Robben Island

Travel Guide

Robben Island
Robben Island
Robben Island
Robben Island
Robben Island

Visit the cell where Nelson Mandela spent most of his sentence and explore the Table Bay island that has also served as a leper colony and a military base.

For 18 of his 27 years of incarceration for opposing apartheid, former South African President Nelson Mandela was imprisoned on Robben Island. See the prison cell where he was kept and learn about the history of this former island-prison. It was also used at various times to house convicts, the mentally ill and lepers.

Visits to the island are by guided tours only. Tours start with a 5.5-mile (9-kilometer) ferry ride from Cape Town across Table Bay to the island. While you are waiting for your boat to leave the Nelson Mandela Gateway, go to the exhibition space. It hosts an ever-changing roster of temporary exhibitions featuring the island’s history.

Once on the island, you will be taken on a guided bus tour of key sites. Some of the guides are former political prisoners who share stories of their time in jail.

See Bluestone Quarry where many political prisoners endured hard labor. Visit the leprosarium graveyard, the final resting place of patients with leprosy who died while on Robben. Look at the Kramat, a Muslim shrine in honor of Sheikh Madura, who died here in 1754. During the bus tour, you will mostly remain on the bus, with occasional stops at important sites.

The highlight of the tour is a walk inside the maximum-security prison. Stop by the small cell where Nelson Mandela was confined for many years. While you are on the island, you will also see army and navy bunkers and the 19th-century Church of the Good Shepherd, which was built by the island’s lepers.

Tours of Robben Island depart several times daily from the Nelson Mandela Gateway at the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront. Tours last for approximately 4 hours, including the round trip on the ferry, a visit to the maximum-security prison and the guided bus tour. Reductions on the ticket price are available for children under 18 years. Children under the age of 4 visit for free. Tickets for the tours sell out fast so book a few weeks prior to the day of your intended trip and be sure to arrive at the ferry at least half an hour before departure.

Taj Cape Town

Taj Cape Town

5 out of 5
1 Wale Street, corner St Georges Mall, Cape Town, Western Cape
The price is CA $267 per night from Aug 11 to Aug 12
CA $267
CA $311 total
Aug 11 - Aug 12
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 5-star luxury hotel in Cape Town. Enjoy free WiFi, a full-service spa, and 2 restaurants. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the property condition ...
9.4/10 Exceptional! (1,002 reviews)
"Concierge Dale provided fantastic service for booking tours to getting my party of 15 around and to and from airport."

Reviewed on Aug. 8, 2025

Taj Cape Town
Hotel Verde Cape Town Airport

Hotel Verde Cape Town Airport

4 out of 5
15 Michigan Street, Airport Industria, Cape Town, Western Cape
Fully refundableReserve now, pay when you stay
The price is CA $158 per night from Aug 15 to Aug 16
CA $158
CA $185 total
Aug 15 - Aug 16
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 4-star spa hotel in Cape Town. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and a full-service spa. Our guests praise the breakfast and the helpful staff in our ...
9.4/10 Exceptional! (1,001 reviews)
"Very well organized property"

Reviewed on Aug. 7, 2025

Hotel Verde Cape Town Airport
AC Hotel by Marriott Cape Town Waterfront

AC Hotel by Marriott Cape Town Waterfront

4 out of 5
Dockrail Road, Foreshore, Cape Town, Western Cape
The price is CA $203 per night from Aug 16 to Aug 17
CA $203
CA $236 total
Aug 16 - Aug 17
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 4-star business-friendly hotel in Cape Town. Enjoy free WiFi, breakfast (surcharge), and a fitness center. Our guests praise the helpful staff and ...
9.2/10 Wonderful! (602 reviews)
Wonderful hotel, but location is remote
"Stayed for 3 nights in June 2025 prior to a group tour. The hotel is great and all of the staff members were lovely and kind! The only negative about this hotel is that it is essentially at the end of a dead end road (there is a security fence surrounding the hotel), so you have to follow the road ..."

Reviewed on Jul. 11, 2025

AC Hotel by Marriott Cape Town Waterfront
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.
The Onyx Apartment Hotel by NEWMARK

The Onyx Apartment Hotel by NEWMARK

4 out of 5
57 Heerengracht Street, Cape Town, Western Cape
Stay at this 4-star aparthotel in Cape Town. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and breakfast (surcharge). Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean rooms ...
9.2/10 Wonderful! (523 reviews)
"Our 2 bedroom apartment was very spacious with excellent furniture and all amenities including a washer even though I was told there wouldn't be one."

Reviewed on Jul. 31, 2025

The Onyx Apartment Hotel by NEWMARK
Urban Elephant 16 on Bree

Urban Elephant 16 on Bree

4 out of 5
16 Bree St, Cape Town, Western Cape
Stay at this 4-star aparthotel in Cape Town. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and private pools. Popular attractions Long Street and Cape Town Cruise Terminal ...
9.4/10 Exceptional! (30 reviews)
To be recommended
"Extremely well equipped and very comfortable, friendly staff, bad was fantastic, and price was very good Convenient location Improvements needed: Lighting over working desk is a problem"

Reviewed on Aug. 6, 2025

Urban Elephant 16 on Bree
One Thibault Hotel by ITC Hospitality

One Thibault Hotel by ITC Hospitality

17 Hans Strijdom Ave, Cape Town, Western Cape
Stay at this aparthotel in Cape Town. Enjoy free WiFi, breakfast (surcharge), and a fitness center. Popular attractions Long Street and Cape Town Cruise Terminal ...
8.4/10 Very Good! (96 reviews)
One Thinalt
"It was a good stay. The only issue is the parking. They want me to pay for it as a resident and the price is too high."

Reviewed on Jul. 7, 2025

One Thibault Hotel by ITC Hospitality
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

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