Robben Island Museum
Travel by ferry to the island whose former prison tells a central story of South African history.
Photo: South African Tourism from South Africa · CC BY 2.0
Plan your visitAbout 90 min
- Hours
- Visit duration90 minutesEditorial estimate · 2026-10-08
Not confirmed yet: Entry · Booking · Step-free entrance · Accessible toilets · Parking · Public transport · Family suitability · Setting
A venue pin identifies the site; an entrance pin is shown only when the entrance itself is verified. Confirm availability before travelling.
Nelson Mandela Gateway, V&A Waterfront (ferry departure) · Cape Town
About
Robben Island (Afrikaans: Robbeneiland) is an island in Table Bay, 6.9 kilometers (4.3 mi) west of the coast of Bloubergstrand, north of Cape Town, South Africa. It takes its name from the archaic Dutch word for seals (robben), hence the Dutch/Afrikaans name Robbeneiland, which translates to Seal(s) Island. Robben Island is roughly oval in shape, 3.3 kilometres (2 miles) long north–south, and 1.9 km (1+1⁄8 mi) wide, with an area of 5.08 km2 (1+31⁄32 sq mi). It is flat and only a few metres above sea level, as a result of an ancient erosion event.
Good to know
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Behind this discovery · sources & credits
Source pages checked 2026-10-08. Hours and event programmes can change.
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