Top Things To Do In Cape Town

Top Things To Do In Cape Town By Emma Levine

You're never far away from the sight of Table Mountain in Cape Town (©Cape Town Tourism)

Fondly known as the Mother City, Cape Town is South Africa’s oldest city and one of the world’s most beautiful. It is home to a vibrant port and the soaring, square-topped Table Mountain that dominates and defines it.

You’ll learn of Mandela’s incarceration (and that of his fellow inmates) on Robben Island and get a reminder of the struggles that the country faced in its not-so-distant past. The Victoria & Alfred Waterfront serves as the prime spot for your R&R, for shopping, wining and dining. But if you want to learn more about the region’s wines, head out to one of its vineyards for a tour while you tipple. See the city’s proud multicultural spirit in colorful Bo-Kaap, where you can feast on Cape Malay curries.

Summers (Nov-Feb) are hot and dry, and winters (Jun-Aug) cool and wet. The Atlantic Ocean remains icy year round.

Emma Levine

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Site of the infamous prison, now a Unesco World Heritage Site (courtesy Cape Town Tourism)

Cape Town

Robben Island

It’s a heart-wrenching moment when you see the minuscule cell where Nelson Mandela spent 18 years. Enjoy the views of the mainland from here – apparently this is one of the only things that gave him, and his fellow inmates, hope. Today you travel by boat from the mainland, but this island was once connected by a strip of land.

Take a ride to the top of Table Mountain by cable car (courtesy Cape Town Tourism)

Cape Town

Table Mountain Aerial Cableway

This is a unique experience to reach one of the world’s most memorable views: a short trip on an aerial cableway with all-round views. At the top, we love Table Mountain Café, open from breakfast until late evening for snacks, beer, wine and full meals. The cafe serves all its food and drinks on compostable biodegradable crockery.

The new treetop walkway at Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden (©Cape Town Tourism)

Cape Town

Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden

The gardens are an immense showcase to thousands of plant species. Don’t miss the indigenous South African herbs in the Medicinal Plants Garden, each one formerly used in the treatment of ailments, from kidney trouble to piles! Inside the conservatory, check out the hundreds of varieties of bulbous plants, succulents and baobab tree.

Meet the locals at Boulders Beach – a colony of 3,000 African penguins (©Anna Omelchenko/iStock/Thinkstockphotos)

Cape Town

Boulders Beach

You can’t get any closer to African Penguins than here. White golden sands are the backdrop to these flightless aquatic birds, waddling on land and speedy torpedos in water. It's one of the world's few places where you can swim with them – but beware of getting too close, especially during breeding season. They have a have a fierce bite!

The neighbourhood of Bo-Kaap is known for its colorful houses (courtesy Cape Town Tourism)

Cape Town

Bo-Kaap

Brightly-hued houses make this one of our favorite neighborhoods. This multi-ethnic community is home to the Islamic community from Cape Malay, descendants of freed slaves. Listen out for muezzin calls from the mosques, and enjoy gorgeous smells of Cape Malay curries – you can visit the famous spice shop to recreate the flavors back home.

Enjoy the scenery and sample the produce at Constantia Valley (©ZambeziShark/iStock/Thinkstockphotos)

Cape Town

Constantia Valley

Even for the non-wine connoisseur, Cape Town brings out the oenophile in most, such is the great range of the region's vineyards. Constantia is the oldest, and dubbed ‘Beverly Hills of Cape Town’ thanks to its huge mansions. The award-winning Groot Contantia, the region’s oldest wine farm, is best known for its Sauvignon Blanc.

The waterfront is a hub of wining, dining and shopping venues (©Willbrasil21/iStock/Thinkstock)

Cape Town

Victoria & Alfred Waterfront

One of the shining points of the city, this seafront patch and working harbor is adored for its shops, markets, restaurants and bars. Although it isn’t exactly the greatest cuisine in the city, the location can’t be beaten to sit and watch the world go by. Dine alfresco on fresh seafood and chilled white wine – local, of course!

View from Table Moutain viewing platform (courtesy Cape Town Tourism)

Cape Town

Table Mountain National Park

This huge slab of shale and granite is the city’s most recognizable feature. Most people ascend by cable car, but energetic types can hike up and explore for many hours at the top. There’s plenty of flora and fauna, forests and reservoirs, and especially beautiful between September and March when the mountain is covered in wild flowers.

Victoria Wharf is one of the highlights of a shopping trip in Cape Town (©Estivillml/iStock/Thinkstock)

Cape Town

Victoria Wharf

Along the V&A Waterfront, this upscale mall has some gems. When it first opened, it was similar to many South African shopping malls with predictable chain stores. But over the years and with growing popularity the quality of shops became more upmarket. Look out for unique souvenir shops, plus luxury brands Gucci and Jimmy Choo.

Great White Shark, Gansbaai, South Africa

Come face to face with a great white shark (courtesy Aoex)

Cape Town

Gansbaai

Fancy some aquatic adventures in South Africa? Gansbaai, 160km from Cape Town, boasts an unspoilt coastline where you can enjoy some peaceful whale watching. For the more adventurous, take the plunge with shark-cage diving tours, one of the few places to see these gorgeous beasts. There are plenty of tour operators operating from here.

Come face to face with aquatic wonders (©Cape Town Tourism)

Cape Town

Two Oceans Aquarium

This is a top family destination, from activities and face painting to coming face-to-face with sharks. Don't miss the Predators exhibit, a circular tank with glass tunnel, holding sharks, eagle rays, turtles and huge hunting fish. To get even even closer to the action, with a scuba diving certificate, you can dive with sharks for R655.

South African Museum (©Grobler Dupreez/iStock)

Cape Town

South African Museum

Set in the Company Gardens, this is one of the city's largest and best-known museums, also housing the Planetarium in a domed auditorium. It has different one-hour audio-visual shows, lasting 1 hour (check for program). It also—usually—has a view of the current night sky, along with a star map to find the constellations and planets.

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Top Things To Do In Cape Town

Robben Island

Table Mountain Aerial Cableway

Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden

Boulders Beach

Bo-Kaap

Constantia Valley

Victoria & Alfred Waterfront

Table Mountain National Park

Victoria Wharf

Gansbaai

Two Oceans Aquarium

South African Museum

Map of Top Things To Do In Cape Town

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United States

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Map of Top Things To Do In Cape Town

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