Bo-Kaap, Historical Muslim district in central Cape Town, South Africa
The residential area features rows of houses painted in bright colors along cobblestone streets at the foot of Signal Hill.
Dutch colonist Jan de Waal constructed rental houses for Cape Malay slaves in 1760, creating the foundation of the current neighborhood.
Former residents painted their houses in different colors after the 1834 abolition of slavery to express their newfound independence.
The Bo-Kaap Museum opens Monday through Saturday from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM, with entry fees of 20 rand for adults.
The Auwal Mosque on Dorp Street, dating from 1794, contains a Quran manuscript written from memory during imprisonment on Robben Island.
Location: City of Cape Town
Inception: 1978
Address: Bo-Kaap, Schotsche Kloof, Cape Town, South Africa 8000
Website: http://museums.org.za/bokaap
GPS coordinates: -33.92083,18.41250
Latest update: May 26, 2025 21:07
These places display a wide range of colors. The selection extends from the blue old town of Chefchaouen to the Grand Prismatic Spring in Yellowstone. It includes geological formations like the Danxia Mountains in China and the Painted Desert in Arizona, as well as colorful cities like Jodhpur in India and Bo-Kaap in South Africa. Natural waters like the Blue Hole in Belize and the lakes of Jiuzhaigou add to the variety with their color tones.
This selection presents urban locations including historic churches, public gardens, libraries, museums, and markets. The sites range from underground salt mines to rooftop gardens, from historic bookstores to converted railway stations. Many of these places are situated away from regular tourist routes.
Cape Town progresses between sea and mountains with a pace that varies from neighborhood to neighborhood. As soon as you follow the Atlantic coast, the air becomes cooler, and then the city broadens towards the peaks where trails climb along rocky slopes. You then pass through older streets with colorful facades that catch the eye before reaching gardens stretching at the foot of Table Mountain. The recent history remains very present, and the traces of apartheid can still be felt when visiting the island where many political prisoners were held. Markets bring a lively, bustling atmosphere, much like the beaches where swimmers and marine animals mingle. This selection highlights places that define Cape Town’s spirit, allowing you to explore the city through its panoramas, neighborhoods, and heritage.
National Library of South Africa
758 m
Houses of Parliament
851 m
Western Cape Provincial Parliament
670 m
St. George's Cathedral
781 m
Auwal Mosque
275 m
Greenmarket Square
732 m
Koopmans-de Wet House
814 m
Nurul Islam Mosque
308 m
South African Sendinggestig Museum
722 m
Palm Tree Mosque
591 m
Queen Victoria mosque
223 m
Japanese Lantern Monument
770 m
Centre for the Book
770 m
Mandela Rhodes Building
734 m
Huguenot Memorial Building
715 m
Martin Melck House
692 m
Old Town House of Cape Town
724 m
South African Reserve Bank Building
826 m
Michaelis Collection
734 m
Statue of Sir Major General Sir Henry Timson Lukin
836 m
Bo-Kaap museum
211 m
Goodman Gallery Cape Town
839 m
Mosque Shafee
200 m
Jan Smuts Statue, Wale St, Cape Town
848 m
93 Wale Street
136 m
65 Chiappini Street, Cape Town
165 m
Lion Battery
619 m
Old St. George's Grammar School
770 mReviews
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