Robben Island sits in Table Bay, 11 kilometres from Cape Town's waterfront, and for most of the 20th century it served as South Africa's most notorious political prison. Nelson Mandela spent 18 of his 27 imprisoned years here, in a small cell in B Section. The island is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most emotionally powerful places to visit in all of Africa.
Tours run from the V&A Waterfront and take about three and a half hours. Former political prisoners guide visitors through the prison itself, which is extraordinary — hearing about solitary confinement and hard labour in the limestone quarries from someone who endured it gives the visit a weight no museum exhibition can match. The ferry crossing itself offers good views of Table Mountain and the Cape Town skyline.
Book tickets well in advance. The island is popular and boats are often sold out days or weeks ahead, especially in summer.