Cape Town is a city you can never get enough of. You can lounge on a beach, summit the iconic Table Mountain, peek into Nelson Mandela’s cell on Robben Island and sip wine at a gorgeous estate in Stellenbosch- all in 1 day! While the history of Cape Town is far from rosy, the city now is bursting with vibrant neighborhoods and kind people. It is a melting pot of culture. Refugees from Zimbabwe and other neighboring countries, Muslims and even Jewish all have significant population in the area.
When to visit Cape Town
January and February is peak season. Expect hot weather, blue skies, and long lines at the main tourist attractions. The shoulder season of March is when we visited. We saw tourists, but it was mainly locals who were travelling around, especially on the holidays.
It only rained once during our 3 week stay in the area. As April turns into May, clear skies turn into cloudy and rainy ones. June, July and August are the most rainy months. That may restrict some activities, but the area is greener. July also marks the start of whale season, which is when whales can be seen just off shore in False Bay.
During September and October, the famous wildflowers bloom and the days start clearing up as the area transitions into summer. November and December are great months to be in Cape Town. The beaches are picture perfect and the city comes alive with festivities. December is also when more tourists start visiting, so you’ll want to plan ahead.
Getting to Cape Town and around
Fly- the Cape Town international airport is not far from the city. Flights come in from places all over the world. Check Skyscanner for flight deals.
Once you are in Cape Town, renting a car is the best option. A road trip is one of the most spectacular ways to experience South Africa and Cape Town is a great place to start. Having a car is also nice when it comes to day trips like the winelands and the Cape Peninsula. Uber is another good transportation option. It’s trustworthy and convenient.
Quick list of our 10 favorite things to do in Cape Town
1- Swim with penguins at Boulders Beach
2- Sip wine with views in Stellenbosch
3- Take the cable car up Table Mountain
4- Indulge in delicious food at the city’s world class restaurants
5- Take the Franschhoek wine tram around to some of the best wine estates in the country
6- Learn about the history in one of the many museums
7- Shop and eat at the V & A Waterfront
8- Go shark cage diving or surfing in False Bay
9- Lounge at one of the areas beautiful beaches
10- Walk the streets of Bo Kaap
Visiting Cape Town? You’ll also love this…
Cape Peninsula Road Trip Itinerary for 1 day with epic views, penguins and more!
More fun activities categorized
Nature and Adventure
-
Kristenbosh botanical gardens
The Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens is home to over 2,000 species of plants. The gardens especially come alive on Sundays in the summer with Sunset Concerts. Don’t forget to bring a picnic!
-
Table Mountain
Table Mountain, flanked by Lions Head and Signal Hill, is one of the new 7 natural wonders of the world. It is visible from what seems like every part of the city. It looms over the city center, sits behind the colorful houses of Bo Kaap, and acts as a backdrop for the V & A waterfront.
Table Mountain is most dramatic when layers of clouds roll downs the sides. It is a natural phenomenon that people like to call the mountain’s tablecloth.
You may think that the views of Table Mountain from the city are nice (and they are) but wait until you actually get to the top of the mountain!
The cable car is the most popular way to summit. There are also a couple of hikes up including Skeleton Gorge which starts at the Kirstenbosch Gardens and Platteklip Gorge, a steep trail up to the main table.
If you take the cable car up but still feel like walking around a bit, there are paved trails at the top offering spectacular views of the Cape Peninsula, Lions head, the city, and False Bay. Keep in mind that the cable car runs on its very own schedule and is often closed due to wind at the top. Plan your trip to Cape Town around taking the cable car up Table Mountain. Go for it on the least windy and sunniest day on the forecast.
For a crazy adventure, join Abseil Africa and abseil down a sheer cliff- with views!
-
lions head
For a spectacular sunrise or sunset, head up to the top of Lions Head. The main trail starts on Kloof Nek Road and takes around 2 or 3 hours.
Neighborhoods
-
Bo kaap
No Cape town travel guide would be complete without the vibrant neighborhood of Bo Kaap. It is full of happy people- kids play soccer and ride skateboards down the sloped cobblestone streets. Each building is painted a different bright color.
You may hear prayer calls coming from the mosque. Bo Kaap is primarily Muslim. Grab a bite to eat at one of the Cape Malay restaurants and try bobotie, my favorite South African dish. It is made of flavorful beef mince with a layer of egg and is served with yellow rice.
-
Cape town city center
Shop for souvenirs at Green market Square or eat at one of the delicious restaurants.
-
Townships
Even though the apartheid regime is over, people still live in places that used to be townships. Visiting a township is a great way to not only learn about the history of Cape Town, but to see how the community is moving forward. We were lucky enough to know locals who lived in 2 different townships- the Khayelitsha and Lwandle. In the Lwandle township we were shown into our friend’s home. We then attended his tiny church. It was made of tin, but we could tell they had done their best to make it look nice by adding cloth to the front. There were only a few people, but they sang loud enough to be mistaken as a whole crowd. After the service, our friend took us to a nearby vendor who was selling smilies (sheep’s head).
Our experiences visiting townships near Cape Town really opened our eyes to different ways of life, and we would recommend it to any tourist. Townships like Imizamo Yethu offer tours with locals, which is the best way to explore. Just be sure to ask your tour guide what is appropriate in terms of taking photos.
History and Museums
-
Slave lodge
The Slave Lodge is a wonderful museum located in the Cape Town City Center. Don’t miss the short film at the beginning. It talks all about the coming of slaves in Cape town, the wars between the English and Dutch, and more. The Slave Lodge building itself used to house slaves but later turned into government offices in 1811, which is what it looks like now. Just next to the Slave Lodge is Company’s Garden, a beautiful and historical park.
-
District 6 MUSEUM
No visit to Cape Town is complete without paying a visit to the District 6 Museum. Learn about how the District 6 neighborhood changed during the apartheid and how it is now.
-
Cape of good hope
The Castle of Good Hope is recognized as the oldest surviving building in South Africa. It was built in 1666. Now, the castle is open for tourists to wander around. Playing around the Castle of Good Hope is especially fun for kids and families.
Fun fact: The walls inside are painted yellow so that the building doesn’t attract as much heat.
-
robben island
Robben Island is an attraction you need to think way ahead on. Book your tickets sooner than later. The tours are super popular with locals and tourists. And for a good reason! It was in one of the tiny single cells on Robben Island that Nelson Mandela stayed in for 18 years. He was finally freed, along with all the other political prisoners, in 1990.
The only way to explore the island is through a tour. It starts at the Nelson Mandela Gateway in the V & A Waterfront. A large ferry will take you the 30 minutes out to the island’s dock and back, with over 2 hours in between. During the first hour, a bus drives you around and in the second part you get to walk around the prison.
It won’t last for too much longer, but now the walking sector is done with a former prisoner of the island as a guide. They will show you the courtyard where Mandela buried his book “A Long Walk to Freedom” before his friend smuggled it out and where the prisoners spent their little free time. The highlight of most peoples tours is actually looking into what used to be Nelson Mandela’s cell. There is only a small mattress, a bucket, and a thin blanket.
-
Zeitz contemporary art musuem
The Zeitz Contemporary Art Museum is conveniently located near the V & A Waterfront. The architecture of the building is amazing- it is made of silo. Inside, it showcases modern art from Zimbabwe and even China.
Beaches and Waterfronts
-
camps bay
Camps Bay is likely the busiest beach in Cape Town. It is a great spot to watch the sunset or just take a stroll. On a sunny day be sure to stop by Gelato Mania. They often offer diabetic and vegan ice creams, as well as tasty regular gelato.
-
Muizenberg
The infamous Muizenberg beach is located just 30 minutes south of Cape Town near the Cape Peninsula. The colorful beach huts and great surfing are what make this gorgeous beach so famous. Surf lessons are available for all levels.
Related: Cape Peninsula Road Trip for 1 day with epic views, penguins and more!
-
v & a waterfront
The V & A Waterfront is a lively and atmospheric waterfront. It is the gateway to Robben Island and home of some great restaurants. Our favorites are at the V & A food market. The vendors sell anything and everything from burgers to fish n chips.
-
Hout Bay
Hout Bay is a suburb of Cape Town boasting a nice, lively waterfront and a small beach. It is the end (or start) of the Chapman’s Peak drive which is often thought of as one of the most scenic drives in the world.
-
Boulders Beach
Boulders Beach has to be one of my favorite beaches near Cape Town. The area is home to a colony of adorable African Penguins. Boulders Beach itself is small, but very popular with families and little kids due to the much warmer and calmer waters. If you wade out from the beach and head towards Foxy Beach, you’ll have the opportunity to swim with the penguins and be a lot closer to them without many other people around. Foxy Beach is the popular viewing area which is accessible from the boardwalk.
-
Strand beach
Strand Beach, located just east of Cape Town, is perfect for families and kids. The water is warmer and perfect for swimming. We also enjoyed boogie boarding.
-
Clifton
The Clifton beaches are completely sheltered from the wind and are the perfect spots to relax in the summer when all the other beaches are windy. 4th beach is the best for families and 2nd beach is often the calmest. 1st and 3rd are also nice.
-
melkbos beach
Melkbos beach is located in Melkbosstrand, a small coastal town just a 30 minute drive north of Cape Town. The white sand beach is popular with families and is a nice spot to watch the sun dip below the horizon. The grassy patches next to Melkbos Beach are the perfect spot to roll out a picnic blanket. There are many restaurants and shops nearby if you are looking for a quick drink. Melkbos Beach is also a great spot to swim, so don’t forget your swimsuits! Do beware though- it’s quite cold!
-
haakgat beach
Haakgat beach is a lesser known stretch of fine white sand and the occasional grassy dune stretching south of Melkbosstrand. If you visit, be sure to bring some snacks as there aren’t really any restaurants in the area. Haakgat beach is accessible via the M14 road. You can also walk down from Melkbos beach. There is a path at the start, but soon you will be walking on sand. Once you’ve rounded around the bend, you will be on Haakgat beach. If you keep walking you will reach the stretch where there aren’t as many rocks.
-
sunset beach
Sunset Beach is located about halfway between Cape Town city center and Melkbosstrand. It is very popular with kite and windsurfers when the winds kick in and, hence the name, offers great sunset views. Table Mountain and Robben Island are also visible and make for the perfect backdrop. Taking a picnic may well be one of the best ways to experience Sunset Beach.
Animals
-
cheetah outreach
At the Cheetah Outreach, you can actually pet a cheetah! They also have other animals like meerkats and caracel. It costs less than 10 rand to enter, but you can pay extra for an encounter or to watch cheetahs run past you.
-
world of birds
One of the largest bird parks in Africa, World of Birds boasts around 400 species of birds and other animals.
-
monkey town
For kids especially, Monkey Town is loads of fun. It is located in Somerset West and is home to monkeys and apes of all kind. You are able to walk around and watch the primates roam freely on the outside of the caged walkway. We sadly didn’t have time to visit, but our friends in Cape Town recommended and love it.
-
boulders beach and betty’s bay
Both are great spots to observe the adorable African penguins! We will be posting a whole article comparing them soon, so stay tuned!
Read more: 9 experiences you MUST have in South Africa
6 ocean activities to try
1- Surfing
2- Snorkeling and diving
3- Shark cage diving
4- Whale watching
5- Kite surfing
6- Windsurfing
6 awesome day trips
1- Bloukrans Bridge Bungy (tallest bridge bungy jump in the world!)
2- Cape Peninsula road trip (you can read our ultimate itinerary for 1 day here)
3- Somerset West
4- Strand for its beautiful beach
5- Franschhoek for the great wineries
6- Stellenbosch for the great wineries
Hop on hop off bus
One of the best ways to experience a lot of the fun activities listed above without your own car is through hop on hop off buses. We normally steer clear of tour buses, but in Cape Town it is a different story. If you have a short amount of time but would like to see a lot and more importantly learn a lot, then the hop on hop off bus is right for you.
We were in Cape Town for nearly a month and one of the first things we did was this bus tour. For us it was the perfect way to orient ourselves and give us an idea of what Cape Town has to offer.
You can get tickets online or at one of their main shops that last for 1 or 2 days. Some of their stops include Camps Bay, Hout Bay, Table Mountain, World of Birds, and the Castle of Good Hope. You can get off at any of the stops that interest you and wait for the next bus when you are done. Keep in mind that the buses run from 8:20 to 5:15.
Where to eat
Cape Town has something for everyone in terms of good food. From fine dining to bars and coffee shops, the Mother City has it all. We didn’t get to as many restaurants as we would have liked as we had our own kitchen, but the ones that we did go to were wonderful. Here are our top restaurant recommendations in a few popular areas.
-
v & a food market
This lively market, located in the V & A Waterfront, has food ranging from tacos to pizza. For a real local meal, go for some pap balls and stew followed by a milk tart and rooibos tea.
-
eastern bazaar
The Eastern Bazaar is in the heart of Cape Town City Center. It isn’t very busy with tourists, but it’s a local favorite. Inside there are a number of vendors selling tasty Asian and Middle Eastern food like giant roti wraps and falafel.
-
Xpresso 10 rand
Xpresso 10 rand is another local favorite. Literally everything on the menu is exactly 10 rand (less than 1 US dollar!) They have delicious donuts, tasty hot chocolate, and good coffee.
-
marcos african place
A slightly more expensive restaurant serving up both local and international cuisine.
-
bo kaap kombuis
There is nothing better than delicious food or a good view. And this traditional restaurant has got both. Try some tasty Cape Malay food while looking out over Bo Kaap and Table Mountain.
-
the kitchen
If you are looking for healthy and fresh food, The Kitchen is the place to go. They are a great option for to go meals. We got salad bowls filled high with couscous, beet, chicken, and more. Not surprisingly, Michelle Obama ate there when she visited Cape Town. She must have great taste!
There are tons more amazing restaurants in Cape Town, we’ve only touched base on a few.
The drought
In case you didn’t know, Cape Town has had a very serious drought. Don’t let this scare you away from visiting, just be sure to be mindful during your stay. All through 2018, residents of Cape Town worked hard to save water by recycling and reusing it. Although the situation has improved massively, there is still a concern. Here 10 ways you can help the situation on your visit:
1- Take shorter showers and avoid taking baths
2- If your hotel provides it, catch water from shower with a bucket while it is still warming up
3- Don’t keep water running while brushing teeth
4- If it’s yellow, let it mellow
5- When hand washing dishes, fill up the sink first rather than using a constant stream of water
6- Wash clothes only when absolutely necessary
8- Hang up and reuse towels
9- Make sure your hotel is doing all they can to reduce water usage. If not, give them some suggestions! If everyone in Cape Town isn’t doing their part, the situation won’t solve fully.
10- Ask the locals what they do to conserve water and follow suit.
Safety
During our 3 week stay in Cape Town, nothing too bad happened to us. However, it was near Cape Town that a bunch of cash got stolen from us under our nose at an ATM. And during our visit our friends’ car got broken into. Yes. Safety in Cape Town is a serious concern.
Most people will advise you to just use common sense. Unfortunately, that’s not going to be enough. You’ll have to constantly be on the watch and be thinking about what’s going on around you. Don’t let this ruin your stay, just keep the possibilities in mind.
Keep windows of your car shut while on slow roads. Don’t advertise anything fancy. Don’t walk alone at night. Act like you know where you are going. If you are renting a car, be sure to keep it behind a gate or in a garage. If this isn’t possible, ask your Airbnb or hotel if there is security at night.
If you are spending most of your time in areas like the city center, you should be fine. If you are passing through or visiting other parts of the city though, always keep your eye out for weird or bad situations.
Final thoughts
Our stay in Cape Town was absolutely wonderful. Everything we did we loved. And everything we didn’t do is part of the reason we will be returning. Cape Town catches you in a spell. Once you are there, you’ll never want to leave. Have you ever been to Cape Town? How did you like it? Leave a comment below!
PIN IT!
Did you like reading this Cape Town travel guide or did you learn something new? Please share on Pinterest, Facebook and Twitter to help all your friends (and me)!!