Cape Town is packed with incredible attractions. It would be difficult to see all of them even if you lived here. Cape Town, like any other large tourist city, has must-see attractions. Here, we highlight the best places that any first-time visitors simply must see. Table Mountain, Lion’s Head, Bo Kaap, Constantia, and Boulders Beach are the attractions I would recommend seeing if you only have a short amount of time and can’t fit in all 15 of the suggestions. Our five favourite spots in Cape Town are listed below. Any of them can be seen in a single day. Cape Town is a fantastic metropolis that boasts a wide range of amazing sights, from the natural wonders like Table Mountain and Lion’s Head to the fascinating structures built by humans. You don’t even have to leave the city to experience Cape Town’s incredible landscapes and wide variety of wildlife which is often why Cape Town is such a popular destination for overseas film and stills production companies to use for shoot locations . We recommend the following 15 locations as the top picks for tourists in Cape Town. If you need help organising your trip to Cape Town, we can provide a detailed three-day itinerary.
Specifically, the area known as Camps Bay
You can go there whenever you like, but the sunset is particularly stunning.
Buses that passengers can hop on and off of at their leisure operate along two different routes, coloured red and blue.
This is the most affluent section of Cape Town, with its pristine white-sand beaches, crystal-clear Atlantic waters, and hilltop mansions. It’s a beautiful part of town and definitely worth visiting. Huge boulders at the water’s edge, sandy beaches, and the town wedged between the sea and the Twelve Apostles mountains are just some of the sights that can be seen from the parking lot at Maiden’s Cove.
Since there is no low-cost lodging available, Camps Bay can only be recommended for those with deep pockets. It’s possible to see the location and take some photos in the allotted time of 30 minutes if you don’t plan to stop for lunch.
The Botanical Garden of Kirstenbosch
Time your visit for a summer afternoon. Spend the hottest part of the day picnicking on the grass and relaxing in the shade of the trees. There are free, hour-long, guided tours of the Garden available Monday through Saturday at 11 am and 2 pm.
Children (6-18) pay ZAR30 ($1.50), adults pay ZAR210 ($11), and children under 6 get in free.
Monday through Saturday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., from September through March; Monday through Saturday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., from April through August.
The blue road of the hop-on-hop-off urban bus system is the hop-on route.
Kirstenbosch is an oasis of greenery in the heart of Johannesburg. You could easily spend a whole day here if you have the luxury of time. The Garden is one of the biggest Botanical Gardens in South Africa, stretching across 528 ha. Plants and flowers from all over the United States are on display here for visitors to enjoy. Kirstenbosch Gardens offers a new experience with each passing season. The Garden and Cape Town are at their most beautiful and full of blooming plants and trees in the spring.
Among the garden’s many paths is the one known as Skeleton Gorge, which leads to Table Mountain’s peak. Hiking is best done in the morning before the heat of the day sets in. Bring plenty of water, put on some shoes, and put on a cap.
A picnic in the grass at Kirstenbosch is a wonderful idea. If you’d like to picnic in the Garden, you can either bring your own snacks or purchase a basket from one of the in-garden eateries. There is something for everyone on Moyo’s extensive picnic menu, which includes meat, seafood, gluten-free, and vegetarian options.
Table Mountain
Avoid going in the afternoon if you want to go hiking; clouds tend to roll in then. The best times to go are early in the morning or late in the evening.
Return tickets for adults start at ZAR 340 ($18 USD) and for children (4-17), prices start at ZAR 195 ($10 USD).
Hours of operation: 8am-8pm (summer) and 8am-6pm (winter) (winter).
Route red for the hop-on, hop-off bus service. There is a ticket that allows you to ride the Cable cars and the hop-on-hop-off buses.
The Platteklip Gorge Trail on Table Mountain
Trip to Cape Town, South Africa: Climbing Table Mountain the Indian Way Venster
Scooter Ride Up Table Mountain in Cape Town
Cape Town’s most famous landmark is the best starting point for sightseeing. It is widely acknowledged that Table Mountain is one of the New Seven Wonders of Nature. You can see all of the metropolitan area and its surroundings in breathtaking detail from up here.
To achieve success, you can take a number of different approaches. From the parking lot, the quickest and most convenient option is to ride the cable car. Walking to the peak is possible, but I advise against it due to the dangers associated with the ascent and instead suggest taking one of the well-trodden hiking trails up Table Mountain. To avoid the heat of the day and the crowds of weekend hikers, it’s best to start your ascent early in the morning.
Bring along a pair of sturdy shoes if you plan on making the ascent on foot. The climb is strenuous, and you will need at least a litre of water per person. Once you’ve reached the peak, you won’t be able to refuel at any point. Wear sunscreen, a hat or cap, and bring a light jacket just in case; it can get quite cold even on a sunny day.
If you enjoy being outside, Cape Town has many fantastic hiking trails that will take you past breathtaking scenery.
Lion’s Head
We recommend a visit right before sunset. It’s another fantastic tourist destination in Cape Town, with breathtaking vistas of the city and the sea. You can see the lion’s head in the shape of the hill if you use your imagination. To get to the top of it you’ll have to walk there is no other option. The first section of the trail is fairly steep, but it will only tyre you out slightly. Even though the final section is the most difficult and requires the use of ladders and ropes, the vast majority of readers should be able to complete it without much difficulty. You don’t have to make the ascent to the peak to enjoy the scenery.
If you don’t feel like climbing Lion’s Head, you can always visit Signal Hill instead. In contrast, the neighbouring hill can be reached with relative ease, as a road leads nearly to the peak. The vistas are breathtaking as well.
Sunsets at Lion’s Head are some of the most spectacular in Cape Town. Swarms of people ascend the mountain on summer evenings to watch the sun set. In order to find a parking spot and have enough time to make it to the top, you should arrive here a couple of hours before sunset.
The Bo-Kaap
Learning to Cook Malay Food and Having Lunch Together in Bo-Kaap. A Three-Hour Bicycle Tour of Cape Town. You simply must check out Cape Town’s most vibrant neighbourhood. It is a true urban gem, with its narrow, winding streets and brightly coloured homes painted in shades of red, blue, green, yellow, orange, and purple. For photographers and Instagrammers alike, Bo Kaap is a must-visit location.
Bo Kaap is one of the oldest neighbourhoods in the city. As the neighbourhood sits atop a hill, it was given the Afrikaans name Bo Kaap, which translates to “top Cape.” Thousands of slaves, mostly from Malaysia and Indonesia, were brought to South Africa during a time when slavery was legal in the British Empire. Numerous people eventually made Bo Kaap their permanent home. They were predominantly Muslim. The country’s first mosque was built in Bo Kaap.
The original lack of vibrancy in the neighbourhood was due to the fact that all of the homes were painted white. Slave owners were no longer able to force their former slaves to repaint their homes, so the people of Bo Kaap did it themselves to celebrate their newfound freedom.
Constantia
We recommend scheduling your visit so that you can enjoy both lunch and wine tasting in the afternoon. The wine tastings cost about ZAR100 ($5) per person, but it’s free to enter the farms. Opening times: most wineries and tasting rooms are open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Take the blue line to the Constantia Nek Wine stop, the first stop on the Hop-on, Hop-off Bus Tour. From there, take the purple route to Groot Constantia, Eagle’s Nest, and Beau Constantia.
Tourist Attractions in Constantia
Private Tour of Table Mountain and the Constantia Winery. For those interested in wine, this is the best destination in Cape Town. Constantia, South Africa, is the Southern Hemisphere’s first and oldest wine region. Simon van der Stel, the governor of Cape Town, founded Groot Constantia in 1685, making it one of the oldest and most prestigious wine farms in the region.
Constantia is known for its numerous wineries. Depending on how much time you have, I would recommend picking between two and four locations. Wine tasting is a leisurely activity, and if you’re in a hurry, you won’t get much out of it. You can join a tour if you don’t want to risk your life by driving home after a wine tasting. The standard tour includes transportation to and from your Cape Town hotel, as well as stops at three wineries for tastings and lunch. Just take it easy and enjoy the day; I’ve got everything under control.
Spending two full days in the area touring vineyards and sampling the local vintage is the best way to get to know the area. The Constantia Valley is breathtaking, making it an ideal destination for a honeymoon or a couple’s getaway. Enjoying wines does not require knowledge of winemaking or grape varieties. If you know nothing about wine, you can still learn a lot at the tasting.
Robben Island
It’s best to go in the morning so that the rest of your day can be planned around your visit. Adult tickets cost ZAR600 ($33), while child tickets cost ZAR310 ($17). Included in the price is a 2-hour guided tour of the Island as well as a return boat ride there and back. At 9 a.m., 11 a.m., 1 p.m., and 3 p.m. daily, boats set sail. Buses that passengers can hop on and off of at their leisure operate along two different routes, coloured red and blue.
Expeditions to Robben Island
South African Vacation Package Including Ferry to Robben Island and a Drive Through the Townships
Assertion of Authority on Robben Island Airborne Tour with a Beautiful View
Throughout South African history, the significance of the Island cannot be overstated. After being arrested, Nelson Mandela was sent to the island prison where he would spend the next 20 years. Seven kilometres separate Robben Island from the mainland. The island is also known as Seal Island because of its name. The entire landmass is less than 5 kilometres in diameter. Inmates were housed on the island from the early 17th century until 1991. The island was added to the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 1999.
Only on a guided tour can you visit Robben Island. Tickets are available for purchase over the internet. Penguins, seals, and even dolphins are possible sightings during the tour.
The Waterfront
A popular tourist destination with a high concentration of spectacular restaurants, gift shops, shopping centres, and upscale hotels, and one of the few parts of Cape Town that can be considered both safe and secure. Even though it’s not the best place to have an authentic experience, a stroll along the harbour, listening to street musicians, and enjoying a cup of coffee by the water is quite pleasant. If you want to watch the sun go down while sipping a glass of wine, the Waterfront is the place to be. Join a Champagne sunset cruise from the Waterfront for a memorable evening out. This cruise can be paired with a delicious three-course meal.
Picnicking in the sky from the Cape Wheel is another option for a romantic evening. Bring along a picnic basket full of your favourite snacks from one of the nearby shops, and enjoy a relaxing 30-minute ride.
Tourist Attractions in the V&A Waterfront
It’s All About That Harbor
The V&A Waterfront Clock Tower and Cape Wheel
Turning Bridge in the Waterfront
The Zeitz Collection of Modern African Art
The Waterfront is the starting point for a number of different tours. A helicopter ride over Cape Town can be completed in 30 minutes, and will provide you with the best views possible. You will have the opportunity to view the entirety of the city, including Table Mountain, Lion’s Head, Cape Point, the Stadium, and more. Getting a sense of Cape Town and its major sights on your first day is a great way to get your vacation off to a great start.
Two Oceans Aquarium
Time your visit around mealtimes. Every day at 11:30 and 2:30, penguins get fed. Saturdays at noon is shark feeding time. Sundays, Wednesdays, and Fridays at noon: stingrays, sea turtles, and large fish. Adults pay ZAR 220 ($12 USD), teenagers pay ZAR 165 ($9 USD), tweens and teens pay ZAR 105 ($5.5 USD), and kids under 4 get in free.
Buses that passengers can hop on and off of at their leisure operate along two different routes, coloured red and blue.
If you’re taking your kids on vacation, you have to stop by the Two Oceans Aquarium. There is a wealth of information and sights to take in. Half a day is not nearly enough time to take in all the amazing marine life that calls the cold waters around Cape Town home. When you’re inside, it’s like being submerged in real life.
Numerous enormous aquariums feature native marine life like sharks, rays, turtles, yellow-tails, and many others. One of the highlights is a 10-meter-long aquarium tunnel where you are completely submerged in water and can see fish and other marine life in every direction. The best way to avoid lines and save time is to purchase your Aquarium tickets in advance online if you plan on going on the weekend or over the December holiday.
Activities like scuba diving and close encounters with penguins are just two of the one-of-a-kind things you can do at the Aquarium. If you want to go scuba diving in one of the aquariums, you’ll need at least an Open Water certification or to take the PADI Discover Scuba Diving course in a single day.
Sea Point
The Sea Point Promenade is a popular spot for athletes of all kinds to get in a run, ride their bikes, or skate. Four kilometres long, it begins at the Waterfront and continues almost to Clifton Beaches. Locals flock here on the weekends and holidays to swim, surf, and socialise. Here, you won’t find any tourist attractions, just a lonely promenade lined with cafes and food stands. It’s a great place to stay because it’s close to the beach and the heart of the city without breaking the bank like V&A Waterfront or Camps Bay would.
