Zeitz MOCAA

The Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa opened in September 2017 in a 57-metre grain silo built between 1921 and 1924 at the Cape Town harbour. Heatherwick Studio, led by Thomas Heatherwick, transformed the old concrete structure by carving a soaring, cathedral-like atrium out of its tubes, and topped the building with faceted glass windows that glow at night. The museum spans nine floors with around 6,000 square metres of exhibition space.

Inside, the galleries focus on contemporary art from Africa and its diaspora, with changing exhibitions across painting, photography, sculpture, textiles, film and large installations. Because shows rotate, it is worth checking the website to see what is on before you go. The atrium itself is the most photographed space, and even visitors with little interest in contemporary art tend to find the building worth the visit.

Plan at least two hours to see the galleries properly. Free one-hour tours run Monday to Friday at 12:30 and are booked on arrival with the front of house team, with limited places, so arrive a little early if you want to join one. The museum opens daily from 10:00 to 18:00, with last entry at 17:30, which makes it a good option for a cloudy or windy day when the mountain is closed.

The museum suits adults and older children, and the open atrium and interesting architecture can keep younger visitors engaged for a while. There is a museum shop, and the Silo District around it has cafés and restaurants for a break before or after your visit. The Silo Hotel occupies the floors above the museum.

Zeitz MOCAA is at the western end of the V&A Waterfront in the Silo District, on S Arm Road, a short walk from the Clock Tower and the Robben Island ferry terminal. The glass-topped silo is easy to spot from across the harbour. Combine it with a Robben Island tour, the Two Oceans Aquarium or an afternoon at the Waterfront. It is sensible to check the website before visiting, as individual galleries can close for a few days while new exhibitions are installed, and the programme changes several times a year.