District Six Museum

Attraction · History museumCity Centre, Cape Town

Housed in a former Methodist church, the District Six Museum tells the story of the inner-city community forcibly removed under apartheid from the 1960s onwards.

At a glance

Type: History museum
Area: City Centre, Cape Town, South Africa
Opening: Open 6 days a week (closed Sunday) · 09:00–16:00
Official site: districtsix.co.za

Good to know

Permanent exhibition
Group visits
Online booking

Why we recommend it

District Six was a mixed inner-city neighbourhood on the slopes below Devil's Peak, home to working-class families of many backgrounds. In 1966 the apartheid government declared it a whites-only area, and over the following years more than 60,000 residents were forcibly removed to the Cape Flats and their homes were bulldozed. Much of the land was left empty for decades, a visible scar on the edge of the city.

The District Six Museum opened on 10 December 1994 in a former Methodist church on Buitenkant Street, with its first exhibition, Streets: Retracing District Six. It describes itself as a museum working with the memories of District Six, and its displays are built around the voices of former residents. The large floor map of the old neighbourhood, on which former residents have written their names and marked where their homes once stood, is the heart of the museum, surrounded by original street signs, photographs, objects and personal stories.

The visit is moving and essential for understanding Cape Town, as it explains how apartheid planning shaped the city that visitors see today. Allow about an hour, or longer if you want to read the testimonies in detail. Many visitors find it helpful to read a little about the forced removals beforehand, or to come as part of a guided history walk, as the displays are rich in personal detail and the context makes them easier to follow. The Homecoming Centre at 15 Buitenkant Street, a short walk away, is part of the museum and hosts events and exhibitions.

The museum is open Monday to Saturday from 09:00 to 16:00. It asks visitors to book through Quicket, and groups can arrange visits through a form on its website. It suits adults and older children, and teachers often bring school groups.

The museum is on the eastern side of the city centre, a few minutes' walk from the Castle of Good Hope, the Grand Parade and City Hall, and within easy reach of Cape Town station. Pair it with the castle, or with a township or history tour, for a fuller picture of the city's history. There are cafés along Buitenkant Street, including Truth Coffee Roasting, for a break afterwards.