Solo Travel in Cape Town
A mountain summit built for a slow, solo climb or an easy cable car ride, a wine tasting counter where a table for one is entirely normal, and a beach where wild penguins don’t care who’s watching.
Cape Town genuinely rewards a solo trip well. The wine tasting and hiking culture both suit an independent pace, and several of the city’s most moving sights are better experienced quietly, alone. Here’s how to spend the time well on your own.
Robben Island, at your own pace
A properly moving solo visit, the guided tour of the former prison is an experience many find better suited to quiet, personal reflection than a group outing. Book your ferry ticket well ahead, and take the exhibits at your own speed.
Table Mountain, solo
A properly rewarding solo activity, hiking up via Platteklip Gorge or taking the cable car both work well alone, no need to coordinate with anyone about the pace. Go early if you can, considerably quieter than a weekend afternoon.
A Winelands wine tasting, solo
A genuinely easy way to spend a solo afternoon, wine tastings in Stellenbosch or Franschhoek run on a shared tasting counter model that welcomes solo visitors without a second thought. A good way to meet other travellers too, over the shared glass.
Bo-Kaap on foot
A properly rewarding solo wander, the colourful cobbled streets of Bo-Kaap reward slow, unplanned exploring, no need to coordinate with anyone about which street to duck down next. A cooking class here is worth considering too, several welcome solo bookings.
A free walking tour or township tour
An easy way to meet other travellers and get local context in one go, free walking tours through the city centre and guided township tours both run regularly and welcome solo bookings without a second thought. Worth it early in the trip to get orientated.
Where to eat alone
A market food stall works well solo, counter seating and a menu built for one at most. The V&A Waterfront’s food court covers a solo dinner easily too, casual enough that nobody thinks twice about a single diner.
A note on safety
Cape Town requires more awareness for solo travellers than some destinations, certain areas outside the main tourist zones carry higher crime risk, and it’s worth sticking to well-travelled routes and avoiding walking alone after dark outside busy areas. The Waterfront and city centre are generally safe in daylight, and a rideshare is the sensible choice for evenings.
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.
