Will be in Cape Town 3 days for New Years.
Doing a city tour & winelands with a private guide. Is Robben Island worth a 1/2 day trip or would we be better off spending time elsewhere. Travelling with 50's parents and family of 4 ages 18-23.

Go and don't even think twice about it.

I thought it was well worth it. Especially enjoyed the boat ride - great view of Cape Town on the way back! The tour was fascinating, with lots of interesting stories.

Do yourself a favor and go. It is a life experience not to be missed!

Our family of 4 (2 kids ages 11 and 14) went in August. I don't regret going, but it wasn't quite what I expected. When we arrived on the island, we were put on a bus for a tour of the island which lasted close to an hour. The bus was pretty uncomfortable and the sights were not particularly interesting. When we arrived at the prison buildings, we were guided by a former prisoner. The buildings themselves are very interesting and the history is so important that it makes the visit worthwhile. But we did find our guide a bit difficult to hear due to the large size of the group that he was guiding.

Powerful experience, I highly recommend it.

Go! Highly recommended. Puts the whole 'terrorist' perspective with which some people view Mandela in a whole different light.

I also recommend it -- a very worthwhile and informative experience. The insight given by the former prisoners is unique and very interesting.
And it offers great views of Table Mountain, as does the boat ride.

Not even a question...go!

Go, it's a unique experience. I hope you have a small group and, most importantly, a good guide.

Note that tickets for Robben Island often sell out for days in advance. When I was there in September they were sold out for the next four days.

I was only able to go by booking a tour with Hylton Ross that combined a township tour with Robben Island.

Can you order tickets online for Robben Island? We are using a tour guide for two of our four days but would like to do this part ourselves because he is alrady booked for the other days

Hi

Yes, I think it is worth it. Getting shown around by ex-prisoners is a special experience.

Regards
Gard
http://gardkarlsen.com - trip reports and pictures

I'd say definitely go see it

Email the museum to ask about ebooking tickets

http://www.robben-island.org.za/tickets.asp

YOU HAVE TO BOOK WELL IN ADVANCE.

This was a definite moving experience for Jim and I, it was something I will never forget. A heart-tugging experience and one we wouldn't hesitate to do again. We spent the day doing a 'Path to Freedom' tour - the Malay slave quarter district first off the top; District Six Museum - my prize possesion there is my signed book by one of the people so cruelly displaced from there; District Six itself, heart-wrenching Langa Township (name means 'where the sun rises'); lunch at a Township cooking school; and finally Robben Island for the tour of the island, the jail cell (#5) and the incredible talk by the prisoner.

I'd do it all again in a heatbeat next time we are there.