South Africa · ROBBEN ISLAND TOURS

Robben Island: The 15 Ferry Tours and Tickets

44 tours  ·  from $60

One operator, one ferry, and a prison guided in part by men who were held in it. These 15 cover the standard sailing, the combined city tickets and the private options, with prices, sailing times and what a big swell does to the day.

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

Spend about four hours traveling from the Nelson Mandela Gateway to Robben Island, then tour the island by bus and walk through the prison with a former political inmate. You’ll see Nelson Mandela’s cell, hear firsthand accounts, and learn about apartheid from guides such as Yasien Mohammed and Monde, subject to assignment.

“The guldens stories on Robben Island was very moving and heartbreaking”

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Cape Town: Robben Island Ferry Tour with 1-Way Hotel Pickup - The 45-Minute Ferry to Robben Island
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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

Travel from central Cape Town to Robben Island by shared pickup and 45-minute ferry. A former political prisoner leads the prison visit, including Nelson Mandela’s cell, while island guides explain apartheid and prison life. The provider handles transport to the ferry, but you return from the Waterfront on your own.

“It was a great experience learning about the history of Cape Town and the resilience of the political prisoners who fought so restlessly against the inhumane system of apartheid. My tour guide was Tom. Tom was himself a previous prisoner in Robben Island and he did a beautiful job explaining so clearly and honestly the present and the past of the prison, now turned museum . I left the tour filled with deep admiration. I’m thankful and feel privilege for having had this experience and my most sincere gratitude to everyone responsible for organising the tour and keeping the history alive. Definitely an unforgettable experience that I will carry with…”

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Cape Town: Robben Island Ferry Ticket and Townships Tour - District Six: a difficult beginning
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Cape Town: Robben Island Ferry Ticket and Townships Tour

3.Robben Island Ferry Ticket and Townships Tour

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

Spend the day with guides such as Sam, Mpumzi, or Luyolo, visiting District Six, Langa, Bonteheuwel, and Gugulethu before taking the ferry to Robben Island. Expect a walking tour, local beer-making, a traditional healer, and an often moving prison visit led by a former inmate.

“The Township tour was excellent. Sam gave detailed history of township..”

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Cape Town: Robben Island Ferry with Prison Ticket and Tour - Starting at the Nelson Mandela Gateway
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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, tour the lime quarry, Robert Sobukwe’s house, and the maximum-security prison, then see Mandela’s cell with a former political prisoner. The 210-minute English tour costs $90, includes return ferry tickets and museum entry, and requires boarding 45 minutes early.

“We had a an amazing time. The history from the guides was surely worth it. Highly recommend!”

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Cape Town: Table Mountain and Robben Island Tour - Starting above the city at Table Mountain
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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 touring Cape Town with hotel pickup, an air-conditioned vehicle, Table Mountain, and Robben Island. Guides such as Samora and Yamkela are known for clear communication and flexible plans when weather changes. The cable car costs extra, and the aquarium stop may not be part of the current schedule.

“I liked everything very much, it was interesting. Thanks to the guide Samora.”

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Robben Island Tour including Pick Up & Drop Off from Cape Town - Crossing Table Bay to Robben Island
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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, then take the ferry to Robben Island for a bus tour and visit to the Maximum Security Prison. Former political prisoners may lead the prison visit. Guides such as Fayical and Thenda handle the Cape Town transfers, while museum guides conduct the island tour.

“Highly recommended for tourists who wants to immerse in the history of South Aftica. It was a privilege to see the prison cell of Nelson Mandela and felt the suffering he and others have to go through to fight freedom inside the jail.”

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Robben Island Ferry Ticket and Guided Prison Tour - Meeting at the Nelson Mandela Gateway
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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

Spend about four hours traveling from the V&A Waterfront to Robben Island, then touring the island by shared bus with a former political prisoner. You’ll see Nelson Mandela’s cell, hear firsthand accounts of prison life, and walk part of the Long Walk to Freedom. The tour is shared, excludes hotel transfers, and requires a passport copy.

“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 - Seeing Robben Island by bus
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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 island by bus before entering the prison. A former political prisoner leads the prison visit, including Nelson Mandela’s cell and the long walk to freedom. Round-trip transfers, admission, WiFi, and bottled water are included.

“Very good. But seems that office had incorrect hotel for my pickup in morning causing our pickup to be 30 minutes late. This happened on two of our Viator tours . I would recommend that drivers get latest booking information prior to pickup”

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Robben Island Tour - Hotel Pick-Ups & stops at interesting places pre/post tour - The island bus tour covers more than the prison
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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

Travel from your Cape Town hotel with guide Faziela or her team to Robben Island, where an island guide and former political prisoner lead the visit. The package includes ferry tickets, hotel transfers, bottled water, a light lunch, and short city stops, though boat times and pickup hours can change with weather and availability.

“Great time with the group and the tour. Would do it again next time we are in Capetown. Love the before sight seeing”

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ROBBEN ISLAND MUSEUM TOUR, WITH OPTIONAL LAST MINUTE TICKETS - Starting at the Nelson Mandela Gateway
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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

Take a shared ferry from Cape Town’s V&A Waterfront to Robben Island, then tour the prison, communal cells, limestone quarry, Robert Sobukwe’s house arrest site, and Nelson Mandela’s cell with an English-speaking former political prisoner. The four-hour experience costs $90 and includes ferry fares and tour fees, but you must collect the original boarding ticket before departure.

“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 - Crossing to Robben Island
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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 collected from a Cape Town hotel within 15 km, transferred to the Nelson Mandela Gateway, and taken to Robben Island. A former political prisoner leads the island visit, including the prison and Nelson Mandela’s cell. Your driver then takes you to the V&A Waterfront for free time and photos. The tour lasts about five hours.

“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 - A 6:00 AM start along the Atlantic Seaboard
Cape Peninsula Tours, Penguin Tours, Private, Robben Island Tours, Robben Island Tours in Cape Peninsula, Tickets, Tour Reviews, Tours

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

Start with a 6:00 AM hotel pickup, then follow the Atlantic Seaboard to Chapman's Peak, Boulders Beach, Cape Point, and the Cape of Good Hope. Afterward, take the 11:00 AM ferry to Robben Island for a prison tour led by a former prisoner. Your private guide and luxury vehicle make this a convenient, history-packed day.

“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 - Lunch at the V&A Waterfront breaks up the long day
Cape Town Tours, City Tours, City Tours in Cape Town, Private, Robben Island Tours, Table Mountain Tours, Table Mountain Tours in Cape Town, Tour Reviews, Tours

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

Spend about eight hours combining Robben Island, a Cape Town city drive, Bo-Kaap, and Table Mountain. Your private driver-guide handles hotel pickup and transport, while a former political prisoner leads the island tour. Robben Island tickets are included, but Table Mountain’s cable-car ticket is extra.

“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 - Starting at the Nelson Mandela Gateway
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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

Take a 30-minute ferry from Cape Town’s V&A Waterfront to Robben Island, then tour the former prison with an ex-inmate guide. You’ll see Nelson Mandela’s cell, the Lime Quarry, Robert Sobukwe’s house, and the leprosy graveyard before returning by ferry. English guide, four hours, wheelchair accessible.

“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 - A guide-driver handles the Cape Town pieces
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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

You’ll visit Robben Island with an ex-prisoner guide, pause at Bo-Kaap’s colorful houses, and ride the Table Mountain cable car. Hotel pickup, return tickets, bottled water, and an English-speaking guide are included. Guides such as Nathan, Alex, and Ruben have handled weather changes and personal requests with care, though the schedule can shift.

“Helt underbart att åka upp Taffelberget direkt på morgonen, solen sken och inga köer. Alla biljetter för dagen ingick och därför inga onödiga väntetider. Att ha en lokal och egen guide är givande, alla små detaljer kommer med, speciellt vid de färgglada husen och rundturen i stan. Turen till Robben Island är mycket givande på ett jobbigt sätt, den lokala guiden ute på ön som suttit i fängelset var så bra!”

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New in Robben Island Tours

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★ 4.3Robben Island Museum Tour with Transfer and Ferry Tickets.From $8110 reviews
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★ 4.2Robben Island Half Day Tour with Pre-Booked TicketFrom $9314 reviews
★ 5.0Robben Island By Air Scenic Helicopter FlightFrom $24614 reviews
★ 4.7Private Tour: Robben Island, City Tour and Table MountainFrom $17511 reviews
★ 4.3Private Full Day Tour to Robben Island and Table MountainFrom $1695 reviews
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