Castle of Good Hope, Cape Town: Tickets & Prices
1 - 2 hours
17th-Century Fortress & Military Museum
Built 1666-1679 by the Dutch East India Company; declared a historical (now provincial heritage) monument in 1936
Corner of Castle Street and Darling Street, Cape Town, 8001, South Africa
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Practical Visitor Info & Tips
R50
R25 (Children 5-17, or pensioners); R8 (School group, per learner)
Open daily 09:00 - 16:00 (last ticket sale 15:45). Closed Christmas Day and Workers' Day, and occasionally for other scheduled closures — check the official site before visiting.
No advance booking required; walk-up tickets sold on-site. Open daily 09:00-16:00 (last ticket sale 15:45); closed Christmas Day and Workers' Day.
Entry to South Africa's oldest surviving colonial building — a pentagonal Dutch East India Company fortress completed in 1679 — including its courtyard, bastions, the De Kat Balcony, and the on-site Castle Military Museum and William Fehr Collection.
| Option | Price | Booking | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adult (international visitor) | R50 | On-site, last sale 15:45 | |
| Children 5-17 | R25 | On-site | |
| Pensioners | R25 | On-site, ID may be requested | |
| School group, per learner | R8 | Advance arrangement for groups | |
| With Cape Town City Pass | Included (free) | Scan pass barcode at entry |
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Ticket Options
R50
Check whether a city pass already covers this attraction before buying separately.
See pass compatibility below ↓Overview & History
The Castle of Good Hope — known locally simply as 'The Castle' and in Dutch as Kasteel de Goede Hoop — is the oldest surviving colonial building in South Africa and the best-preserved example of a 17th-century bastion fort in the world. Built by the Dutch East India Company between 1666 and 1679 to replace an earlier clay-and-timber fort, its five bastions were named for the titles of William III of Orange-Nassau. Originally sited on the Table Bay coastline before land reclamation moved the shore away, the pentagonal fortress today sits within Cape Town's Central Business District and houses the Castle Military Museum, the William Fehr Collection, ceremonial ramparts, and the ornate De Kat Balcony.
What to See: Top Highlights
The De Kat Balcony
Rebuilt in its current ornate form between 1786 and 1790, this balcony was historically used to address soldiers, slaves, and townspeople — today it overlooks the courtyard's 'Kings of the Castle' statues.
The Bell Tower
Built in 1684 over the main entrance, its bell — cast in Amsterdam in 1697 and the oldest in South Africa — could once be heard up to 10 kilometres away, used to announce the time and warn of danger.
The Castle Military Museum & William Fehr Collection
On-site museum displays cover the fort's military history and a notable collection of Africana art, furniture, and decorative arts.
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Is the Castle of Good Hope Included on the Cape Town City Pass?
Compare Cape Town PassesYes — confirmed free entry on both the Unlimited Pass and Unlimited Premium Pass. It's named explicitly on capetown.citypass.co.za's own 'Places of Interest' category page and listed on both pass tiers' full attraction lists.
Cape Town City Pass
Included. Confirmed free entry on both pass tiers — named explicitly in capetown.citypass.co.za's "Places of Interest" category intro text and listed on both the Unlimited Pass and Unlimited Premium Pass's full attraction lists.
Data Provenance
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