Cape Town

Mountain, ocean and winelands, all within an hour of each other.

Few cities sit in a setting like this: Table Mountain above, two oceans below and some of the New World’s finest vineyards on the doorstep. Days start on a hiking trail and end with sundowners on the Atlantic seaboard.

Best time to visit: November to March for long, dry summer days. Language: English, Afrikaans, isiXhosa. Currency: South African rand (ZAR).

Did you know?

Table Mountain was named one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature in 2011.
The Cape Floral Kingdom is the smallest of the world’s six floral kingdoms, and the richest for its size.
Nelson Mandela spent 18 of his 27 years in prison on Robben Island, visible from the Waterfront.

Things to do in Cape Town

Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden (Botanic garden): Kirstenbosch is a botanical garden nestled at the eastern foot of Table Mountain in Cape Town.
Iziko South African Museum (History museum): The Iziko South African Museum, formerly the South African Museum, is a South African national museum located in Cape Town.
South African National Gallery (Art museum): The Iziko South African National Gallery is the national art gallery of South Africa located in Cape Town.
Two Oceans Aquarium (Aquarium): The Two Oceans Aquarium is an aquarium located at the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront in Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa.
Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa (Art museum): Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa is a public non-profit museum in Cape Town, South Africa.
Rhodes Memorial (Memorial, free): The Rhodes Memorial is a large monument in the style of an ancient Greek temple on Devil's Peak in Cape Town, South Africa, situated close to Table Mountain.
Auwal Mosque (Mosque, free): The Auwal Mosque, alternatively spelled Awwal, Owal or Owwal, is a mosque in the Bo-Kaap neighbourhood of Cape Town, South Africa.
Palm Tree Mosque (Mosque, free): The Palm Tree Mosque, or the Church of Jan van Bougies, or the Dadelboom Mosque, is a former residence and current mosque in Long Street, Cape Town, South Africa.
Houses of Parliament (Historic site): The Houses of Parliament in Cape Town serve as the seat of the Parliament of South Africa, the country's national legislature.
Artscape Theatre Centre (Opera house): Artscape Theatre Centre is the main performing arts centre in Cape Town, South Africa.
Green Point Lighthouse (Lighthouse, free): The Green Point Lighthouse, Cape Town is an operational lighthouse on the South African coast.
Groote Schuur (Museum): Groote Schuur is an estate in Cape Town, South Africa.
Nurul Islam Mosque (Mosque, free): The Nurul Islam Mosque is a Sunni Islam mosque in the Bo-Kaap area of Cape Town, South Africa.
Company's Garden (Garden): The Company's Garden is a large public park situated in Cape Town CBD - the main commercial district of Cape Town.
District Six Museum (Museum): District Six Museum is a museum in the former inner-city residential area known as District Six, in Cape Town, South Africa housed in an old Methodist church.
Robben Island Lighthouse (Lighthouse, free): The Robben Island Lighthouse is a lighthouse on Robben Island in Table Bay near Cape Town.
Slave Lodge (Museum): The Slave Lodge is one of the oldest buildings in Cape Town, South Africa, with a history spanning more than three centuries.
Irma Stern Museum (Art museum): The Irma Stern Museum was a South African museum dedicated to the life and work of Irma Stern and the artists associated with her.
Baxter Theatre Centre (Theatre): The Baxter Theatre Centre is a performing arts complex in Rondebosch, Cape Town, South Africa.
Silvermine Nature Reserve (Nature reserve): Silvermine Nature Reserve forms part of the Table Mountain National Park in Cape Town, South Africa.
Nobel Square (Square, free): Nobel Square is a public square in the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront neighborhood of Cape Town, South Africa.
Mouille Point Lighthouse (Lighthouse, free): The Mouille Point Lighthouse was a lighthouse in Mouille Point in Cape Town, South Africa, built in 1842 and demolished in 1908.
De Waal Park (Park, free): De Waal Park is a public park and heritage site in the Oranjezicht suburb of Cape Town.
Gardens Shul (Synagogue): The Gardens Shul, formally the Cape Town Hebrew Congregation, also called the Great Synagogue, is a Modern Orthodox Jewish congregation and synagogue, located in the Company's Garden, in the Gardens neighborhood of Cape
Greenmarket Square (Square, free): Greenmarket Square is a historical square in the centre of old Cape Town, South Africa.
Rust en Vreugd (Museum): Rust en Vreugd, is a historic house and garden, located on Buitekant Street at the edge of the central business district of Cape Town, South Africa.
Ratanga Junction (Amusement park): Ratanga Junction was an amusement park that operated from 1998 to 2018 in Century City, Cape Town in South Africa.
Central Methodist Church, Cape Town (Church, free): The Central Methodist Church, also known as the Central Methodist Mission or Metropolitan Methodist Church, is a large and historically important Methodist church located on Greenmarket Square in Cape Town, South Africa.
Glen Beach (Beach, free): Glen Beach is located north of Camps Bay Beach in Cape Town, South Africa.
World of Birds Wildlife Sanctuary and Monkey Park (Zoo): World of Birds Wildlife Sanctuary and Monkey Park is an avian, reptilian and wildlife sanctuary in Hout Bay, a suburb of Cape Town in South Africa.
Groote Kerk (Church, free): The Groote Kerk is a Dutch Reformed church in Cape Town, South Africa.
MTN Sciencentre (Science museum): The Cape Town Science Centre is a not-for-profit science centre in Cape Town, South Africa.
Dutch Reformed Church, Durbanville (Church, free): The Dutch Reformed Church in Durbanville is a church building of the Dutch Reformed Church in Durbanville, South Africa, built in 1825 in the Cape Dutch style.
South African Sendinggestig Museum (Museum): The South African Sendinggestig Museum was established in 1977 and is currently situated in the centre of Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa, and housed in the oldest indigenous mission church in the country built by
Iziko Museums of South Africa (Museum): Iziko Museums of South Africa, formerly Southern Flagship Institution and then Iziko Museums of Cape Town, is an organisation governing national museums in greater Cape Town, in the Western Cape province of South Africa.
Church Square (Square, free): Church Square in Cape Town, South Africa, lies in front of the Groote Kerk at the intersection of Parliament and Spin Streets.
Arderne Gardens (Park, free): Arderne Gardens is a public park and arboretum in Claremont, Cape Town, located in the Western Cape of South Africa.
Queen Victoria Mosque (Mosque, free): The Queen Victoria Mosque, also called the Jamia Mosque, is a mosque, situated at the corner of Chiappini and Castle street, in Cape Town, South Africa.
Greek Orthodox Cathedral of St George (Church, free): The Greek Orthodox Cathedral of St George is the Greek Orthodox church of Cape Town, South Africa, located in the district of Woodstock, and the seat of the Metropolitan of the Orthodox Archdiocese of Good Hope, under th
Lichtenstein Castle (Castle): Lichtenstein Castle is a mock castle in Hout Bay, Western Cape, South Africa, built on the Karbonkelberg and modelled after Lichtenstein Castle in Baden-Württemberg, Germany.
Muizenberg Hebrew Congregation (Synagogue): The Muizenberg Shul, formally the Muizenberg Hebrew Congregation, is a Modern Orthodox Jewish congregation and synagogue, located in Muizenberg, in Greater Cape Town, in the Western Cape region of South Africa.
Blaauwberg Conservation Area (Nature reserve): Blaauwberg Nature Reserve was proclaimed a local and provincial nature reserve in 2007.
Chavonnes Battery (Fort): The Chavonnes Battery was a fortification protecting Cape Town, South Africa, built in the early 18th century.
St. James Church, Cape Town (Church, free): The St.
African Theatre (Cape Town) (Theatre, hidden gem): The African Theatre was a theatre in Cape Town, South Africa.
District Six Homecoming Centre (Theatre, hidden gem): The District Six Homecoming Center, formerly the Fugard Theatre, is a small theatre in Cape Town, South Africa.
Grand Parade (Square, free, hidden gem): The Grand Parade is the main public square in Cape Town, South Africa.
Lutheran Church in Strand Street (Church, free, hidden gem): The Lutheran Church in Strand Street in Cape Town is one of the oldest church buildings in South Africa, dating back to 1792.
South African Jewish Museum (Museum, hidden gem): The South African Jewish Museum is a museum of South African Jewish life, history and identity.
Stalplein (Square, free, hidden gem): Stalplein lies at the point where Plein, Roeland, and St.
Vredehoek Shul (Synagogue, hidden gem): The Vredehoek Shul, formally the Cape Town Hebrew Congregation, was a Modern Orthodox Jewish congregation and synagogue, located in Vredehoek in Cape Town, South Africa.
Waterworks Museum (Museum, hidden gem): The Waterworks Museum is located on the northern side of Table Mountain, between the Woodhead and Hely-Hutchinson Reservoirs, in Cape Town, South Africa.
Heart of Cape Town Museum (Museum, hidden gem): The Heart of Cape Town Museum is a museum complex in the Observatory suburb of Cape Town, South Africa.
Artillery Memorial, Cape Town (Monument, free, hidden gem): Artillery Memorial, Cape Town was erected in memory of the gunners who fought for South Africa during World War I.
Cape Medical Museum (Museum, hidden gem): The Cape Medical Museum is situated in the Old City Hospital Complex in Green Point, Cape Town, South Africa.
Japanese Lantern Monument (Memorial, free, hidden gem): The Japanese Lantern Monument is a symbol of political relations between the Japanese government and South Africa.
Groote Schuur Zoo (Zoo, hidden gem): The Groote Schuur Zoo was a 2-hectare zoo in Cape Town, South Africa.
Green Point Park (Park, free, hidden gem): Green Point Park, is a public park in Green Point, Cape Town, in South Africa, where numerous playing fields, wetlands, walking paths, gardens, and a golf course are situated.
Keurboom Park (Park, free, hidden gem): Keurboom Park is a park in Rondebosch, Cape Town, in South Africa.

Where to eat and drink in Cape Town

The Hussar Grill, Green Point: Old-school grill room, aged steaks and a famous peppercorn sauce.
Carne SA, City Bowl: Free-range beef and lamb from the owner’s own Karoo farm.
Belthazar, V&A Waterfront: Steak and one of the largest by-the-glass wine lists in the world.
La Colombe, Constantia: Theatrical tasting menus perched above the Constantia valley.
FYN, City Bowl: African ingredients through a Japanese lens. A World’s 50 Best regular.
The Codfather, Camps Bay: Pick your fish from the counter, sushi bar overlooking Camps Bay.
Willoughby & Co, V&A Waterfront: Queue-worthy sushi and seafood in the heart of the waterfront.
Jason Bakery, City Bowl: Croissants, doughssants and a cult breakfast on Bree Street.
Truth Coffee, City Bowl: Steampunk roastery that serves some of the city’s best coffee.
Mojo Market, Sea Point: Food hall with live music most nights, a block from the promenade.
Publik Wine Bar, City Bowl: Small-producer South African wines, poured by people who know the farmers.
Tjing Tjing Rooftop, City Bowl: Rooftop bar in a heritage building with Table Mountain views.
The Gin Bar, City Bowl: Hidden behind a chocolate shop, gin cocktails in a leafy courtyard.
Amura, Cape Town: The restaurant everyone is booking this year.
Veld at Spier, Stellenbosch: Seasonal Cape cooking on one of the oldest wine farms.

Also in Africa

Durban

Plan a trip to Cape Town