s organic wines are part of the show.
Location: Silvermist Estate, Main road, Constantia Nek

‍Hours: 11am-5pm
Information: www.drumstruck.com • 082 901 0496

‍Price: Fee. Booking essential..

‍Cape Town Museum of Childhood

‍This museum is the first of its kind in Africa and is worth a visit regardless of one’s age. The interactive museum celebrates childhood by displaying heritage, documentation, memory, oral history, research, and interpretations of childhood in our society. This museum should bring back memories to many and, to others, a new discovery. The museum is a project of the Centre for Early Childhood Development.

‍Location: 3 Milner Rd, Rondebosch

‍Hours: Wed-Sat: 10am-4pm.
Information: www.museumofchildhood.org.za/ Tel:071 336 1524

‍Price: Free.

‍Education Museum

‍Located in a historic building dating back to 1845, which marked 180 years of education in 2025.Originally one of Wynberg’s first schools, the museum now showcases a distinctive collection of national educational artefacts. School groups participate in an interactive role-play lesson that offers a glimpse into a day of schooling in the 1800s. By prior arrangement, the Museum is also open to members of the public to explore and enjoy.

‍Location: Centre for Conservation Education, 9 Aliwal Road, Wynberg.

‍Hours: Mon - Fri 9am-3pm
Information: 021 762 1622 • www.centreforconservation.co.za • admin@centreforconservation.co.za
Price: Free - booking essential.

‍Mowbray Mapping Museum

‍This little-known museum is housed in the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform building in upper Mowbray. A section of the working office houses a great display of early mapping equipment, engraving stones for printing maps and historical diaries of the who’s who of the early Cape Colony mapmakers and surveyors.
Location: Van der Sterr Building, 19 Rhodes Avenue, Mowbray.

‍Hours: Mon-Fri, 08:00am-04:00pm
Information: www.ngi.dlrrd.gov.za/index.php/home/history

‍Tel: 021 658 4280

‍Price: Free. Best to phone ahead.

‍Newlands Brewery

‍Nestled at the foot of Devil’s Peak, and neighbour to the historic rugby and cricket ground, is the oldest operating brewery in South Africa and the home of great South African beer. Lovers of superbly crafted beer are invited to experience a taste of brewing history, followed by a look into modern-day brewing methods, by joining a fully-guided tour.

‍Location: 3 Main Rd, Newlands, Cape Town

‍To book: E-mail: newlandstours@za.sabmiller.com • Tel: 021 658 7440
Information: www.newlandsbrewery.co.za/beer-experience/

‍Price: Small fee for a guided tour, beer tasting and two free beers.

‍The Heart of Cape Town Museum

‍Visit the actual rooms at Groote Schuur Hospital where Christiaan Barnard performed the first successful human heart transplant in the world.The rooms and operating theatre have been restored in every detail as they were on 3 December 1967. This visit is by tour only, so book on their website. A shuttle service will pick you up from your accommodation if needed.

‍Location: Groote Schuur Hospital, Main Road, Observatory.

‍Hours: Mon-Fri: 9am-3pm
Information: www.heartofcapetown.co.za •Tel: 021 404 1967
Price: Fee.

Long March to Freedom

Navy Museum

‍Cape Town Science Centre

‍The centre provides a world of discovery under one roof, keeping kids and adults entertained for hours, as well as stimulating grey matter.There is a wide variety of interactive displays and activities,

‍from building a house in the exclusive‘kids only’ Murray & Roberts building site to challenging your mind with puzzling mind benders, to experiencing weightlessness with a spin on the Human Gyroscope, to playing Mindball—the game where you control the ball with your brainwaves – to seeing and hearing science in theAudio Kinetic Sculpture.One of the highlights is a life-size replica of Mark Shuttleworth’s Soyuz space capsule.

‍Location: 370B Main Road,Observatory

‍Hours: Mon-Sat:9am-4.30pm
Information: www.ctsc.org.za

‍Price: Small Fee.

‍Langa Heritage Museum

‍This museum is housed in the old court and offices of the Bantu Affairs Administration which issued the dreaded “pass” which Africans had to carry in“White”areas under Apartheid. It was a criminal offence to not have a valid pass. The museum covers the history of this dompas, the Apartheid laws and acts, marches and protests, including the famous pass law protest of 1960.

‍Location: Cnr of King Langalibalele Ave and Lerotholi Street, Langa

‍Hours: Mon-Sat 9am-4pm
Information: gugasthebe@capetown.gov.za
Price: Donations go community projects

‍AFB Ysterplaat Airforce Museum

‍The museum covers the full period of the South African Air Force’s (SAAF) existence and its operational activities, as well as military and civil aviation in the Cape. In addition to aircraft,

‍weapons, engines, uniforms etc. there is a small display of Royal Flying Corps memorabilia and a gift shop.

‍Location: Ysterplaat Air Force Base, Piet Grobler Street, Brooklyn.

‍Hours: Mon-Fri: 7.30am-3.30pm, Saturday: 8.30am-12.30pm (access to hangar in restricted area). Closed on Sundays and public holidays.
Information: Tel: 021 508 6576, Email:yptmuseum@gmail.com • www.saairforce.co.za/the-airforce/history/saaf-museum/locations/ysterplaat

‍Price: Free.

‍Long March to Freedom

‍Walk among the greats in this incredible procession of 100 life-size bronze statues, the only exhibition of its kind in the world. Uncover the story of South Africa’s 350-year journey to

‍democracy told through the lives of the individuals so skillfully represented. Some are well known – Nelson Mandela, Archbishop Tutu, King Shaka, to name but a few – but many you will meet for the first time. Absorb it on your own or take a guided tour; it’s a powerful experience that will leave you amazed and moved by the resilience and bravery of those depicted. It’s a must-see SouthAfrican attraction – don’t miss it.
Location: Century Boulevard, Century City

‍Hours: Daily 10am-4.30pm.
Information: www.longmarchtofreedom.co.za

‍Price: Small Fee.

‍Diamond Works Institute

‍Visitors can explore the history, myths, and origins of these rare gemstones, see master cutters shaping diamonds and tanzanite in our live polishing studio, and watch fine jewellery being crafted just a few metres away. The experience includes optional wine and chocolate tastings, links to the famous Kimberley Mine story, and guided or self-guided tours designed for individuals, families, couples, and tour groups. Walk in or book ahead, our team is ready to welcome you.

‍Location: 10 Christiaan Barnard Street, CBD

‍Hours: Mon-Sun: 9am-7pm
Information: www.thediamondworks.co.za/ •. Tel: 021 425 1970

‍Price: Free.

‍Robben Island

‍This island is 6.9 km from Cape Town and was first mapped by Europeans in 1488 and became a safe replenishing station for many years until it became a place of humiliating incarceration, from Autshumato in the mid-17th century to the most famous political prisoner, Nelson Mandela (1963-1982) who spent 18 out of 27 years in this prison. Today, it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

‍Location: Table Bay - Ferry Boat from V&A Waterfront

‍Hours: See website for tour times.
Information: www.robben-island.org.za • Tel: 021 413 4200

‍Price: Tour Fee.

Notes

This guide is intended, in part, to introduce visitors to the museums of the Cape Peninsula and Cape Town. All information is given in good faith but, as times and facilities may change, the author and publisher cannot be held responsible for any inaccuracies.

Proofreading: Shelley Woode-Smith • Citations available on request • © Richard Smith. • Gateway Guides

Edition 1 • 2026