The Best Galleries and Exhibitions to Visit in the Mother City

Cape Town is home to several internationally recognised museums, from exhibitions on South Africa’s troubled history to galleries displaying contemporary works from world-renowned artists. Here are some recommendations for the most influential and culturally significant museums to visit in the Mother City.

Iziko South African Museum

Founded in 1825, the Iziko South African Museum stores more than 1.5 million specimens, accumulated over almost 200 years, including ancient fossils and stone tools, rock and meteorite samples, lifelike recreations of South Africa’s indigenous people, as well as marine and wild animal displays and features.

When: Monday – Sunday | 9am – 5pm (Mon – Fri) | 8.30am – 4pm (Sat & Sun)
Where: 25 Queen Victoria St, Gardens, Cape Town

Norval Foundation

Norval Foundation, situated in the Tokai region of Cape Town, is a haven for both South African and pan-African artwork. The gallery, founded in 2018, aims to nurture understanding and appreciation of African art. It strives to position African artists within the global art-historical canon, fostering awareness and elevating the discourse on their contributions. Currently, Norval hosts four exhibitions, many of which display celebrated works from some of South Africa’s most influential artists.

Cost: Day Pass – R210pp for African Nationals | R330pp for Internationals | R110pp for young adults aged 18 to 24 years | Kids under 18 enter free. Book via Webtickets.

When: Wednesday – Sunday | 10am – 5pm (Wed – Sat) | 10am – 4pm (Sun)
Where: Norval Foundation, 4 Steenberg Road, Tokai

Bo-Kaap Museum

Located in one of the earliest homes in the area, this social history museum is dedicated to its local community, which historically included many Muslims and freed slaves. The site is known for its people’s resistance against the Apartheid regime, and continues to be a hub for political movements. Currently, the museum hosts a unique exhibit that explores photographs capturing the life of a Muslim bride during a traditional Cape Malay wedding.

When: Monday – Sunday | 9am – 5pm (Mon – Fri) | 8.30am – 4pm (Sat & Sun)
Where: 71 Wale St, Schotsche Kloof (Bo-Kaap), Cape Town

Museum of Childhood

This interactive museum hosts a national collection of childhood-related exhibitions, aiming to preserve the heritage of childhood and the role children play in society. The space is open to people of all ages: children, adults, families, and communities come together to celebrate childhood and gain insight into this important aspect of human life and how it has changed over time.

For International Museum Day, the space is hosting a Night at the Museum, extending its open hours, running traditional childhood games, and selling Napoli-style pizzas.

Cost: Free.

When: Wednesday – Saturday | 10am – 4pm
Where: 3 Milner Rd, Rondebosch, Cape Town

Zeitz MOCAA

The Zeitz Museum of Contemporary African Art (MOCAA) is one of Cape Town’s leading art galleries dedicated to contemporary art from Africa and its diaspora. Housed in the now-iconic Silo Building at the V&A Waterfront, the gallery boasts both a permanent exhibition and temporary, rotating exhibitions, all contributing to the preservation and promotion of African artists.

With exhibitions ranging from sculptures and paintings to experimental cinema, the Zeitz is the premier destination for those wanting to view contemporary African art in the Mother City.

Cost: R265 for a day pass. Book now on Webtickets.

When: Daily | 10am – 6pm
Where: Zeitz MOCAA, S Arm Rd, Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, Cape Town

District Six Museum

This iconic cultural hub of learning in Cape Town is home to the memories and histories of forced removals under the Apartheid regime in South Africa. The museum is a carefully curated space promoting social justice for the community of District Six while serving as a place of learning and deep reflection on the harsh truths of this history. It encourages visitors to confront the realities of the past by observing the stories of forced removals through collections, exhibitions and education programmes.

Cost: R65. Book now on the website.

When: Monday – Saturday | 9am – 4pm.
Where: 25 Buitenkant Street, Cape Town

Iziko Slave Lodge

Housed in one of Cape Town’s oldest buildings, the Slave Lodge uses its temporary exhibitions to address and raise awareness around human rights. The lower storeys focus primarily on the history of slavery in the country, whereas the upper galleries include older displays, such as ceramics from across the globe, silverware of Cape, Malaysian, Russian and English origins and Egyptian collections.

When: Monday – Sunday | 9am – 5pm (Mon – Fri) | 8.30am – 4pm (Sat & Sun)
Where: Corner Adderley and Wale Streets, Cape Town

Robben Island Museum

Those wanting to explore South Africa’s divisive and tragic history can do so with an emotional tour of Robben Island, where the country’s famous and unsung freedom fighters were jailed during the apartheid regime. The museum is part of a World Heritage Site with a special focus on conserving the island’s natural and cultural resources. Given the museum’s great significance and the history it preserves, it has become one of the most renowned cultural sites worldwide.

Tours take place daily, and visitors are transported to the island via ferries which depart from the Nelson Mandela Gateway at the V&A Waterfront.

Cost: R400 (SA adults) | R600 (internationals) | R200 (SA u17s) | and R300 (international children). Book now on the website.

When: Monday – Sunday | 8am – 5pm | Tours start at 9am, 11am, 1pm, and 3pm
Where: V&A Waterfront, Suit 206, Clock Tower, Cape Town

Cape Town Diamond Museum

This unique institution pays homage to the extraordinary story of diamond mining, collection, and trade in South Africa. The museum explores the creation of the iconic mineral, the important diamond discoveries that have changed the industry, how their value is measured, and showcases exact, life-size replicas of the most famous diamonds in the world.

Guests can participate in a guided tour of the museum, lasting about 45 minutes, and end with a visit to the Shimansky showroom, where diamonds are cut in a unique, behind-the-scenes experience.

Cost: R400 per person. Booking is essential via the website.

When: Monday – Sunday | 9am – 8pm
Where: Clock Tower (Level 1), Clock Tower District, Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, Cape Town

Heart of Cape Town

Unlike most museums that span a wide array of times, places, and themes, Heart of Cape Town preserves the knowledge of a single vitally influential event in South African history. By detailing the moments and people involved in the first human heart transplant in Groote Schuur Hospital, this unique museum remembers one of the most significant events in global medical history.

Guided and walkabout tours are available, with hands-on experiences including numerous recreations of what happened at the real locations, alongside short films, interactive moments, and authentic objects from the surgery. Guided tours last about 90 minutes, and children under 10 are discouraged from participating due to the museum’s graphic nature.

Cost: South Africans – R190 (adults), R140 (pensioners), R90 (students), R60 (children) | Internationals – R400 (adults), R350 (pensioners), R250 (students), R100 (children). Bookings can be made on the website.

When: Monday – Friday | Guided tours start at 9am, 11am, 1pm, and 3pm (prior booking only)
Where: Groote Schuur Hospital, Main Rd, Observatory, Cape Town

South African National Gallery

The city’s premier public art gallery houses historic, modern, and contemporary exhibitions ranging from paintings and sculptures to beadwork. The museum houses a permanent collection with regularly changing selections, alongside limited showings such as the newly opened Steven Cohen: Long Life Retrospective, which features many of the local artist’s most influential works.

When: Monday, 18 May 2026 | 9pm – 5pm
Where: Government Avenue, Company’s Garden, Cape Town

Cape Town Science Centre

With more than 250 interactive science exhibits and mind-boggling puzzles, the Cape Town Science Centre (CTSC) is a world of discovery under one roof. It is part of a wide range of non-classroom initiatives aimed at improving the quality of scientific understanding and literacy in South Africa. The CTSC offers science shows, curriculum-based hands-on workshops, holiday programmes, science camps, science theatre, travelling exhibitions, hands-on experiments, excursions and experientially driven programmes.

Cost: R95 | R45 (pensioners) | R340 (family ticket for 4) | Book on Webtickets.

Where: 370B Main Road, Observatory
When: 9am – 4.30pm (Mon – Sat) | 10am – 4.30pm (Public holidays)

Museum of Dogs

The Museum of Dogs is the only museum of its kind in the world. It is dedicated to celebrating dogs and exploring their role in history as comforters, friends, and workers through captivating stories and interactive displays.

The museum features a diverse range of exhibitions, including ceramic art, photography, paintings, dog-themed films, canine-inspired music, and more. Whether you’re a fan of Bulldogs, Beagles, Great Danes, or Poodles, there’s something for every animal lover to enjoy.

Cost: Free. Tickets are required, either on-site or through Quicket.

When: Tuesday – Sunday | 10am – 5pm
Where: 95 Keerom St, Gardens, Cape Town

SAAO Private Open Nights

This historic national heritage site is the Mother City’s premier astronomical headquarters, featuring a range of telescopes, active research facilities, and a museum dedicated to the history of South African astronomy.

Tours begin at the Main Building, where guests are introduced to the fascinating and rich history of astronomy in South Africa. Guests also have the chance to visit the museum, browse an impressive collection of astronomical instruments, photographs, and exhibits that tell the story of South African astronomy through the ages.

Finally, tours conclude at the magnificent McClean Telescope, undoubtedly the highlight of the night. Weather permitting, the experience culminates in a stargazing session with both the historic McClean Telescope and SAAO’s modern Dobsonian telescopes.

Cost: R50 per person | Free for kids under 6. Tickets available on the website.

When: 2nd & 4th Saturdays of every month | 8pm – 10pm
Where: 1 Observatory Rd, Observatory, Cape Town

Museum of Illusions

Families looking for something new while exploring the city can try out this immersive museum experience. Attendees can expect a variety of interactive exhibits – from optical illusions and holograms to gravity-defying rooms and mind-twisting puzzles. It’s a space where visitors of all ages are encouraged to explore, touch, and snap unforgettable photos, making it ideal for a day out with families, friends, and curious minds.

Cost: R250pp (adult) | R200pp (children aged 4-12 & seniors) | R790 (family bundle – 2x adults & 2x children). Tickets are available for purchase on the website.

When: 9am – 8pm (Sun – Wed) | 9am – 10pm (Thu – Sat)
Where: 10 Kloof Street, Gardens, Cape Town

Long March To Freedom

This public monument commemorates 350 years of struggle for liberation by South Africa’s people, from the start of colonial rule to the end of Apartheid. The highlight is undoubtedly the life-size bronze statues: 100 of the country’s foremost freedom fighters, forever immortalised by some of South Africa’s most prominent sculptors and artists.

Cost: From R20 | R75 per person (including guided tour). Book now on Webtickets.

When: Monday – Sunday | 10am – 4pm
Where: Century Boulevard, Century City, Cape Town