Cape Town is called the “Mother City,” which I think is so sweet, but sweetness aside, this city deserves the title because it truly is a melting point of cultures. Step outside, and you’ll hear everyone speaking a different language, from Xhosa to Afrikaans, to French, Russian, and Portuguese — it’s incredible. There’s SO MUCH to do in Cape Town, especially if you love food but also if you love history, art, adventure, or nature.
We visited in December 2024 and stayed for about two weeks, exploring nearly every day (which is not our style, but goodness, the city is gorgeous and beckoning every single morning)!
13 Exceptional Must-Do Activities in Cape Town
Here are 13 things we did and enjoyed:
Take the Cable Car to Table Mountain
There’s a reason why nearly every tourist does this: it’s breathtaking! I was pretty jaded about the whole idea. Like, “What? It’s just a mountain, no big deal.” But Table Mountain is MAJESTIC, and she doesn’t hide like Kilimanjaro — you will see her every time you take a drive in Cape Town.
🚠 Tip: We got fast-track tickets online, which ended up being unnecessary because there were no crowds. No one even asked us about our fast-track tickets, and when I asked, they just shrugged and said I shouldn’t have trouble getting on since crowds were minimal. So, don’t waste your pretty pennies, but I do recommend booking online so you can just go straight to the cable cars when you arrive.
How the Table Mountain Cable Car Works
If you’re like me and you think it’s just going to the mountain and back, let me quickly debrief you. So you get on the cable car with a whole bunch of people (there were at least 20 people in ours), and you can’t stand close to the edge of the car because the outer edge spins around, letting everyone aboard get an unobstructed view of the mountain as you go up or down.
When you arrive at the top, you’ll get off there, and you can browse the gift shops (there are two of them selling pretty much the same kinds of items), eat at a restaurant there (we didn’t), use the toilets, and just explore. The mountaintop is pretty large — you could be walking around for a full hour. We saw some paragliders and folks rappeling down the mountain, but it was pretty cold (for me), so we left after walking around and taking in the sights for about 30 minutes.
To leave, you just get into the cable car (they come and go at intervals) and go back down.
Do a Walking Food Tour with Cape Town Culinary Tour
Foodies, this one’s for you! I’ve never done a food tour, and I wanted to change that in South Africa. This country really knows food (probably because of the multiple cultural influences?), and it shows! I’m working on a list of my favorite restaurants and places to eat in Cape Town but in the meantime, take my recommendation to book a tour with Cape Town Culinary Tours.
We did the Taste of Cape Town tour, and everything was delicious! Our tour guide, Justin, was very knowledgeable about food and history, which I enjoyed. I was a bit nervous about the walking part and whether I’d enjoy all the dishes presented. I’m pleased to report that it was not even that much walking — I recorded just under 3000 steps — since everything is in the same general area.
The tour costs 1975 ZAR, which is about $106 per person, and kids ages 3 and up need their own tickets! We had a good group of folks from Canada, Ireland, the UK, and all over, so it was a fun way to get to know other travelers and have a new experience together.
🍻Heads up: Alcohol is served at almost every stop, so be sure to let Justin and the team know if you don’t do alcohol. They should be able to make some substitutions for you.
Have a Picnic at Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens
I was not planning to stop at Kirstenbosch (again, I was like, “It’s greenery, come on!”). Folks, I was wrong. This place is STUNNING.
First, some friends in Johannesburg who’d just visited Cape Town RAVED about the gardens, which got me curious. Then we booked a photo shoot with Flytographer (something we always do when we travel). It was initially supposed to be in Llandudno Beach, but our wise photographer looked at the forecasted winds and asked if we would like to change locations — she suggested Kirstenbosch, and I said yes.
My jaw DROPPED when we walked into the gardens, and it was a pleasure to roam through this place during our shoot. Everything is so green with the most relaxing vibes. They even have an open-air cinema in the evenings in a section of the gardens. Just LOVELY! It’s a wonderful place to come enjoy a picnic during your visit and it’s not too far from the center of Cape Town.
Visit Robben Island
South Africa has such a rich history, so we were eager to continue exploring that with a tour of Robben Island, where Nelson Mandela and other political prisoners were kept for decades. Again, we bought tickets online ahead of time (frankly, I like to reduce the sting of spending in person when I travel, so if I can pay before I arrive, I’ll do it).
The ferry takes off from the V&A Waterfront, and boarding starts at least 45 minutes before the stipulated departure time. Our ferry was about an hour late, and there was limited seating at the departure point, which was a pain. The ferry was also super slow and it took us an hour to arrive at the island.
⛴️ Tip: Put “Nelson Mandela Gateway to Robben Island” as your destination if you’re using Uber. The V&A Waterfront is a bit large and can be confusing for first-timers as there are several entrances and exits. Bring a form of ID. They’ll accept digital versions but will need to see ID before you can board the ferry.
Once we got there, it was smooth sailing. However, the tour is pretty long (everything took about 4 hours and a bit more), so be sure to bring some snacks and water to keep you going! My favorite thing about this tour was that all the tour guides were former inmates right there at Robben Island. How incredible to hear firsthand about their experiences and about Mandela’s time there.
The tours are a good mix of time spent driving in a bus through the whole barracks while learning about the history of Robben Island, down to its flora and fauna, and then, of course, walking tours of the actual prison cells where inmates lived.
Browse Handmade Goods at Oranjezicht Market
This was high on my list of must-do things in Cape Town, even though I’m not much of a market lover. The sights and sounds can be a bit much — and all the people squeezing past you every single minute. Still, I took the plunge for this market (pronounced nothing like “orange” 🫠 but “or-ren-ya-zitch,” instead.
The market has everything from handmade accessories to ceramics to food, flowers, and produce. It’s a great way to support the local economy. We bought a T-shirt from a cute shop called Chasing Bees and saw lots of cool artwork. I also loved the iced tea from Rooibar.
🛍️ If you love markets and buying artisanal goods, do not miss this market. It’s open on Saturdays and Sundays until 3 PM and Wednesday evenings from 5 PM until 9 PM. We went on Sunday morning, and the crowd was moderate.
Take a Road Trip to the Cape of Good Hope
This is a full-day trip situation, and our tour included Maiden’s Cove, Hout Bay, Chapman’s Peak Drive, Cape of Good Hope, Simon’s Town, and Boulder’s Beach! Honestly, though, each of these places is a whole attraction by itself.
There are several ways to do this drive. You can:
- Rent a car and do it yourself. BUT it’s just not as enriching, especially if you’re not local to South Africa. Plus, South Africans drive on the other side of the road if you’re American, which can be tricky for such a long trip.
- Get an Uber and go. I didn’t do this because I’ve heard that it’s hard to get an Uber to pick you up when they drop you off at Boulder’s Beach, for example, and it would be way more expensive to do so many stops and long waits at each stop using Uber.
- Use Viator or GetYourGuide. We used Viator (for the first time!) because I liked the interface better, and we found a great tour guide — with excellent reviews — who offered a private tour. I recommend booking Dwayne for your tour! We felt so comfortable with him and enjoyed the entire tour under his guidance.
We paid 910 ZAR (about $50) for two “international” persons entering the Cape of Good Hope. There’s a food shop and restaurant here, and I enjoyed a warm cup of rooibos and their chicken baguette, which was so tasty! I also bought a ton of cute jewelry at the gift shop (it’s one of the best gift shops I encountered during this trip).
Visit Boulder’s Beach to See African Penguins
No trip to Cape Town is complete without stopping to see African penguins at Boulder’s Beach. Seriously, they are the cutest, and it is awe-inspiring to see creatures that we’ve only known to exist in frigid weather having a blast on an African beach.
The entry fee for two international persons was 430 ZAR ($24), and they, too, had an ADORABLE penguin-themed gift shop where I spent more money than I care to discuss. It’s PENGUINS!
Do the Scenic Chapman’s Peak Drive
I’ve heard so much about the Chapman’s Peak Drive, and all I can tell you is that nothing does it justice. Every bend is a delightful surprise on the scenic route with over 100 bends and turns. It is breathtaking.
If you have a drone, maybe you can capture some phenomenal shots because normal cameras don’t come close. We did love taking photos with this frame at the rest stop just before the start of the drive.
Take a Stroll Through the Iconic Bo Kaap
Gratefully, this was bundled into our food tour as one of our stops was in Bo Kaap. The beautiful colored houses really bring this neighborhood to life and infuse joy into every passerby.
Our tour guide says there are varying stories about why homeowners used different paint colors, and no one seems to agree on each one, so I won’t bother sharing theories.
Visit the Winelands
I wasn’t sure that we would be able to swing a trip to the Winelands, but when I found out that my friend’s wedding (part of the reason we were in Cape Town) would be in Stellenbosch, it only felt right to spend time there.
You can do a day trip to either Franschhoek or Stellenbosch (the two main contenders for us — we went with a three-day stay in Franschhoek since we’d be in Stellenbosch for the wedding). We chose Franschhoek because we’re not the biggest wine heads, but we do love good food, and everyone seems to agree that the dining is better in Franschhoek!
See the Two Oceans Aquarium
This is a fun, family-friendly experience just next to the V&A Waterfront. It’s open 365 days a year so it’s a good option for public holidays (although you can expect it to be packed on school holidays). I enjoyed the exhibits, and you can also buy tickets online. I recommend buying online because this was the one place with a significant line throughout our visit.
A ticket to the Two Oceans aquarium guarantees you full-day access, so you can come and go multiple times on the same day, which I think is cool.
🐧 Good to Know: If you can’t make it to Boulder’s Beach to see the penguins, come to Two Oceans! There’s a penguin exhibit with African penguins, and they’re just as adorable outside their natural habitat.
They look very well cared for, and you’ll see them at closer range, too. Still, Boulders would be my top way to see them.
Shop at the V&A Waterfront
This place is enormous, with plenty of local and international brands like H&M, Cotton:On, Crocs, Zara, Levi’s, and so much more. The food courts offer plenty of options, and there’s even a TimeOut Market with many food vendor options.
I wish there was a better directory system to stop directionally challenged people like me from walking around in circles, but otherwise, the vibe is fantastic. It does get very crowded and noisy with so many visitors, so be prepared.
🛍️ Tip: If the V&A Waterfront is too crowded for you (especially on holidays — it is obscene), try Canal Walk Shopping Center instead.
It’s not as electric as the V&A, but it is pleasantly quiet with pretty much the same shops as you’ll find at the V&A. I went there on the 25th (I tried the V&A first that day, and I was afraid there’d be a stampede 😆 so I went to Canal Walk to buy the things I needed and it was a much nicer experience).
Explore the Vibrant Sea Point Neighborhood
We stayed in Sea Point, and my goodness, I loved the area! Shops and cafes are literally every couple of steps and just a five-minute walk from the promenade. It was so thrilling to see the ocean every single day, and everything was so charming!
Whether or not you stay in Sea Point, I recommend spending a day here, eating brunch at a great cafe, then walking the promenade, enjoying the community pool, eating a picnic, and then coming back for dinner before you head home. Camps Bay is nice, too, but Sea Point really stole my heart on this trip.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some of the most commonly asked questions about our visit to Cape Town:
How many days are enough for Cape Town?
I’d say at least seven full days! Y’all, there’s a LOT to do in Cape Town. Don’t be like the sweet Irish couple we met during our food tour. They only planned to spend five days and were so sad because they discovered how much Cape Town had to offer but wouldn’t have nearly enough time to do all the things.
We stayed for two weeks but could have easily stayed another week and still done a lot. Cape Town is a city to soak in and fully explore. Give yourself as much time as you can afford.
How should I spend a day in Cape Town?
Why, I’m glad you asked! If I only had one day in Cape Town, here’s what I’d do with it.
- Start the day at Sea Point. Eat breakfast at Jarryd’s Brunch and Bistro or Sonny & Irene.
- Head to Table Mountain (it’s a quick win!) for the cable car ride
- Eat lunch at The Pot Luck Club
- Pop into The Book Lounge for a spot of book shopping
- Head to the V&A Waterfront for some shopping and sightseeing
- Grab dinner at Carne in the TimeOut Market
- End with a walk on the Sea Point promenade
That’s my perfect day!
More South Africa Posts
- How we spent five days in Johannesburg
- What to know before your first trip to South Africa
- Where to stay in Cape Town
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