Cape Town is one of the most stunningly beautiful places that should be on every avid travellers bucket list. From its iconic and domineering Table Mountain, to its fantastic beaches and surf, there really is so much on offer in this wonderfully diverse city.
The experts at Cape Portfolios have listed their top 10 must do and see things in Cape Town.
Visit the Cape Peninsula
Visiting the Cape Peninsula is a must to for anyone visiting the area who has a little more time on their hands, there are many tours you can book on which will take you to the main attractions of this dramatic coastline such as the famous Cape of Good Hope, Cape point and the fantastic Boulders beach home to the African penguin colony where you can get up and close to the wildlife. You can also do a self-drive tour if you want to spend a little longer in these areas.
Visit the Cape Winelands
If you’re a bit of a wine connoisseur and have enough time on your hands, why not head about an hour’s drive from Cape Town where lies the Cape Winelands, which you can either self-drive or take a guided tour. Some of the best vineyards in Cape Town are Tokara, Kanonkop, and Delaire Graff Estate. Located in the Constantia Valley, only about 20 minutes outside of Cape Town is the oldest wine producing estate in South Africa, Groot Constantia, which is definitely worth a visit.
Cable car up table mountain
Possibly one of the most popular attractions in Cape Town, and one if it’s most celebrated features is the iconic Table Mountain. The rocks of the mountain are approximately 600 million years old, and are 6 times older than the Himalayas. Whether you choose to climb the mountain, take the cable car, or appreciate it from afar, this is undoubtedly the most popular must do attraction in Cape Town.
Visit the beach
Cape Town and the surrounding areas are home to some of the most picturesque beaches in the world, each with their own unique advantages. The beaches along the False Bay coastline boast warm water and good swimming conditions; the Atlantic coast water is much colder but always gives off a spectacular turquoise glow. A few of the more popular beaches to visit are Milnerton Beach, Camps Bay Beach and Boulders Beach. And further afield you’ll find some world-class surf spots in Durban, which is also known for the idyllic beaches of the Golden Mile. Though it’s a little out of the way of Cape Town itself, a visit to Durban for the beaches alone is a must and flights from Durban to Cape Town are a little over two hours, so you could easily extend your trip by a few days – it’ll be worth it.
Enjoy the cuisine
Cape Town is known for its amazingly delicious and diverse cuisine. The South African cooking mainly consists of chicken, game, tomatoes, lemons and limes, as well as corn in form of breads and flour, beans as well as ginger, chili and spices. A few of the best restaurants to visit are The Pot Luck Club, The Hussar Grill Mouille Point & the Chefs Warehouse & Canteen.
Enjoy some Jazz
When once it thrived in the 50’s, Jazz is no longer limited to dark, Smokey basement clubs and is celebrated across the world. Cape Town jazz culture has become huge over the last decade and boasts a variety of jazz clubs and events, including the much anticipated annual Cape Town International Jazz Festival. A few of the best places to enjoy some authentic Jazz are The Alliance Française du Cap, The Piano Bar, Kaleidoscope Café all located in central Cape Town.
Go on safari
The fabulous thing about this area is that it is just a stone’s throw away from the real Africa where you can see the wildlife in their natural habit – and there is nothing more spectacular than this we can assure you. There are many different safari tours and operators to choose from who will pick you up from your accommodation and take you to the various different safari areas.
Visit Victoria & Alfred Waterfront
Cape Town’s tourism Centre is located within the fantastic harbour setting opposite Table Mountain, this is where the old historical harbour town meets modern shopping, fine dining and leisure. The V&A Waterfront’s stunning setting has been enticing visitors for years thanks to its status as Cape Town’s leading shopping and entertainment destination. When you visit be sure to watch the street performers and musicians which draw the crowds as well as bustling craft restaurants and markets.
Get to know South African history
If it’s a bit of historical digest you seek when in this authentic City, then you must head to Robben Island and the District Six Museum to explore South Africa’s period of apartheid, which came to an end in 1990. The award-winning community museum, District Six educates on the time when the ruling government declared the area ‘whites only’ and over 60,000 of its residents were forcibly taken from their homes.
Go swimming with sharks
Not for the faint hearted, but something that visitors love to try – Shark diving is a popular choice for many travellers to the area. South Africa has an incredibly diverse shark population with a quarter of the world’s shark species dwelling in South African waters. Many tour operators offer shark swimming tours, with them depending on how brave you feel as well as your swimming ability. Adrenalin junkies will want to journey to Gansbaii, the white shark capital of the world.
