From the top of Table Mountain to penguins on the beach, these are the Cape Town experiences a local guide recommends, with tips on how to fit them into your trip.
Cape Town packs mountains, two oceans, vineyards, wildlife and a rich history into one small corner of Africa. With so much to choose from, it helps to know where to start. Here are twelve of the best things to do in Cape Town, chosen by a local guide.
1. Ride the cableway up Table Mountain
Table Mountain is the city's icon, and the rotating cable car to the top is the easiest way up. From the summit you'll see the city bowl, Robben Island, the Atlantic coast and the Cape Peninsula stretching south. Go early on a clear, calm day; the cableway closes in strong wind. Read our Table Mountain guide for tips.
2. Drive Chapman's Peak and visit Cape Point
The road from Hout Bay to Noordhoek is cut into the cliffs above the Atlantic and is one of the most scenic drives anywhere. Continue to Cape Point and the Cape of Good Hope for huge ocean views.
3. Meet the penguins at Boulders Beach
A colony of endangered African penguins lives among the granite boulders near Simon's Town. Boardwalks bring you close without disturbing them. Our Cape Peninsula tour guide covers the full route.
4. Taste wine in Stellenbosch and Franschhoek
Less than an hour from the city, the Cape Winelands offer historic estates, superb food and beautiful mountain scenery. See our Cape Winelands day trip guide.
5. Walk the colourful streets of the Bo-Kaap
The Bo-Kaap's brightly painted houses and cobbled streets sit on the slopes of Signal Hill. It's the historic home of the Cape Malay community, and the Bo-Kaap Museum tells its story. Try a Cape Malay curry or koeksister while you're there.
6. Learn the city's history
Visit the District Six Museum to understand the forced removals of the apartheid era, walk through the Company's Garden, and take the ferry from the V&A Waterfront to Robben Island, where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned. Robben Island tours book up, so reserve ahead.
7. Explore the V&A Waterfront
The working harbour is full of restaurants, shops and markets, with Table Mountain as the backdrop. It's also home to the Zeitz MOCAA museum of contemporary African art and the Two Oceans Aquarium.
8. Spend a day on the beaches
Clifton's sheltered coves and Camps Bay's palm-lined promenade are the classic Atlantic beaches, but the water is cold. For warmer water and surfing lessons, head to Muizenberg on False Bay, famous for its painted beach huts.
9. Hike Lion's Head for sunrise or sunset
The hike up Lion's Head takes about two to three hours return and rewards you with 360-degree views. The last section has chains and ladders, so it's best for reasonably fit walkers with a good head for heights. Always hike in a group and take a headlamp for sunset hikes.
10. Visit Kirstenbosch and Constantia
Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden lies against the eastern slopes of Table Mountain. Walk the Boomslang canopy walkway through the treetops, then taste wine nearby in Constantia, the oldest wine region in South Africa.
11. Watch whales in Hermanus
From June to November, southern right whales come close to shore along the coast. Hermanus, about two hours from Cape Town, is one of the best places in the world for land-based whale watching. See our Hermanus whale watching guide.
12. End the day with sundowners
Capetonians love a sundowner. Watch the sun set over the Atlantic from Signal Hill, the Sea Point promenade or a terrace in Camps Bay.
How to fit it all in
Most of these experiences are spread around the peninsula and beyond, so grouping them by area saves a lot of time. A typical plan:
- Day 1: Table Mountain, Bo-Kaap, the city centre and the Waterfront.
- Day 2: Chapman's Peak, Cape Point, Boulders Beach and Kalk Bay.
- Day 3: The Winelands.
That's exactly how our 3-day Cape Town itinerary works. Prefer someone else to handle the driving and planning? Browse our private day tours and multi-day trips.