Cape Town is one of my all-time favorite cities that I have visited this far in my travels, mainly because it offers so much to see and do! There is something for everyone here – great food, hiking, outdoor adventures, and so much more, you could spend SO much time exploring this city (and the surrounding area too). Read on for 12 fun things to do in Cape Town, South Africa!
1. Tour The Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens
The Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens are beautiful and are definitely worth a visit in Cape Town. They are rated as one of the best Botanical Gardens in the world, and it’s not hard to see why. My favourite part about the gardens was the Tree Canopy Walk, which provides amazing views and is free to access once in the gardens.
2. Climb Lions Head
Lions Head is a great hike to do that offers great views over the city of Cape Town, as well as great views of the beaches and ocean surrounding Cape Town. I’ve heard of different hideouts and cool photo spots on the way to the top of Lions Head (I don’t know where they are), but if you look them up you could probably find some cool hidden places! Climbing Lions Head is an awesome thing to do in Cape Town and one of the highlights of my trip.
3. Hike Table Mountain
Table Mountain is basically a HUGE mountain in the middle of the city that offers so many different hiking trails and ways to get to the top. Some routes are easier than others, but once you make it up there you can see the whole city of Cape Town, which makes this something you cannot miss while in South Africa!
4. Take the Cable Car up Table Mountain!
If you’re not interested in hiking up Table Mountain (or you’re short on time), you can purchase a ticket to take the cableway up to the top! You really can’t miss getting to the top of Table Mountain while you’re here, and the cable car is an attraction in itself. A popular thing to do is take the cable car to the top and hike back down for those that want to experience both.
5. Visit Robben Island
Robben Island is a super cool, half-day trip to do in Cape Town. This island is where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for 18 years – you can see his cell and everything! On the boat ride to Robben Island I was lucky enough to see whales swimming in the water, so keep your eyes peeled to the sea.
6. The Cape Town Holocaust Center
I thought the Cape Town Holocaust Center was an amazing place to spend some time, it had so much history and information there. I have been to Holocaust information centers in a few different countries prior to visiting this one, and there was still so much I didn’t know. It does leave you feeling sad after going through it, but it is well worth the visit and I highly recommend the stop.
7. Enjoy a Wine Tour
Cape Town has so many vineyards so close to the city, that a wine tour just makes sense while visiting! Closer to the city is the wine region of Constantia – which you can visit through the hop-on hop-off tour bus of Cape Town. Other nearby regions are Stellenbosch and Franschhoek, which are popular in the wine scene. A wine tour is one of the top fun things to do in Cape Town (in my opinion :)).
8. Take Photos in the Colourful Bo-Kaap Neighborhood
If you have seen photos of those colorful buildings in Cape Town, chances are they were taken in Bo-Kaap! A lot of movies were filmed using Bo-Kaap as a location, which you can learn about if you visit this area while on a walking tour.
9. Check out the V&A Waterfront
The V&A Waterfront is a great place to spend some time just wandering around and enjoying the city. There are a lot of food places on the waterfront to eat at with great views, a little Ferris wheel that is so fun, and some lovely hotels and shopping!
10. Relax at Camps Bay
Camps Bay has a really popular beach for lounging and is considered the fancier part of Cape Town. A lot of expensive homes are found here and a lot of movies are filmed here as well! You can get great views of the 12 Apostles mountains from Camps Bay, and enjoy a great dinner just minutes from the beach.
11. See the City From the Hop on Hop off Bus
The Hop on Hop off tour bus is a great way to get around and navigate Cape Town (in my opinion). The bus brings you to all of the popular spots around the city and is a pretty stress-free way to explore. You can also get great views from the top of the bus, and tune in to their sound system for information about different sites you’re passing by.
12. Take a Day Trip!
If you are visiting Cape Town, you HAVE to take a day trip and get out of the city as well! There is SO much to see and do close by! Visit the beach town of Muizenberg for the colorful huts and surfing, or take a drive along the ocean for great views. These are the 5 best day trips to take from Cape Town.
Hopefully, these 12 suggestions for fun things to do in Cape Town, South Africa were helpful or inspire you to visit!
Keep Reading:
- South Africa Bucket List: What to do in South Africa
- My Safari Photo Diary in Kruger National Park, South Africa
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Hey! I’m Kat. Based in Alberta, Canada I love to travel to the Rockies and explore new places around the world. Follow along on my adventures and find inspiration and tips for your own travels.
