Museums in Cape Town

The best museums in Cape Town and the Surrounds

Did you know that you can find 350 West African Gold artefacts and over one and a half million specimens of scientific importance in Cape Town? Find out more about Cape Town’s rich heritage and beyond, by visiting some of its treasured museums.

Museums in central Cape Town

Iziko South African Museum
Founded in 1825, the museum moved to its present location in the historic Company Gardens in 1897. The museum houses over one million specimens of scientific importance including tools that are around 120,000 years old. Highlights are the recorded whale calls and the dinosaur dioramas.  
Opening times: Monday - Sunday: 10am to 5pm, closed on Christmas Day and Workers Day.
25 Queen Victoria Street | Gardens | Cape Town | +27 (0)21 481 3800

Bertram House
The exhibitions include jewellery, personal accessories, English silver, special collections and equipment used in various pastimes practised by the ladies of the house, such as the art of letter writing and needlework. 
Opening times: Monday - Friday: 10am - 5pm, closed on Christmas Day and Workers Day.
Hiddingh Campus | Orange Street | Cape Town | +27 (0)21 424 9381

Bo-Kaap Museum
The Bo-Kaap Museum is situated in a historical area and showcases local Islamic culture and heritage. The colourful houses, steep cobbled streets, the muezzin’s calls to prayer and children traditionally dressed for Madrassa, all add to this unique Cape experience.
Opening times: Monday - Saturday: 10am - 5pm, closed on Workers Day, Christmas Day, Eid-ul-Fitr, Eid-ul-Adha and the 2nd January.
71 Wale Street | Bo-Kaap | Cape Town | +27 (0)21 481 3939

Slave Lodge
Iziko Slave Lodge reflects the long and rich history of Cape Town which is highlighted by the many names it has had in the last three centuries– Slave Lodge, Government Offices Building, Old Supreme Court and SA Cultural History Museum. The museum is undergoing some changes but popular exhibitions, such as the Memory Centre, can still be visited. 
Opening times: Monday - Saturday: 10am - 5pm, closed on Christmas Day and Workers Day.
Corner Adderley and Wale Streets | City Centre | Cape Town | +27 (0)21 460 8242

Koopmans-De Wet House
Koopmans-De Wet House is an 18th century family home and it houses some of the best pieces of Cape furniture and silver, as well as a priceless collection of ceramics. Opened in 1914, the museum is named after Marie Koopmans-De Wet, who is known for the work she did to help orphans and widows of Boer republics during the South African War. 
Opening times: Monday to Friday: 10am - 5pm, closed on Christmas Day and Workers Day.
35 Strand Street | City Centre | Cape Town | +27 (0)21 481 3935

The South African Jewish Museum
Interactive and high tech, the museum offers visitors a truly unique experience with its bold architectural design and engaging accounts of South African Jewish history. The displays are divided between two buildings; one is general Jewish history while the other covers the Holocaust. The museum shop stocks African embroidered challah covers, ceramic Judaica, designer jewellery, beaded and ceramic mezuzahs, Jewish cookbooks, books on Jewish socio-political themes and a wide selection of children's books.  The restaurant is also worth a visit and there’s a jungle gym for children to play on.
Opening times: Sunday - Thursday: 10am - 5pm, Friday: 10am to 5pm, closed on Jewish holidays.
88 Hatfield Street | City Centre | Cape Town | +27 (0)465 1546

District Six Museum
The District Six Museum was established in December 1994 and is committed to telling the stories of forced removals and assisting in the reconstitution of the community of District Six and Cape Town. The collection offers a glimpse into the lives of the residents and gives you a sense of the history of the place. Guided tours of the area are offered and they are conducted by an ex-resident.  Opening times: Monday: 9am - 2pm, Tuesday - Saturday: 9am - 4pm, Sunday: by appointment only.
25A Buitenkant Street | District Six | Cape Town | +27(0)21 466 7200

Castle of Good Hope
Built between 1666 and 1679 by the Dutch East India Company (VOC) as a maritime replenishment station, the Castle of Good Hope is the oldest surviving colonial building in South Africa. Visit attractions like the Military Museum,   the William Fehr Collection and the Castle Forge or go on one of the guided horse and carriage tours that are held daily. 
Opening times: Monday - Sunday: 9am to 4pm, closed on Christmas Day and New Years Day.
Corner Darling and Buitenkant Streets | City Centre | Cape Town | +27 (0)21 787 1260

Gold of Africa Barbier-Mueller Museum
This museum houses a collection of 350 West African gold artefacts, objects from ancient gold civilisations in southern Africa and temporary exhibits that explore the commonality of countries across geographical borders and cultural divides. The house was originally built in 1783 and restored in 2000; it is one of the finest examples of old Cape architecture.
Opening times: Monday - Saturday: 9.30am - 5pm, closed on Christmas Day, New Years Day and Good Friday.
Martin Melck House | 96 Strand Street | City Centre | Cape Town | +27 (0)21 405 1540

Museums in the V&A Waterfront

Cape Town Diamond Museum
This museum pays tribute to the sparkliest of rocks around. Learn about the three billion years it can take from the formation of a diamond to its journey to become a gem you’d want to wear. With beautiful illustrations and replicas of famous diamonds this is a fascinating look at the covetable gems and their history.
Opening times: Monday – Sunday: 9am – 9pm.
Level 1 | The Clock Tower | Waterfront | Cape Town | +27 (0)21 421 2488

Iziko Maritime Centre
Visit the Maritime Centre for an overview of shipping in Cape town as well as a collection of ship models and objects associated with shipping. The museum is made up of various collections, including archived photographs which depict 9200 ships, dating from the late 1930s to the early 1960s. 
Opening times: Monday to Sunday: 10am - 5pm, closed on Christmas Day and Workers Day.
1st Floor | Union-Castle House | Dock Road | V&A Waterfront | Cape Town | +27 (0)21 405 2880

Chavonnes Cannon Battery Museum
This museum is partly outside with three great cannons in place on reconstructed garrison carriages. The inside section allows visitors a view of the ancient stones, graphic information boards, detailed models, a mixture of genuine artefacts, careful replicas and, one of the most popular sections, the gunnery display. 
Opening times: Monday - Sunday: 9am - 4pm.
Clock Tower | V&A Waterfront | Cape Town | +27 (0)21 416 6230

Museums in the Cape Peninsula

The South African Naval Museum
This collection includes ship and submarine models, a life-size ship’s bridge and a submarine’s operations and control room, naval guns, sea mines, naval uniforms and torpedoes. It’s not just about ships, submarines and weapons, however, as the museum provides information on the people that have been involved in the Navy over the years too.
Opening times: Monday - Sunday: 10am - 4pm, closed on Good Friday, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.
Naval Dockyard  | St George’s Street | Simons Town | |+27 (0)21 787 4686

The History of the Police Museum
This museum is situated in the old Muizenberg Police Station and the adjoining old magistrate’s court. Antique furniture, uniforms and various police items are part of the exhibition. There are depictions of notorious criminal cases and a courtroom with cells below. Het Posthuys was originally used as a lookout post for enemy ships entering False Bay, and is also part of the museum complex. 
Opening times: Monday - Friday: 8am – 3:30pm, Saturday: 9am - 1pm, Sunday: 2pm - 5pm.
186 Main Road | Muizenberg | +27 (0)21 788 7035

Warrior Toy Museum
This toy museum has a permanent display of 4000 model cars, 500 dolls and teddy bears, miniature dolls houses and rooms, two fully operating railroads, lead soldier displays, Meccano, ships and many other miscellaneous toys and models. 
Opening times: Monday - Sunday: 10am - 4pm
St George’s Street (next to the Town Hall) | Simon’s Town | +27 (0)21 786 1395

Hout Bay Museum
Tucked away in a fynbos garden setting and behind the Shell Garage on Main Road, the Hout Bay Museum provides a wealth of memories and information about the town’s past and explains how it grew into a thriving fishing village. 
Opening times: Monday - Thursday: 8am – 4:30pm, Friday: 8am - 4pm.
4 Andrews Road  | Hout Bay | +27 (0)21 790 3270

Simon’s Town Museum
The museum is housed in ‘The Residency’, which was built in 1777 as the winter residence for the Dutch East India Company Governor at the Cape.   Collections and exhibits feature the cultural history of the people of Simon’s Town and their connections with the Dutch East India Company and the Royal Navy. 
Opening times: Monday - Friday: 10am - 4pm, Saturday: 10am - 1pm, closed on Sundays and Public Holidays.
The Residency | Court Road  | Simon’s Town | +27 (0)21 786 3046

Museums in the Northern Suburbs

The Heart Transplant Museum
This museum honours all those who played a major role in the world’s first heart transplant, which was lead by Professor Christiaan Neethling Barnard at the Groote Schuur Hospital, in 1967. The museum has eight rooms, which pay tribute to the process and those involved. 
Opening times: Monday - Sunday: 9am - 7pm, tours take place every two hours and need to be booked.
Groote Schuur Hospital  | Main Road  | Observatory | Southern suburbs | +27 (0)21 404 1967

The South African Air Force Museum
Visit the SAAF Museum to view their collection of articles, records and artefacts about their heritage and traditions. Learn about military aviation and its history in South Africa. 
Opening times: Monday to Friday: 8am – 3:30pm, Saturday: 8am – 12:30pm, closed on public holidays.
Piet Grobler Road | Ysterplaat | Cape Town | +27 (0)21 508 6576 

Museums in the Southern Suburbs

SA Rugby Museum
The SA rugby museum is crammed full of activities, exhibitions and insights into the wonderful world of rugby. Featuring rotating exhibitions and special attractions, the number one attraction is a replica of the Webb Ellis Cup - won by the Springboks at Ellis Park in 1995. Other highlights and activities include an innovative push-button radio commentary of famous tries, the origin of the Springbok emblem, how a rugby ball is made and rugby’s most cherished memorabilia. 
Opening times: Monday - Friday: 10am – 4:30pm, special openings on some Newlands match days.
Sports Science Institute | Boundary Road | Newlands | Southern suburbs | +27 (0)21 659 6768

Groot Constantia
Providing insight into the life of 18th to early 20th century successful Cape farmer, the displays include exhibitions of furniture, paintings, textiles, carriages, wine storage and drinking vessels. The Orientation Centre uses panel, object and archaeological displays to give an overview of past to present, including slavery on the estate. The building dates back to 1685, making it one of the oldest wine farms in the country.
Opening times: Monday - Sunday: 10am - 5pm, closed on Christmas Day and Worker’s Day.
Groot Constantia Estate | Constantia | Southern suburbs |+27 (0)21 795 5140

Irma Stern Museum
This museum was established in the house she lived in for almost 40 years with several of the rooms left as she had arranged them. The permanent collection displays her growth as an artist, whilst the lively temporary exhibition is held annually in the garden. The house is also used as an exhibition space for other local artists. 
Opening times: Tuesday - Saturday: 10am - 5pm.
Cecil Road  | Rosebank | Southern Suburbs | +27 (0)21 685 5686

Josephine Mill
This is a small piece of Cape history – a place to dine, shop and a museum to visit. The mill is in operations and supplies the surrounding community with freshly milled, stone ground flour.  Pieces on display include French burr stones, an original plan of the mill and a Cornish steam boiler. 
Opening times: Monday - Friday: 9am - 1pm, Saturday - Sunday: by appointment only.
13 Boundary Road | Newlands | Southern suburbs | +27 (0)21 686 4939

Museums in the winelands

Franschhoek Motor Museum
Visitors are invited to look back at over 100 years of motoring history, with its unique collection of vehicles, motorcycles, bicycles and memorabilia. The collection exceeds 220 vehicles, ranging from an 1898 Beeston motor tricycle to a 2003 Ferrari Enzo supercar. 
Opening times: Monday - Friday: 10am - 5pm, Saturday - Sunday: 10am - 4pm.  Bookings are advised.
Anthony Rupert Wines |  L'Ormarins | Off R45 |  Franschhoek | +27 (0)21 874 9000

The Afrikaans Language Museum
Once home to the Association for True Afrikaners (ATA), the Afrikaans Language Museum is set in a two-storey, Georgian style house. Visitors can trace the shaping, the story and the personalities of the language, as well as see an authentic printing machine. Test your knowledge, purchase a souvenir or enjoy the games, sound tracks and interactive displays.   
Opening times: Monday - Friday: 9am - 4pm, closed on public holidays, Christmas and New Year’s Day.
11 Pastorie Avenue | Paarl |  +27 (0)21 872 3441

If your kids are a bit too energetic for museums then let them burn off some of their excess energy with these adventure activities.

Stay in the loop with our monthly and free newsletter and find us on Facebook and Twitter.