Cape Town: Robben Island tours paused from 16 June 2025 to 01 September 2025 – Here’s why!

The Robben Island Museum (RIM) has announced the temporary suspension of all public tours to Robben Island from 16 June to 01 September 2025. This closure is necessary to carry out essential maintenance and renovation work in preparation for a major global event - South Africa's hosting of the G20 Summit later this year.
South Africa will make history as the first African nation to host the G20, with the G20 Johannesburg Summit scheduled to take place from 22 to 23 November 2025 in Johannesburg. As part of the preparations, Robben Island will host international delegations and must ensure all facilities are up to standard.
While the temporary closure may impact some visitors' plans, the decision reflects the Robben Island Museum's commitment to preserving this iconic UNESCO World Heritage Site, ensuring visitor safety, and enhancing the long-term visitor experience.
During this period, visitors can still explore the rich history of Robben Island through the Robben Island Museum exhibition at the Nelson Mandela Gateway, located at the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town.

Robben Island is one of South Africa's most iconic heritage sites, located just off the coast of Cape Town. Famous for housing Nelson Mandela during his 18 years of imprisonment, the island is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a powerful symbol of the country’s journey to freedom. Accessible by ferry from the V&A Waterfront, Robben Island tours offer visitors a chance to explore the historic prison, meet former political prisoners, and gain a deeper understanding of South Africa's past. It’s a must-visit for anyone interested in history, culture, and unforgettable Cape Town attractions.

Cape Town: Robben Island Museum to close for organisational wellness day on 07 March 2025!

The Robben Island Museum (RIM) in Cape Town has announced that it will be closed to the public on Friday,  07 March 2025 for an Organisational Wellness Day. As a result, all tours to Robben Island will be unavailable on this date to accommodate the event, which will take place on the island.

A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Robben Island Museum is one of South Africa’s most significant historical landmarks. Located approximately 7 km off the coast of Cape Town, the island is best known as the site where Nelson Mandela and other political prisoners were held during apartheid. Today, the museum offers guided tours led by former political prisoners, providing visitors with powerful first-hand insights into the island’s history and its role in the country’s struggle for freedom.

Robben Island Museum: The 2024 tour rates remain unchanged!

The Robben Island Museum (RIM), the public entity responsible for managing, maintaining, presenting, developing and marketing Robben Island as a national estate and World Heritage Site, has announced that it will not introduce new tariffs for 2024. The current rates will be retained for the next 12 month. RIM  has not increased its tariffs since 2021. The following tariffs will remain applicable for 2024:

• R600 for non-South African adults
• R310 for non-South African children (2 - 18 years)
• R400 for South African adults
• R210 for South African children (2 - 18 years)

Robben Island an island in the Table Bay, about 7 kilometres west of the coast of Bloubergstrand, north of Cape Town. From 1961, Robben Island was used by the South African government as a prison for political prisoners and convicted criminals. Many prominent anti-apartheid leaders, including South Africa's first democratically elected president, Nelson Mandela, were incarcerated on Robben Island, enduring harsh conditions and forced labor. Mandela spent 18 of his 27 years in prison on Robben Island. His time there became emblematic of the struggle against apartheid and his eventual rise to the presidency. 

Since the end of apartheid, Robben Island has been transformed into a museum and heritage site. It offers guided tours, allowing visitors to learn about the island's history and the struggle against apartheid. In 1999, Robben Island was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, recognizing its historical significance and contribution to the fight for human rights and democracy.

Cape Town: The Robben Island Museum is offering a special rate for South Africans!

The Robben Island Museum (RIM) on Cape Town's Robben Island is commemerating Reconciliation Day and celebrating 21 years as an UNESCO World Heritage Site as well as its first anniversary as a Marine Protected Area by offering all South Africans a 25% discount on adult tickets. The offer starts today and will be available until 15 January 2020. To meet the rising demand on tickets, RIM has reintroduced the full seven-day-a-week schedule with a limited tour frequency.

 

According to RIM spokesperson Morongoa Ramaboa, all necessary Covid-19 protocols as recommended by the National Command Council (NCC), the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Tourism Business Council of South Africa (TBCSA) have been put in place. RIM's Covid-19 response plan is in line with the risk adjusted strategy as advised by South Africa's Government and will be amended as and when necessary to meet minimum requirements as far as the tourism secor is concerned.

Robben Island is an island in Table Bay, about 7km west of the coast of Bloubergstrand in Cape Town. South Africa's former President Nelson Mandela was imprisoned there for 18 of the 27 years he served behind bars before the fall of apartheid.

Robben Island Museum: The 2021/2022 tour rates to remain unchanged!

The Robben Island Museum (RIM) on Cape Town's Robben Island, which is responsible for managing, maintaining, presenting, developing and marketing Robben Island as a national estate and World Heritage Site, has announced that the 2020/21 financial year tour rates will continue to apply until further notice. RIM decided not to increase the rates due to the state of affairs imposed by the coronavirus pandemic and to encourage domestic tourism. The standard tariffs will remain as follows:

• R 600 (£29 | €32 | US$37) for non-South African adults
• R 300 (£14 | €16 | US$19) for non-South African children aged two to 18 years
• R 400 (£19 | €21 | US$25) for South African adults
• R 210 (£10 | €11 | US$13) for South African children aged two to 18 years
  

Robben Island's standard tour comprises of a ferry return trip, transport on the island, a guided island tour and a guided prison tour.

Should there be any price adjustment for 2021/2022, RIM will communicate accordingly. Tickets booked and allocated at the old rates will continue to be honored.

Robben Island is an island in Table Bay, about 7km west of the coast of Bloubergstrand in Cape Town. South Africa's former President Nelson Mandela was imprisoned there for 18 of the 27 years he served behind bars before the fall of apartheid.

Cape Town: The Robben Island Museum is set to resume tours to Robben Island!

The management of the Robben Island Museum (RIM) on Cape Town's Robben Island has announced the resumption of tours to the island. Effective 14 September 2020, RIM will operate two tours on a weekly basis on Mondays and Saturdays to Robben Island. The tour capacity and frequency will be relooked and gradually increased based on the domestic demand and reopening of international travel in South Africa. RIM has introduced stringend health protocols to ensure that its facilities are compliant and meet all safety minimum standards for both visitors and staff. 

Each ferry to/from Robben Island will carry a maximum of 70% passengers for now while buses will load 50% of its capacity. However, visitor groups will be devided into smaller groups of 25 upon arrival on Robben Island. Site that will be priotised are:

• Maximum Security Prison
• Visitor Centre
• Lime Quarry
• Robert Sobukwe Complex

Cape Town: Robben Island Museum temporarily suspends tours due to coronavirus pandemic!

In light of the coronavirus pandemic, the management of the Robben Island Museum (RIM) on Cape Town's Robben Island has made the decision to temporarily suspend tours until such time conditions allow to lift the suspension. Customers who have already booked tickets are advised to contact RIM to reschudule or obtain full refunds as per terms and conditions. All transactions will be made electronically as the Nelson Mandela Gateway ticket office is currently not accessible to the general public. Given the circumstances, RIM will not impose additional charges on all tickets rescheduled to a date later than 01 June 2020. (RIM's ticket price was scheduled to increase from 01 June 2020). We'll keep you posted!

Cape Town: Robben Island Museum hit by strike action! [update]

update (16 January 2020): The stike is still ongoing, but according to RIM operation are proceeding uninterrupted!

update (13 January 2020): RIM has confirmed that operations are proceeding uninterrupted!

update (10 January 2020): The Robben Island ferry service has NOT been suspended. The RIM, as well as the ferry, is still open for business despite the ongoing strike action. The only cancellation that took place during the strike period was on 09 January 2020 (08:00 and 09:00 tours). All other tours from Monday until today (06 - 10 January 2020) continued as planned.

update (09 January 2020): Due to the strike action by Nehawu workers, the Robben Island Museum (RIM) has has been forced to use outsourced ferries. This morning at least two tours were cancelled. According to the RIM, all services are now operational again. 

update (07 January 2020): The Robben Island Museum (RIM) has just released an update on Instagram (?)!

Sieh dir diesen Beitrag auf Instagram an

IMPORTANT UPDATE:  Following recent media reports regarding some of our employees (NEHAWU members) striking/picketing 30 metres away from our premises; please be advised that operations have not been affected and visitor safety is and will always be a priority. We have put necessary measures in place to ensure that we continue to operate seamlessly.  We look forward to welcoming you to Robben Island Museum!

Ein Beitrag geteilt von Robben Island Museum (@robben_island) am Jan 7, 2020 um 5:00 PST

The Robben Island Museum (RIM) on Cape Town's Robben Island is currently experiencing a legally protected strike organized by the National Education, Health and Allied Workers' Union (Nehawu), which includes tour guides, boat crews, marketing and ticket sales. A group of employees, who are among other things demanding a 9% across the board salary increase, staged a picket near the entrance of the museum on 06 January 2019. According to the RIM, security measures have been put in place, so that the strike has sofar not affected operations. We'll keep you posted!

Cape Town: Robben Island to increase rates in June 2020!

The Robben Island Museum (RIM) on Cape Town's Robben Island, which is responsible for managing, maintaining, presenting, developing and marketing Robben Island as a national estate and World Heritage Site, will increase its rates with effect from 01 June 2020. The RIM will apply a R50 increase on international tour prices and a R20 increase on local tour prices. Robben Island's standard tour comprises of a ferry return trip, transport on the Island, a guided Island tour and a guided Prison tour. 

The new standard tariffs will be as follows:

• R 600 (£32 | €37 | US$41) for non-South African adults
• R 300 (£31 | €18 | US$20) for non-South African children aged two to 18 years.
• R 400 (£21 | €25 | US$27) for South African adults
• R 210 (£11 | €13 | US$14) for South African children aged two to 18 years.

Robben Island is an island in Table Bay, about 7km west of the coast of Bloubergstrand in Cape Town. South Africa's former President Nelson Mandela was imprisoned there for 18 of the 27 years he served behind bars before the fall of apartheid.

Robben Island Museum to introduce two-tier pricing!

The Robben Island Museum (RIM) is set to change its pricing model for visitors. Effective 01 June 2019, the museum will implement two-tier pricing for international and South African visitors. The new standard tariffs will be as follows:

• R550 (GPB30 | €35 | $40) for non-South African adults and R300 (GBP17 | €15 | $15) for non-South African children aged two to 18 years
• R380 for South African adults and R200 for South African children aged two to 18 years.

Robben Island's tour comprises of a ferry return trip, transport on the Island, a guided Island tour and a guided prison tour by an ex-political prisoner.
The funds generated from tour fees allows Robben Island Museum (RIM) to protect and preserve the Island's rich history as a World Heritage Site which symbolizes the triumph of the human spirit over adversity.

Cape Town: New requirements for Robben Island visitors!

Cape Town's Robben Island has introduced new requirements for visitors to the island and the museum on 05 October 2017. All visitors booked for trips to Robben Island must provide identification (ID, passport, birth certificate, drivers licence or certified copies thereof) when purchasing tickets. 

src.: Website of the Robben Island Museum (*.docx)

According to the Southern Africa Tourism Services Association (SATSA), the identification is getting verified when visitors check in for their trip and has to be kept handy by visitors at all times. Robben Island Museum said the move was part of an ongoing effort to provide guests with the best possible service, says SATSA. Well... We'll keep you posted!

Cape Town: Free return tickets to Robben Island for locals on Heritage Day!

Cape Town's Robben Island Museum (RIM) in partnership with the National Department of Tourism (NDT) is hosting an "Open Day" on 24 September 2016 (Heritage Day). On this day, the Museum and the NDT are giving away 1600 free tickets to locals for a return trip to the island (including a prison tour on Robben Island). These free tickets will be issued to locals through community radio stations, local newspapers and non-profit organizations.

 

 Half-Day Robben Island Tour from Cape Town >>

Cape Town: Explore Robben Island from your desktop!

To commemorate South Africa's "Freedom Day" (27 April), Google has partnered with the Robben Island Museum and the Nelson Mandela Centre of Memory to bring the story of Robben Island online. You can now explore the UNESCO World Heritage Site by clicking through Google Maps' Street View imagery of Robben Island as well as by following an audio-visual tour of the island hosted on Google Cultural Institute.



The audio-visual tour of Robben Island includes a visit to Nelson Mandela’s prison cell and activist Robert Sobukwe’s house. The imagery, audio-effects, video and virtual tour provide insights into the story of the island and some of its more famous prisoners.

Cape Town: Robben Island Museum introduced "off-peak tour schedule"!

The Robben Island Museum has introduced its "off-peak tour schedule" a couple of days ago. Tours to Robben Island droped from four to three daily tours; they now run at 09:00 and 11:00, with the last ferry leaving the Nelson Mandela Gateway at 13:00. The 15:00 tour will return in peak season, which will recommence in September 2015.
The Robben Island Museum also announced that ticket prices will get increased from the current R280 for adults to R300 on 01 June 2015.