Cape Town - With its iconic mountain range, sweeping bays, waterfront restaurants, world renowned wineries and up-and-coming suburbs sprinkled with street art – not only is this city dowsed with color and culture there are many places of natural beauty to also explore. Scenic trails and vistas surround the city, hike, surf, spot penguins, watch whales, and indulge in local cuisine at boutique wineries. Below we’re sharing our favorite things to do in Cape Town and some of our city travel tips.
Mountains & Wildlife
Encircled by the city of Cape Town, Table Mountain is one of South Africa’s most iconic landmark. The flat top peak of the mountain reaches 1,086 m above sea level, and frames the sky surrounding the city.
Cape Point Nature Reserve is located south-west tip of the peninsular, in the Table Mountain National Park. There are many hiking trails with diverse scenery ranging from deserted beaches to shipwrecks, indigenous wildlife and sheer sea cliffs.
Other mountain peaks include Lions Head, Devil’s Peak and Elsie’s Peak. Take a trip to boulders beach and spend time with a colony of African Penguins or head up the coast to Hermanus and watch whales from June – December as they are drawn to the calm bay to mate and give birth.
Waterfront & Walks
One of the most popular things to do in cape town is visit the scenic Waterfront.
Known for its elite shopping experience and high-end restaurants, there are many shops, markets and eateries to explore during your stay in Cape Town.
There are also many places to get out of the hustle and bustle of the city, spend time hiking one or two of the many trails located around the city.
Lion’s Head hike is famous for its panoramic sunset views and takes between 2-3 hours. Kirstenbosch to Constantia Nek takes around 4 hours, is around 6km and showcases some of the Capes best forest and mountain scenery.
Cape Town Activities
It is no surprise that in this bustling and beautiful city there are a vast array of activities to suit everyone.
For the thrill seekers, why not take a dip in the ocean a go in search of great white sharks and cape fur seals, abseil down Table Mountain, or even paraglide over this scenic city and its jagged coastline.
For the more relaxed explorer, take a ferry ride over to Robben Island, an African National Heritage site, explore the vibrant Kirstenbosch gardens, make the most of the food and craft markets around the city or simply spend the afternoon wine tasting at one of our favourite vineyards below.
City Highlights
• Beaches | Our favorite include - Llandudno, Clifton, Camps Bay, Noordehoek and Koel bay. • Best Surf Spot | Muizenberg • Cape Town Waterfront • Penguins | Boulders Beach, Simon’s Town • Table Mountain | Cable Car / Hike • Lions Head | Hike • Robben Island | Ferry Tour • Kalk Bay Harbor • Kirstenbosch Gardens • Bokaap | Cape Malay Quarter • The Hout Bay Market (Friday Night, Saturday & Sunday) • The Mojo Market (Everyday) • Oranjezicht City Farm Market (Saturday & Sunday) • Museum Complex | Iziko & The Company Gardens • Whale Watching | Best place - Outside the city in Hermanus
Favourite restaurants
• Chef’s
• Warehouse
• The Test Kitchen
• The Pot Luck Club
• Thali Restaurant
• The Short Market Club
• Fork
• Salt
• Fox Craft
• The Stack
• Hemelhuijs
A visit to Cape Town is not complete without a good wine tasting session.
Wineries
The Cape wine region stretches from the glistening coastline and iconic mountains all the way to the open plains of the Klein Karoo where wine making takes place in the riverine valleys.
The Cape Wine lands are divided into six regions encompassing 26 districts, however the most well-known areas are Constantia, Stellenbosch, Durbanville, Paarl and Franschhoek.
Dating back 350 years, Cape Town wine culture has become increasingly popular, with most wines now recognised, renowned and loved all over the world.
All of the cape’s winery’s have unique, picturesque views, interesting architectural designs and all offer exceptional dining experiences.
Take a few days to explore many of the cape wine routes. On the right we’ve listed a few of our favourite wineries.
Our favorites
• Beau Constantia | Constantia
• Klein Constantia | Nova Constantia
• Constantia Glen | Constantia
• Waterkloof | Somerset West
• Uva Mira | Stellenbosch
• Tokara | Stellenbosch
• Warwick | Stellenbosch
• La Petite Ferme | Franschhoek Valley
• Cape Point Vineyards | Noordhook
Our favourite lodges
The Silo
Accommodation; 8 "Silo" rooms (41 m2), 6 superior suites (approx 80 m2), 7 deluxe superior suites (approx 65 m2, but very high windows), 4 family suites (4pax, approx 120m m2), 2 royal suites (2 bedrooms, 132 m2)
Room type; Double or twin bed setup (customers choose). Air conditioning. Wifi.
Meals; Two restaurants serving approachable, contemporary comfort food including aromatic curries, and one top floor pool bar serving tempura, fresh oysters, pulled pork sandwiches, and a selection of healthy snacks.
Lodge facilities; Restaurants, pool, library, bar, spa, gym.
Activities; Helicopter rides, boat cruses, cultural tours, golf, horse riding, tennis, massages, whale watching, shark cage diving and much more.
Price Range; 450-750$ pppn (silo rooms, 600-1050$ pppn (superior suites), 650-1150$ pppn (deluxe superior suites), 1950-3000$ per night (family room), 3100-5000$ per night (royal suite).
Leeu Estate
Accommodation; Classic rooms, Deluxe rooms, Studio rooms and Executive Suites, ranging from 42m2 to 97m2 in size.
Room type; Double or twin beds (customers choose). Fan & aircon. Wifi (complimentary).
Bathroom; Toilet, single or double wash basin (depends on the room), shower. Some have a bath.
Location; Cape Town suburbs between Lion's Head and Table Mountain.
Meals; Breakfast with plenty à la carte options. Lunch & dinner (typical international favourites) with room service. Afternoon tea & cake is served as well.
Hotel facilities; Restaurant, 2 bars.
Activities; Surfing, rock climbing, helicopter rides, wine tasting, golf, and much more.
Price Range; 150-350$ pppn. Same for the private villa, but 4 pax minimum.
Cape Grace
Accommodation; Luxury- & Superior rooms, overlooking either the harbour or Table mountain. Rooftop rooms with or without terrace. Suites with one, two or three rooms. Penthouse.
