A mind-bending new museum lands in Cape Town

Posted on 14 May 2025 By Lee-Ann Steyn

The Museum of Illusions is set to open its doors on Saturday, 31 May 2025, adding a playful twist to the already cultural hub that is Kloof Street.

Picture/MOI Cape Town

Already a hit in global cities like New York, Paris and Dubai, this world-famous museum franchise now brings its mind-boggling magic to the Mother City. It’s only the second Museum of Illusions in South Africa (after Johannesburg’s wildly popular launch last year), and the 61st to join the international line-up.

The international line-up includes cities like Barcelona, Paris, Shanghai, New York, and Dubai, to name a few.

What can visitors expect?

Think gravity-defying rooms, head-spinning mirrors, and interactive spaces that challenge the way you see the world. Whether walking on walls in the Tilted Room, a change of perspective in the Reversed Room, or questioning your reflection, the museum invites guests to engage, not tiptoe, through its space.

Behind it all is the idea that science can be fun, and that art can surprise. “Cape Town’s creativity and curiosity make it the perfect home for our next sensory playground,” says Mark Collie, owner of the Museum of Illusions South Africa, as reported by IOL.

“This isn’t just a museum; it’s where wonder, science, art and play collide.”

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The concept began in Zagreb, Croatia, back in 2015, and has since attracted over 12 million curious minds across the globe. Each museum is tailored to its location, and Cape Town’s version is no exception—it promises a distinctly local spin alongside the signature illusions.

Whether you’re a local looking for something fresh to do with friends or a visitor hoping to experience the city from a different angle (quite literally), this spot delivers the unexpected. It’s an ideal rainy-day activity or a quirky addition to a day of exploring the city.

So, if you’re ready to see Cape Town from a whole new perspective—sometimes sideways or upside down—add this spot to your list. Cameras are welcome, curiosity is encouraged, and nothing is quite as it seems.

For more information on the Museum of Illusions, visit: Moi Cape Town

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