Dating from 1700, but altered during the British administration of the 19th century when it was the home of the British governor, De Tuynhuis was originally used to accommodate dignitaries of the VOC not housed at the Castle. From the front gate you’ll just about be able to make out the VOC’s monogram on the building’s pediment – as close as you’ll get, since De Tuynhuis is now the official office of South Africa’s president, and off-limits to tourists.
De Tuynhuis
Cape Town
Lonely Planet's must-see attractions
Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden
4.24 MILES
Location and unique flora combine to make these 5.28-sq-km botanical gardens among the most beautiful in the world. Gate 1, the main entrance at the…
29.78 MILES
This 77.5-sq-km section of Table Mountain National Park includes awesome scenery, fantastic walks, great birdwatching and often-deserted beaches. The…
2.27 MILES
Around 600 million years old, and a canvas painted with the rich diversity of the Cape floral kingdom, Table Mountain is truly iconic. You can admire the…
8.86 MILES
Used as a prison from the early days of the VOC (Dutch East India Company) right up until 1996, this Unesco World Heritage site is preserved as a memorial…
18.66 MILES
This picturesque area, with enormous boulders dividing small, sandy coves, is home to a colony of some 3000 delightful African penguins. A boardwalk runs…
0.32 MILES
It's impossible not to be emotionally moved by this museum, which celebrates the once lively multiracial area that was destroyed during apartheid in the…
7.05 MILES
Simon van der Stel’s manor house, a superb example of Cape Dutch architecture, is maintained as a museum at Groot Constantia. Set in beautiful grounds,…
11.26 MILES
The Silvermine Reservoir, a beautiful spot for a picnic or a leisurely walk on the wheelchair-accessible boardwalk, is the focal point of this section of…
Nearby Cape Town attractions
0.07 MILES
A tour around parliament is fascinating, especially if you’re interested in the country’s modern history. Opened in 1885, the hallowed halls have seen…
0.08 MILES
This bronze statue of the politician and mining magnate Cecil Rhodes was erected in 1908 in the Company's Garden on a plinth carved with the phrase ‘Your…
0.08 MILES
Planted with a fine collection of botanical specimens, including frangipanis, African flame trees, aloes and roses, the Public Garden is the centrepiece…
0.08 MILES
These shady green gardens, which started as the vegetable patch for the Dutch East India Company, are a lovely place to relax. They are planted with a…
0.09 MILES
Dedicated in 1851, and having undergone many alterations since, this is Cape Town's main Catholic church.
0.1 MILES
The more attractive and abstract of the two statues of former general and prime minister (1870–1950) Jan Smuts, which stand at opposite ends of Government…
7. South African National Gallery
0.11 MILES
The impressive permanent collection of the nation’s premier art space harks back to Dutch times and includes some extraordinary pieces. But it’s often…
0.12 MILES
Installed in 2014 at the southern end of the Public Garden, but inspired by the original market garden laid out by Dutch settlers here over 350 years ago…