Zeitz MOCAA at the V&A Waterfront and the Norval Foundation in Tokai make a good one-day art itinerary in Cape Town. They are about 19 km apart, around 20 minutes by road outside peak traffic, which leaves most of the day for the galleries themselves. A comfortable plan is Zeitz MOCAA in the morning, lunch in Constantia, and the Norval Foundation and its sculpture garden in the afternoon, back before the evening traffic.
The two places could hardly be more different, which is what makes the day work.
Zeitz MOCAA at the V&A Waterfront
Zeitz MOCAA opened on 22 September 2017 in a former grain silo at the V&A Waterfront. The conversion of the silo was designed by Heatherwick Studio, and the building is a reason to visit on its own, quite apart from the collection. The museum is dedicated to contemporary art from Africa and its diaspora.
Plan for about two hours if you want to see the galleries properly, longer if a particular exhibition is the reason you are going. Exhibitions change, so look at the museum's current programme before you go and tell the concierge if there is a show you do not want to miss.
Check current opening times and ticketing with the museum. Entry is for your own account unless it is itemised on your quote.
The Norval Foundation in Tokai
The Norval Foundation is an art centre on Ou Kaapse Weg in Tokai, next to Table Mountain National Park. It opened in April 2018 and has a sculpture garden as well as its indoor galleries. The setting, at the edge of the park with the mountain behind, is a large part of the visit, so leave time to walk outside as well as in.
Allow about two hours. Check current opening times with the Norval before you go, and as with Zeitz MOCAA, look at the current exhibitions first.
How to plan Zeitz MOCAA and the Norval in one day
| Time | Stop | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 09:30 | Pickup | From your hotel |
| 10:00 | Zeitz MOCAA | About two hours |
| 12:15 | Drive to the southern suburbs | About 20 minutes outside peak traffic |
| 12:45 | Lunch | In the Constantia Valley, booked ahead |
| 14:30 | Norval Foundation | Galleries and the sculpture garden, about two hours |
| 16:30 | Back to your hotel | About 20 to 25 minutes to the Waterfront outside peak traffic |
This order has one practical advantage. It puts you on the road from the Waterfront to Tokai in the middle of the day, when traffic is lighter, and gets you home before the worst of the evening rush. The N1 and N2 and the routes into and out of the centre are busiest on weekday mornings and late afternoons, and weekday 17:00 is the most congested hour. Our guide to Cape Town traffic explains it.
The reverse order also works, Norval in the morning and Zeitz MOCAA in the afternoon, and it suits people staying in Constantia or the southern suburbs who would rather not start the day in town.
Is a half day enough?
A half-day booking is 5 hours and 100 km inside the metro. The round trip from the Waterfront to Tokai and back is about 40 km, so distance is no problem, but two museums at two hours each plus the driving leaves no time for lunch. Two choices:
- A half day with one museum. Zeitz MOCAA and the Waterfront, or the Norval with Kirstenbosch, which is about 8 km from the Norval.
- A full day with both. 10 hours and 250 km covers both museums, lunch and a further stop with time to spare.
If the day runs over five hours on a half-day booking, the extra time is billed per hour at the rate on your quote, and the driver will tell you before you reach the limit.
Adding a third stop
On a full day, the art day sits well alongside other things in the southern suburbs.
- Constantia. A tasting and lunch on the Constantia wine route, close to the Norval. The guide to the Constantia wine route on a half day has the detail.
- Kirstenbosch. The botanical garden on the eastern slopes of Table Mountain is about 12 minutes from the Norval.
- The Bo-Kaap. In town, near Zeitz MOCAA, for an hour on foot. See Bo-Kaap and the City Bowl.
If you are in Cape Town in February, the Investec Cape Town Art Fair is held at the CTICC. The 2027 fair is planned for 19 to 21 February 2027. The guide to the Investec Cape Town Art Fair covers the logistics.
Who needs a driver for an art day
If you are staying at the Waterfront and only want Zeitz MOCAA, you do not need a driver. Walk there.
The Norval Foundation is where the driver earns the booking. It is about 20 km from the Waterfront, the drive back can be slow in the late afternoon, and an art day often ends with a purchase from a museum shop or a gallery that is easier in a vehicle than in an e-hailing car. For collectors visiting galleries, a driver also means you can move from one appointment to the next without having to plan each leg. The vehicle is never left unattended, which matters if you are carrying anything you have bought.
Common questions
How far is the Norval Foundation from Zeitz MOCAA?
About 19 km, around 20 minutes outside peak traffic. At rush hour it can take considerably longer, which is why the middle of the day is the best time to make the drive.
How long should we spend at each museum?
About two hours at each is a comfortable visit. Leave more if a particular exhibition is your reason for going, and allow time outside in the Norval's sculpture garden.
Are museum entry fees included?
No. Entry to both museums is for your own account unless it is itemised on your quote. Driver, fuel and tolls are always included.
Can you book lunch for us?
Yes. The concierge can book tables in Constantia or at the Waterfront. Tell the concierge your preferred time and any dietary needs when you book.
To arrange an art day, send the concierge your date, the number of people, where you are staying and any exhibition you want to see. Half-day and full-day bookings are explained on the Winelands and Cape Point days page, and the concierge replies with a written quote and a reference.