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7 historic buildings in Cape Town you can actually visit

4 min read

Beyond the mountain views and bustling streets lies another side of Cape Town - one built on centuries of triumph, hardship and resilience. Scattered across the city are historic buildings that have stood the test of time, each with a story to tell. Here are seven landmarks where you can step inside and experience Cape Town's history firsthand. 

The Castle of Good Hope

The Castle is regarded as one of the world's best-preserved examples of 17th-century architecture
The Castle is regarded as one of the world's best-preserved examples of 17th-century architecturePicture: Sinazo Mkoko

 

Affectionately known as "The Castle", the Castle of Good Hope (Kasteel de Goede Hoop) is a 17th-century Dutch bastion fort and the oldest surviving colonial building in South Africa. Originally built on the coastline of Table Bay, land reclamation means it now sits slightly inland in Cape Town's CBD. Declared a historical monument (now a provincial heritage site) in 1936 and carefully restored in the 1980s, it is regarded as one of the world's best-preserved examples of 17th-century architecture.

Cape Town City Hall

Cape Town City Hall has stood watch over the Grand Parade for more than a century
Cape Town City Hall has stood watch over the Grand Parade for more than a centuryPicture: Sinazo Mkoko

Built in 1905, Cape Town City Hall has stood watch over the Grand Parade for more than a century. It is best known as the place where Nelson Mandela delivered his first public speech after his release from prison in 1990.

Its honey-coloured limestone façade was built using stone imported from Bath in England, while its clock tower was modelled on London's Big Ben and chimes the Westminster quarters. Originally home to the City of Cape Town's offices, the building now hosts concerts, exhibitions, and other cultural events.

Iziko Slave Lodge

Renamed the Slave Lodge in 1998, the museum now centres on the theme "From human wrongs to human rights"
Renamed the Slave Lodge in 1998, the museum now centres on the theme "From human wrongs to human rights"Picture: Sinazo Mkoko

The Slave Lodge is one of Cape Town's oldest surviving buildings and has served many purposes over the past three centuries, including as the Slave Lodge, Government Offices Building, Old Supreme Court, and the South African Cultural History Museum.

Renamed the Slave Lodge in 1998, the museum now centres on the theme "From human wrongs to human rights." Its lower-level exhibitions explore the history of slavery in South Africa and broader human rights issues, while the upper galleries showcase collections of ceramics, silverware, and Egyptology. The museum continues to evolve, with plans to further connect these collections to South Africa's heritage and history.

Groote Kerk

Groote Kerk is home to South Africa's oldest Christian congregation
Groote Kerk is home to South Africa's oldest Christian congregationPicture: Sinazo Mkoko

Located on Church Square, Groote Kerk is home to South Africa's oldest Christian congregation. According to South African History Online, Jan van Riebeeck brought the Reformed religion to the Cape, with the first Sunday service held aboard the Drommedaris on 14 April 1652.

As the settlement grew, religious services moved from a hall near the Fort de Goede Hoop to a timber shed inside the Castle, which was converted into a church in 1666 with a stone floor and front gable. Today's Groote Kerk continues a tradition that dates back to the very beginning of Cape Town's colonial history.

District Six Museum

The District Six Museum Foundation was established in 1989 following the Hands Off District Six Conference in 1988.
The District Six Museum Foundation was established in 1989 following the Hands Off District Six Conference in 1988.Picture: Sinazo Mkoko

The District Six Museum Foundation was established in 1989 following the Hands Off District Six Conference in 1988. The museum officially opened on 10 December 1994 with its inaugural exhibition, Streets: Retracing District Six.

Housed in the historic Methodist Church at 25A Buitenkant Street, the museum preserves the memories of the former District Six community and tells the story of forced removals under apartheid. Since the early 2000s, it has expanded to include the nearby Homecoming Centre, while much of its work continues beyond its walls through storytelling, education and supporting the ongoing process of restitution.

St George's Cathedral

St George's Cathedral is the oldest cathedral in Southern Africa and the mother church of the Anglican Diocese of Cape Town.
St George's Cathedral is the oldest cathedral in Southern Africa and the mother church of the Anglican Diocese of Cape Town.Picture: Sinazo Mkoko

Known as the "People's Cathedral" for its role in the struggle against apartheid, St George's Cathedral is the oldest cathedral in Southern Africa and the mother church of the Anglican Diocese of Cape Town.

Built in a Neo-Gothic style with a cruciform design, the cathedral includes a peaceful courtyard garden and labyrinth. The original St George's Church opened on Christmas Day in 1834 and became a cathedral in 1847 ahead of the arrival of Robert Gray, the first Anglican Bishop in Africa. Today, it remains both a place of worship and an enduring symbol of faith, justice and leadership.

Old Town House

Overlooking Greenmarket Square, the Old Town House was built in 1755 in the Cape Rococo style
Overlooking Greenmarket Square, the Old Town House was built in 1755 in the Cape Rococo style Picture: Sinazo Mkoko

Overlooking Greenmarket Square, the Old Town House was built in 1755 in the Cape Rococo style and originally served as Cape Town's City Hall.

Today, it houses the internationally renowned Michaelis Collection, donated by Sir Max Michaelis in 1914. The collection features Dutch Golden Age masterpieces by artists including Frans Hals, Jan Steen, Jacob van Ruisdael and Anthony van Dyck. Alongside its permanent collection, the Old Town House regularly hosts temporary exhibitions, chamber music concerts, lectures and cultural events, making it one of Cape Town's enduring cultural landmarks.

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