Robben Island Museum

"Most well-known as the prison where Nelson Mandela spent 18 of his 27-year sentence, Robben Island, in Table Bay, is where many political activists were imprisoned during the Apartheid. Through the lens of the former prisoners, the museum here tells the emotional story of human rights and injustice. It's a four-hour experience; visitors catch a ferry to the island and hop aboard a bus for a guided tour of the most important sites, including Mandela's former cell. Although the Robben Island Museum is one of the most touristy things you can do in Cape Town—you’ll definitely find more foreigners than locals—it's not to be missed." - Mary Holland

"This island, about five miles off the coast of Cape Town, had been a notorious penal colony since the Dutch and English colonial times. But its main notoriety comes from the fact that this is where many iconic South African freedom fighters were imprisoned—chief among them Nelson Mandela, who spent 18 years of his 27-year sentence at Robben Island. Visitors board a ferry from the V&A Waterfront (they should book in advance, as boats frequently sell out), then take a bus tour around the island before walking through the prison itself." - Sarah Khan

"Give us the backstory for Robben Island.This island, about five miles off the coast of Cape Town, had been a notorious penal colony since the Dutch and English colonial times. But its main notoriety comes from the fact that this is where many iconic South African freedom fighters were imprisoned—chief among them Nelson Mandela, who spent 18 years of his 27-year sentence at Robben Island. Visitors board a ferry from the V&A Waterfront (they should book in advance, as boats frequently sell out), then take a bus tour around the island before walking through the prison itself. Wow. What is the mood like inside the prison?Somber for sure. Walking past the very cell where Mandela spent so many years is heartbreaking, and the entire experience makes you reflect on the cruelty that was the law not that long ago. Sounds incredible. How are the tour guides?Guides are amazing; most are former inmates themselves, so hearing them reflect on their time here is deeply moving. Who else will you find walking through the corridors?Tourists for sure—this should be a mandatory stop on a first-timer's South Africa itinerary—but also plenty of South Africans, from schoolchildren on field trips to older generations returning to take it all in. So coming out of it, what was your takeaway?It's a profoundly moving experience and will make you want to obsessively Google every detail of Mandela's inspiring life. Understandable. In your opinion, who is this one best for?Everyone who visits South Africa should take time to visit various monuments or museums that shed light on the brutalities of apartheid, and this is one of the main ones to prioritize. That said, it's a time commitment—expect to spend about four hours for the round-trip ferry and full tour of the island, but sometimes delays can make that last even longer—so if you're pressed for time, you may need to sit this one out." - Mary Holland