Cape Town’s Museums

18 of Cape Town’s most moving and unique museums

Last updated: Friday, 16 August 2024

Ancient spooky caves, vintage motorcycles, first century glass art: Who said history had to be boring? Cape Town’s museums are filled with fascinating objects, stories and ideas that make them worth a visit. You can visit Irma Stern’s studio (it’s just how she left it), sub-Saharan Africa’s oldest synagogue, the world’s first San museum, and more.

IRMA STERN’S STUDIO, JUST HOW SHE LEFT IT

Get a glimpse of the renowned Irma Stern's life by stepping into her home. Guests can walk freely through the house and explore Stern’s famous portraits, and wonderful artefacts and furniture she collected from her travels. Some rooms, like her studio, are kept just as she left it - paintbrushes, easel, rags and all. 

Hours: Wednesday to Friday, 10am to 5pm; Saturday, 10am to 2pm

Entrance fee: R65

21 Cecil Road | Rosebank | Cape Town | @irma_stern_museum | Image: Irma Stern Museum

BRAVE ENOUGH TO EXPLORE ANCIENT CAVES?

You can tour limestone caves and chambers at The Cango Caves in Oudtshoorn. Tours are led by cave guides and there are two options: A 60-minute standard tour of open areas, and a 90-minute adventure tour of narrow sections like the Devil's Postbox and the Coffin. Visitors might see cave art and experience unexplained, spooky light issues. 

Hours: Monday to Sunday, 9am to 4pm

Entrance fee: From R150 to R320

Cango Valleie Road | Oudtshoorn | @cango_caves | Image: Cango Caves

FIRST EVER SAN HERITAGE MUSEUM 

An hour from Cape Town is a living museum that brings to life the past (and present) of the San people. Visitors get to immerse themselves in the timeless traditions of the world's last living hunter-gatherers. There are tea tasting experiences and food tours where you can taste traditional meals at !Khwa ttu Heritage Centre. 

Hours: Monday to Sunday, 9am to 5pm

Entrance fee: R100 (From R180 to R320 for guided tours)

R27 West Coast Road | Yzerfontein/Darling |@khwattu | Image: Vonani Ngomana

OVER 200 CLASSIC MOTORCYCLES

Helderberg Motorcycle Museum has a collection of beautifully-restored classic motorbikes from the early 1910s to 1974. Visitors can learn about the history and evolution of iconic bike brands like Harley Davidson and Kawasaki, and see a collection of vintage petrol tanks, helmets, and pumps at Helderberg Motorcycle Museum.

Hours: Tuesday to Sunday, 9am to 3:15pm

Entrance fee: Adults, R100; Senior citizens, R50; Free for kids under 12

16 Old Sir Lowry’s Pass Rd | Helderberg Rural | @motorcycle_museum | Image: Helderberg Motorcycle Museum

STEP INTO TOP GUN

It’s the second-largest military aviation museum in South Africa and feels like a scene from Top Gun. There’s a display of Royal Flying Corps memorabilia, a library with aviation-related books, and tours inside the security area of the base. You can also learn about military and civil aviation history at the South African Air Force Museum. 

Hours: Monday to Friday, 8am to 3pm; Saturday, 9am to 2pm

Entrance fee: Free entry

Piet Grobler Street | Ysterplaat Airbase | Cape Town | @saaf_museum_ysterplaat | Image: South African Air Force Museum

GLASS FROM THE 1ST CENTURY

See the art of glassmaking at the free-to-visit Glass Museum, home to Madame De Lencquesaing’s lifelong collection. This world-renowned exhibit features over 600 pieces, ranging from the first and second centuries to modern masterpieces. You can also see creations by esteemed Italian glassblower, Lino Tagliapietra, at the Glenelly Glass Museum. 

Hours: Tuesday to Saturday, 10am to 5pm; Sunday, 10am to 3pm

Entrance fee: Free entry

Ida’s Valley | Lelie Street | Stellenbosch | @glenellyestate | Image: Glenelly Glass Museum

SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA’S OLDEST SYNAGOGUE

The South African Jewish Museum features interactive displays like audio-visual presentations, rare artefacts, and a dedicated section on the Holocaust. There’s also a life-sized recreation of shtetl life, depicting the Eastern European Jewish world on the day before it disappeared. For R20, you can rent an audio guide for a richer experience.

Hours: Sunday to Thursday, 10am to 5pm; Friday, 10am to 2pm

Entrance fee: From free to R250

88 Hatfield Street | Gardens | Cape Town City Centre | @sajewishmuseum | Image: South African Jewish Museum

TOYS FROM AS FAR BACK AS 1690

There’s a whole museum in Stellenbosch dedicated to miniature toys and it’s just R20 to enter. From 100-year-old handmade dolls to over 2 000 miniature cars, it’ll keep kids busy for hours. You’ll find displays of toys from as far back as 1690, and you can watch a miniature version of South Africa’s famous Blue Train run at the Toy and Miniature Museum.

Hours: Monday to Friday, 9am to 4:30pm; Saturdays, 9am to 2pm

Entrance fee: Adults, R20; Kids (2 to 17 years), R10

37 Ryneveld Street | Stellenbosch | Facebook | Image: Ismaeel Adams

FREE ENTRY INTO THIS MEMORIAL MUSEUM

In 2003, skeletons uncovered near Prestwich Street revealed the remains of slaves and sailors executed by Dutch settlers in the 17th and 18th centuries. The Prestwich Memorial was established to honour these lives. It features a reflective garden, an ossuary where the bones are kept and interpretive displays on Cape Town's history of slavery and apartheid. 

Hours: Monday to Friday: 7am to 5pm; Saturday & Sunday, 7am to 2pm

Entrance fee: Free

Corner of Buitengracht Street and Somerset Road | Cape Town City Centre | Image: Google Maps

REPLICAS OF FAMOUS SA DIAMONDS

Did you know that a diamond takes three billion years to form before it's wearable? The Cape Diamond Museum, with beautiful illustrations and replicas of famous diamonds, offers a captivating look at these coveted gems. You can learn about the history of diamonds in South Africa and see mining gear at the Cape Diamond Museum. 

Hours: Daily, 10am to 6:30pm

Entrance fee: R200; Free for pensioners, senior citizens and kids under 14

The Clock Tower | Level 1 | V&A Waterfront | @ctdiamondmuseum | Image: Cape Town Diamond Museum

DECADES OF STORIES FROM DISTRICT SIX

Established in December 1994, the District Six Museum tells the stories of those forcefully removed by the apartheid government. It captures thousands of first-hand accounts of what life was like in District Six, and you can go on site walks and guided tours with ex-resident storytellers.

Hours: Monday to Saturday, 9am to 4pm

Entrance fee: R60

25A Buitenkant Street | Cape Town | @districtsixmuseum | Image: District Six Museum

7 MORE FAMOUS MUSEUMS

By Vonani Ngomana

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MORE TO DO IN THE WESTERN CAPE

You can see 4 000 toy cars and train models at the Warrior Toy Museum.

The bronze exhibit with life-size figures from our struggle history: Long March to Freedom. 

See our bucket list activities to do in Cape Town.

Make plans using our guide to 7+ things to do this week(end).

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