Top 10 Things
to Do in Cape Town

Table Mountain is the reason Cape Town looks the way it does. The flat-topped sandstone massif rises straight behind the city, and almost every other sight on this list is easier to understand once you have seen the city from up there. The summit is an open plateau with marked paths and viewpoints over the city bowl, Robben Island and the Atlantic coast.

You can reach the top by the rotating cableway or on foot along one of several routes. Walking is real mountain hiking: steep, exposed and not something to improvise in sandals. The cableway is weather-dependent and can pause or close in wind or cloud, so treat it as a flexible part of the plan.

At the tip of the Peninsula, the Cape Point section of Table Mountain National Park is a wild stretch of cliffs, fynbos and empty beaches. From the car park you can reach the old lighthouse viewpoint on foot or by funicular, and the views down the coast are extraordinary. Other trails lead to quieter lookouts and to the signed Cape of Good Hope point.

One correction worth making early: Cape Point is not the southernmost tip of Africa, which is Cape Agulhas, a long drive east. It is simply one of the most dramatic headlands on the continent. Expect baboons and antelope in the reserve, and keep food out of sight and your distance wide. Swimming is not permitted at Diaz Beach, where the currents are dangerous.

A protected colony of African penguins lives among the granite boulders and sheltered coves near Simon’s Town. Boardwalks let you watch them waddle, nest, preen and squabble from a respectful distance, and the water in the coves is clear and calm.

These are wild, endangered birds. Do not touch, feed or chase them, and keep to the boardwalks. Their beaks are sharp and stress affects breeding. Penguins are present all year, though behaviour changes with the moulting and breeding cycle.

Bo-Kaap is one of Cape Town’s oldest residential neighbourhoods, known for its cobbled streets and brightly painted houses. It is also a living community with deep Cape Malay roots, mosques whose call to prayer is part of the soundtrack, and a history tied to the people who were brought to the Cape and built much of the city.

It rewards a slow walk and a bit of context. Be considerate: people live behind those doors, so photograph the streets rather than the residents, keep voices low and ask before taking portraits. Local kitchens and cafes serve Cape Malay dishes such as curries and koesisters, which make a good reason to stop.

Robben Island is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the place where Nelson Mandela and many other political prisoners were held during the apartheid years. The visit includes a ferry crossing and a guided tour, often led by someone with a personal connection to the prison.

It is a sober, powerful experience rather than a light attraction, and it is worth giving it unrushed time. Tickets must be booked through the official operator. Sailings depend on weather and sea conditions, and popular dates sell out.

Kirstenbosch sits on the eastern slopes of the mountain and is devoted to indigenous South African plants. Wide lawns, shaded forest paths, proteas, and the fynbos that makes this region botanically unique all unfold beneath the mountain’s cliffs.

The Boomslang canopy walkway curves through the treetops and gives a different perspective on the garden. Paths vary from flat and gentle to steep, so you can tailor the visit to your energy. Summer concerts on the lawn are a local tradition when scheduled.

The V&A Waterfront is a working harbour surrounded by restaurants, shops, galleries and views of Table Mountain. Its pedestrian areas make it an easy first evening, while indoor museums and the aquarium offer options on rainy days. As elsewhere in the city, stay aware of your belongings.

Seals often lounge near the quayside, buskers play, and the Zeitz MOCAA museum of contemporary African art sits in the historic grain silo. The Robben Island ferry also departs from the Nelson Mandela Gateway here.

Chapman’s Peak Drive is a road carved into the cliffs between Hout Bay and Noordhoek, with the mountain above and the Atlantic far below. Pull-outs along the way give you somewhere safe to stop and look.

The road is a toll road and can be closed at short notice because of rockfall, strong wind or maintenance, so check its status before you plan around it. Having a private driver means you can enjoy the view instead of the bends.

Camps Bay is the palm-lined beach strip below the Twelve Apostles, with cafes and restaurants facing the sunset. Clifton’s four small beaches, tucked below granite boulders, are a short drive away and are popular with locals.

The Atlantic here is cold, even in midsummer, so many visitors paddle rather than swim. South-easterly wind can make the beaches unpleasant on some summer days, and the sheltered beach changes with the wind direction.

The Cape Winelands lie inland from Cape Town, outside the city itself, in a valley of old Cape Dutch estates, vineyards and mountain backdrops. Stellenbosch, Franschhoek and Paarl each have their own character, and Constantia, closer to the city, is also a notable wine area with Groot Constantia among its estates.

A day here is about long lunches and unhurried tastings. Plan two or three stops at most. South Africa has strict drink-driving rules, so a private driver is genuinely the safest way to enjoy it.