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Explore different aspects of Cape Town's art scene
Touring Cape Town's art galleries
The South African National Gallery in Cape Town.
© Dianne Tipping-Woods
Did you know?
Cape Town is home to South Africa's only public art festival, Infecting the City.
Whether you book a Cape Town art tour with a company, use public transport or drive yourself, there are plenty of options for an art-inspired tour of the city.
The South African National Gallery at the heart of the Company's Gardens is a fitting place to begin exploring Cape Town's art galleries. It has over 1 000 works in its collection and hosts a dynamic programme of high-quality exhibitions.
Just a short walk away, the Old Town House is home to the Michaelis Art Collection, with its renowned selection of Dutch art from the 17th century. Also in the city centre, the Castle of Good Hope is home to the William Fehr Art Collection, an important visual representation of a particular time in the city's history. Historic Groote Schuur houses the Cecil John Rhodes Art Collection.
Moving out to the suburbs of Woodstock and Salt River, expect to find the city's trendiest design and art collectives in what is Cape Town's newest art precinct. Initiatives like the WhatiftheWorld Gallery, the Stevenson Gallery and the Goodman Gallery are great examples of Cape Town’s innovative art scene.
Also visit the V&A Waterfront, where galleries like Everard Reid represent a number of top local artists. The Montebello Design Centre in Newlands is home to David Krut Projects and the Irma Stern Museum in Rosebank is another art gallery that is rewarding to visit.
Other places of interest include several private collections, which are not generally open to the public. In Kloof Road, Ellerman House has works by Maggie Loubser, Irma Stern and William Kentridge. In the suburb of St James you can visit another impressive collection of South African art at Rodwell House. Nearby Kalk Bay is home to dozens of small art galleries, shops and studios.
Round off your art tour with a visit to art hot spots in Khayelitsha, where Cape Town's vibrant township art scene adds yet another dimension to the city's artistic landscape.
Travel tips & Planning info
Who to contact
Cape Town Tourism
Tel: +27 (0) 21 487 6800
Email: info@capetown.travel
Coffee Bean Routes
Tel: +27 (0) 21 424 3572
Email: info@cbroutes.com
Hidden Vintage Tours
Tel: +27 (0) 21 785 4974
Email: info@hiddenvintage.com
Around the area
Look out for Cape Town’s public art, in particular a series of new installations at the city’s various Integrated Rapid Transit System stops and new installations along the Sea Point Promenade.
Tours to do
Contact Cape Town Tourism to find out more about specialised art tours of the city.
Get around
A number of important stops on Cape Town’s art scene lie in the city bowl. In the city this means that you can use the City Sightseeing Cape Town bus on both the Blue and Red routes, with most of the venues within easy walking distance. You can also arrange an organised tour or drive yourself around Cape Town’s art hotspots.
What's happening
Each year, Cape Town hosts Infecting the City, a programme of public art that turns the city into one big creative space.