Robben Island Tours & Tickets

Robben Island lies in Table Bay, a ferry ride of about 30 to 45 minutes from the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town. For nearly 400 years it was used to isolate people: as a prison, a leper colony and a military base. Nelson Mandela spent 18 of his 27 years in prison here.

Today the island is a museum and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. A visit is one of the most moving things to do in Cape Town, and tickets often sell out, so it pays to book ahead.

What the tour covers

• The ferry. Boats leave from the Nelson Mandela Gateway at the Clock Tower in the V&A Waterfront. The crossing gives good views back to Table Mountain.
• The island bus tour. A guide takes you round the island by bus, stopping at the limestone quarry where prisoners worked, the house where Robert Sobukwe was held in isolation, the old leper graveyard and the island shrine.
• The maximum security prison. The prison part of the tour is usually led by a former political prisoner, who shares their own story. It ends at Nelson Mandela's cell in B Section.

The whole visit takes about three and a half to four hours, including both ferry crossings.

Ways to visit with us

• Ticket with transfers. A pre-booked ferry ticket plus hotel pickup and drop off, so you arrive at the gateway in good time.
• Robben Island and Table Mountain. The island in the morning and the cableway in the afternoon, weather permitting.
• Robben Island, penguins and Cape Point. A full day that pairs the island with the Cape Peninsula.
• Robben Island and Langa. The island followed by a guided visit to Langa, the oldest township in Cape Town.
• Museum days. The island with Zeitz MOCAA or the diamond museum at the Waterfront.
• South African resident rates. Separate tours priced for South African ID holders.

Good to know

• Tickets are limited and sell out days or weeks ahead in summer and during school holidays.
• Ferries are cancelled when the sea is rough, most often in winter. Keep a spare day in your plans if the island matters to you.
• Bring the passport or ID used for the booking, and arrive at the gateway at least 30 minutes before departure.
• Take a warm layer and, if you get seasick, a tablet before the crossing.
• The tour is heavy on history and suits older children and teenagers better than young children.

For more on the history of South Africa, see our culture, history and city tours.