A dreamy coastline, wine and wildlife make Cape Town, South Africa one of the easiest cities to fall in love with as it entices you with its beckoning beauty. The lovely accents of the friendly folks add to its charisma.
As a traveler to over 50 countries, few places on earth have seduced me like the capital of South Africa. I quickly understood its allure and why friends raved about it with wistful eyes reliving memories of their time there when I said I was starting my African adventure in Cape Town. My love affair with the city began when the jagged coastline came into view as I stared out of the airplane window marveling at Table Mountain and Robben Island, where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for 18 of his 27 years before the fall of apartheid.
I had planned two nights in Cape Town to kick off a multi-week conservation safari adventure. Before I even landed, I knew my short romp would simply be flirting with a mesmerizing city drenched with charm. If you’re short on time, here are the top things to do in Cape Town, South Africa on a short visit.
1. Stay in V&A Waterfront
As part of the oldest working harbor in South Africa and in the Southern Hemisphere, Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, commonly called V&A Waterfront, is a bustling harbor filled with shops, restaurants and hotels. For an elegant boutique hotel experience, book a room at Victoria and Alfred Hotel. For an ultra-scenic view of the Cape Town Harbor and Table Mountain, book one of their mountain view rooms. The lively harbor is very safe, even at night. If you’re heading out on an African safari after your stay in Cape Town, stop in Cape Union Mart for any last-minute necessities. The outdoor adventure store has been around since 1933 and is the sole carrier of K-Way, a South African outdoor clothing brand. There are numerous restaurants with outdoor seating along the water. If you want to mingle with locals on the waterfront, Time Out Market is the place. There are 13 unique food concepts housed in the historic power station building.
2. Ride the Aerial Cableway Up Table Mountain
For a mountaintop experience without much effort, taking a ride on a cable car up Table Mountain is one of the top things to do in Cape Town, South Africa. The most prominent landscape feature is the flat-topped Table Mountain soaring out of the ocean. Since 1929, a cableway has run up the mountain. It’s a less than 5-minute ride to the top on Table Mountain Aerial Cableway. The floor of your cable car rotates giving everyone 360° views during the ride. Table Mountain is a national park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature. If you get it a clear day, consider yourself lucky as it’s often shrouded in orographic clouds and sea fog covering the mountain like a tablecloth. The weather phenomenon comes with a legend that it’s a smoking contest between the devil and a local pirate named Van Hunks.
The aerial cableway does shut down for annual maintenance mid-July through August. To save time, purchase tickets online. Take a rain jacket and layers as the weather changes quickly. While at the top, enjoy a coffee with a view. Give yourself at least an hour to wander around the trails on the top of the mountain. Keep an eye out for dassies or rock hyraxes sunning on the rocks. They look like guinea pigs or marmots but are genetically closely related to elephants. If you have more time you can hike up instead of taking the aerial cableway.
3. Stroll Through Galleries in Bo-Kaap
Cape Town’s most colorful neighborhood is Bo-Kaap. The cobblestoned streets are lined with pastel-colored homes, taking a stroll through the street or snapping a few photos is one of the best things to do in Cape Town, South Africa on your visit. Many are private residences, but some are home to galleries and shops. The buildings were originally white as part of a garrison for soldiers, but freed slaves settled here after emancipation in the 1830s. My guide told me, “Their expression of freedom was very colorful.” Located in “Upper Cape,” the picturesque streets make Bo-Kaap one of the most photographed neighborhoods in the city. Pop into some of the galleries like the one featuring Nathan Chikoto. The recycle artist uses discarded items like aluminum cans and turns them into intriguing works of art. You can’t miss the large elephant made from used coffee pods in front of the gallery on Chiappini Street.
4. Stop at Surfers Corner in Muizenberg
Keep a color theme going as you head to Muizenberg Beach in False Bay and see the colorful beach huts as you watch surfers ride the waves in “Surfers Corner.” If you have time, this is the place to learn to surf. You can rent gear and take a lesson. You can also just make a quick stop for a lovely stroll on the beach.
5. Stop for Lunch in Simon’s Town
Simon’s Town is home to a naval base and baboons. You’ll probably laugh when you see the street signs for the baboons often seen in the historic seaside town. They are wild, so keep your distance. Simon’s Town is one of South Africa’s oldest towns and part of a string of quaint coastal communities as you make your way to Cape of Good Hope. For a relaxing lunch with a view, grab a table on the terrace at Harbor View Restaurant. Sip a South African chenin blanc while you nosh on fresh hake in their fish and chips. Enjoy a stellar harbor view as you dine.
6. See the Boulders Penguin Colony
After a leisurely lunch, head to Boulders Beach Penguin Colony to see penguins frolicking on the beach, one of best things to do in Cape Town, South Africa. It’s just a few minutes from Harbor View Restaurant. The colony is home to several thousand African Penguins. Sadly, the species is declining overall, but the colony is a conservation success story. In 1982, there were only two breeding pairs and today there are over 3,000 birds in the colony. Stroll the boardwalk looking for the penguins nesting in the dunes. At the overlook you have a great view of penguins basking in the sunshine or waddling in and out of the water. Penguins can be seen year-round, but most spend time feeding in the sea during September and October. Juvenile birds molt during January. If you want to see babies, visit during April, May, or June.
7. Spend a Couple of Hours at Cape of Good Hope
Part of the adventure in exploring Cape of Good Hope is the drive itself filled with stunning scenery and unexpected wildlife sightings like the baboons on trucks we encountered when we tried to stop at the Buffelsfontein Visitor Center. Cape of Good Hope is also known as the “Cape of Storms,” because of strong winds and the treacherous waters where the Atlantic and Indian Oceans meet near the Cape. You’ll feel the gusty winds as you stop at viewpoints. Take the Flying Dutchman funicular up to Cape Point Lighthouse. The funicular’s name is a nod to the Flying Dutchman legend of a ghost ship lost in a storm near the Cape and doomed to sail the oceans forever. You can also hike up to the lighthouse if you don’t want to do the 3-minute ride on the funicular.
From the historic lighthouse built in 1859, you’re treated to an incredible panoramic view from False Bay to the actual Cape of Good Hope and Atlantic Ocean. As you drive from Cape Point Lighthouse down to Cape of Good Hope keep an eye out for wildlife including eland and bontebok. As we got close to the Cape, we encountered ostrich on both sides of the road. It felt like I was on an unexpected mini safari. You’ll likely encounter at least a small crowd at the Cape of Good Hope sign as tourists snap pictures at the most southwestern point in Africa. While at the sign, watch the waves crash on the rocks near the shoreline. You might catch a glimpse of some seals along with numerous birds. Like Table Mountain, make sure you have rain gear and layers as the weather changes quickly.
8. Make an Ice Cream Stop in Noordhoek
Noordhoek Farm Village is a fun area filled with eateries and shops. If you happen to be there on a Wednesday, enjoy the open-air evening market with food stalls, artisan vendors and live entertainment. For handcrafted ice cream in Cape Town, the place to patronize is Kristen’s Kick-Ass Ice Cream. Made in small batches using local dairy and other ingredients, the ice cream is to die for. Order a cone of their sweet cream dark chocolate and honeycomb for a unique ice cream treat to cool you off late afternoon.
9. Catch Sunset from Chapman’s Peak Road
This iconic drive along the Atlantic Coast connects Noordhoek and Hout Bay. “Chappies” toll road, as locals call Chapman’s Peak Road, is named after John Chapman. In 1607, he was a pilot on the English ship Consent sent to row ashore in hopes of finding provisions. He recorded the bay as Chapman’s Chaunce and the name stuck until Dutch settlers established Hout Bay in the 1650s. Construction on the road started in 1915. The first section was completed in 1919 and the scenic drive “hewn out of the face of sheer mountains” opened in 1922. With 114 curves, the ultra-scenic road follows the rocky coastline. While this drive is breathtaking any time of day, it's jaw-dropping at sunset. We pulled off to watch the sky turn golden as the sun sank into oblivion where the water meets the sky on the horizon. With the sky still aglow, we made a second stop at Chapman’s Peak Drive Lookout Point before completing the drive to Hout Bay and back to V&A Waterfront.
I found one day to not be enough time in Cape Town. You need at least two full days to enjoy some of the nearby wineries like Stellenbosch Vineyards and tour Robben Island, which takes a minimum of 3 and a half hours. If you only have a day, it’s worth hiring a guide so you can see as much as possible. Whether you have a day or a week, you’ll likely feel the seduction of this captivating city and wish for more time in Cape Town.