Things to Do in Cape Town
Prices, opening hours, best times to visit and the stuff nobody tells you, everything you need for a first trip to Cape Town, South Africa, plus one pigeon's opinions on all of it.
Right, Cape Town. Mountain, ocean, vineyards, all within about twenty minutes of each other, unreasonable, really, one of the more geographically blessed cities I've had the pleasure of circling. This is the proper, no-nonsense guide to things to do in Cape Town: what things actually cost, when to go, what to skip, and which bits are worth the cable car queue. Six main stops below, plus a quiz elsewhere on this site to see if you were paying attention.
Table Mountain
Cape Town is overlooked by a flat-topped mountain that has become one of its most iconic landmarks, called Table Mountain, a cable car carries visitors to the top for sweeping views across the city and coastline, a rotating cabin adding a full panoramic sweep on the way up. On clear days the views stretch out to Robben Island and along the whole Cape Peninsula.
The mountain is frequently capped by a cloud formation locals call the 'tablecloth', worth checking conditions before you go, the cable car closes in high wind and the summit view is obviously pointless if it's socked in cloud. Hiking to the top (Platteklip Gorge is the standard route) is a properly serious, steep option for the fit and prepared.
Hours Daily, roughly 8am–6pm, weather dependent
Official site tablemountain.net
Robben Island
Robben Island, visible from Cape Town's harbour, is best known as the former prison holding Nelson Mandela, he spent 18 of his 27 years in prison on this small island just off the coast, an essential, sobering visit for understanding South Africa's history of apartheid and the long road to democracy. Tours are led by former political prisoners themselves in many cases, adding a direct, personal weight to the experience that a standard guide couldn't replicate.
Ferries depart from the V&A Waterfront, book well ahead, this regularly sells out, especially in peak season, and tours are only available at set times rather than on demand.
Hours Ferries depart several times daily, weather permitting
Official site robben-island.org.za
Cape Point & the Cape Peninsula
Cape Town sits near the meeting point of the Atlantic and the Indian Ocean, Cape Point, nearby, is often mistakenly called the exact meeting point of the two oceans (the actual geographic meeting point is further east, at Cape Agulhas, but Cape Point remains dramatic and worth the trip regardless of the technicality). The drive down the peninsula passes Boulders Beach, home to a colony of African penguins, and Chapman's Peak, one of the most scenic coastal drives anywhere.
It's a full day out, the peninsula, the penguins, and Cape Point's lighthouse and cliffs together, worth renting a car or booking an organised tour to cover it all properly.
Getting there About 1 hour from central Cape Town
Best time A full day; go early to avoid the worst of the tour bus crowds
Stellenbosch & Franschhoek Wine Country
About 45 minutes from Cape Town, the Cape Winelands, Stellenbosch and Franschhoek especially, offer properly world-class wine tasting against a backdrop of dramatic mountains, one of the more scenic wine regions anywhere. Tastings are affordable by international standards, and several estates combine tastings with excellent restaurants for a full day out.
A driver or organised tour is worth it if you're doing a proper tasting circuit across several estates, don't plan on driving yourself after multiple tastings.
Getting there About 45 minutes from Cape Town
Best time A full day; harvest season (Feb–Apr) adds extra atmosphere
V&A Waterfront
Cape Town's harbourfront district, shops, restaurants, and the departure point for Robben Island ferries, a properly lively area day and night, with sweeping Table Mountain views back across the harbour. The Two Oceans Aquarium here is worth a visit, particularly for its Cape marine life exhibits.
It's a good base for an evening out, restaurants with harbour views and a proper, relaxed waterfront atmosphere, particularly pleasant at sunset with the mountain lit up behind the city.
Best time Evening for the atmosphere and sunset views
Bo-Kaap
A historic neighbourhood on the slopes of Signal Hill, brightly coloured houses reflecting the area's Cape Malay heritage, a community descended largely from enslaved people brought to the Cape from Southeast Asia and elsewhere centuries ago. It's a properly photogenic neighbourhood, worth combining a wander with a proper Cape Malay cooking class or meal, several offered by local residents.
This is a lived-in, working-class community, not a museum piece, worth visiting respectfully rather than treating it purely as a photo backdrop.
Address Bo-Kaap, central Cape Town
Best time to visit Cape Town
November through March, the Southern Hemisphere summer, gives the most reliable weather for Table Mountain, the Cape Point drive, and beach time, warm and dry with the region's famous southeaster wind a regular feature.
The Cape Winelands' harvest season (February through April) adds real atmosphere if wine country is a priority, and shoulder months generally offer a good balance of decent weather and fewer crowds than peak December-January summer holidays.
Getting around Cape Town
Central Cape Town and the V&A Waterfront are walkable, but the city overall genuinely benefits from a car or organised tours for Table Mountain, Cape Point, and the Winelands, all a fair distance apart. Ride-hailing apps are reliable and widely used within the city itself.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Cape Town worth visiting?
- Yes, easily, few cities combine mountain, ocean, and wine country this closely together, and Robben Island adds genuine historical depth beyond the scenery.
- How many days do you need in Cape Town?
- Five days gives a comfortable pace for Table Mountain, Robben Island, the Cape Peninsula, and a Winelands day trip.
- Is Cape Town expensive?
- Moderate, generally affordable by international standards, particularly for wine tastings and dining, though major paid attractions like Table Mountain and Robben Island do add up.
- What is Cape Town famous for?
- Table Mountain, Robben Island where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned, and its position near the meeting point of the Atlantic and Indian Oceans.
That's everything I've got.
A note before you plan around this: prices, opening hours, booking requirements and admission details in this guide were correct at the time of writing, but venues change these often and sometimes without notice. Always check directly with the attraction or its official website before you travel or build a schedule around a specific time or price.
Before travelling to any destination featured on this site, please also check your government's latest travel advice, as safety situations, entry requirements and travel warnings can change.
