The Castle of Good Hope is the oldest building in South Africa. Built between 1666 and 1679 by the Dutch East India Company, better known as the VOC (Vereenigde Oost-Indische Compagnie), this pentagonal fortification replaced a small clay and timber fort built in 1652 by Commander Jan van Riebeeck, founder of the maritime replenishment station at the Cape of Good Hope.From 1678 it was the centre of civilian, administrative and military life at the Cape, until the settlement grew and some functions and activities moved away from the Castle. Today the Castle is the seat of the military in the Cape, and houses the Castle Military Museum and Iziko Museums of Cape Town (William Fehr Collection).

Gates open:09h00 daily (last entry 15h30 - close at 16h00)

Key Ceremony: Monday-Friday (10h00 & 12h00)

Firing of Signal Cannon: Monday-Friday (10h10 & 12h10), Saturday (11h00 & 12h00)

Guided tours are conducted by Castle guides from Monday to Saturday at 11:00, 12:00 and 14:00. Self-guided tours by means of a map in seven (7) different languages are also on offer.