Cape Town museums

Bertram House
A red-brick Georgian Townhouse, with a rich collection showing the English way of life in the mid-19th century Cape Town. Government Avenue (021 481 3940).

Bo-Kaap Museum
A house in the "Malay Quarter" showing how life was for a Cape Muslim family in the late 19th century. 71 Wale Street (021 481 3939).

Cape Medical Museum
View a 1900’s consulting room, dentist’s chair and operating theatre and learn about traditional medicine and other useful medical history. Portswood Road, Green Point (021 418 5663). 

Castle of Good Hope
The castle was built by the Dutch East India Company in 1665, located at the bottom of Buitenkant Street and the oldest structure in South Africa. Experience the dungeons, dolphin pool, and tranquil atmosphere. The castle houses the William Fehr Collection of Africana and the Castle History Museum. The corner of Darling and Castle Streets (021 787 1249).

Cape Town Holocaust Centre
A place of remembrance of the holocaust with a full range of displays including such things as a prison jacket worn by a member of the Dachau concentration camp. The Great Synagogue with it's big dome and two towers is next door. 88 Hatfield Street (021 462 5553). 

Centre for the Book
A collection of contemporary South African literature in a reading room open to all. 62 Queen Street (021 423 2669).

Chavonnes Battery Museum
Built around the ruins of Cape Town's second oldest fortification with all the old cannons and close to the waterfront. (082 413 2733).

District 6 Museum
A political history museum housed in an old Methodist Mission Church illustrates the life of a community removed in the infamous incident of Group Areas Act during South Africa's apartheid era. District Six was named the sixth municipal district of Cape Town in 1867 and home to the coloured population which in 1966 was proclaimed a White Group Area and the homes for 60,000 people were bulldozed. The museum brings this story to life. 25A Buitenkant Street (021 461 8745).

Gold of Africa Museum
A museum located in the Martin Melck House built in 1783 and displaying the artifacts from the gold rich kingdoms of Africa, Goldsmiths workshop and museum shop. In the evening the Gold Museum comes to life as a lively African restaurant. 96 Strand Street (021 405 1540).

Groote Constantia Museum
An example of Cape Dutch architecture at this old wine estate that was planted in 1685. Groot Constantia Wine Estate (021 795 5140).

Groote Schuur Hospital Museum
On the 3rd December 1967 the world’s first human transplant was successfully done at the Groote Schmur Hospital led by Professor Christiaan Barnard. To celebrate a museum has been created in the Charles Saint Theatre, the site of the transplant operation. Groote Schuur Hospital, Observatory (021 404 5232). 

Huguenot Memorial Museum
The story of the French refugees who fled South Africa to escape religious persecution in 1688. Lambrecht Street (021 876 2532).

Irma Stern Museum
Irma Stern was a South Africa Artist who died in 1966 and her home is open and provides an insight into her work and travels around Africa. Cecil Road, Rosebank (021 685 5686).

Iziko Slave Lodge
Built in 1679 as slave quarters, now a museum that tells the story of slavery in Cape Town. Adderley Street and Bureau Street (021 460 8200).  

Jewish Museum
The story of the Jewish community brought to life with touch screens and interactive computers side by side with a peddlers cart. Documentary films and newsreel footage alongside a 19th century Lithuanian village. 88 Hatfield Street Gardens (021 465 1546).

Josephine Mill 
A fully operational mill with a waterwheel and illustrates the industrial past. Boundary Road, Newlands (021 686 4939).

Koopmans De Wet House
A collection of porcelain and fine antiques housed in a Cape Dutch Townhouse. The vine in the courtyard is meant to be the oldest in South Africa. 35 Strand Street (021 481 3935).

MTN Science Centre
Over 300 hands on displays in this science centre. View Cape Town through the 360 degree Camera Obscura. Canal Walk, Century City (021 529 8100).

Old Harbour Museum
An open air museum with old fishing boats and stone shacks. Marain Drive, Old Harbour (0283 21475).

South African Museum
The South African Museum is housed in a magnificent building and was established in 1825 and has a full range of exhibitions, the only preserved specimen in Africa of the extinct quagga; good examples of rock art; a Whale Well with suspended whale skeletons; interactive Sunlit Sea exhibition and lots more exhibits and hands-on experiences. The planetarium adjoins the museum. 25 Queen Victoria Street (021 481 3800).

South Africa Air force Museum
A display of military and rescue aircraft. Air Force Base, Ysterplaat (021 508 6576).

South Africa Cultural History Museum 
Originally a slave lodge now with a collection of civilizations. 49 Adderley Street (021 460 8200).

South African Slave Church Museum
The first slave church in Cape Town with a display of tellogn the story of Protestant missionary work. 40 Long Street (021 423 6755).

South Africa Maritime Museum
An exhibition of maritime archeology, shipping, harbours and boats and a history of Table Bay Harbour. Good displays of South Africa shipwrecks. Dock Road, V&A Waterfront (021 405 2880).

South Africa Sendingstigting Museum
A restored building showing the story of missions and missionary work. 40 Long Street.

The Planetarium
The Planetarium has talks and shows on astronomy located at 25 Queen Victoria Street next door to the South African museum. (021 481 3900).

The Rugby Museum
A place for Rugby fans and lots on the Springbok’s. Boundary Road, Newlands (021 686 2151).

Toy & Miniature Museum
Old toys and everything miniature. Old Rhenish Parsonage, Market Street (021 887 2928).