This grand domed Edwardian building first opened in 1913 as the headquarters of the now-defunct University of Good Hope. More recently it has become an annexe of the National Library of South Africa. Pop inside to admire its central reading room, which is also sometimes used for concerts.
Centre for the Book
Cape Town
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Lonely Planet's must-see attractions
Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden
4.31 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…
29.84 MILES
This 77.5-sq-km section of Table Mountain National Park includes awesome scenery, fantastic walks, great birdwatching and often-deserted beaches. The…
2.26 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…
8.78 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…
18.71 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…
0.45 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…
7.09 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,…
11.3 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
0.04 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…
0.06 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…
0.07 MILES
This monument was built to honour the 2000-plus South African soldiers who fell during a five-day WWI battle. The ensemble’s elements include Alfred…
0.08 MILES
A stroll along Long St is an essential element of a Cape Town visit. This busy commercial and nightlife thoroughfare, partly lined with Victorian-era…
0.12 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…
0.13 MILES
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…
0.14 MILES
South Africa’s oldest museum was undergoing renovations at the time of research, so some galleries were closed. The museum contains a wide and often…
0.14 MILES
Planted with a fine collection of botanical specimens, including frangipanis, African flame trees, aloes and roses, the Public Garden is the centrepiece…