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What to do in Cape Town? Tips for Trips & Adventures

We compiled recommended things to do, reflecting your time availability, so that you get the most of your stay in Cape Town.

1 day in Cape Town

If the weather is good, take the cable car to the top of Table Mountain. You will be able to admire spectacular views from over 1,000 meters above the sea level. The visibility is up to 200 km. Table Mountain is part of the Table Mountain National Park, previously known as Cape Peninsula National Park. You can stroll on the flat top of the mountain and see cute little dassies hopping on the boulders. During the high season expect to wait up to one hour to buy tickets for the cable car.

In the afternoon drive to the pristine beaches in Clifton and Camp's Bay to enjoy the laid back holiday atmosphere of the town. Do not stay too long as the best beach is still ahead of you - Llundadno Beach. This beach, very popular in the surfers community, is special and remarkably beautiful. It is distant and not directly reachable by cars, therefore less crowded that Clifton or Camp's Bay. In late afternoon drive to the top of Signal Hill to see the sunset.

Have dinner in one of the many-to-chose-from restaurants in the lively V&A Waterfront complex in the harbour.

2 days in Cape Town

Day 1 - Table Mountain hike (1,086 meters)

There are just about 300 paths that lead to the top of the Table Mountain. One of the most straightforward ones is via Platteklip Gorge staring not too far away from the lower cable car station. Another popular route Skeleton Gorge beginning in the Kirstebosch Botanical Garden and winding up through the forest. If you have some hiking and scrambling experience, you will enjoy the India Venster route. It is challenging and exposed at some parts of the climb up. Regardless of what route you select, do the hike with a local guide. Number of injuries are reported every year. If you are too exhausted after you have concurred the mountain, take the cable car down.

Day 2 - Trip to Cape Point via Hout Bay, Chapman's Peak Drive, Simon's Town and Boulder's Beach

Travel along the coast to Hout Bay. Then continue on Chapman’s Peak Drive, renowned as one of the most stunning roadways in the world. Entry to Chapman's Peak Drive is subject to a toll fee of R33 per passenger vehicle. Stop in Simon's Town and the nearby Boulder's Beach famous for its colonies of African Penguins. Then you will reach the Cape Point. Admission fee to the reserve is R90 per person. Enjoy the breathtaking scenery and a little walk to the tip and the lighthouse. On the way back, stop in the nearby ostrich farm, then continue to Kommetjie and back to Cape Town.

3 Days in Cape Town

Day 1 - Table Mountain hike (1,086 meters) - see above

Day 2 - Trip to Cape Point via Hout Bay, Chapman's Peak Drive, Simon's Town and Boulder's Beach - see above

Day 3 - Clifton, Camp's Bay, Llundadno Beach, Lion's Head hike

Drive to the Signal Hill road and look for a boom on your left hand side. This is the starting point for your hike. There are multiple ways up the mountain but the main one is fairly well posted. This hike is not too strenuous for a fit person. There are a few chains on the way and some rock scrambling. The views from the top of the mountain are amazing. Do not leave your camera at home! You can do this hike on your own or hire a guide to be on the safe side. The trip up and down with some time at the top takes no longer than half a day. Start early in the morning in summer, it can get hot on the mountain.

4 or more days in Cape Town

Day 1 - Table Mountain hike (1,086 meters) - see above

Day 2 - Trip to Cape Point via Hout Bay, Chapman's Peak Drive, Simon's Town and Boulder's Beach - see above

Day 3 - Clifton, Camp's Bay, Llundadno Beach, Lion's Head hike - see above

Day 4 - Aquila Game Reserve Safari or Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden and biking trip

South African safari is an unforgettable experience. If you do not have enough time to visit one of the big national parks such as Kruger NP or Addo Elephant NP, do not miss the opportunity to see the legendary big 5 in Aquila Game Reserve. It is just about 2 hours scenic drive away from Cape Town and the trip can be completed in one day. If you are on a tight budget, make half a day biking tour in the morning and visit Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens in the afternoon.

If you stay longer than 4 days, select one of the tours around Cape Town or extend your safari experience to two days. If you have five or more days, explore the world famous Garden Route starting in Cape Town and winding up along the coast for about 750 km to Port Elizabeth. From PE it is just a stone-throw to Addo Elephant National Park which will be the highlight of your South African Experience.

When it rains in Cape Town

Cape Town is an ideal place for active holiday. If the weather is not good or if you want to take a break from your outdoor adventures, select one of the following:

Two Oceans Aquarium

Two Oceans Aquarium is one of the biggest aquariums in the world situated in the V&A Waterfront complex. The aquarium displays over 3,000 sea species. If you are a holder of the divers' licence you will have the opportunity to swim with sharks in the aquarium.

Castle of Good Hope

This castle, built by the Dtch between 1666 and 1679, is the oldest building in South Africa. The castle is the base of the South-African military. You can visit the Iziko Museum of Cape Town located within the castle premises.

District Six Museum

District Six is the name of a former inner-city residential area in Cape Town. It is best known for the forced removal of over 60,000 of its inhabitants during the 1970s by the apartheid regime. Visit the District Six museum to learn about the South African history.