Western Cape, south-west coast · South Africa
A city beneath a flat-topped mountain, where two oceans meet, with penguin beaches, coloured Cape Malay houses, superb food and a history that stretches from Robben Island to the vineyards.
Photo: Dietmar Rabich · CC BY-SA 4.0
Cape Town, at the south-western tip of Africa, is one of the world's great natural cities. Table Mountain, a 1,085-metre wall of sandstone with a flat top, rises directly behind the city centre, flanked by Lion's Head and Devil's Peak, and the city spreads along beaches and bays at its feet. The Dutch East India Company founded a supply station here in 1652, and the city has been a meeting point of African, Asian and European cultures ever since.
Its history is layered and often painful. Robben Island, in Table Bay, where Nelson Mandela and other political prisoners were held, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Castle of Good Hope, from the 1660s, is the oldest colonial building in the country, and neighbourhoods such as Bo-Kaap, with its brightly painted houses, reflect the Cape Malay community, descended from enslaved and exiled people from Southeast Asia. District Six, once a mixed community, was flattened under apartheid, and its museum tells the story.
Cape Town is also a city for outdoors and food. Hiking trails lead up the mountain, penguins waddle on Boulders Beach, the Cape Peninsula's roads twist along cliffs to Cape Point, and the Winelands are less than an hour away. It is a beautiful, popular and expensive city by South African standards, and one of the most enjoyable to visit.
Why visit
Cape Town has an unbeatable combination of scenery, history, food and outdoor activity.
A cable car and hiking trails to a flat summit with views over the city and coast.
Penguins, baboons, cliffs and Cape Point, all within an hour's drive.
Robben Island, District Six and the Castle of Good Hope.
Cape Malay curries, fresh seafood, and estates a short drive away.
Camps Bay, Clifton and the Kirstenbosch botanical garden.
Main attractions
The city's sights are spread out, so group them by area and use ride-hailing apps.
The city's icon, reached by a rotating cable car in about five minutes, or on foot via Platteklip Gorge in two to three hours. The top has walking paths and views over the city, Robben Island and the Atlantic.
Tip Check the weather and wind first, and book tickets online.
The island prison where Nelson Mandela spent 18 of his 27 years in custody, now a UNESCO site and museum. Tours include a boat ride from the V&A Waterfront and a visit led by former political prisoners.
Tip Book weeks ahead, and allow about four hours.
A busy harbour precinct of restaurants, shops, a wheel, the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa and boats to Robben Island, with Table Mountain behind.
Tip Go for dinner or a sunset drink.
A hillside neighbourhood of brightly painted houses and mosques, the historic home of the Cape Malay community, with a museum and cooking classes.
Tip Go with a local guide, and be respectful of residents.
On the Cape Peninsula, Boulders Beach has a colony of African penguins, and Cape Point, in the Cape of Good Hope nature reserve, has dramatic cliffs and a lighthouse where the two oceans are said to meet.
Tip Go early to avoid crowds, and watch out for baboons.
A 9-km toll road cut into the cliff between Hout Bay and Noordhoek, with sweeping views over the Atlantic. It is one of the great coastal drives of the world.
Tip Check whether it is open, as it closes in bad weather.
A garden of indigenous plants on the eastern slopes of the mountain, with a treetop walkway and summer concerts.
Tip Bring a picnic.
Things to do
Cape Town is best enjoyed by mixing outdoor time, history and food.
A 2-hour walk to a peak with 360-degree views over the city and the sea.
Tip Go with others and bring a torch for the descent.
A stylish beach with palm-lined promenade and restaurants facing the sunset.
Tip Book a table early.
Learn to make curries and samoosas in Bo-Kaap.
Tip Book in advance.
A moving museum about the community forcibly removed under apartheid.
Tip Allow an hour or two.
Guided tours of areas such as Langa and Khayelitsha, with community-run visits, give context to modern Cape Town.
Tip Choose a responsible, locally run operator.
Stellenbosch and Franschhoek are about an hour away. See the Winelands.
Tip Book a driver.
Local food
Cape Town's food scene is one of Africa's best, mixing Cape Malay, seafood, braai and modern fine dining.
Sweet, fragrant curries and baked spiced mince with an egg topping, from the Cape Malay tradition.
Where to try it Restaurants in Bo-Kaap.
Fresh fish, crayfish, mussels, and grilled or smoked snoek.
Where to try it Harbour restaurants in Hout Bay and Kalk Bay.
A huge Cape Town sandwich packed with chips, meat and sauce.
Where to try it Local takeaways.
Sweet, syrupy braided doughnuts. The Cape Malay version is spiced and coated in coconut.
Where to try it Bakeries in Bo-Kaap.
Chenin blanc, Pinotage and Sauvignon blanc, from nearby estates.
Where to try it Wine bars and Constantia.
Grilled meats, boerewors and seafood cooked over fire.
Where to try it Restaurants and beach kiosks.
Accommodation
Stay in the City Bowl, Camps Bay or the Waterfront, all with good access and safety.
Transport
Cape Town has direct flights from Europe, the Middle East and Johannesburg.
Use ride-hailing apps, a hire car and the MyCiTi bus, and avoid walking at night.
When to go
Cape Town has a Mediterranean climate, with hot, dry summers and mild, wet winters, and a strong south-easter wind in summer.
Hot, dry and sunny, with long days. Busy and expensive.
Warm and settled, with fewer crowds and the wine harvest.
Cool and wet, with storms, but whales arrive and prices fall.
Mild, with wildflowers and whales.
Worth planning around: Windy days in summer, when the cable car can close.
Itinerary
The mountain, the peninsula, history and a day in the Winelands.
Icons.
Penguins and cliffs.
Robben Island.
Wine or plants.
Travel tips
A few tips help you enjoy Cape Town safely.
FAQ
Four days for the city, the peninsula and Robben Island, plus more for the Winelands.
Tourist areas are generally fine with precautions. Use apps at night, keep valuables hidden and follow local advice.
November to March for weather, September to November for whales and wildflowers.
Yes. Tours sell out weeks ahead in high season.
Yes, on several routes, with a guide recommended on longer ones. The cable car is an alternative.
Yes.
Keep exploring
Places that pair well with Cape Town, whether you have a few spare days or are building a longer route.
Western Cape, east of Cape Town, South Africa
The heart of South African wine: Stellenbosch, Franschhoek, Paarl and Constantia, with historic estates, Cape Dutch architecture, food, art and superb scenery.
Don't miss A long lunch on a wine estate terrace, with a chilled chenin blanc and vineyards stretching to the mountains.
Explore Destination — The Cape WinelandsWestern Cape, south coast, Overberg, South Africa
A seaside town 90 minutes from Cape Town with whales from June to November, plus shark-cage diving at Gansbaai, Cape Agulhas, wine in the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley and coastal walks.
Don't miss A southern right whale mother and calf just metres from the cliff path, seen with no boat needed.
Explore Destination — Hermanus and the OverbergWestern and Eastern Cape, south coast, South Africa
A scenic coastal drive from Mossel Bay to Tsitsikamma, with Knysna's lagoon, Plettenberg Bay's beaches, ancient forests, the Storms River suspension bridge and the ostrich country of Oudtshoorn.
Don't miss The sea-carved cliffs and forest of Tsitsikamma, from the suspension bridge across the Storms River mouth.
Explore Destination — The Garden RouteRead next
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