One of the most curious facts about South Africa is that it is a country with three capital cities, and Cape Town is one of them. Set in one of Africa’s most fascinating natural environments, the Cape Peninsula, Cape Town is a place with plenty to see, from colourful neighbourhoods and colonial architecture, to beautiful beaches and unspoiled nature.
Read on and discover with us the must-see sights of a good Cape Town itinerary, such as the iconic Table Mountain and the colourful Malay quarter of Bo-Kaap. Plus, we recommend the best places to eat and stay and useful tips for your trip to South Africa.
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What are the best places to see in Cape Town?
Travel Tip: To organize your trip we recommend using Passporter totally free. You can be inspired by the experiences of other travelers, choose the places that interest you most, create the travel route with a geolocated map, upload all important documents such as reservations and invite your friends so that everyone can participate in the organization of the trip.
1. Bo-Kaap, a nice neighbourhood to see in Cape Town
One of the most visited places in Cape Town is its beautiful Bo-Kaap neighbourhood. Emblematic for its famous houses of a thousand colours, Bo-Kaap is a Malay neighbourhood with a Muslim majority, so in addition to the striking houses you can see the curious coloured mosques, which are unique in the world. One example is the green-coloured Auwal Mosque, the first mosque founded in South Africa.
Touring the Bo-Kaap neighbourhood, especially with a guide to tell you about the tragic slave history behind its bright colours, is one of the most enriching experiences you can have on a trip to Cape Town.
2. Table Mountain, a must-see in Cape Town
Tafelberg, known in English as Table Mountain, is a must-see in Cape Town. But the reality is that you’ll see it even if you don’t want to. It’s an impressive 1055-metre-high mountain whose summit is actually a flat surface of about 3km that resembles a table and has given it its curious name.
Although you’re bound to see it from a distance, it’s well worth the drive up to Table Mountain and climb to the top, where you’ll get the best views of Cape Town. There are two ways up: on foot and by funicular, which may be closed due to adverse weather conditions. Funicular tickets can be bought in advance and cost 250 rand, or about €15, and 110 rand for children, about €6.5.
3. Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens
At the foot of Table Mountain lies another of Cape Town’s most beautiful spots, its Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens. Contrary to what you might imagine, this botanical garden is practically a forest where nature invades everything. At more than 500 hectares, it is considered by many to be the most beautiful botanical garden in Africa, with an enviable biodiversity and a firm commitment to protecting the indigenous plant species of the Cape Peninsula.
Walking through the Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens is a must-do experience on any traveller’s itinerary. You’ll be amazed as you walk through a garden that in a matter of metres becomes nature at its wildest.
Hours: Every day from 8:30am to 5:30pm Price: adults R55 (€3.30), students R30 (€1.77), children R15 (€0.88) and children under 6, free of charge.
Kirstenbosch Botanic Gardens, the most beautiful thing to see in Cape Town and Africa @unsplash
4. Long Street
Long Street is the oldest street in Cape Town, as well as the oldest and liveliest. Its beauty lies mainly in its colourful colonial buildings interspersed with more modern buildings, and its many bars, restaurants and nightclubs, which give the area a lively atmosphere.
And when you walk down pretty Long Street you’ll most likely end up in Greenmarket Square, so don’t do it on a Sunday as that’s the only day the market closes in this fantastic square. Here you can find the best souvenir from your trip to Cape Town at one of the many craft stalls.
What to see around Cape Town
Cape of Good Hope
One of the most visited places from Cape Town and one of the most popular places to visit is the Cape of Good Hope, south of the Cape Peninsula and 65km from Cape Town.
This is a wonderful place where many guided tours come to teach you about the history of the Cape of Good Hope, formerly known as the Cape of Storms and long mistakenly considered the southernmost point on the planet. The views from the Cape of Good Hope are absolutely breathtaking. The waves of the blue sea crashing fiercely against the cliffs, the wilderness, the indigenous flora and fauna… make the Cape of Good Hope a unique place on the planet.
The most convenient way to get there on your own is by hire car or taxi. If you prefer to hire a tour, the price usually starts from €50 and upwards and takes in other interesting spots on the Cape Peninsula such as Boulders Beach and Cape Point.
Boulders Beach
Before you reach the beautiful Cape of Good Hope on your journey from Cape Town, you will pass one of the most magical places in South Africa, Boulders Beach. This magnificent beach is part of the Table Mountain National Park. So, it’s under protection for the preservation of the landscape and natural environment.
Besides the beauty of the scenery, with the impressive rocks overlooking the sea, Boulders Beach is home to the largest colony of African penguins in the country and on the continent. This species is endangered, so a trip to Bpulders Beach is a unique opportunity to see such a majestic animal as the African penguin.
How to get to Cape Town?
Cape Town has its own airport, Cape Town International Airport, which has direct flights from various European cities such as Amsterdam and London. Once at the airport, 20km away, getting to the city centre is easy. There are several means of transport that will get you to the centre of Cape Town in about 20 minutes. These range from private services, such as taxis and shuttles, to public buses. Taxis are called ‘Touch Down’ and you can hail one directly at the airport at one of the counters. If you prefer to go by bus, it’s best to take one of the ‘MyCity’ buses from the central terminal. They leave every 20 minutes. It is not possible to pay in cash, you will have to get your MyCity card first. The bus drops you off at the bus station.
Where and what to eat in Cape Town?
South African cuisine has been influenced by many peoples throughout history, from the traditional cuisine of the indigenous peoples to that brought by the European colonisers. Typical dishes include Bobotie, a meat pie with egg, nuts and sultanas; Bunny Chow, a bread traditionally filled with curry, although today it is served with different types of breads and fillings; and among the desserts, Koeksuster, a fried bun glazed with syrup.
- Miller’s Thumb: One of the best restaurants to try both local cuisine and international dishes, where the speciality is fish. It is a small restaurant, which in addition to the unbeatable treatment, gives a family atmosphere to the experience. Price range: 7-21€
- Pigalle Restaurant: A fabulous seafood restaurant with live music and hearty, delicious dishes price range: 14-60€
Where to sleep in Cape Town?
- Kloof Street Hotel:A fabulous four-star hotel in the centre of Cape Town and less than 3km from Broken Bath Beach. The rooms are spacious, comfortable and elegant with views of the mountains. The hotel also has private parking, convenient if you are travelling in South Africa by rental car, restaurant and buffet or a la carte breakfast is served every morning. Average price per night: €80.
- Maartens Guesthouse: A little further from the centre, but only a 10-minute walk from the beach, is this fantastic three-star guesthouse with swimming pool and surrounded by nature. The atmosphere is familiar, Maarten, the owner of the guesthouse himself, welcomes his guests and the treatment is attentive and helpful. Price range per night: from 47€ to 58€ depending on the date.
- South Beach Camps Bay Boutique Hotel: A luxurious five-star beachfront hotel, just 50 metres from Camps Bay Beach. This hotel is in one of the best possible locations in Cape Town, just a minute’s walk from the ever-bustling promenade lined with terraced bars and restaurants. Rooms have terraces with sea views and the hotel has two swimming pools with a sun terrace and bar. Price range: from 333€ to 180€ depending on the date.
What should I consider before travelling to Cape Town?
- The official currency of South Africa is the South African Rand.
- They accept cards at most tourist sites.
- Tipping 10% is the norm.
- The best time to travel to Cape Town is from December to March.
- In South Africa, tap water is safe to drink in the main urban centres.
- If you want to travel around South Africa, the most convenient way is to hire a car.
- There are many languages spoken in the country, with English being the second official language, so you’ll be able to communicate in English without any problems.
- If you are travelling as a Spanish citizen, you will only need a valid passport with an expiry date of more than 30 days from the date of departure from the country.
- Hedge against possible medical emergencies: travel insured.
- Download Passporter to create your Cape Town travel itinerary and save all the places to see in the city.
How do I organise what things to do on my trip to Cape Town?
Register or download the Passporter App and discover all the possibilities.
- Get inspiration from the experiences of other travellers.
- Create your own itinerary and add suggestions from the app to it.
- Add the stops you’re most interested in, as well as the restaurants and bars where you want to eat (you can use the points of interest listed in this post as a reference).
- Organise your itinerary by route days according to their location on the map. You can get ideas from the routes presented in the post.
- Check out the travel budget that the app calculates for you based on your travel stops, restaurants, and leisure activities.
- Make any modifications you need to make and you’re all set for your trip.
- Share your experience. Upload photos of the places you visited on your trip to the app and recommend other travellers what to see in Cape Town.
If you have any doubts about how to do it, you can consult our post: How to create a travel itinerary in Passporter.
Frequently asked questions about a trip to Cape Town
The climate in Cape Town is mainly temperate all year round. The coolest months are June, July and August, with lows of 9°C and highs of 18°C, but very wet. Summer, from December to March, is dry and hot with lows of 15°C and highs of 25°C.
The most popular time of year for tourists to visit Cape Town is the summer months of December to March for its pleasant temperatures and dry weather where you can enjoy the beaches. However, if you prefer to travel in the low season with fewer tourists and better deals, the ideal months are June to August. Always carry an umbrella or mackintosh.
Cape Town is a very large city and it’s not always easy to get around on foot. For this reason, the best option for getting around by public transport is the MyCity, Cape Town’s bus service. A single ticket costs around €2, but you’ll need to get a MyCity card, which you can top up. Children under 4 are free.
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