Cape Town: Table Mountain & Robben Island with Fast-Track Tickets

Two of South Africa's biggest draws in one day, tickets already in hand

You get hotel pickup, Table Mountain entry with a rotating cable car, a four-hour city tour covering the Castle, Bo-Kaap, and Company Gardens, then a thirty-minute boat ride to Robben Island for a guided bus tour and prison visit with an ex-prisoner guide. Robben Island tickets are confirmed the evening before. You choose whether to return to your hotel or stay at the Waterfront afterward.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Robben Island4h · entry included
2. Table Mountain National Park1h · entry included

City tour and Robben Island visit

• See Castle of Good Hope
• Walk colorful Bo-Kaap Malay Quarter
• Visit Company Gardens
• Pass City Hall and Parliament Buildings
• Drive around city and Adderley Street
• Have a bite at Clocktower V&A Waterfront
• Show passport copy at Robben Island gates
• Take 30-minute boat ride to Robben Island
• Guided bus tour around Robben Island
• Visit Nelson Mandela's prison cell
• Meet ex-prisoner sharing stories
• Return to Robben Island Gateway
• Guide drops off at hotel or Waterfront

The experience

So you're in Cape Town for a few days and you want to hit both Table Mountain and Robben Island without spending half the morning in ticket lines: yeah, that's exactly what this does. The tour picks you up from your hotel and starts with the city side of things: you'll drive past the Castle of Good Hope (oldest building in South Africa, built 1666), roll through the Company Gardens, and stop in the Bo-Kaap to walk the cobbled streets and see why people painted their houses those bright colors. The whole city loop takes about four hours, and your guide fills in the stories as you go: the Dutch East India Company, the slave trade, the layers of history that shaped the place.

Then comes the part that usually eats your morning: Table Mountain. Except your ticket is already sorted. You just join the queue for the rotating cable car itself, which takes maybe twenty minutes, and then you're at the top where 26 million people have stood before you. The ticket's valid for seven days, so if the mountain closes due to wind or clouds (which happens). You can come back another day without paying again. After you come down, there's time for lunch at the Clocktower in the V&A Waterfront (your own account, lots of restaurants to choose from), and then you head to the Robben Island ferry. Bring a copy of your passport. They check it at the gates.

The boat ride out takes thirty minutes. Once you land, you board a bus for a guided loop around the island: limestone quarries, the prison buildings, Nelson Mandela's cell where he spent eighteen years. An ex-prisoner meets you at the prison and tells you what it was actually like. That part is heavy and real, not a performance. The whole Robben Island section is four hours, and when you're done, your guide brings you back to your hotel or you can stay at the Waterfront for dinner if you want. The tour confirms your Robben Island tickets at 5pm the day before, so you know it's locked in.

What’s included

• Your day includes hotel pickup and drop-off, Table Mountain ticket (valid for seven days, weather permitting), entry to Robben Island with a guided bus tour and prison visit led by an ex-prisoner, a four-hour Cape Town city tour covering the Castle of Good Hope, Company Gardens, and Bo-Kaap, and a knowledgeable guide for the city portion.
• Robben Island has separate guides on the bus and at the prison.
• Lunch at the V&A Waterfront is on your own account.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 08:00

Book up to6h before

AgesAdult (12 to 80 years) · Child (2 to 11 years)

GroupUp to 12

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

ConfirmationConfirmation within 48h

Prices and times updated 4 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyInfant seats available

Operated by ML Sultan Travel & Tours

Is this one for you?Book this if you want both Table Mountain and Robben Island in one day without hunting for tickets separately or standing in entry queues: the tour confirms both in advance, which is the only way to guarantee Robben Island tickets in high season.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (2 to 11 years).

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24h before the start.

What if Table Mountain is closed on the day of my tour?

Your ticket is valid for seven days, so you can visit on another day when the weather clears. The tour operator will advise you of the best time to reschedule.

Do I need to bring my passport to Robben Island?

Yes, bring a copy of your passport. You'll show it at the Robben Island departure gates.

Is lunch included?

No. There's time to eat at the Clocktower in the V&A Waterfront on your own account, with many restaurants to choose from.

How long is the boat ride to Robben Island?

About thirty minutes each way.

When are Robben Island tickets confirmed?

The tour operator confirms your tickets at 5pm the day before your tour, depending on boat availability.

Can I stay at the Waterfront instead of returning to my hotel?

Yes, your guide can drop you at the Waterfront after the Robben Island tour if you prefer to have dinner there.

What's included in the price?

Hotel pickup and drop-off, Table Mountain ticket, Robben Island ticket, city tour, and a guide for the city portion. Robben Island has its own guides on the bus and at the prison.

What if the boat schedule changes?

The tour operator may adjust pickup times based on boat availability. They'll send you a note with the best time they can confirm.

How many hours is the full tour?

About eight hours total: four hours for the city and Table Mountain, four hours for Robben Island, plus travel time between stops.