Must see places in Cape Town

What to do and see in Cape Town ?

Find out what the “must see” places are and what you can do in the city. Read the list and pick your choices of the best things to see – also the things that are for free, maybe you will have fun without spending a cent.

Below we have some recommendations for you. You can use the disqus field below to share experiences with other travellers.

WORTH SEEING IN CAPE TOWN

Bo-Kaap. This neighbourhood, located on a hill south-west of downtown, is the area historically inhabited by mainly Muslim descendants of slaves from South-East Asia (hence an older term for the area – ‘Malay Quarter’. It’s a common location for film shoots, as there are some very colourful buildings, quaint streets, mosques. views over Cape Town and some great food sold on the side of the street. It’s well worth wandering around for an hour or so, as well as visiting the Bo-Kaap Museum (a view of a prosperous Muslim family from the 19th Century). Atlas Trading is and old fashioned shop where you can buy spices for any dish. Ask the proprieter to mix you the necessary spice for the meal you intend making. Approximately 1km from the Bo-Kaap, is the Noon Gun which is fired every day at noon – from Monday to Saturday. You can go and view the short ceremony that takes place before the actual shooting as well as the shooting itself.

The Castle of Good Hope, Buitenkant Street. The Castle of Good Hope is South Africa’s oldest surviving building. It was built between 1666 and 1679. It is popularly called ‘The Castle’ by locals. It has extensive displays of historical military paraphernalia, a history of the castle, an art collection and the William Fehr Collection (including old Cape Dutch furniture).You can eat and buy wine inside the Castle at the restaurant or café. Tours are offered Monday through Saturday at 11:00AM, 12:00PM, and 2:00PM. Horse and carriage rides are offered daily at 10:30 AM, 12:45PM and 2:45PM. Booking is necessary. R28 entrance fee.

Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, Rhodes Drive, Newlands. Created on land given to the South African people by Cecil Rhodes Kirstenbosch is one of the worlds most stunning gardens in possibly the most stunning location set below the Castle Bustress cliffs of table mountain. View the hugely diverse and beautiful plants and flowers of the Cape flora. Plants from all of the regions of South Africa are on display, including rare succulents from the Richtersveld, a giant baobab tree, and interesting medicinal plants. There is also an avenue planted with a tree from every country in the Commonwealth, started during Rhodes time some of these trees are now an impressive size. Numerous paths wander through the grounds situated on the back side of Table Mountain. Several restaurants, a gift shop and indigenous nursery are also available. At various times of the year concerts are performed in the open air amphitheatre. Art is frequently on display, including large Shona stone sculptures from Zimbabwe. The gardens are also home to the National Biodiversity Institute. The latest addition to Kirstenbosch is an elevated wooden pathway through the tree tops. This is a must see if you are in Cape Town, walking through the tops of trees is an amazing experience, especially if you give the walk way a shake! Its designed to move and sway in the wind. What makes the garden so special, is that every season gives you something new to see – new flowers, different birds, etc. During the summer months, sunset concerts feature excellent local and international music acts in diverse genres. Get there early to get a good spot on the grass amphitheatre. Bring a picnic, and enjoy the sounds of the Cape Philharmonic Orchestra, local rock bands, and popular artists like Freshlyground and Goldfish.

Robben Island. Located just off the coast from Cape Town, this was the location used during the apartheid days to hold political prisoners, including Nelson Mandela and the late Walter Sisulu. The tour consists of a guided bus tour around the island, before meeting a former political prisoner for a tour of the prison area. The island itself is quite scenic, with African penguins usually seen on the tour. The bus tour stops to allow you to take in the view, and buy a snack. Tours run several times per day, seven days a week from the Nelson Mandela Gateway near the clock tower at the V&A Waterfront. Tickets can be purchased online or by phone. There are three trips a day at 9:00, 11:00, and 13:00. The tour takes 3.5 hours including the ferry ride to and from the island. R250.

Rhodes Memorial. The memorial is situated on the slope of Devils Peak mountain to the side of Table Mountain and commands one of the best views in to the Cape interior. Designed by Sir Herbert Baker, who also designed the Union Buildings in Pretoria as a memorial to pioneer Cecil John Rhodes. It’s built in the style of the Greek temple at Segesta on Rhodes favourite spot on the lower slopes of Devil’s Peak. Rhodes’s own wooden bench is still located below the memorial. The memorial is fronted by a large statue of a man on a horse, this is one of three called Physical Energy by George Frederic Watts, the others being in London’s Kensington Gardens and in front of the Zimbabwe National Archive in Harare. The memorial is part of the Table Mountain National Park which is a great spot for picnicking. The memorial is also a start for the hiking along Devil’s Peak. Rhodes Memorial and the surrounding bike and hiking trails have become a very popular spot. The Cafe and tea room located just behind the memorial being very popular for lunch, it looks out over a corner of the national park which people cant use so attracts lots of animals, its the only place in Cape Town where you can have coffee and watch wildebeest and Zebra walking on the slopes below you. Best to book a table as soon as you arrive at the memorial then do your sightseeing, otherwise you may need to wait.

South African Parliament. Cape Town is the legislative seat of South Africa (the Presidential seat is in Pretoria and the Supreme Court is at Bloemfontein). A tour of this compound will acquaint you with South Africa’s recent history and its political system. The tour includes visits to the National Assembly, the National Council of Provinces and the old apartheid-era assembly which is now only used for caucus and committee meetings. Tours are offered a few times per day in various languages. Free entrance and tours.

Two Oceans Aquarium, V&A Waterfront. Open 9:30AM to 6PM. You can come and watch the sharks be fed every Sunday at 3:00 PM. There is an extensive series of events calender for each month. Scuba diving is also offered. A walk around the aquarium takes about an hour.

Victoria and Alfred Waterfront. A huge shopping and entertainment area at the slopes of Table Mountain, next to the harbour. It is very popular with tourists, because of the high density of shops, restaurants and amusement possibilities, like the Aquarium [30] or the Marine Museum. Harbour tours and trips to Robben Island start from here, as well as helicopter flights to the Cape Peninsula. The V&A Waterfront has more or less full wheelchair access.

District Six Museum. District Six is an area near downtown Cape Town which remained multiracial well into the 1960s against all attempts by the government to declare it a “white only” area. Eventually the residents were all evicted and the buildings were bulldozed. The area remains uninhabited. The museum provides information about the area, the eviction, the Group Areas Act, and the people who used to live there. The director of the museum is a former resident. There is a small bookstore with an excellent selection of books on South Africa’s history, District Six and apartheid.

Groot Constantia, Groot Constantia Estate, Constantia. Open daily 10AM to 5PM. One of the oldest wine estates in South Africa R8 entrance fee.

South African Jewish Museum, 88 Hatfield Street. The Museum about this small community that has made large contributions in South African society and bringing down Apartheid. The museum is about Jews but Non-Jews will find it very interesting and informative.

South African Maritime Museum, Union Castle Building, V&A Waterfront. This Museum displays include evidence of the early seafarers round the Cape Of Good Hope. Small craft, locally made and a wide variety of maritime artifacts displays are also offered.

South African National Gallery, Government Avenue, Gardens. 10AM to 5PM Tuesday to Sunday. Located in the Gardens area of Cape Town off Government Ave (about a 20 minute walk from downtown). Contains extensive displays of South African art, as well as information on the history of censorship of art during apartheid.

10 THINGS YOU COULD (SHOULD) DO IN CAPE TOWN

1. Take the Cable Car to the top of Table Mountain, Lower Cable Station, Tafelberg Road. Both the cable car and the pathways on top of the mountain are wheelchair accessible. Always take something warm to wear when going up the mountain, even if it is a nice toasty 30C at the bottom of the mountain. Weather conditions at the top of the mountain are not the same as at the bottom. There is a cafe with a limited range of snacks, coffee, beer and wine at the top. Table Mountain is the home of a small animal, the rock rabbit (known locally as the ‘Dassie’) whose closest relative, DNA-wise, is the elephant, and you can see them running around on the rocks at the top of the mountain.

2. Climbing Table Mountain – Platteklip Gorge is the most accessible and therefore the most popular route for climbing up Table Mountain. You start from Tafelberg Road and proceed up a steep gully to the top of Table Mountain. It’s a steep 2 hours but well worth the effort and you can jump in the cable car back down to spare your knees. Be cautioned that the cable car does not operate in strong winds so you need to check before departing. Take water, sun block, hat and jacket. The cloud comes down unannounced and the temperature could plummet. Poorly equipped hikers often have to be rescued. Although it is very steep this route is extremely popular and you are guaranteed to meet many people on the way up and down. The gorge is shaded in the afternoon but earlier in the day it can be extremely hot with very little shade. Most of the route involves rock steps which can be challenging and many people find coming down even harder than going up. Don’t underestimate the time and energy required for the downward section of this hike. Remember to take lots of water – this climb can be hot! Wear appropriate hiking shoes. Leave plenty of time to get down before dark. As this is a well known route and easy accessible, many inexperienced hikers attempt the climb. Take care, or consider a guide. Guided hikes can be booked through the ever resourceful local company SABP Tours.

3. Touring the Cape Peninsula— Go to the Cape of Good Hope via Simon’s Town and the African penguin colony at Boulders. Visit Cape Point in the Table Mountain National Park, maybe have lunch there before taking a hike in a quieter part of the reserve to immerse yourself in the essence of the landscape. There’s a strong chance you’ll find yourself among a herd of antelope, or zebra, a troop of baboon or ostriches.

4. A day on the beach. Beaches on the False Bay side of the peninsula are the most popular with swimmers as the water is warmer. St James has the most picturesque tidal pool on the stretch between Muizenberg and Kalk Bay, while Clovelly and Fish Hoek beaches wrap around a sheltered bay with soft, white sands. Fishing boats, hobie cats and kayaks launch from here too. Brave hearts can sun-worship and swim naked in the freezing water of the isolated and breathtaking nudist beach Sandy Bay near Llandudno. Major spot for gay tourists as well. There’s a 1.5 km walk down from the parking lot. Camps Bay and Clifton also have great beaches to visit if you want to try the chillier waters of the west coast. Or if you can do Surfing is Cape Town one of the best places to surf. Muizenberg is a good place for beginners to learn to surf, Gary offers reasonably priced lessons from a shop facing the beach. Don’t forget that the False Bay area (where Muizenberg is located in addition to Kalk Bay and Fish Hoek) is known for its sharks! If you’re an experienced surfer, try the reef break at Kalk Bay, Outer Kom near Kommetjie or Misty Cliffs on the coast road near Scarborough. You could head up the west coast and sample Milnerton, Table View or Big Bay, although Big Bay is often crowded with people kitesurfing due to the windy conditions. When the swell is really cranking, the big wave surfers gather at Dungeons, near Hout Bay, for some of the biggest surfable waves in the world. Kite Surfing, the you came to the right spot, Cape Town is one of the best Kite Surfing destinations in the world. Being on the South Western tip of Africa allows kitesurfers to gain access to two oceans, and the famous Cape Doctor which is also known as the South Easter blows most days from October until April. Cape Town offers great kitesurfing to those just starting in the sport as well as seasoned professionals who often spend their off season training around the Cape. Some of the most popular Kite surfing hot spots are Dolphin Beach in Blouberg Strand, Muizenberg and Langebaan Lagoon. Langebaan lagoon is one of the best places in the world to learn how to kitesurf, with its warmer waters, shallow sand banks and steady wind.

5. Take a Wineland Tour. Tour the beautiful Constantia Valley wine estates Groot Constantia, Buitenverwagting, Klein Constantia and Constantia Uitsig before checking out the Cape Winelands around Stellenbosch, Paarl and Franschhoek. Stellenbosch has the added attraction of being an historical university town and Franschhoek, well established as the food capital of the Cape, is home to three of the country’s top ten restaurants. The views are extraordinary. Have a drink and a snack at Dieu Donne estate for an unsurpassable vista of the entire valley, or take your own picnic to the top of a little hill they have by the parking area. Most wineries charge for a tasting session, but usually refund it on a purchase. Your best bet of course is to let someone else to the driving whilst you do the drinking. There are numerous wine tour operators and using them means you will get to see off the beaten track farms and they are often much cheaper then paying for individual tastings. One of the best is operated by SABP Tours.

6. Explore the Cape Floral Region Cape Town is the perfect base for exploring the eight protected areas of the Cape Floral Region, inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2004, including the Table Mountain National Park and the beautiful Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden. Mid-August to late-September is an incredible time to visit the area when the normally barren landscape of the west coast north of Cape Town celebrates the arrival of spring by erupting into a blanket of wildflowers. Discover World Heritage specializes in private and small group tours focusing around Cape Town and the Cape Floral Region, including a special spring tour to see the wildflowers. Visit their website for further information.

7. Seal Snorkeling. Marvel at these curious and comical creatures in their natural underwater habitat in Hout Bay. Seal snorkeling trips are run daily from September until the end of May from the Hout Bay harbour with Animal Ocean, but there are no tours in June, July or August. They provide all the neccesary equipment, hot chocolate and experienced guides to ensure you have a wonderful and safe time. Book a Seal snorkeling trip

8. Freediving— Cape Town is one of the premier recreational cold water freediving locations in the world. The Atlantic side of the peninsula boasts wrecks, caves and seals, while the warmer False Bay side has sharks, rays and a wide range of reef fish. Most dives sites are easily accessible from shore and range in depth from 5m to 15m. The Blue Rock Quarry in Somerset West is ideal for deep freediving as it has year-round calm conditions and is at least 50m deep. Cape Town Freediving specialises in guided freedives and courses. Visit their website for further information.

9. Diving with the sharks. Cape Town is one of the world’s best places to see the Great White Shark.Cape Town offers the most accessible diving opportunity to witness the great white shark that will leave you in awe of these magnificent ocean predators. Shark & Safari – Tours and Shuttles

10. Whalewatching tours. Mostly you will see Southern right whales, but on occasion you might also spot humpback and killer whales. Bottlenose and dusky dolphins also frequent False Bay. The Southern Right wales visit each year between June & November to mate and calve. From viewpoints next to the coastal road between Fishhoek- Sunny Cove railway station through Glen Cairn to Simon’s Town one can often spot whales less than 100m from shore. At Cape Point whales can often be seen passing below. Operator offers Whale Watching Cruises.