South Africa · ROBBEN ISLAND TOURS

Robben Island Tours & Ferry Tickets: The 15 Best Options

61 tours  ·  from $57 a head

Sailings leave the V&A Waterfront on a fixed timetable and cancel on rough water, so tickets go weeks ahead in season. The 15 below cover ferry-only entry and the versions with hotel transfers, with prices and total time away from the city.

Cape Town-Robben Island Ferry Ticket and Guided Prison Tour - The ferry across Table Bay
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Cape Town: Robben Island Ferry Ticket and Guided Prison Tour

1.Robben Island Ferry Ticket and Guided Prison Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.1 · 1,792 reviews · 4 hours · from $79Our pick

Meet at the Nelson Mandela Gateway, skip the ticket-selling line, and take the shared ferry to Robben Island. A bus tour covers the island before a former political prisoner leads you through the prison, including Nelson Mandela’s cell. Allow four hours, bring ID, and expect queues to board the boat.

“what impressed me most where our guides. Troyer made the welcome to Robben Island light and warm, and immediately connected with the group. Terrence showed us the prison through his eyes, making this an emotional and unique experience. Thank you both, baie dankie!”

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Cape Town: Robben Island Ferry Tour with 1-Way Hotel Pickup - The hotel pickup and trip to the V&A Waterfront
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Cape Town: Robben Island Ferry Tour with 1-Way Hotel Pickup

2.Robben Island Ferry Tour with 1-Way Hotel Pickup

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 1,380 reviews · 5 hours · from $71

Take a shared pickup to Cape Town’s V&A Waterfront, sail 45 minutes to Robben Island, tour the island by bus, and visit the prison with an English-speaking former inmate guide. The five-hour experience includes ferry tickets, central hotel pickup, and return to the Waterfront, but not hotel drop-off.

“I'm very impressed I think everyone must visit this place 👌👌👌👌”

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Cape Town: Robben Island Ferry Ticket and Townships Tour - District Six: starting with forced removal
Robben Island Tours, Soweto & Township Tours, Tickets, Tour Reviews, Tours, Tours in Cape Town, Township Tours in Cape Town

Cape Town: Robben Island Ferry Ticket and Townships Tour

3.Robben Island Ferry Ticket and Townships Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 400 reviews · from $89

Spend a revealing day with Sam’s Cultural Tours, visiting District Six, Langa, Bonteheuwel, and Gugulethu before taking the Robben Island ferry. Local guides such as Sam, Shake, Mpumzi, or Luyolo may lead the township portion, with stops at a school, shebeen, healer, homes, and memorials. The day ends at the V&A Waterfront.

“This was such an informative day out. We started in the township areas and both of our guides were incredibly knowledgeable about the history of the area and South Africa. We could have stayed speaking to them both for hours. There were moments I'll admit when I was a little nervous walking through the township but everyone we met along the way were very friendly. The trip to Robben Island was sobering but again steeped in so much history. Having an ex-prisoner as our guide inside the prison made it very real. A highly recommended tour.”

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Cape Town: Robben Island Ferry with Prison Ticket and Tour - The ferry across Table Bay
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Cape Town: Robben Island Ferry with Prison Ticket and Tour

4.Robben Island Ferry with Prison Ticket and Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 324 reviews · 3h 30m · from $90

Take the ferry from Cape Town’s V&A Waterfront to Robben Island, then tour the island by bus and walk through the maximum-security prison with a former political prisoner. You’ll see Mandela’s cell, the lime quarry, Robert Sobukwe’s house, and exhibits that explain the island’s past. The 210-minute tour is in English and wheelchair accessible.

“Our guide was amazing. A truly touching moment listening to his story as an ex-prisoner. Definitely recommend this tour”

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Cape Town: Table Mountain and Robben Island Tour - Table Mountain: cable-car views and short walks at the top
Robben Island Tours, Table Mountain Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours, Tours in Cape Town

Cape Town: Table Mountain and Robben Island Tour

5.Table Mountain and Robben Island Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 260 reviews · 8 hours · from $111

Spend about eight hours visiting Table Mountain and Robben Island with hotel pickup, transport, an English-speaking guide, ferry travel, and museum entry. Guides such as Samora and Yamkela are praised for clear communication and flexible plans. The cable car, meals, and drinks cost extra, and weather can change the order or cancel mountain access.

“Yamkela and Samora were the best tour guides! From Transport, Tickets, Table Mountain to Robben Island! They have kept us informed regarding all the plans for the day and waited up until we were completely done with our trip! Thank you guys! Highly recommended!!”

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Robben Island Tour including Pick Up & Drop Off from Cape Town - The Ferry Across Table Bay
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Robben Island Tour including Pick Up & Drop Off from Cape Town

6.Robben Island Tour including Pick Up & Drop Off from Cape Town

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 248 reviews · from $63

Travel from your Cape Town hotel to the Nelson Mandela Gateway, take the ferry to Robben Island, and tour its prison and historic sites. Entry, island transport, and return transfers are included. Former political prisoners lead the prison visit, while drivers such as Fayical are praised for punctual, helpful service.

“A very interesting trip to Robben Island. Informative and shocking. An ex inmate acting as guide gave real colour to the experience. Pricing a real rip off thru Viator. Would be less than half the price for exactly the same tour buying tickets direct and getting uber to ferry”

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Robben Island Ferry Ticket and Guided Prison Tour - Starting at the Nelson Mandela Gateway in Cape Town
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Robben Island Ferry Ticket and Guided Prison Tour

7.Robben Island Ferry Ticket and Guided Prison Tour

★★★★★★★★★★3.0 · 160 reviews · from $69

You’ll take a shared 30-minute ferry from Cape Town’s V&A Waterfront to Robben Island, then tour the island by bus and visit the prison with a former political prisoner as your guide. The full experience lasts about four hours. Bring your passport copy, expect queues, and allow for weather-related cancellations.

“This was a wonderful experience. I highly recommend going on this tour. It’s Rich in history and even though it’s a prison has amazing views.”

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Robben Island Experience: Pre-Booked Ticket & Return Transfers - From your Cape Town hotel to the Nelson Mandela Gateway
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Robben Island Experience: Pre-Booked Ticket & Return Transfers

8.Robben Island Experience: Pre-Booked Ticket & Return Transfers

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 126 reviews · from $60Best value

Travel from your Cape Town accommodation to the Nelson Mandela Gateway, take the ferry to Robben Island, and tour the prison with a former political prisoner. The half-day package includes admission, return transfers, bottled water, and an air-conditioned vehicle, though ferry delays and pickup errors can affect the schedule.

“Wow just so inspiring engaging with a political prisoner. Very educational and encouraging to know through dialect many problems can be solved. We are so in awe of the way South Africa has become one nation without anger and animosity to the past. Australia can learn very much from the South African people in finding unity as a nation.”

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Robben Island Tour - Hotel Pick-Ups & stops at interesting places pre/post tour - From the Clocktower to the Robben Island ferry
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Robben Island Tour – Hotel Pick-Ups & stops at interesting places pre/post tour

9.Robben Island Tour – Hotel Pick-Ups & stops at interesting places pre/post tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 115 reviews · from $181

Faziela and the ML Sultan Travel team collect you from selected Cape Town hotels, show you city sights, and deliver you to the Robben Island ferry. On the island, a former political prisoner leads the prison walk, followed by a bus tour. Expect about 5.5 hours, queues, and weather-dependent boat times.

“Faz is the best. She truly loves her city and her country. It showed throughout the tour. She gave an amazing tour of Downtown Cape Town and the surrounding area. After we toured for 2 hours, she dropped us off at Robben Island. She Read more”

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ROBBEN ISLAND MUSEUM TOUR, WITH OPTIONAL LAST MINUTE TICKETS - The ferry from the V&A Waterfront
Museums, Robben Island Tours, Tickets, Tour Reviews, Tours, Tours in Cape Town

ROBBEN ISLAND MUSEUM TOUR, WITH OPTIONAL LAST MINUTE TICKETS

10.ROBBEN ISLAND MUSEUM TOUR, WITH OPTIONAL LAST MINUTE TICKETS

★★★★★★★★★★3.4 · 85 reviews · 4 hours · from $90

This four-hour Robben Island tour takes you by shared ferry from Cape Town to the former prison, where a former political prisoner leads the island visit. You’ll see Nelson Mandela’s cell, communal cells, the limestone quarry, Robert Sobukwe’s house arrest site, and Table Mountain views. The voucher is not the boarding ticket, so contact Concierge Runners Cape Town after booking.

“Medise was our guide on the bus, he really is an exceptional inspirational guide to have. Glad we made the tour while there are still ex-prissonars to share their own personal experience with us. It was a humbling experience.”

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Cape Town: Robben Island Tour Tickets and V&A Waterfront - The former political prisoner guide
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Cape Town: Robben Island Tour Tickets and V&A Waterfront

11.Robben Island Tour Tickets and V&A Waterfront

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 71 reviews · from $78

You’ll be picked up in Cape Town, transferred to the Nelson Mandela Gateway, and ferried to Robben Island. A former political prisoner leads the island visit, including Nelson Mandela’s cell and the Long Walk to Freedom. Afterward, your driver takes you to the V&A Waterfront for photos, shopping, and lunch on your own.

“I really loved the experience The guide was awesome, really knew the history and helped a lot to understand the context of the streets, buildings, and other infrastructure. I loved it so much and I recommend it”

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Robben Island Tickets, Penguins, and Private Cape Point Tour - The Atlantic Seaboard begins before breakfast
Boulders Beach Penguin Tours, Cape Point & Cape of Good Hope Tours, Private, Robben Island Tours, Tickets, Tour Reviews, Tours, Tours in Cape Town

Robben Island Tickets, Penguins, and Private Cape Point Tour

12.Robben Island Tickets, Penguins, and Private Cape Point Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 65 reviews · 8 hours · from $186

You will tour Cape Town’s Atlantic coast in a luxury vehicle with a private guide, stopping at Chapman's Peak, Boulders Beach, Cape Point, and the Cape of Good Hope before taking the ferry to Robben Island. Guides such as Ray, Roland, and John are praised for clear local history. Confirm the timing, since the full day can run beyond eight hours.

“Our driver was good and very knowledgeable about the area. He was there when we got back from Robben Island also to us to a place for good food. Robben island was very eye open on what happen to prisoners there and conditions.”

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Robben Island, Table Mountain and Cape Town City Private Day Tour - Cape Town’s historic center, seen mostly from the vehicle
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Robben Island, Table Mountain and Cape Town City Private Day Tour

13.Robben Island, Table Mountain and Cape Town City Private Day Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 63 reviews · from $173

This eight-hour private tour combines Robben Island, a Cape Town city drive, Bo-Kaap, and Table Mountain. Your driver-guide handles hotel transfers, while a former political prisoner leads the island tour. Robben Island tickets are included, but you must buy Table Mountain cable-car tickets separately.

“Our guide Ruben was very knowledgeable about all the areas of Cape Town and a wonderful historian. He explained parts of Tabletop mountain flora and animals. We also went to the botanical gardens which made the day a memorable journey to add to our travel books. Robben island was very interesting and in itself a beautiful island. The guide we happen to have there was a former prisoner. I would recommend this tour if you like birds, flora, wildlife and definitely request Ruben.”

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Cape Town: Robben Island ferry ticket with guided tour - Seeing Robben Island beyond Mandela’s cell
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Cape Town: Robben Island ferry ticket with guided tour

14.Robben Island ferry ticket with guided tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 61 reviews · 4 hours · from $74

Meet at the Nelson Mandela Gateway beside Cape Town’s Clocktower for a 30-minute ferry to Robben Island. An English-speaking former political prisoner guides you through the island, including the Lime Quarry, Robert Sobukwe’s house, the maximum-security prison, and Nelson Mandela’s cell. Allow four hours, and bring a jacket, ID, and comfortable clothes.

“The tour itselfnis amazing. Is a must see. Guides are actually ex prisoners from the jail. The oegsnizstion was not so good, we had the tour for 9 AM but it got cancelled with no notice and we had to reschedule it.”

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Cape Town: Robben Island & Table Mountain w/Hotel Transfer - The morning start and hotel pickup
Private Drivers, Robben Island Tours, Table Mountain Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours in Cape Town

Cape Town: Robben Island & Table Mountain w/Hotel Transfer

15.Robben Island & Table Mountain w/Hotel Transfer

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 57 reviews · 8 hours · from $186

Meet your guide at your Cape Town hotel for a full day built around two major sights: Robben Island, toured by boat and an ex-prisoner guide, and Table Mountain, reached by cable car. You will also stop in colorful Bo-Kaap. Guides such as Nathan, Alex, and Ruben have handled weather and timing changes with care.

“Begeleider was exact op tijd, helaas konden wij niet naar de Tafelberg in verband met de harde wind. Veel uitleg gehad onderweg naar Robbeneiland van onze begeleider.”

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New in Robben Island Tours

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