Built in 1894, this was once used to signal the time to ships in the bay; when the big red ball on the roof was lowered down a metal spike, ship's masters in the harbour could adjust their chronometers.
Lonely Planet's must-see attractions
Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden
5.71 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…
3.73 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…
7.46 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…
29.67 MILES
This 2.5-sq-km wine and fruit farm is on the north slope of the Simonsberg mountain between Klapmuts and Paarl. Its highlight is an 800-sq-metre, formally…
20.16 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…
1.54 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…
8.56 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,…
12.77 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 attractions
0.03 MILES
You don't have to be rugby crazy to enjoy this attraction, which celebrates the history of rugby in South Africa and, in particular, the trials and…
0.05 MILES
This small museum, stocked with model ships, houses the John H Marsh Maritime Research Centre (www.rapidttp.co.za/museum), a resource for those interested…
0.05 MILES
What was supposed to be a temporary attraction at the Waterfront has proved so popular that it's been made a permanent fixture. Your ticket gives you four…
0.06 MILES
Here’s your chance to have your photo taken with Desmond Tutu and Nelson Mandela. Larger-than-life statues of both men, designed by the artist Claudette…
0.13 MILES
One of the Waterfront's most fascinating sights is this large dry dock, opened in 1882 and still used to repair ships today. Named after Governor Sir…
0.14 MILES
This beautiful gabled building, dating from 1904, was built for the Port Captain, whose office was previously located in the Clock Tower across the 'cut'…
0.16 MILES
Preserved as a small museum is the Waterfront’s Jetty 1, from where boats sailed to Robben Island when it was a prison. You can view the tiny holding…
0.16 MILES
This museum houses the remains of an early-18th-century cannon battery, one of several fortifications the Dutch built around Table Bay. It was partly…