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With spectacular scenery, beautiful beaches, rolling vineyards, and a vibrantly rich culture and history, Cape Town is undoubtedly one of the gems in South Africa's crown. Defined by the iconic Table Mountain and caressed on either side by two oceans, this energetic city never fails to deliver!
Crafted by Mother Nature herself, life in Cape Town is all about the outdoors, and there are so many activities to get out and about and enjoy. Climb Lion's Head at dawn, explore the colorful Bo-Kaap neighborhood or swim with penguins on Boulders Beach en route to Cape Point.
Don’t worry—Cape Town also has plenty of options for when you’re ready to slow down and unwind! Sip wine on a historic farm in Constantia, enjoy a picnic at the Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, or spend a day on one of the beautiful blue-flag beaches of Camps Bay or Clifton.
The city is a gourmet's delight with a vast selection of restaurants, trendy beach cafés, and cocktail bars, with some of the world's finest wine farms just a short, scenic drive away.
So if you’re looking for some lekker (a South African phrase for “great” that you’ll hear multiple times a day) things to do in Cape Town with your travel crew, strap yourself in and check out my can’t-miss list! But first, let’s talk travel times…
What's the Best Time to Visit Cape Town?
If you're planning a trip to Cape Town, it’s a good idea to factor the weather into your itinerary. The summer months between December and February are best if you enjoy warm weather, lazing on the beach, and vibrant nightlife. However, they’re also the busiest tourist months, and you can expect to pay more for flights, accommodation, and certain events and attractions.
Autumn (March to May) offers milder temperatures and fewer crowds, perfect for wine tours and outdoor activities like hiking and mountain climbing. Plus, you might be lucky enough to catch the Freedom Day celebrations, one of the most important holidays in South African history. Observed on April 27th, it marks the first post-apartheid elections and the introduction of the new constitution.
Cape Town also makes for a great winter vacation destination, especially if you enjoy strapping on the skis. While it doesn’t usually snow in the city itself, an hour’s drive will put you in a winter wonderland. It’s also the low season, making accommodation and activities more affordable.
Spring (September to November) brings beautiful blooming flowers that paint the surrounding hillsides and pleasant weather, with fewer tourists than in summer. It’s also a chance to see the country’s best parks during National Park Week, where many parks across the country waive their entry fees.
Whether you're into beach days, whale watching, or exploring nature, Cape Town has something to offer year-round. Let’s discover what to do in Cape Town on your next visit!
Best Things to Do in Cape Town
So much to see and do, but where to start? I've compiled a list of the best things to do in Cape Town and top attractions that shouldn't be missed! Let's dive right in.
- Climb Table Mountain
Standing sentry over the city, the towering sandstone massif of Table Mountain is a world-renowned icon synonymous with Cape Town, and if you haven't yet explored the behemoth – it's a must! The city rests at the foot of this beauty, and the views from "the tabletop" of the sprawling city and Winelands in the distance are nothing less than spectacular.
Making your way to the top of Table Mountain is a must-do day trip in Cape Town and can be done in two ways. You can take the Table Mountain aerial cableway to the top or hike one of the many hiking trails crisscrossing its slopes. You can also combine the two – hike to the top and ride the cable car down.
The Table Mountain cableway has been ferrying passengers for over 90 years and has a 360° rotating floor offering incredible views. There are hundreds of trails to the top of Table Mountain, and all require a relatively good fitness level, but you’ll (hopefully) be too amazed by the views to feel the burn!
- Explore the Historic Bo-Kaap
Nestled under Signal Hill, right on the edge of the Cape Town CBD, the Bo-Kaap is a multicultural area and historically unique neighborhood formerly known as the Malay Quarter, which is world-renowned for its brightly colored houses.
Dating back to the 18th century, the district is characterized by vibrant one and two-story buildings that line quaint cobbled streets and is home to Cape Town's Muslim community. It has a fascinating and complex history, which you can learn about at the Bo Kaap Museum.
Spend some time with the locals in this vibrant neighborhood and learn how to cook delicious traditional local Malay cuisine with cooking classes at Lekka Kombuis. The wonderful Gamidah Jacobs will teach you how to make aromatic curries, delectably crisp samosas, and zesty onion and tomato sambals.
- Stroll Through the Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens
The Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens is one of the best botanical gardens in the world and shouldn't be missed on a visit to Cape Town. Established in 1913 by a botanist, Harold Pearson, the 89-acre garden is home to over 7000 species of plants from the southern part of Africa and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The gardens offer a variety of things to see and do, from magnificent displays of local flora to canopy walkways boasting magical views and grassy lawns that are perfect for picnicking. Adrenaline junkies can hike up the Skeleton Gorge, and you can enjoy a movie under the stars at the Galileo Summer Series Theatre.
Kirstenbosch also hosts summer sunset concerts in the garden on Sunday afternoons. Take a picnic and enjoy great music, spectacular views, and good vibes. It's a fantastic way to meet the locals and have a good time!
- Hit the Beach
Home to no less than eight beaches with Blue Flag status (meaning they are spectacular!), the Mother City has some of the best beaches in the country. Head to one of the four Clifton beaches for family-friendly fun and people-watching. Camps Bay Beach offers powder-white sands, crystal-clear (although very chilly) water, and chic beach bars.
Llandudno Beach is a surfer's paradise with big waves and cool locals, while Muizenberg Beach, on the other side of the peninsula, has slightly warmer waters and is perfect for learning to surf.
Remember to pack your beach bag properly with plenty of sunscreen and a hat, as the South African sun can be brutal!
- Go Hiking in the Cape of Good Hope
The Cape of Good Hope, also known as Cape Point, is a narrow strip of land that juts into the ocean waters and is an extremely picturesque area. Extending south from Cape Town and ending in Cape Point, the Cape of Good Hope is where the rocky, mountainous edge of the African continent collides with the wild and unpredictable Atlantic Ocean.
Portuguese explorer Bartolomeu Dias, the first European to see the Cape, originally named it the “Cape of Storms.” The area was later renamed "Cape of Good Hope" by the King in the optimism of the fortunes a trading route with the East could bring.
The Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve is situated around Cape Point and is a dramatic landscape teeming with unique flora and fauna, beautiful beaches, and sweeping sea views. The reserve also has a variety of plants that make up a significant part of Cape Floral Kingdom.
There are plenty of different places to explore in this area. You can hike up or take the Flying Dutchman Funicular to the old lighthouse at Cape Point, hike to the famous WWII Thomas T Tucker shipwreck, explore the Cape of Good Hope, and watch the whales (and sometimes their calves!) between June and December.
- Taste World-Class Wines in the Cape Winelands
Breath-taking natural scenery, rugged mountainscapes, and fertile valleys filled with orchards and vineyards are the home of the Cape Winelands, one of the Cape's most beautiful regions.
Pink-hued mountains tower over patchwork valleys of undulating vineyards that produce some of the finest wines in the world. Steeped in tradition with a rich history and culture, this magnificent area is a cosmopolitan hotspot for fine wining and dining—one of the best things to do in Cape Town!
Begin your Winelands ramble in Paarl, renowned for its haunting scenic beauty, deep viticulture, and fruit-growing heritage, before meandering through majestic mountain backdrops to the Francophile village of Franschhoek.
Originally founded by the French Huguenots after their exodus to Africa, this little French corner is lovingly known today as the “Food and Wine Capital of the Cape,” producing superb wines and French-inspired cuisine.
Visit the oak-lined streets of Stellenbosch, the heart of the wine industry and one of South Africa's oldest and prettiest university towns, or venture further afield to the less well-known areas, such as Ceres, Elgin, McGregor, and Montagu, which are famed for their award-winning wines.
- Go Whale-Watching in Hermanus
Renowned for offering some of the best whale-watching in the world, South Africa's east coast is famous for the annual gathering of these mighty marine giants.
Small coastal towns all along the coastline are flooded each year with visitors arriving to see these magnificent mammals breaching in the indigo waters, and the whale-watching capital of Hermanus is the best spot for this once-of-a-lifetime experience.
Hundreds of southern right whales leave their feeding grounds off Antarctica and make the arduous journey north to the warmer waters of the South African coast, where they arrive spectacularly to spend several months mating, calving, and rearing their young.
The waters teem with these giant, majestic creatures who give whale-watchers spectacular displays of the magnificent power and graceful water acrobatics. It’s certainly a sight to behold, and one of the best things to do in Cape Town if you’re visiting at the right time of year.
The best time to see them is from June until November, when the southern right whales are most active along the Cape South Coast. Don't miss the annual Hermanus Whale Festival, which takes place in September and October and celebrates these gentle giants.
- Dive With Great White Sharks
Brave the chilly waters (and the several sets of giant teeth) off the coast of Cape Town on an exhilarating shark cage diving experience and come face to face with one of the ocean's most iconic predators—the great white shark.
There are plenty of licensed and reputable tour operators who offer shark cage diving experiences in Cape Town and actively contribute to shark conservation efforts at the same time.
The best time for shark cage diving in Cape Town is generally from April to September. During these months, the water visibility is at its best, and the chances of encountering great white sharks are higher. However, tours operate throughout the year.
While great white sharks are the primary attraction, you may also encounter other marine life, including seals, various fish species, and seabirds. Dyer Island is known for its seal colonies, making it a hotspot for shark activity.