Cape Town Sightseeing
Cape Town : Activities and Adventures
Depending on what you want to do, your available time and budget, Cape Town offers an enormous amount of activities, places of interest, accommodation and dining options. We have hand-picked a selection of places to stay (see the drop down menu on the left for our Cape Town places to stay selection) and tested out a small range of family friendly activities which we think are 'must-see' places to go – but there are plenty more!
Some of our favourites (all rates per person)
Depending on what you want to do, your available time and budget, Cape Town offers an enormous amount of activities, places of interest, accommodation and dining options. We have hand-picked a selection of places to stay (see the drop down menu on the left for our Cape Town places to stay selection) and tested out a small range of family friendly activities which we think are 'must-see' places to go – but there are plenty more!
Some of our favourites (all rates per person)
Half-day Cape Town city tour R510
Morning - Depart: 08:00 – 09:00 Return: 12:30 Afternoon - Depart: 13:00 – 14:00 Return: 17:30
South African Museum & The Company Gardens, Parliament Buildings, City Hall & Castle Of Good Hope, Malay Quarter/ Bo-Kaap, Green Market Square, Signal Hill, Camps Bay & Clifton, Short Diamond Factory Tour (Optional), Orange Wi-Fi On Board
OPTIONAL
Visit above highlights + Table Mountain (cable car fee not included & weather-permitting)
Morning - Depart: 08:00 – 09:00 Return: 12:30 Afternoon - Depart: 13:00 – 14:00 Return: 17:30
South African Museum & The Company Gardens, Parliament Buildings, City Hall & Castle Of Good Hope, Malay Quarter/ Bo-Kaap, Green Market Square, Signal Hill, Camps Bay & Clifton, Short Diamond Factory Tour (Optional), Orange Wi-Fi On Board
OPTIONAL
Visit above highlights + Table Mountain (cable car fee not included & weather-permitting)
Best of the Cape Full day R1280
Daily Tours Depart: 08:00 – 09:00 Return: 17:30. Includes entrance fees. Excludes lunch and fees to optional visits.
The Peninsula
Clifton & Camps Bay, Twelve Apostles Mountain Range, Llandudno, Hout Bay, Chapman’s Peak Drive, Noordhoek, Ostrich Viewing, Cape Point, Cape Of Good Hope Nature Reserve, Penguin Colony (Optional), Simons Town, Kalk Bay, Muizenberg, False Bay.
The Wine Route
Stellenbosch Orientation, Wine Tasting, Cellar Tour, Opportunity To Purchase Wine, Cheese-Tasting. Orange Wi-Fi On Board.
Daily Tours Depart: 08:00 – 09:00 Return: 17:30. Includes entrance fees. Excludes lunch and fees to optional visits.
The Peninsula
Clifton & Camps Bay, Twelve Apostles Mountain Range, Llandudno, Hout Bay, Chapman’s Peak Drive, Noordhoek, Ostrich Viewing, Cape Point, Cape Of Good Hope Nature Reserve, Penguin Colony (Optional), Simons Town, Kalk Bay, Muizenberg, False Bay.
The Wine Route
Stellenbosch Orientation, Wine Tasting, Cellar Tour, Opportunity To Purchase Wine, Cheese-Tasting. Orange Wi-Fi On Board.
The Peninsula and Cape of Good Hope Full day R990 Includes entrance fees. Excludes lunch and fee to optional visits.
Daily Tours Depart: 08:00 – 09:00 Return: 17:30
Clifton & Camps Bay, Twelve Apostles, Llandudno, Hout Bay (Optional Boat Trip To Seal Island), Chapmans Peak Drive, Noordhoek, Ostrich Viewing Drive By, Cape Of Good Hope Nature Reserve, Cape Point, Cape Of Good Hope, Penguin Colony (Optional), Simons Town, Muizenberg, Constantia, Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, with Orange Wi-Fi On Board.
Daily Tours Depart: 08:00 – 09:00 Return: 17:30
Clifton & Camps Bay, Twelve Apostles, Llandudno, Hout Bay (Optional Boat Trip To Seal Island), Chapmans Peak Drive, Noordhoek, Ostrich Viewing Drive By, Cape Of Good Hope Nature Reserve, Cape Point, Cape Of Good Hope, Penguin Colony (Optional), Simons Town, Muizenberg, Constantia, Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, with Orange Wi-Fi On Board.
Vineyards tours: Full day R990.
Daily Tours Depart: 08:00 – 09:00 Return: 17:30
Includes cellar tour, 3 wine tastings and one cheese tasting. Excludes lunch and optional visits.
Stellenbosch
City Orientation, Dorp Street, De Braak, Free Walk Around Historical Town, Wine Tasting At A Stellenbosch Wine Estate, Cellar Tour, Cheese Tasting
Paarl
Drive Through Paarl, Wine-Tasting At A Paarl Wine Estate, View Nelson Mandela’s Former Prison (Victor Verster)
Franschhoek
Historical Village, Huguenot Memorial (Optional), Wine Tasting At A Franschhoek Wine Estate, Helshoogte Pass, opportunity to purchase wine.
Daily Tours Depart: 08:00 – 09:00 Return: 17:30
Includes cellar tour, 3 wine tastings and one cheese tasting. Excludes lunch and optional visits.
Stellenbosch
City Orientation, Dorp Street, De Braak, Free Walk Around Historical Town, Wine Tasting At A Stellenbosch Wine Estate, Cellar Tour, Cheese Tasting
Paarl
Drive Through Paarl, Wine-Tasting At A Paarl Wine Estate, View Nelson Mandela’s Former Prison (Victor Verster)
Franschhoek
Historical Village, Huguenot Memorial (Optional), Wine Tasting At A Franschhoek Wine Estate, Helshoogte Pass, opportunity to purchase wine.
Township tours: half-day R590
Morning - Depart: 08:00 – 09:00 Return: 12:30 Afternoon - Depart: 13:00 – 14:00 Return: 17:30
District Six, District Six Museum (Closed On Sundays), Langa (Oldest Formal Township), Community School / Crèche, Shebeen (Option to taste traditional beer), Khayelitsha (Largest Township), meet township entrepreneurs, charismatic church service (Sunday Mornings), Orange Wi-Fi On Board.
Morning - Depart: 08:00 – 09:00 Return: 12:30 Afternoon - Depart: 13:00 – 14:00 Return: 17:30
District Six, District Six Museum (Closed On Sundays), Langa (Oldest Formal Township), Community School / Crèche, Shebeen (Option to taste traditional beer), Khayelitsha (Largest Township), meet township entrepreneurs, charismatic church service (Sunday Mornings), Orange Wi-Fi On Board.
Township evening tour: R700 Depart: 19:00 Return: 22:00
Langa (Oldest Formal Township), Welcome Drinks At Shebeen With Traditional Beer, Home Visit And Traditional Dinner With Local Family, Be Entertained By Local Music, Khayelitsha (Largest Township), Socialise With Residents, Orange Wi-Fi On Board.
Langa (Oldest Formal Township), Welcome Drinks At Shebeen With Traditional Beer, Home Visit And Traditional Dinner With Local Family, Be Entertained By Local Music, Khayelitsha (Largest Township), Socialise With Residents, Orange Wi-Fi On Board.
Whale Route Full Day Season: Mid July to October R990
Daily Tours - Depart: 08:00 – 09:00 Return: 17:30
Gordon’s Bay, Pringle Bay & Betty’s Bay, The Harold Porter Botanical Gardens, drive through Hamilton Russell Wine Estate (except Sundays), Rotary Drive, Fernkloof Nature Reserve, Hermanus, land based whale watching, whale-watching boat trip (optional), Elgin, Sir Lowry’s Pass, Orange Wi-Fi on board.
Daily Tours - Depart: 08:00 – 09:00 Return: 17:30
Gordon’s Bay, Pringle Bay & Betty’s Bay, The Harold Porter Botanical Gardens, drive through Hamilton Russell Wine Estate (except Sundays), Rotary Drive, Fernkloof Nature Reserve, Hermanus, land based whale watching, whale-watching boat trip (optional), Elgin, Sir Lowry’s Pass, Orange Wi-Fi on board.
Table Mountain
Thousands of people across the world voted and on November 11, 2011, Table Mountain was named among the New 7 Wonders of Nature. You can get to the top of Cape Town's most famous icon in just five minutes by taking a cable car, or spend the better part of your day hiking up. Table Mountain Cableway, established in 1929, takes visitors to the top in one of two cable cars, each with rotating floors and huge windows to ensure your views while travelling are almost as spectacular as those on the summit. Cable cars depart every 10 to 15 minutes.
From the top of Table Mountain, there are magnificent views of the Cape Town city centre, surrounding suburbs and the Atlantic Ocean. Landmarks in view include the Cape Town Stadium, Robben Island and Camps Bay beach. There are a number of short walks on the top, as well as longer ones that can take you down to Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden, or even further along, to the Silvermine Nature Reserve.
Table Mountain is known for its rich biodiversity and is home to over 1 500 species of plants (more than the number found throughout the entire British Isles), most of them fynbos, which forms one of the world’s six plant kingdoms all on its own. At its highest point, Table Mountain reaches 1085m (3560ft) and affords views all the way to Robben Island and beyond.
When you’ve worked up an appetite, Table Mountain Café is a self-service restaurant where you can enjoy food and refreshments. The Café uses compostable plates and containers for food instead of regular, washable plates, helping conserve about 20 000 litres of water per month. Measures like these are part of Table Mountain Aerial Cableway’s mission to reduce their ecological footprint.
Getting there/ opening times/ tickets:
The lower cable station is located at the western end of Table Mountain. A City Sightseeing bus, taxi (at about R60 one way) or Rikki's cab (around R20 per person) from the CBD will take you to the departure point. If you’re using your own transport, take Buitengracht Street towards the mountain. After crossing Camp Street, Buitengracht becomes Kloof Nek Road. Follow Kloof Nek Road to a traffic circle, then turn left at Tafelberg Road and follow the signs to the Cableway.
The Cableway operates only when weather permits and does not take bookings. Tickets can be purchased on the day of your visit at the lower station ticket office or online (a better option, particularly on busy days, as the queue for those with online tickets is shorter). It is freely accessible to people with disabilities, and there are dedicated parking spots at the lower cable station for those with disabilities. Visit the Cableway’s website to check the weather conditions, ensure the cable cars are running, and purchase tickets online.
Weatherline: +27 (0)21 424 8181.
Costs
Ticket type Return One way
Adult R255 R135
4-17 years R125 R65
Opening hours:
Opening hours vary from season to season. For full details, please check the website schedule. Generally the first car goes up at 08h00 and the last car comes down at 21h30 in summer. In winter, the first car goes up at around 08h30 and the last returns at 18h00.
If you would prefer to hike up the mountain, contact the Cape Town Tourism Visitor Information Centre at the lower cable station to book a registered guide or tour operator. You can book any tour, accommodation and transport from this centre, and make reservations for any one of South Africa’s national parks.
There are also other ways to experience the mountain up close, including doing the Hoerikwaggo Trail, or walking up the mountain from Silvermine Nature Reserve or Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden. Depending on where you walk from, you may not have to pay a cent to enjoy the mountain if you walk up the front of the mountain via Platteklip Gorge, a great route to the top if you like a walk.
Cape Point (self-drive)
Cape Point, the most south-westerly tip of Africa, is a spectacular sight, covered in endemicfynbos and home to breathtaking bays, beaches and rolling green hills and valleys, just 60km outside of Cape Town. Cape Point falls within the Cape Floral Region, a World Heritage Site, and is the most southerly point within the Good Hope section of Table Mountain National Park. The Cape Floral Region is one of the richest areas for plants in the world – it is home to nearly 20% of Africa’s flora. Apart from the spectacular view, you’ll be able to see the most powerful lighthouse on the South African coast, which helps guide ships safely through perilous waters that have seen to the end of many a vessel.
Look out, too, for pelagic birds of which there are a large variety, zebra, eland, and the many species of reptiles and small mammals. Chacma baboons are common here, especially at the point itself. Don’t be tempted to feed the baboons and rather stay well away, as they can be aggressive.
Cape Point is open daily and is a must-see. Enter via the access gate to the Cape Point Nature Reserve. The reserve is open from 06h00 to sunset in summer and 07h00 to 17h00 in winter.
Tickets cost R105 per adult and R50 per child. It is not necessary to book beforehand.
Robben Island Tours Adults R320 Children R180
Currently the boat runs three times a day, 09h00, 11h00 and 13h00 until the beginning of the peak season (01 September 2015). The ferries depart from the Nelson Mandela Gateway at the V & A Waterfront. The tour takes 3.5 hours including the ferry trip to and from the Island (Depending on the boat used as they have different travel times).
You will disembark at Murray’s Bay Harbour situated on the east coast of the Island and take a short walk to buses that will transport you to all the historical sites around the Island. On the way to the buses, you will pass buildings and a high wall built by prisoners during the 1960s.The buildings were used for family and lawyer visits to prisoners.
You will meet your Tour Guide when you have boarded the busses. The Tour guides inside the prison are former political prisoners. They are fully conversant and knowledgeable about the Island’s multi-layered 500 year old history. The tour route includes the graveyard of people who died from leprosy, the Lime Quarry, Robert Sobukwe’s house, the Bluestone quarry, the army and navy bunkers and the Maximum Security Prison where thousands of South Africa’s freedom fighters were incarcerated for years. The tour culminates with a viewing of Nelson Mandela’s cell.
Cape Point & seal snorkeling ocean safari
9AM to 2PM R1400
See Cape Point from a different angle. Get that photo you always see in the National Geographic magazine. Make a pass through Smitswinkel bay and Buffels bay past the Dias crosses and close to the cliffs below the historic lighthouse that leads up to the point. Visit the Roman Rock Lighthouse – the only lighthouse on our coast to have been erected on a single rock. We often see penguins, whales and a whole range of seabirds on trips down to the tip of the peninsula.
Seal Snorkeling
Jump into the water with the Cape Fur Seals and have a blast with the clowns of the sea. On our way back from Cape Point we stop at Partridge Point that is home to a few hundred seals. They are extremely curious and playful and will entertain divers and snorkelers alike. They mostly hang around the surface when they are in the water but will dive down to 25 metres to Scuba divers.The Cape fur Seal activity is available all year and anybody is welcome to join in on this activity.
Cage diving with Great White Sharks
As well as the very popular half-day trips, we can offer full days, and special tailored five and ten-day packages for the serious shark or nature enthusiast. See the Cape Town shark diving page for more information.
False Bay - February to September Half day trips
Included: 7:00 to 12:30 – Breaching, shark cage diving and natural predation.
13:00 to 17:00 – Shark cage diving and breaching on the decoy.
Simon's Town – 45 minutes from Cape Town – transfers arranged.
2 divers per 20 to 30 minutes dive time. No experience required.
Passionate crew, educational booklet, dive gear, light meal, snacks & refreshments.
Scuba diving with Mako and Blue Sharks - October to June R3000 pp - full day see here
Cape Fur Seals and Seven-Gill Cow Sharks, and endemic shy sharks, two tank dive trip - All Year Round R1750 or R1850 see here
Thousands of people across the world voted and on November 11, 2011, Table Mountain was named among the New 7 Wonders of Nature. You can get to the top of Cape Town's most famous icon in just five minutes by taking a cable car, or spend the better part of your day hiking up. Table Mountain Cableway, established in 1929, takes visitors to the top in one of two cable cars, each with rotating floors and huge windows to ensure your views while travelling are almost as spectacular as those on the summit. Cable cars depart every 10 to 15 minutes.
From the top of Table Mountain, there are magnificent views of the Cape Town city centre, surrounding suburbs and the Atlantic Ocean. Landmarks in view include the Cape Town Stadium, Robben Island and Camps Bay beach. There are a number of short walks on the top, as well as longer ones that can take you down to Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden, or even further along, to the Silvermine Nature Reserve.
Table Mountain is known for its rich biodiversity and is home to over 1 500 species of plants (more than the number found throughout the entire British Isles), most of them fynbos, which forms one of the world’s six plant kingdoms all on its own. At its highest point, Table Mountain reaches 1085m (3560ft) and affords views all the way to Robben Island and beyond.
When you’ve worked up an appetite, Table Mountain Café is a self-service restaurant where you can enjoy food and refreshments. The Café uses compostable plates and containers for food instead of regular, washable plates, helping conserve about 20 000 litres of water per month. Measures like these are part of Table Mountain Aerial Cableway’s mission to reduce their ecological footprint.
Getting there/ opening times/ tickets:
The lower cable station is located at the western end of Table Mountain. A City Sightseeing bus, taxi (at about R60 one way) or Rikki's cab (around R20 per person) from the CBD will take you to the departure point. If you’re using your own transport, take Buitengracht Street towards the mountain. After crossing Camp Street, Buitengracht becomes Kloof Nek Road. Follow Kloof Nek Road to a traffic circle, then turn left at Tafelberg Road and follow the signs to the Cableway.
The Cableway operates only when weather permits and does not take bookings. Tickets can be purchased on the day of your visit at the lower station ticket office or online (a better option, particularly on busy days, as the queue for those with online tickets is shorter). It is freely accessible to people with disabilities, and there are dedicated parking spots at the lower cable station for those with disabilities. Visit the Cableway’s website to check the weather conditions, ensure the cable cars are running, and purchase tickets online.
Weatherline: +27 (0)21 424 8181.
Costs
Ticket type Return One way
Adult R255 R135
4-17 years R125 R65
Opening hours:
Opening hours vary from season to season. For full details, please check the website schedule. Generally the first car goes up at 08h00 and the last car comes down at 21h30 in summer. In winter, the first car goes up at around 08h30 and the last returns at 18h00.
If you would prefer to hike up the mountain, contact the Cape Town Tourism Visitor Information Centre at the lower cable station to book a registered guide or tour operator. You can book any tour, accommodation and transport from this centre, and make reservations for any one of South Africa’s national parks.
There are also other ways to experience the mountain up close, including doing the Hoerikwaggo Trail, or walking up the mountain from Silvermine Nature Reserve or Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden. Depending on where you walk from, you may not have to pay a cent to enjoy the mountain if you walk up the front of the mountain via Platteklip Gorge, a great route to the top if you like a walk.
Cape Point (self-drive)
Cape Point, the most south-westerly tip of Africa, is a spectacular sight, covered in endemicfynbos and home to breathtaking bays, beaches and rolling green hills and valleys, just 60km outside of Cape Town. Cape Point falls within the Cape Floral Region, a World Heritage Site, and is the most southerly point within the Good Hope section of Table Mountain National Park. The Cape Floral Region is one of the richest areas for plants in the world – it is home to nearly 20% of Africa’s flora. Apart from the spectacular view, you’ll be able to see the most powerful lighthouse on the South African coast, which helps guide ships safely through perilous waters that have seen to the end of many a vessel.
Look out, too, for pelagic birds of which there are a large variety, zebra, eland, and the many species of reptiles and small mammals. Chacma baboons are common here, especially at the point itself. Don’t be tempted to feed the baboons and rather stay well away, as they can be aggressive.
Cape Point is open daily and is a must-see. Enter via the access gate to the Cape Point Nature Reserve. The reserve is open from 06h00 to sunset in summer and 07h00 to 17h00 in winter.
Tickets cost R105 per adult and R50 per child. It is not necessary to book beforehand.
Robben Island Tours Adults R320 Children R180
Currently the boat runs three times a day, 09h00, 11h00 and 13h00 until the beginning of the peak season (01 September 2015). The ferries depart from the Nelson Mandela Gateway at the V & A Waterfront. The tour takes 3.5 hours including the ferry trip to and from the Island (Depending on the boat used as they have different travel times).
You will disembark at Murray’s Bay Harbour situated on the east coast of the Island and take a short walk to buses that will transport you to all the historical sites around the Island. On the way to the buses, you will pass buildings and a high wall built by prisoners during the 1960s.The buildings were used for family and lawyer visits to prisoners.
You will meet your Tour Guide when you have boarded the busses. The Tour guides inside the prison are former political prisoners. They are fully conversant and knowledgeable about the Island’s multi-layered 500 year old history. The tour route includes the graveyard of people who died from leprosy, the Lime Quarry, Robert Sobukwe’s house, the Bluestone quarry, the army and navy bunkers and the Maximum Security Prison where thousands of South Africa’s freedom fighters were incarcerated for years. The tour culminates with a viewing of Nelson Mandela’s cell.
Cape Point & seal snorkeling ocean safari
9AM to 2PM R1400
See Cape Point from a different angle. Get that photo you always see in the National Geographic magazine. Make a pass through Smitswinkel bay and Buffels bay past the Dias crosses and close to the cliffs below the historic lighthouse that leads up to the point. Visit the Roman Rock Lighthouse – the only lighthouse on our coast to have been erected on a single rock. We often see penguins, whales and a whole range of seabirds on trips down to the tip of the peninsula.
Seal Snorkeling
Jump into the water with the Cape Fur Seals and have a blast with the clowns of the sea. On our way back from Cape Point we stop at Partridge Point that is home to a few hundred seals. They are extremely curious and playful and will entertain divers and snorkelers alike. They mostly hang around the surface when they are in the water but will dive down to 25 metres to Scuba divers.The Cape fur Seal activity is available all year and anybody is welcome to join in on this activity.
Cage diving with Great White Sharks
As well as the very popular half-day trips, we can offer full days, and special tailored five and ten-day packages for the serious shark or nature enthusiast. See the Cape Town shark diving page for more information.
False Bay - February to September Half day trips
Included: 7:00 to 12:30 – Breaching, shark cage diving and natural predation.
13:00 to 17:00 – Shark cage diving and breaching on the decoy.
Simon's Town – 45 minutes from Cape Town – transfers arranged.
2 divers per 20 to 30 minutes dive time. No experience required.
Passionate crew, educational booklet, dive gear, light meal, snacks & refreshments.
Scuba diving with Mako and Blue Sharks - October to June R3000 pp - full day see here
Cape Fur Seals and Seven-Gill Cow Sharks, and endemic shy sharks, two tank dive trip - All Year Round R1750 or R1850 see here