The Iziko South African Museum is a natural history and national heritage museum located in the Gardens neighbourhood of Cape Town. This guide covers opening hours, ticket prices, transport or parking, accessibility, and practical visitor tips.
This guide was updated in March 2026, featuring the latest entry fee structure and the adjusted winter weekend operating hours.
Quick facts
| Feature | Details |
| Opening hours | Monday to Sunday: 09:00–17:00 (Winter weekends: 08:30–16:00). |
| Ticket prices | International Adults: R80. Local Adults: R50. Under 5s free. |
| Address | 25 Queen Victoria Street, Gardens, Cape Town, 8001, South Africa |
| Nearest public transport or parking | Paid street parking on Queen Victoria Street; City Sightseeing bus stop |
| Typical time needed | 2 to 3 hours |
Iziko South African Museum opening hours
The Iziko South African Museum opening hours run from 09:00 to 17:00, Monday through Sunday. During the winter season, the museum adjusts its weekend operating hours to open earlier, running from 08:30 to 16:00 on both Saturdays and Sundays.
The facility is completely closed on major public holidays, specifically Christmas Day (25 December) and Workers’ Day (1 May).
5 great Cape Town experiences to book
- ⛰️ Combine the region’s natural highlights on a Table Mountain, Boulders Penguins and Cape Point day tour.
- 🚌 Take the genuinely useful hop-on, hop-off city tour, with an optional harbour cruise.
- 🏛️ Go on a hassle-free Robben Island tour, with pre-booked tickets and transfers.
- 🦁 See the Big Five at the Aquila Game Reserve on a day trip including lunch.
- 🧗 Go ziplining at the foot of Table Mountain.
Iziko South African Museum ticket prices
International admission to the Iziko South African Museum costs R80 for adults, children aged five to 17, and pensioners. For South African residents presenting valid identification, local tickets are R50 for adults and R30 for children. South African pensioners and students pay R30, with free entry offered to this group on Fridays. Children under the age of five enter for free. Opening hours and ticket prices were checked on the official website and last updated in March 2026.
The museum is included in the City Pass Cape Town, along with other regional attractions such as the Table Mountain Aerial Cableway, Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden, and Groot Constantia.
Why book the Cape Town City Pass?
- 🚠 Table Mountain Cableway: Enjoy included access to Cape Town’s most famous landmark, providing breathtaking 360-degree views of the city, the Atlantic, and the Twelve Apostles.
- 🚌 Hop-on Hop-off Bus Tour: Navigate the city effortlessly with a City Sightseeing bus ticket, connecting you to major sites like Camps Bay, the V&A Waterfront, and the Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens.
- 🍷 Wine & Wildlife Experiences: Choose from a variety of unique activities, including wine tastings at Groot Constantia, sunset harbor cruises, or visits to the Two Oceans Aquarium.
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How to get to the Iziko South African Museum
You can reach the Iziko South African Museum on foot if you are exploring the central business district of Cape Town, as it is situated at the top end of the Company’s Garden. For visitors using public transport, the museum is a designated stop on the City Sightseeing Hop-On Hop-Off bus route and is within walking distance of several MyCiTi bus stops.
Parking at the Iziko South African Museum
Parking at the Iziko South African Museum is limited to paid public street parking along Queen Victoria Street and the surrounding roads. These bays require payment to roaming parking marshals during standard working hours and can be difficult to secure on busy weekdays.
How long to spend at the Iziko South African Museum
Visitors typically spend between two and three hours at the Iziko South African Museum. This allows enough time to view the multi-level exhibitions covering natural history, archaeology, and paleontology, as well as the adjoining Iziko Planetarium and Digital Dome if a separate show ticket is purchased.
Accessibility at the Iziko South African Museum
Accessibility at the Iziko South African Museum is well supported, featuring ramp access at the main entrance and passenger elevators connecting the multi-level gallery spaces. The interior exhibition paths are wide, paved, and fully navigable for visitors using manual wheelchairs or mobility aids.
What to see at the Iziko South African Museum
The Iziko South African Museum was founded in 1825 and houses vast historical and natural collections encompassing more than one and a half million specimens of scientific importance.
The ground-level exhibitions focus heavily on paleontology and geology, featuring extensive fossil displays from the Karoo region, including mammal-like reptiles and early dinosaurs. A central highlight of the natural history section is the large collection of marine biology specimens, which includes suspended whale skeletons.
Upper levels are dedicated to archaeology, human history, and terrestrial zoology. The museum displays ancient tools, rock art reproductions, and detailed taxidermy dioramas depicting indigenous Southern African wildlife in their natural habitats.
The building also physically connects to the Iziko Planetarium and Digital Dome. This facility operates scheduled astronomical and educational shows that require a separate entry ticket purchased at the main desk.
Practical visitor tips
| Category | Tip |
| Timing | Visit early on weekday mornings to avoid the large, booked school groups that frequently tour the museum. |
| Crowds | The museum is spacious, so crowding is rarely an issue outside of the central dinosaur exhibit spaces. |
| Layout | Pick up a physical map at the ticket desk, as the multi-story building features interconnected wings that can be confusing to navigate. |
| Entry process | Tickets can be purchased directly at the front desk upon arrival without the need for advance online booking. |
| On-site logistics | The museum café provides light refreshments, but visitors can also easily exit to eat in the adjacent Company’s Garden. |
Frequently asked questions about the Iziko South African Museum
| Query | Answer |
| Is the Iziko South African Museum suitable for children? | Yes, the life-sized dinosaur fossils and animal dioramas are popular with children of all ages. |
| Do you need to book tickets in advance for the Iziko South African Museum? | Advance booking is not required for general admission, as tickets are available at the door. |
| Is the Iziko South African Museum open on Sundays? | Yes, the museum is open on Sundays, though winter weekend hours close slightly earlier at 16:00. |
| Are bags allowed at the Iziko South African Museum? | Standard day bags and backpacks are permitted inside the exhibition spaces. |
Things to do near the Iziko South African Museum
- Company’s Garden: A large public park and botanical garden located immediately adjacent to the museum.
- Iziko South African National Gallery: The national art gallery, situated a short walk across the Company’s Garden.
- Iziko Slave Lodge: A social history museum exploring the history of slavery, located at the bottom of the Company’s Garden.
- Iziko Bo-Kaap Museum: A nearby museum detailing local Islamic culture, located a short walk up Wale Street.
- Greenmarket Square: A historic cobbled square hosting a daily market for African crafts and clothing.
More Cape Town travel
Other Cape Town travel articles on Planet Whitley include:
- Plan your visit to the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa in Cape Town.
- Plan your visit to the Two Oceans Aquarium in Cape Town.
- Guide to riding the Flying Dutchman Funicular and visiting Dias Beach at Cape Point.
- What to expect at World of Birds in Cape Town.
- Practical visitor guide to the Camps Bay Tidal Pool in Cape Town.
