Overview

The captivating city of Cape Town is the Mother City filled with jaw-dropping scenery decorated with awe-inspiring mountains, glistening coastlines, pretty peninsulas, and bountiful vineyards. Exploring the wonders of Cape Town including the iconic Table Top and Lion’s Head Mountains, basking in the sun at one of the many stunning beaches along the stunning coastline, dining on delicious and diverse cuisine in the cosmopolitan city, and experiencing the colorful nightlife. 

Cape Town is home to a wealth of rich historical sites and is a true “have it all” city brimming with adventure, culture, diversity, and natural beauty. With its picturesque beaches, bottle green valleys of the Cape Winelands, and over 3000 hours of sunshine a year, this city is one of the top vacation destinations attracting millions of visitors every year from all over the world. It is South Africa’s oldest city with centuries of history as a trading port and is hailed as one of the most beautiful cities in the world. It is also known as the Adventure Capital of South Africa with endless opportunities for adventure and activities. 

Things to see and do

Stroll around the Victoria & Alfred (V&A) Waterfront and explore the bustling harbor area, filled with restaurants, shops, markets, a Ferris wheel, the clock tower, and the Two Oceans Aquarium. The harbor was built in the late 19th century by Queen Victoria’s second son, Alfred, and acted as a stopover point for European ships for centuries. Many restaurants offer picturesque views of the Atlantic Ocean and Table Mountain. A great place to capture a spectacular sunset and watch the area come alive with live music, street performers, and busy neighborhood bars. 

Experience Cape Town’s most recognizable landmark, Table Mountain which towers over the city and earned its name from its unique, flat-topped shape, and the ‘tablecloth of clouds’ that often covers the peak. The mountain is the most popular attraction found within Table Mountain National Park and there are a few ways to reach the summit. Hike to the top along numerous mountain trails or take a scenic ride on the Table Mountain Aerial Cableway, both options will reward you with breathtaking views at the top. 

Catch a ferry out to Robben Island, where Nelson Mandela served 18 of his 27-year prison sentence at the prison located here. Robben Island is also where he wrote the manuscript for Long Walk to Freedom and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The only way to visit the island is with a tour group and the ferries depart from the V&A Waterfront.

Visit the visually stunning Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens. These tranquil gardens cover 89 acres of land in a serene setting filled with lush green lawns, protected national forests, and plenty of wildlife. You can walk along the `Tree Canopy Walkway` where timber walkways and bridges are strung through the trees, take a picnic and enjoy it on the lawns, you can even attend a live concert at the natural amphitheater (each Sunday afternoon in the summer).

Pay homage at the Rhodes Memorial site which remembers Cecil John Rhodes, the English-born South African Politician. The memorial sits on the slopes of Devil`s Peak Mountain just above the University of Cape Town, there are 49 steps leading up to the monument (one for each of Rhodes`s years of life). There is a spectacular tea room famous for its cakes situated just behind the memorial, stop in for some tea and cake and enjoy the scenic surroundings.

Spend the afternoon at Camps Bay, this upscale neighborhood features stunning white sandy beaches, a promenade, hiking trails, restaurants, shopping, and bars. Relax on the beautiful beach lined with palm trees, take a stroll along the soft white sands, and enjoy a refreshing dip in the sparkling waters. Grab some food at one of the many beachfront restaurants found in the bay, and dine on freshly caught fish or seafood while taking in the incredible ocean views.

Take a Saturday Morning stroll around Greenmarket Square, a historical area in the heart, and check out Neighborhoods Market at the Old Biscuit Mill in Woodstock, the Oranjezicht Farm Market at the Waterfront, and Greenmarket for organic produce, artisanal bread, organic ciders, and delicious fresh street food. 

Browse the District Six Museum housing artifacts and documents from the District Six neighborhood that was demolished in the 1960s during the `Apartheid in South Africa` when residents were forcibly removed by the Government. The center floor of the museum consists of a large map with handwritten notes from the former residents indicating where their homes used to be. There are old traffic signs, photographs, and exhibits on the families and the demolition.

Spend the day at Cape Wines, the world-renowned wine region known as the Valley of Vines. The Constantia Valley is one of the most beautiful valleys in the Cape, just 10 minutes south of the city. This beautiful valley is filled with verdant forests, rolling hills, sprawling vineyards, and stately homes nestled in the Constantia Mountain. There are at least 10 wine farms found here, 8 of which are award-winning wine estates. Visitors can enjoy tours of the vineyards and estates, dine on some of the best food in the country, and taste the region`s wonderful wines.

Visit the Castle of Good Hope, a bastion fort built in the 1600`s making it the oldest building in South Africa. There are military artifacts on display and the history of the iconic castle, a café a restaurant on site, and horse and carriage rides available.

Check out the vibrant neighborhood of Bo Kaap, nestled on the slopes of Signal Hill, the area has a rich history dating back to the 1700s with cobblestoned streets lined with brightly colored houses. It is one of the most photographed sections in the entire city featuring restaurants, bars, museums, and a shopping mall.

The Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa (Zeitz MOCAA) features the largest collection of contemporary African art in the world in a state-of-the-art museum in the waterfront`s Old Grain Silo which dates back to 1921, housing Jochen Zeitz`s art collection.

Chavonnes Battery was a coastal defense fortification on the Cape Peninsula in Cape Town built between 1714 and 1724 by the Dutch East India Company and named after the Governor then. The Museum here showcases the Archaeological Ruins of the fort which was previously buried for 140 years; visitors can see the excavated walls, canons, and equipment along with 16 cannons.

Shopping

Cape Town is a shopper's dream destination with so many different shopping precincts and suburbs to exercise your retail therapy needs. There are so many exciting shopping experiences in the Mother City with some fun items to purchase. The global city fuses vibrant African flair with European savoir-faire which is on full display in the city’s local shops and charming boutiques. A day of retail therapy in Cape Town will easily lead shoppers to find anything they want in the city. Some of the most popular items to shop for are precious diamonds, gemstones, jewelry, genuine leather, African crafts, ceramics, fine wines, contemporary art, custom-tailored clothing, African masks, and antiques.

Shopping establishments in Cape Town include massive malls, luxury boutiques, designer shops lining the Waterfront, and vibrant bustling marketplaces. Cape Town even offers shopping tours where shopaholics can explore the many shopping outlets in the Mother City. The Watershed at the V&A Waterfront alone boasts 150 shops and over 365 different brands and souvenirs, this is just one of many shopping destinations in the sprawling city. Long and Kloof Street in the city center is another, Church and Bree Street is an artsy designer area, and the Green Point Market every Sunday is one of the best flea markets to visit.

Dining

Cape Town offers food lovers some of the best culinary experiences in the country. It is one of Africa’s premier food destinations and serves as an important trading location with access to excellent produce from a variety of different climates. Diners can enjoy delectable dishes made by award-winning chefs at top-notch restaurants throughout the city. 

The cuisine found in the Cape is some of the world`s finest gastronomy, which can be consumed at some of the best restaurants in the country. The most delicious city to dine in is becoming a world-class destination receiving international awards. Cape Town offers its visitors a wide range of cuisines from all over the world, including local African and Cape Malay, superb freshly caught seafood, Mediterranean and tapas-style menus, Dutch and International.

The V&A Waterfront area is a great place to go for dinner with a wide variety of restaurants serving up local Cape Malay cuisine along with international menus. These restaurants boast spectacular views of the mountains and the ocean and the area is an exceptional place to enjoy a Cape Town Sunset with sundowners followed by a delicious meal. After dinner stroll along the beautiful waterfront and promenade and witness the area come alive at night with live music, street performers, and a vibrant waterfront atmosphere. 

The seafood and fish found on the menus in the Cape area are some of the best in the entire world. Diners can enjoy the world`s finest tuna which is caught off the shores of South Africa, giant prawns, and line-caught fish such as yellowtail or cob.

Some common Cape Malay dishes that you might see on the local menus include:

`bobotie` is lightly curried minced beef or lamb topped with a savory egg custard sauce served over turmeric flavor rice with chutney on the side.

`bredies` are stews made from meat or fish with vegetables.

`Dhaltjies' (chili bites) are deep-fried balls of chickpea flour batter mixed with potato, coriander, and spinach.

`samosas` are triangle-shaped pockets of crispy, fried pastry with a spicy vegetable filling.

`Malva` is a pudding made of sponge with apricot jam and brandy.

`koeksuster` are doughnuts dipped in syrup.

Nightlife

Cape Town also referred to as `Tavern of the Seven Seas` is bursting with restaurants, bars, nightclubs, and other nightlife scenes on every surface of the city. The Victoria and Alfred Waterfront is a happening area any time of day, but once the sun goes down, this is one of the best locations to watch the sunset, the area comes alive with street performers, live music, and plenty of places to eat and party. Camps Bay is another waterfront destination offering a wide array of restaurants, bars, and clubs which is popular with the locals. Long Street is famous in the city and comparable to the party streets in New Orleans where many places have balconies where visitors can look down at the street below. There are restaurants, bars, and clubs that line the bustling street. b>Kloof Street (a short walk from Long) has a vibrant nightlife scene with plenty of hipster drinking establishments.

Music, especially Jazz is a large part of the city`s heritage and the city`s jazz history dates back to the difficult times during the apartheid years when individuals found comfort in music. Music has evolved over the years and Cape Jazz now has a distinctive African flare to it, music can be found all over the city, from the bars downtown to the beachfront hangouts.