Robben Island Half-Day Tour with Ticket, Hotel Pickup & Drop-Off

Badge of Excellence

Cape Town, South Africa

Popular pick

Booked 5+ times last week!

5 hours (approx.)
Pickup offered
Group discounts
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English

Why travelers loved this

4.6

· Irma_H ·

Dec 2025

Very interesting tour, learning experience. The drive was nice and on time picked us up and took straight to the boat, explained the process and then we had 2 incredible guides on the island who were very knowledgeable.

· Diana_W ·

Jan 2026

The pick up and drop off was seamless. The driver was good at communicating and sending all instructions in good time. I enjoyed the tour

Explore our promoted experiences

Special Offer

Cape Of Good Hope Instagram Small Group Tour with Penguins

Cape Town, Western Cape

4.8

(73)

Cape Of Good Hope Instagram Small Group Tour with Penguins

from

$41

$46

Likely to Sell Out

Aquila Safari Game Drive, Lunch & Transfers from Cape Town

Cape Town, Western Cape

5.0

(13)

Aquila Safari Game Drive, Lunch & Transfers from Cape Town

from $175

Small Group Tour Boulders Beach Penguin Colony Cape of Good Hope

Cape Town, Western Cape

4.8

(48)

Small Group Tour Boulders Beach Penguin Colony Cape of Good Hope

from $52

Viator earns higher commissions on experiences featured here

Overview

Getting to Robben Island doesn’t need to involve complicated logistics. This half-day tour simplifies the experience with pickup directly from your Cape Town hotel and admission to the Robben Island Museum included. To help you get more from your visit, a tour led by a former political prisoner is part of the experience, including the chance to see Nelson Mandela’s former prison cell.

Door-to-door transportation from Cape Town to Robben Island
Benefit from having Wi-Fi access in the vehicle
No need to purchase tickets: Admission is included
See more of the island during a sightseeing bus ride

What's Included

Entry/Admission to Robben Island
Hotel pickup and drop-off
WiFi on board
Bottled water

Food and Drinks
Gratuities

Meeting and Pickup

Pickup points

Select a pickup point

Itinerary

Robben Island Museum

4 hours • Admission Ticket Included

Jack Friedman V&A WaterFront

1 hour • Admission Ticket Free

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Wheelchair accessible
Stroller accessible
Near public transportation
Infants must sit on laps

Transportation is wheelchair accessible
Surfaces are wheelchair accessible
Most travelers can participate
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 50 travelers

Supplied by

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

Traveler Photos

Gallery picture 1 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 2 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 3 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 4 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 5 (from a traveler's review)

Reviews

4.6

based on 56 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

We perform checks on reviews

Amazing

Haroon_H, Apr 2026

Incredible experience Talk and guide with an apartheid victim Heavy, but very educational Really good experience

Response from Host, Apr 2026

Thank you so much for your kind words! We’re truly glad you found the experience incredible and meaningful. Hearing firsthand stories from a guide who lived through apartheid can be powerful, and we’re pleased it made your visit both educational and impactful. We really appreciate your feedback and hope to welcome you again for another memorable experience.

Brilliant trip to Robben Island

Philip_W, Apr 2026

A thoroughly worthwhile and emotional experience. The guides are ex political prisoners and there stories are extraordinary.

Response from Host, Apr 2026

Thank you very much for your kind words. We’re so glad to hear that you found the experience worthwhile and meaningful. Hearing the powerful stories from the former political prisoners is truly something special, and we’re happy it left such an impression on you. We appreciate you taking the time to share your feedback and hope to welcome you again in the future.

There is hope

Mathias_C, Feb 2026

The history of South will be incomplete without the mention of Robben Island. From the explorer's Station to the Prison of both civil crimes and later on to Political opponents. The Island was once considered a place of no escape, but now we can talk of professional swimmers crossing over for the Good Course (charity). History can help us to be more human. The scars can be very massive and be seen from thousand miles away, but it should not be paining. And that what we call healed healers. Mandela had a big heart.

Response from Host, Feb 2026

Thank you so much for this deeply thoughtful and moving review. Robben Island truly holds a powerful place in South Africa’s history, and your reflection captures its journey—from isolation and suffering to remembrance, learning, and healing. We’re glad the tour allowed you to connect with the island’s past and its enduring message of resilience and humanity. As you beautifully noted, history reminds us how scars can heal and teach us compassion. Mandela’s legacy and the spirit of Robben Island continue to inspire hearts around the world. Thank you for sharing this perspective with us.

Great educational experience

Orn_B, Jan 2026

This was the most educational and intellectually fulfilling tour I’ve taken. This tour is much less about seeing sights and much more about learning about some critical South African history, and hearing about it from a former political prisoner on Robben Island. There’s a beautiful 30-45 minute boat ride in each direction and touring of the village and prison. Visiting the prison is sobering. The staff out at Robben Island are wonderful and have much knowledge to share. I highly recommend this tour.

Response from Host, Jan 2026

Thank you very much for taking the time to share such a thoughtful and detailed review. We’re truly glad to hear that you found the tour educational and meaningful, and that the experience of hearing firsthand accounts from a former political prisoner made such an impact. Your kind words about the staff and the overall experience on Robben Island mean a great deal to us. We sincerely appreciate your recommendation and hope to welcome you again in the future.

The pick up and drop off...

Diana_W, Jan 2026

The pick up and drop off was seamless. The driver was good at communicating and sending all instructions in good time. I enjoyed the tour

Response from Host, Jan 2026

Thank you very much for your kind review. We’re delighted to hear that the pickup and drop-off were seamless and that our driver communicated clearly and efficiently. It’s great to know you enjoyed the tour, and we truly appreciate you taking the time to share your experience. We hope to welcome you again on another tour in the future.

Robben Island Synopsis

Diana_E, Jan 2026

This experience was the most important to me during my visit to Capetown (Cpt) Readers should know that it is extremely windy at times in Cpt which causes the excursion. So as they say “Third time is a charm.” So we set off on the ferry to Robben Island with beautiful weather and slightly choppy waves at times. The ferry is approximately 30 minutes. Buses are waiting for riders to take us around the island. We were then met by a former political prisoner who was incarcerated there at the age of 15. His retelling of events was very passionate and emotional at times. Although his speech was English, the accent and emotion made it difficult to understand. Regardless, I was enlightened. I don’t want to use the word enjoy to describe the experience due to the horrible treatment the prisoners received. It was truly an enlightening and educational experience. I highly recommend the tour. I appreciated the transportation there and back as the driver kept in communication with me regarding cancellation and pickup times. I possibly could have saved $ as the Hotel provided courtesy transportation to the Waterfront where the ferry departed. Another point is the half-day tour didn’t have enough time to browse the gift shop. I learned a lot.

Response from Host, Jan 2026

Thank you so much for taking the time to share such a thoughtful and heartfelt review. We’re truly honored that the Robben Island experience was the most important part of your visit to Cape Town. You’re absolutely right—Cape Town’s weather, especially the wind, can be unpredictable, and we appreciate your patience in seeing it through. As they say, third time is indeed the charm, and we’re glad the conditions finally aligned for you to experience the island as intended. It means a great deal to us that the former political prisoner’s storytelling left such an impact. While the subject matter is undeniably heavy and emotional, we’re grateful that you found the experience enlightening and educational, which is exactly what the tour aims to provide. Thank you as well for acknowledging our transportation service and the driver’s communication regarding cancellations and pickup times—your feedback affirms how important clear communication is, especially with weather-dependent excursions. We appreciate your honest notes regarding the gift shop time and alternative transport options, as this helps future travelers set expectations and helps us improve where possible. Thank you again for your strong recommendation. We’re grateful you chose to experience this significant piece of history with us and are pleased that it left you with lasting insight. Warm regards, The Reservations & Guest Experience Team

Very interesting...

Leigh_C, Jan 2026

Very interesting information shared about the prison and Nelson Mandella. It was interesting to listen to first hand experiences of being in the prison, and meeting and talking with family members of prisoners.

Response from Host, Jan 2026

Thank you so much for taking the time to share your experience with us. We’re delighted to hear that you found the tour informative and meaningful. Robben Island holds a powerful history, and hearing first-hand accounts—especially from former prisoners or their families—adds a deeply personal and moving perspective to the visit. We’re glad the stories of Nelson Mandela and others resonated with you, and we truly appreciate your kind feedback. We hope to welcome you again on another memorable experience in the future.

Smooth experience

M_N, Dec 2025

It was great and seamless experience, I would mind using the same in future travels and trip. We were handled well

Response from Host, Dec 2025

Thank you so much for sharing your experience! We’re delighted to hear that your Robben Island Half-Day Tour was seamless and enjoyable. It’s great to know that our team took good care of you, and we truly appreciate your kind words. We’d be happy to welcome you again on your future travels and trips. Safe travels, and thank you for choosing us!

Interesting experience

Irma_H, Dec 2025

Response from Host, Dec 2025

Thank you for your wonderful review! We’re so glad to hear that you found the tour interesting and educational. It’s great to know the pickup was on time and that everything ran smoothly from the drive to the boat. We’re especially happy that our island guides made the experience memorable with their knowledge and insights. Thank you for choosing us, and we hope to welcome you again on a future tour!

Good but the best part was cut short!

Sweta_S, Nov 2025

Overall the tour was good, the guides were good and I learned a lot. Because the tours are generally huge, it takes so much time to move people from the boat to the bus etc... that we lost time for the actual prison tour. The prison tour was the most important and this was cut to about 45 min or less which was really not enough. I would suggest the prison tour be at least 1 hour and for there to be smaller groups so time isn't wasted on waiting for people to walk.

Response from Host, Nov 2025

Thank you so much for your thoughtful feedback and for joining our tour! We’re very glad to hear that you enjoyed the experience overall and found our guides knowledgeable. We truly appreciate you pointing out the challenges with group size and timing. Your comments about the transition times and the shorter prison tour are extremely valuable, and we’ll be reviewing our logistics to see how we can improve pacing and ensure guests have the full amount of time at the prison. Thank you again for taking the time to share your experience — it helps us make the tour better for everyone. We hope to have the chance to welcome you back in the future!

Isaac was fantastic,...

Lynette_S, Nov 2025

Isaac was fantastic, friendly, and punctual. He made sure everything was in order for the Robben Island tour, and I felt well taken care of from start to finish. Highly recommend!

Response from Host, Nov 2025

Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We’re delighted to hear that you had a smooth and enjoyable experience on the Robben Island Half-Day Tour. Isaac will be thrilled to know his friendliness, punctuality, and attention to detail made your day memorable. We truly appreciate your recommendation and hope to welcome you on another tour soon!

Visiting Robben Island...

Rohan_N, Nov 2024

Visiting Robben Island was an unforgettable experience that brought South Africa’s history to life. The guided tour was incredibly informative, providing powerful insights into the stories of the political prisoners. A special shoutout goes to our tour guide, Said, who truly went above and beyond. He helped us with an unrelated issue during our tour His kindness and willingness to assist made our experience all the more remarkable. If you’re ever in Cape Town, a visit to Robben Island is a must—and if you’re lucky enough to have Said as your guide, you’re in for an exceptional experience!

Response from Host, Dec 2024

Thank you so much for your lovely review! We’re delighted to hear that you have wonderful experience on the Robben Island tour. It means a lot to us that our driver’s patience and care feel comfortable and helped create a smooth and enjoyable day for everyone. We’re also glad the tour left you with a deeper understanding of South Africa’s history. Your recommendation is truly appreciated, and we hope to welcome you and your family on another tour in the future!

We booked day itself and...

Anna_H, Nov 2024

We booked day itself and luckily it was available. Driver picked us up a bit late but had correspondence with us at least. Tour itself was very educational and a bit sad bec of history of island esp when told by former prisoners who were actual guides in the prison.

Response from Host, Nov 2024

Thank you so much for your kind words! We're thrilled to hear that you found the Robben Island tour insightful and that it helped deepen your understanding of South Africa's rich history. It's always our goal to provide meaningful and memorable experiences for our guests. We hope to welcome you back on another tour in the future!

Everything went perfectly

Richard_A, Aug 2024

Great experience. We were looking for a last minute ticket and Said (the tour guy) came through. He met us at the Nelson Mandel gateway to make sure we were set with tour. He does not go on tour with you which is fine. We loved it. When we returned to the mainland he greeted us and made sure we had a nice time.

Response from Host, Aug 2024

Good day valued clients thank you very much for reviewing this tour it's great to hear that you had a great tour with us Best Regards said

Through this ticket money beating

Bernard_K, Jan 2026

Booking cost twice as much as a regular ticket and we didn’t get anything extra for it not even a bottle of water as promised. The Tour itself was fine but that was not necessary through this booking. Bizarre money knocking.

Auto-translated

Response from Host, Jan 2026

Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. We’re glad to hear that you enjoyed the tour itself. We’re sorry to learn that the booking did not meet your expectations and we sincerely apologize for the bottle of water that was promised but not provided. That is certainly not the experience we aim to deliver. By choosing to book through a tour operator, guests receive the convenience of advance arrangements and support, but we understand that this did not feel like added value in your case. Your comments are important to us and will be shared with our team so we can improve our service going forward. Thank you again for visiting, and we hope to have the opportunity to provide you with a better experience in the future.