The Top 10 Attractions in Cape Town

From that mountain to the beaches and beyond, no visit to Cape Town would be complete without experiencing these highlights and landmarks. Perfect for family days out, memorable dates and weekend pursuits, tick them off – and know you’ll be back for more.

Table Mountain

The centrepiece of Cape Town’s feast of delights, a trip to the top is pretty much de rigueur. After a quick but thrilling cable-car ride (with extreme close-ups of the fynbos-covered rock face), you’ll disembark with the world at your feet. Up here, at 1 067m above sea level, it’s all about the 360-degree panoramas – enjoy them from the restaurant, bar or wine lounge, multiple viewpoints (some with coin-operated binoculars) and three short (wheelchair-friendly) trails on the plateau. It makes for a lovely family day out in the fresh air, playing “I Spy” while spotting familiar landmarks.
Find it Tafelberg Road, 021 424 0015, tablemountain.net
Top activities

• Get whizzed to the top in the cable car. Book tickets online and save; or skip the queues with Fast Track tickets. Note that the cable car has extended hours until 9pm in summer (1 December to 31 January). Cost Adult R450 (return), R295 (one way). Book Now
• For adrenaline-seekers, nothing compares to abseiling 112 metres down the side of the mountain. Cost R995 per person. Book Now 
• Enjoy a downhill off-road adventure on a non-motorised scooter, traversing both Signal Hill and the lower slopes of Table Mountain. Cost R890 per person. Book Now
• You can get to the summit on foot too. Platteklip Gorge is the most famous route (and the most direct to the top, a fairly strenuous three hours one way). For the ultimate quick (1.9km) sunset hike, head to Kloof Corner, an ocean-facing sweet spot on the western flank of Table Mountain. For more hikes on Table Mountain and beyond, see our Best Hiking Trails in Cape Town.

Sunset at Clifton

There are many marvellous places for sundowners in the Mother City, but this is the ultimate, with four connected, white-sand beaches to choose from – all with spectacular views of the western “sea-rizon”. As another busy beach day winds down, and the sky turns pink, orange, red and mauve, a sense of magic (and relative calm) descends. Pack a picnic, take a stroll and explore the boulders to find your perfect perch. Or head to the rocks off The Ridge Road (beside Fourth Beach) or towards Camps Bay to Maiden’s Cove.
Find it Victoria Road (M6), Clifton
Top activities

• Escape the crowds and charter a sunset yacht cruise (from the V&A Waterfront). Enigma catamaran drops anchor at Clifton – relax, dip in the ocean, enjoy sundowners from the cash bar and bring your own snacks. Cost From R900 per person (minimum 10 people). Book Now
• Swap beach bats for a game of padel or pickleball at The Glen Country Club, right on the edge of the ocean. Cost From R500. Book Now
• Rent a kayak at Clifton Fourth (when conditions are good) and paddle out on water that mirrors the colours of the sky. Cost R150 for 30 minutes (no booking). There are also 1.5-hour guided kayak trips in the mornings: R450 (adult), R350 (child); private tours R750 per person (minimum 4 people). Book Now

Sea Point Promenade

All spruced up from a recent upgrade, the 11km-long Promenade may tire you out, but its attraction never gets tired. From the Pavilion (with four swimming pools for all ages), through a middle stretch (good for rollerblading, skateboarding and dog walking), all the way to Mouille Point, it offers fresh ocean air, beautiful views, outdoor art and a sense of community – along with access to small beaches and hidden tidal pools, a seaside putt-putt course and the Blue Train miniature railway (within a park that also has pedal carts, a playground, skate park and more). Bonus: There are ice-cream parlours, coffee shops and restaurants nearby.
Find it Beach Road, Sea Point
Top activities

• To get that full free-wheelin’ Promenade feeling, rent a motorised scooter from Electrek. Cost From R250 (1 hour). Contact 082 494 3720
• Pedal your way along the coastline on a Dutch-style bicycle or tandem bike for two (there are also kids’ bikes, baby vans and baby seats). You’ll find UpCycles kiosks at the Pavilion and in Mouille Point. Cost From R119 (1 hour); R355 (half day). Contact 074 100 9161
• Hop in a kayak at Three Anchor Bay beach and see the Promenade (and the city) from a different perspective. There are morning and sunset two-hour guided trips. Cost R600 per person. Book Now

Cape Point

Lighthouses, shipwrecks, hidden treasure, a ghost ship… this is a day trip to spark the imagination. The tip of the Peninsula is a nature reserve unlike any other – you could spot ostriches, antelope, zebras, baboons and more against a backdrop of breathtaking sea views and a landscape of wild fynbos. Take a slow drive, bike ride or a stroll along rugged shores, or hike one of four trails. There are two lighthouses at Cape Point, connected by a footpath or a funicular (a highlight for kids). Snap a photo at the “Cape of Good Hope” sign and discover spectacular Dias Beach. For a braai day with swimming (in the sea or a tidal pool), head to Buffels Bay. You’ll find more on this iconic landmark in our Cape Point guide.
Entry/conservation fee Adult: R110 (SA citizen); R225 (SADC); R515 (international)
Child (2 – 12 years): R55 (SA citizen); R115 (SADC); R250 (international)
Find it M4 (from Simon’s Town), 021 780 9010/11, capepoint.co.za
Top activities

• Ride the “Flying Dutchman” funicular along a 585-metre track to the old lighthouse.
  Cost Adult: R100 (one way), R115 (return); child/pensioner: R52 (one way), R60 (return). Book Now
• Approach Cape Point from the water and see this incredible coastline from a different angle on an ocean safari. You’ll also spot marine wildlife, and get the chance to snorkel on your way back to Simon’s Town. Cost From R800 (adult); R650 (child). Book Now
• Enjoy the scenery and fresh air riding through this nature reserve on an ebike tour, which goes past all the highlights. Cost R2 970 per person. Book Now
• Spend the night in the reserve on the Cape of Good Hope Hiking Trail (33.8km), staying in a SANParks hut (solar power, hot shower, bunk-bed mattresses); one sleeps 6 hikers, the other sleeps 12. Cost R438 per person (minimum 4 people); there is an extra fee for an optional bag drop-off service. Contact 021 741 2372/4

V&A Waterfront

A working harbour-turned-neighbourhood, where history meets modernity, there’s plenty to catch your eye on a pleasant stroll, from striking architecture and design to marina and mountain views. In addition to world-class shopping and dining, there’s loads of family-friendly fun, including an aquarium, giant ferris wheel, cave putt-putt and HintHunt’s escape rooms. Get out on the water in the bay or explore the canals. Once you’ve all worked up an appetite, there are restaurants aplenty to suit all tastes – plus the Time Out Market.
Find it Dock Road, 021 408 7600, waterfront.co.za
Top activities

• Enter the magical underwater world of the Two Oceans Aquarium, with kelp forest fish, turtles, rays, sharks, penguins plus myriad more creatures; you can even do a same-day “discover scuba” course or dive in the massive tanks. Cost adult: R265; teen, student or pensioner: R195; child (4 – 13 years): R120. Book Now
• Hop onboard for a boat cruise. The double-deck luxury Mirage catamaran heads out into the bay, past Robben Island and along the Atlantic Seaboard; full-service bar and food menu available. Cost Eco Safari (1 hour): from R424 (adult); R188 (child 4 – 14 years).
• Admire the views from the giant 40-metre-high Cape Wheel in an aircon gondola; collect a basket and fill it with picnic goodies to eat during the ride (double the time). Two cabins are wheelchair-friendly. Cost adult: R180 (SA citizen); R275 (international); R350 (sky dining); child or pensioner: R95; R160 (sky dining). Book Now 
• Explore the canals from Battery Park – on a SUP by day, a pedal boat (until 6pm) or by night on a magical kayaking adventure.
  Cost SUP: R650 (1 hour) Book Now
  Pedal Boat: R100 (30 mins); R50 (child under 5 years) Book Now
  Night Kayak: R500 (1.5-hours) Book Now
• Admire the architecture and artworks over nine floors at the Zeitz MOCAA (Museum of Contemporary Art Africa) in the Silo District. Cost R265 (adult); free for under-18s and for all African citizens on Wednesdays 10am – 1pm. Book Now

Chapman’s Peak Drive

Cape Town’s most iconic coastal drive, this 9km-long winding road is flanked by a wall of rugged rock on one side and near-vertical cliffs on the other, plunging 100 metres to the ocean. Viewpoints take in The Sentinel peak, Hout Bay Harbour, endless seascapes and, at the other end, Noordhoek’s dazzling stretch of white-sand beach. Pack a padkos picnic to enjoy midway, or end with sundowners beside the sea at Tintswalo (on the Hout Bay side), a beach walk and dinner in Noordhoek, or a wine tasting and picnic at Cape Point Vineyards (also in Noordhoek).
Toll fee R66 (standard vehicles); R43 (motorbikes)
Find it Off Main Road (M6), Hout Bay or Noordhoek, 021 791 8220/22, chapmanspeakdrive.co.za
Top activities

• While any vehicle will do, consider renting a classic AC Cobra to do “Chappies” in style, top down, engine roaring… Minimum age is 23 years; a chauffeur service is available.
  Cost R2 300 (2-hour sundowner drive); R3 600 (8-hour rental); R5 500 (24-hour self-drive). Book Now
• This road is part of the iconic Cape Town Cycle Tour, so you can also do it by bike (for free). Alternatively, book a guided e-bike tour that starts in Camps Bay for a cruise along the Atlantic Seaboard and over “Chappies”. Cost R1 250 (including ebike rental). Book Now
• Stretch your legs on a hike up to the top of Chapman’s Peak – it’s a relatively easy 4.6km up and down, with some rock scrambling. Find the trailhead parking near the Hout Bay toll-booth checkpoint.

Constantia Wine Route

While we love any excuse to head to Stellenbosch and Franschhoek, a wine-farm experience awaits right in the city. Groot Constantia is where it all started (circa 1685), but the valley also has impressive newcomers. The route along just a few roads is easy, so you can wine and dine your way to bliss at some of Cape Town’s finest restaurants (at Buitenverwachting, Beau Constantia, Steenberg and Silvermist). Or go more casual with a choice of eight eateries at Constantia Uitsig. Don’t miss a tasting of the famed Vin de Constance at Klein Constantia; there are also wine-tastings with flammkuchen (Constantia Glen) and Constantia Royale’s unique “tasting in a tunnel”.
Find it Main Road, Constantia, constantiawineroute.com
Top activities

• Take a guided half-day sip-and-stroll storytelling walk through the vines and private corners of the Constantia winelands, which includes tastings at three estates and a picnic lunch. Cost R2 250 per person (R1 300 for SA citizens with a group of six or more). Book Now 
• Wine tastings at Steenberg are by appointment only, with a choice of locations (the lounge, bar or terrace) and tastings (cap classique, cool climate, sauvignon blanc or artisanal pairing with flavourful bites). Or upgrade to a private Icons tasting experience with cheese and charcuterie, a vineyard experience or cellar experience. Cost tastings: R180 – R250 per person; experiences: R495 – R1 075 per person. Book Now
• Visit the stellar Norval Art Foundation and enjoy a picnic in the sculpture-filled gardens catered by Grub & Vine (Friday – Sunday). Cost R400 per person; R500 per person with museum access. Book Now
• Add a little adrenaline action to your visit with a zipline tour at Silvermist Estate, which includes a 4×4 drive up to the starting point, 12 platforms and breathtaking views. Cost R950 per person. Book Now

Kalk Bay

Nestled between mountain and sea, with a cute little fishing harbour and a boho energy you won’t find elsewhere in Cape Town, Kalk Bay touches a nostalgia nerve. It’s a village out of a storybook – history is written on its buildings and the faces of the community, but creativity and quirkiness also thrive here. Getting fish and chips at Kalky’s at the harbour is a rite of passage. Stroll along the buzzing main road, tempted by the sights, sounds, aromas and flavours – from ice cream and chocolate to seafood and coffee. Browse galleries, antiques stores, boutiques and jewellery studios; duck into the cobblestoned alleys and discover small wonders. Forbes was right: this is the “Coolest Neighbourhood in the World”.
Find it M4 (from Muizenberg) or along Boyes Drive
Top activities

• Swimming in tidal pools – choose from popular Dalebrook Pool (opposite Chardonnay Deli) or the Brass Bell pools, both on Main Road; Woolley’s Pool (hidden on the corner en route to Clovelly); or St James (800 metres up the road towards Muizenberg).
• Book a session in the Hot Huts mobile sauna, which parks at Dalebrook on Monday and St James on Wednesday, 6am – 10am; also Friday at Dalebrook, 6am – 11am + 3pm – 7pm. Cost R80 (15 minutes). Contact 083 501 8549

Boulders Beach

There’s the “official” Boulders – the penguin colony at the end of the boardwalk – that draws tour groups, and is one of a handful of places along the SA coastline where these endangered birds nest. And then there’s the “original” Boulders, the idyllic beach where you can swim and suntan with penguins, and worth the entry fee. Come early to claim your patch of sand – it’s a small beach that shrinks and practically disappears at high tide. Protected from wind and large waves amid the giant boulders, the swimming is heavenly… and the joy of having a penguin torpedo past you in the water is priceless.
Entry/conservation fee Adult: R55 (SA citizen); R110 (SADC); R245 (international)
Child (2 – 11 years): R26 (SA citizen); R55 (SADC); R120 (international)
Gate times 8am – 6.30pm (October and November, February and March)
7am – 7.30pm (December and January)
8am – 5pm (April – September)
Find it Bellevue Road, off M4, Simon’s Town
Top activities

• Explore this ocean playground on a two-hour “Penguin Paddle” kayak trip. It starts at Seaforth Beach and goes past Boulders. Cost R550 per person (minimum 4 people). Book Now
• Some of the best and easiest snorkelling in Cape Town is from Windmill Beach, about 400 metres from Boulders (at the end of Links Crescent). You’ll get a view of reefs, the famous kelp forests and myriad marine creatures. Contact Pisces Divers (021 786 3799) or Cape Town Freediving (072 870 2724) to find out about guided snorkelling here.

Kirstenbosch

This botanical garden’s fynbos-rich 36 hectares are worth repeated visits for a nature ramble (traversing the Boomslang canopy walk is a highlight) and a picnic. If you want to head up Table Mountain’s eastern flanks, you can access the Skeleton Gorge and Nursery Ravine hiking trails from here. But possibly the most well-known (and loved) Kirstenbosch attraction is the Summer Sunset Concerts. For over 30 years, these open-air music events have drawn the crowds on Sunday evenings (from late November to the end of March). The lineup is a crowd-pleasing mix of genres, balancing local legends and the latest hitmakers. BYO drinks and picnic, or buy something from the food stalls (no alcohol sold).
Entry fee Adult: R100 (SA + SADC citizen); R250 (international)
Child (6 – 17 years): R40
SA-based student: R60
Find it Rhodes Drive, Newlands, 021 799 8782, sanbi.org.za
Top activities

• This season’s sundowner concerts include Mango Groove, Goldfish, Jeremy Loops, Matthew Mole, Thandiswa Mazwai, Tuareg guitarist Bombino as well as the CT Philharmonic Orchestra and the popular New Year’s Eve party. International acts include Australia’s RY X (12 December), and the UK’s Calum Scott (14 January) and James Bay (19 March). Find the full line-up here. Cost From R360.
• Order a finger-food picnic platter from the garden’s Fynkos café (48 hours in advance); vegetarian option available. Note that the café closes at 4pm. Cost R400 per person. Book Now

You might also be interested in:
The Best Things To Do in Cape Town
The Best Water Adventures in Cape Town
The Best Hiking Trails in Cape Town
The Ultimate Cape Town Beach Guide

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