Often considered one of the most beautiful cities in Africa and the world, Cape Town is surrounded by natural beauty, from the Atlantic coast to the verdant vineyards.
Cape Town is one of the most popular destinations for a city break, or to fly into if you are planning an African safari or an overland adventure of southern Africa. Spending a few days or more discovering the highlights of Cape Town is highly recommended.
Cape Town, affectionately known as ‘the Mother City’ by locals and visitors alike, is situated in the Western Cape Province of South Africa. One of the most popular cities in the world, and South Africa’s second largest city, Cape Town is also the country’s legislative capital and holds the seat of its National Parliament.
Rich in history and culture, today’s city centre includes the site of the first European settlement in South Africa in 1652. Cape Town is world-famous for its blend of abundant natural beauty, fascinating history, world class attractions and modern, quality infrastructure.
There are a number of suggested reasons why Cape Town is called the Mother City, and the most commonly offered explanation is as follows, in the words of Selwyn Davidowitz, an accredited Cape Town tour guide/operator, “In the 1930′s some unknown party wrote to the local cape Town newspaper claiming that Cape Town was the only city in South Africa that could justly call itself a metropolis.
The public took to this description and because the word metropolis is derived from the Greek derivation of meter or metros meaning mother and polis meaning city, the nickname of “Mother City” was born. Hence today we know our wonderful city as being the Mother City.”
Expect a larger than life spectacle of sea, mountains, and culture!
Weather and When to Visit
With its Mediterranean climate offering rainy, cool winters and dry, hot summers, Cape Town is fantastic all-year round destination and there is no particular ‘best time to visit’.
Cape Town experiences a minimum of 8 daylight hours in the cooler season from April to August and up to 11 hours in the warmer months from October to March. Sunglasses, sun hats and sunscreen are recommended all year round.
The average temperatures are 18.5°C in winter and 24 °C in summer. While this moderation is typical, temperatures may exceed 30 °C on some summer days and drop below 10 °C on winter nights.
Getting Here & Getting Around
The multi award-winning Cape Town International Airport services most major airlines from around the world directly or via connections with Johannesburg’s Oliver Tambo International Airport.
The Airport is just 20 kilometres from the City Centre, and on your arrival you could arrange for a taxi to meet and transfer to your accommodation. Some visitors to Cape Town choose to hire a car, and there are budget options available.
Cape Town has an Integrated Rapid Transport bus service, which though currently limited in reach, is modern and safe. Visitors are generally advised to use the local railway system with caution.
Essential Cape Town Sightseeing Activities
There really are hundreds of places to visit while visiting Cape Town, and if you are planning a trip for the first time we are going to highlight some of the essential places to add to your sightseeing itinerary.
Now go enjoy this amazing city for yourself.
1. City Sightseeing Bus Tour
As your feet touch down on this spectacular city, don’t miss a city tour for the best way through the rich historical sights and urban excitement buzzing around you.
Against the colossal backdrop of Table Mountain which never fails to impress, you can ride through or stop at the many vibrant neighbourhoods.
The bright red double-decker Sightseeing bus is a perfect way to get to see much of the city in a day. It’s a great starting point and gives you a feel for the city, its layout and all the things to see and do.
There are two routes which transport you to many different sights, and if you book a two day ticket you even get a Township tour, a Waterfront canal cruise and a wine tasting tour on top.
Cape Town is diverse and the different areas in town and the suburbs showcase its multicultural background. Take a walk through Bo- Kaap and be inspired by the colourful houses. Taste a curry while watching the locals and hear the call for prayer.
Observatory is known as the hippie and student suburb and has lots to offer in terms of nightlife as does the famous Long Street. De Waterkant is the cool gay hood and offers a hot nightlife. Camps Bay is where the rich and trendy go.
Other highlights include the Castle of Good Hope – a 17th century bastion fort and the oldest surviving colonial building in South Africa and of course, Cape Town City Hall, where on 11 February 1990 Nelson Mandela first spoke after his release from prison.
2. Go Up Table Mountain
One of the New 7 Wonders of the World, Table Mountain never fails to captivate first-time visitors.
The shape of Table Mountain alone is one of the most iconic sights of South Africa with its distinctive flat top, spanning more than 3 kilometers. You can nod to close allies, the Devil’s Peak and Lion’s Head directly on either side of this monumental mountain.
Whether it’s covered in a blanket of rolling clouds above, or lit up brightly against clear blue skies, it is a spectacular sight to watch from below and of course, above!
Hop aboard Table Mountain’s Lower Cableway Station, for a 5 minute revolving cable car ride to the top. You’ll take in the expansive 360 degree views reaching the summit at 1,067 metres above sea level. Remember to check in advance about the weather as the cableway doesn’t operate if the wind is too strong or visibility poor, so keep optimistic for a clear day!
At the top of Table Mountain, you will experience a sense of peace and serenity like never before. This special area is rich in biodiversity with hundreds of colourful floral species, attracting swarms of birds and insects to this natural haven.
Have your camera ready for breath-taking views over Cape Town and the rugged coastline, looking out into Robben Island and the 12 Apostle Mountains in the distance. If you are very lucky, you might even spot the rare rooikat (caracal) – the biggest and last remaining wild cat.
Notoriously shy, these felines still fiercely call Table Mountain their home.
3. Robben Island
No trip to South Africa is complete without visiting the historical Robben Island.
Situated in Table Bay, this desolate island has a very different feel to the picture perfect beaches and cosmopolitan vibe which Cape Town is famous for. This isolated and once apartheid-era prison is now a museum and UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The stark surroundings of wire fencing, watch towers and high walls bring home the incredible story of the late Nelson Mandela. The former South African president spent 18 of his 27 years of imprisonment here with many other political prisoners.
A visit to Robben Island is possible in either the morning or afternoon. It includes a 30 minute catamaran ride to the island, as well as an approximately 45 minute bus tour on land.
You’ll see the Lime Quarry where prisoners would work all day and pass the permanent village for island employees and their children. There was even a primary school.
Your final stop is the Maximum Security Prison. This part of your visit is guided by a genuine ex-political prisoner who will share their personal insights. The walk through the prison is both memorable and chilling.
You’ll get to visit the small concrete cell of Nelson Mandela and listen to the powerful interpretations of his life in prison.
You will return to Cape Town by catamaran, left with a compelling feeling of the courage and sacrifice made by Mandela and the people who defeated apartheid in South Africa.
4. Victoria & Alfred Waterfront
With a favorable exchange rate with the U.S. Dollar, Europe and Pound, you could easily spend your entire budget on clothing, gifts, African curios and more at the hundreds of shops and vendors sprawled across this multi-purpose dining, retail and entertainment establishment (locally referred to as the V&A Waterfront).
Plan at least one night on the weekend, but you’ll probably spend more time here.
5. Get the Perfect Instagram Shot in Bo Kaap
Bo Kaap, once known as the Malay Quarter is a popular tourist destination for Instagram photos. In a melting pot of Malaysian, African, and Indian culture, the colourful architecture, food and music is deeply rooted to the area. The main attraction is the pretty colourful houses.
6. Beaches
South Africa has some of the most beautiful beaches in the world and some of the unmissable places to see in Cape Town are Camps Bay and Clifton. These are easily the top destinations for beach lovers and once you visit you will understand why they are so popular with locals and tourists.
Camp’s Bay Beach is one of Cape Town’s most spectacular spots. The blue waters running along the Atlantic Ocean of Camp’s Bay are filled with people enjoying the spectacular views of Lion’s Head and the Twelve Apostles and splashing around in the refreshing waves.
Its fine white sand and openness is great for activities such as beach volleyball, Frisbee and even just laying and enjoying a heavenly sunbathe.
7. Shop Local at Markets
Capetonians love their markets. Every year there are new markets popping up and shopping and eating there is great fun.
You will get to mingle with lots of locals as everyone streams to the hippest market of the season on a weekend. Definitely visit the Neighbourgoods Market at the Old Biscuit Mill and the Hout Bay Harbour Market.
Traders from all over Africa have converged on the cobblestoned Greenmarket Square to sell a variety of goods and curios for hundreds of years. It’s a great place to buy souvenirs for your family and friends back home.
8. Have a Braai (Barbecue)
Life doesn’t get much better than, beer, food, friends and music… and that’s exactly what a South African Braai is all about. If you don’t have the pleasure of being invited to one, check out Mzoli’s a popular “meat-ing” place in Gugulethu, for people of all walks of life. Lekker, lekker.
9. Eat, Drink or Party
When you are done shopping, relax in one of the many trendy coffee shops in the vicinity or check out the small fashion boutiques and antique shops on Long Street and Kloof Street. Many of the buildings are characterised by Victorian architecture, beautiful, colourful and opulent.
For bars and clubs, check out Long Street at night which is one of the most lively and vibrant streets of Cape Town.
10. Township Tour
Go on a Township tour! Don’t forget that the majority of South Africa’s population live a very different life to the one you are accustomed to.
A township tour is a good way to get to know Cape Town away from the tourist crowds. Many different trips are on offer, from a gospel tour to an eco tour to a jazz safari or a bicycle ride.
Gugulethu is a well-known destination because of the butchery Mzoli’s, Manenberg because of its jazz heroes and Kahelitsha because of its size.
11. Company Gardens
If you are looking for a place to rest and relax, Company Gardens is one of the most beautiful green spaces in the heart of the city.
Established way back in 1652 by Dutch settlers, the Company Gardens is a greenbelt in the heart of the city with manicured lawns, flower beds and large trees. Lots of cute squirrels are running around and it’s is a favourite lunchtime spot for people working in the city.
12. Culture
And now, since you are in another country after all … do some things that are uniquely South African!
There are a number of museums to check out, including the Iziko Museums, the South African Jewish Museum, the District Six Museum, and the South African National Gallery.
With so much history to share, District Six was originally established as a mixed community of freed slaves, merchants, artisans, laborers and immigrants. The District Six museum portrays the memories of the District Six experience.
An ex-resident of District six can take you on a tour through the museum, which is designed in such a way that you could wander through the streets and take in all the historical information provided by the ex-resident.
It definitely enlightens you about so much cultural history uniquely bonded to South Africa.
13. Volunteer
If you want to give back there are so many rewarding ways to volunteer in Cape Town. Maybe you are planning a gap year or looking to volunteer abroad, well there really is no better location than South Africa.
In Cape Town there are lots of community volunteer projects where you can help people, teach, coach sports and more. In the areas surrounding the city there are lots of national parks where you can help animals like elephants, lions, rhinos and giraffes. This is an amazing experience.
14. Attend One of South Africa’s Many Music Festivals
AfrikaBurn is a must, but there are plenty of other great festivals and trance parties happening somewhere every other weekend. Rocking the Daisies, Earthdance and Vortex are just a few bigger events. Round up your newly found friends, grab your tent and drive out into the open.
15. Road Trip to Cape Point
A day trip from Cape Town to the Southernmost tip of the Cape Peninsula should be high on your list.
Book a tour or rent a car and drive to Cape Point, along the Atlantic coast which is simply breathtaking. Especially when you travel down Chapman’s Peak Drive – one of the most famous driving routes in the world.
This road features fantastic twists and turns, along vertical sea cliffs and with the formidable 12 Apostles Peaks in the background. You’ll feel like you’re starring in your own episode of Top Gear!
There is a plethora of things to do and see on the way to Cape Point. Although the remarkable scenery and continuous spray of colour, from the flora and fauna is satisfying enough.
You’ll visit the pretty fishing harbour of Hout Bay too. Stop for a fresh seafood lunch, before driving onto the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve and Cape Point.
This area is home to many species of buck and birds, the Cape Mountain Zebra, and some mischievous baboons.
Enjoy sweeping views of False Bay after this memorable day adventure. Returning to the sunset over the peaks of Table Mountain, it’s a fitting end to a day in Cape Town.
16. See Penguins at Boulders Bay
You might be mistaken for thinking you’ve landed in frosty Antarctica with penguins roaming freely on the beach. But with no icebergs in sight, this is just a normal day for the African Penguins of Boulders Beach.
It is an unusual but extra special sight to behold when you see over a thousand penguins basking in the sunshine and relaxing in the soft, white sand.
What started with just two breeding pairs of penguins in 1982 has grown to a colony of about 2200 in recent years. This is partly due to increased supply of pilchards and anchovies in False Bay where Boulders Bay is situated – an essential part of the penguins’ diet.
The ancient boulders and surrounding beaches form part of the Table Mountain National Park Marine Protected Area. This guarantees the beaches are clean and safe, and importantly, the penguins are protected.
A wooden walkway has been established in recent years so you can view the African Penguins and their nesting sites.
Join an intimate tour if you want to learn all about the endangered birds and their home. Have your camera at the ready, as this is the closest you will ever get to African Penguins!
17. Sample the Local Wine
If you are looking for a great day trip from Cape Town and love win, leave the bustling city streets behind and take a tour of the Cape Winelands region. The scenery is truly breathtaking, with rows and rows of vines planted hundreds of years ago.
South Africa has a flourishing wine industry and the Stellenbosch region is most known for it. Stellenbosch can be likened to California’s Napa Wine Country, complete with fancy hotels, stylish boutiques and hordes of free-spending and continuously buzzed tourists.
De Toren makes first-rate Bordeaux blends and Rudi Schultz creates fine Rhône-style Syrahs. Raats Family Wines, also a Stellenbosch estate, offers something extremely difficult to find in the New World, a fine Cabernet Franc.
There are plenty of wine estates to satisfy even the most discriminating tastes, and there’s even a hop-on, hop-off tram so no designated driver required! When you’ve had your fill, soak up all that wine with a delicious meal from any of the world-class restaurants around you.
18. Shop Till You Drop
We all know you don’t go anywhere without getting shopping fever. No need to change your wardrobe once you land in a different city because you can find your favorite American brands in Cape Town. Forever 21, a popular American clothing retailer recently launched in Canal Walk (a Cape Town mall) and showcases current trends. As Canal Walk is known as one of the upper-class malls in Cape Town, Forever 21 fits right in, making you shop in style.
19. Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens
Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens – one of the Mother City’s most treasured gems and often described as “the most beautiful garden in Africa”!
This natural wonder is located in the leafy suburb of Newlands in Cape Town, and is the perfect location for a lazy weekend picnic. The most stunning feature has to be the “Boomslang” Walkway.
This is the most “invisible” canopy walkway ever seen! It is barely noticeable it until it appears dramatically through an opening of the trees as you approach! A “boomslang” is a type of snake, which closely resembles the layout and architecture of this elevated walkway through the trees.
The bridge is made from curved steel and timber, and it winds it way through and over the tress of the Arboretum. It guides visitors from the forest floor, into the trees and comes out above the canopy, almost 12 metres above the ground.
The panoramic views of Kirstenbosch Gardens and Cape Town and its surrounds are breathtaking from this walkway!
This 130 metre long walkway is really clever and unimposing in design. According to the architect, the structure was inspired by a skeletal-like appearance, allowing you to feel engulfed by the forest as you walk.
This adventure can be combined with a walk around the beautiful Kirstenbosch Gardens; having a picnic on one of the many lush, green lawns whilst lying back and reading a book; or going to the tea gardens for a delicious breakfast or the more traditional tea and scones!
During the summer months, local bands play every Sunday afternoon in the gardens, so you can take your picnic, blankets and energy to see some of South Africa’s music artists perform live. Another fun way of seeing the gardens is on a City Sightseeing Tour where the famous double decker bus will take you to Kirstenbosch as part of their Blue Peninsula Tour!
Kirstenbosch is a definite “must see” when visiting Cape Town and is adored by visitors and locals alike. It is only one of the many wonderful sights that Cape Town has to offer – sights that you can experience during your city break in Cape Town!
20. Have a Whale of a Time
Whale watching is an increasingly popular activity and it can also be intensely moving to witness one of nature’s most spectacular animals in the sea. Whales populate South Africa’s shorelines, feeding, calving, and playing along the same beaches in Hermanus if you visit at the same time as whale season.
Hermanus, located just down the coast from Cape Town has been rated as one of the twelve best whale watching locations in the world by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and it is regarded as the heart of the whale route.
For your leisure you can lie on the beach and enjoy the sight of the whales, spotting them just behind the last set of waves. If you want to get a closer view and interact to an extent with the whales, boat-based whale watching is how you can get the best experience.
Here you can spot three types of whales namely the Southern Right whale, the Humpback whale and the Bryde’s whale.
Every September in Hermanus thousands of visitors and tourists flock to Hermanus for the annual whale festival for the return of the Southern Right whales to Walker Bay. It is a cool event with music, stalls, food stands and art exhibitions.
Plan a Trip to Cape Town
Cape Town has a fascinating multicultural history which comes to life at beautifully preserved historic sites, excellent museums and intriguing monuments.
From the hunter-gatherer KhoiKhoi people and early European settlers to the exotic Malays and contemporary African communities, there’s a rich melting pot of culture and tradition.
Visits to Robben Island, where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned, to the District Six Museum, the colourful Malay quarter known as the Bo-Kaap and lively townships such as Langa, will give you unique insights into the enthralling stories and the complexities that have shaped Cape Town, and South Africa.
These are just some of the highlights of this incredible city, which in our opinion is one of the most breathtaking in the world. If our list that makes you want to jump on a plane right now book a trip and go and enjoy a fun-filled stay in Cape Town!
If you are keen to see more view our South Africa gap year travel guide.