About
Robben Island was used at various times between the 17th and 20th centuries as a prison, a hospital for socially unacceptable groups and a military base. Its buildings, particularly those of the late 20th century such as the maximum security prison for political prisoners, witness the triumph of democracy and freedom over oppression and racism.
Supporting sources: Legacy import provenance, Wikipedia
Plan your visit
Hours
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- Tue
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- Wed
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- Sun
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General tours currently depart daily at 09:00, 11:00, 13:00, and 15:00, weather and demand permitting. The full tour takes about 3.5 hours including ferry time.
Admission
Current general tour prices are ZAR 600 adult / ZAR 310 child for non-South Africans and ZAR 400 adult / ZAR 210 child for South Africans.
When to go
- Time of day: Morning, Afternoon
Features & amenities
What to expect
- Indoor + outdoor
What to bring
- Water
- sun protection
- swimwear
- towel
Good to know
- Partially accessible
- Safety
- Weather can cancel or reshape the experience. Ferry conditions and sea state matter, and the scheduled departure structure is stricter than at most land-based heritage sites.
Tags
In my guides
Where Robben Island comes up in my writing.
Planning Cape Town
The rest of my Cape Town saves, on the city's planning pages.