Cape Town | Our Favourite Things to See + Do

The Mother City has so much going for it it’s almost unfair.  There aren’t many places you can find picturesque hiking trails, stunning beaches, and close encounters with wildlife alongside some of the best dining, shopping, and wine in the world. But that’s what you get in Cape Town. The majestic Table Mountain anchors the city in nature while culturally rich and diverse neighbourhoods sprawl out along the ocean and into the hills. It’s the kind of place you can never have too much time to explore.

Paradise-perfect as it may seem, Cape Town is a city divided. Between the wealthy upper-class of Seabright and Camp’s Bay and the struggling lower-class living in the surrounding townships. Luxury seaside living is at odds with a startling crime rate. While prosperity increases in some places, the effects of apartheid remain very real everywhere you go.

But the beauty of Cape Town and its people endures. The growing middle-class can be seen in blossoming neighbourhoods like Woodstock. After two weeks exploring, we left wanting more, and it’s now one of our favourite cities in the world. We’ve rounded up the best things to see and do in this list of 9 essential experiences to have in Cape Town.

Related // An Epic One Week Cape Town Itinerary

The Top 9 Must-Have Experiences in Cape Town

District 6 Museum: Learn about apartheid and its impact 
Table Mountain: Hike up the ‘new 7th wonder of the world’
Camps Bay: Watch the sunset over the ocean
Neighbourgoods Market: Enjoy a hip Woodstock weekend
Lion’s Head: Rise with the sun
Hop on Hop off Bus: Bounce around Cape Town’s top attractions
Franschhoek Wine Tram: Taste your way through the Winelands
Bo-Kaap Cooking Class: Learn the ins and outs of Malay cuisine
Whale Watching: Spot Humpbacks and Southern Right whales on a day trip
Bonus: A SIB perspective on Township Tours

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1 // Learn about Apartheid at the District Six Museum

The District Six Museum provides an eye-opening look at the city’s past. We rarely recommend museums – neither of us (mostly Laura) are too fond of hours spent indoors reading plaques, especially when so much of the information is available online. But District Six Museum is essential for anyone visiting Cape Town. The humble two-story building contains collections of memories and keepsakes from District Six where residents were forcibly removed from their homes by the apartheid regime. You can go on a solo journey or a guided tour with an ex-resident. It’s a lot to take in but you can go at your own pace and the stories are both heartbreaking and incredible. Visit early on your trip as the experience will give you a humbling perspective for the rest of Cape Town.

After your visit, you may want some time to let the gravity of what you’ve learned sink in. Head to Truth Coffee down the street.

For more Cape Town history, consider a tour to Robben Island. We took a pass as a few locals suggested it wasn’t worth the cost, but if history tours are your jam please check it out.

The Deets – District Six Museum

Hours – Mon-Sat 9am-4pm
Cost – Self-Guided R 45 ($3 USD) / Guided R 60 ($4 USD) / Ex-residents free
Location – Centrally located in the CBD but would recommend taking an Uber there.

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2 // Hike Table Mountain

Trekking up the unmistakable flat-topped wonder in the centre of the city was at the top of our must-do list in Cape Town. But when we arrived we received serious safety warnings from our cab driver and Airbnb host that had us questioning hiking in the area at all. Mostly due to armed muggings.

After a bit of research we found a guided tour and a hiking group that restored our confidence. We headed up the endless stairs of Platteklip Gorge just after sunrise. The 3km hike is pretty much straight up so we took frequent breaks and were at the top in under 2 hours.

Related // How to hike safely Table Mountain

The views were breathtaking and there’s so much to explore once you reach the top. There are walkways that allow you to see almost 360 degrees with views of Cape of Good Hope, Camps Bay, V&A Waterfront and more. It’s a great way to get oriented in the city, and work off some of the amazing food you will no doubt be indulging in.

Alternatively, you can take the cable car to the top. Get there early as a lineup was already forming when we walked past at 8am.

The tour we found was provided by Baz Bus. It was free when we visited, with a small tip for the guide at the top. Now there’s a fee (R 295 / $20 USD) which is still worth it to ensure your safety.

The Deets – Table Mountain

Hours – Cableway hours change seasonally. Don’t hike in the dark.
Cost – Cableway is R 200 one way or R 360 return
Location – Uber to the cableway station (the parking lot fills up quickly) and the entry to Platteklip is clearly marked a few minutes walk further down the road.

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3 // Watch the Glorious Sunset from Camps Bay

If there’s one thing we chase more than waterfalls, it’s sunsets, and man was this a good one. Head to Camps Bay about half an hour before sunset to catch the best free show in town. The sky transforms as the sun lowers and eventually the glowing red African sun dips into the Atlantic Ocean. Don’t forget to turn around – the glow sets the Twelve Apostles of the mountains ablaze with pink light.

The Deets – Camps Bay

Cost – Free!
Location – On the other side of Table Mountain, just South of Clifton

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4 // Shop + Eat at Woodstock’s Neighbourgoods Market

It wasn’t long ago that Woodstock was a neighbourhood less traveled, known for crime and largely avoided by locals and tourists alike. But in recent years it’s been gentrified and is now a thriving neighbourhood for congregating hipsters. Cute cafés, boutique shops, and one of the coolest markets we’ve ever been to. Woodstock is a must-visit while in Cape Town.

Be sure to check out the Neighbourgoods Market on an empty stomach. We made the mistake of going for brunch first and were taunted by the smorgasbord of international cuisines on display. If you aren’t hungry, there are also plenty of boutique stalls offering local goods, clothing, and jewelry. Let’s just say if we weren’t living out of a backpack for another 8 months our wallets would have been hurting.

Sticking around for dinner? Make a reservation at The Potluck Club in advance. 

The Deets – Neighbourgoods Market

Hours – Saturdays 9am-3pm
Cost – Entry is free but plan on plenty of shopping and eating
Location – At the Old Biscuit Mill (which is worth exploring any day of the week)

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5 // Marvel at the Breathtaking Sunrise from Lion’s Head

Another Cape Town bucket list item that was absolutely worth dragging ourselves out of bed for. The hike up isn’t long (less than an hour) and it’s actually quite fun.

Do not do this hike alone (or even with just a partner), it’s a known route for muggings. Check out this post for more Cape Town hiking safety tips.

We went with locals and took the ‘staples and chains’ route which meant climbing ladders and chains up the rock face. It’s a bit more challenging but far more interesting than the usual rocky steps. The horizon had just started to glow beyond the city lights as we neared the top. At the summit the sky transformed from black to navy to glowing orange. With Table mountain on one side and the beaches on the other there is no bad view to watch the sun light up the city.

The Deets – Lion’s Head

Cost – Free!
Location – The starting point to the trail is here.

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6 // Bounce around the city on the Hop-on Hop-off Bus 

Okay, this is an odd recommendation coming from us. In all of our travels we have never actually done this together, but Cape Town is the perfect city for the Hop-on Hop-off Sightseeing Bus. Mostly because our preferred way of seeing a city, walking aimlessly, isn’t safe in Cape Town. Even locals will call an Uber to travel a few blocks. And, it’s a huge city. If you want to see the Botanical Gardens, V&A Waterfront and Camps Bay in one day you’ll have a lot of ground to cover. Public buses and Taxis aren’t always safe, and Uber + the Sightseeing Bus surprisingly ends up being cheaper.

Related // A Day on Cape Town’s Hop-on, Hop-off Bus

Plus, you get to see all the places in between from a breezy open rooftop, and the listening to the recording through free headphones is actually super interesting and informative.

The Deets – Cape Town Hop-on Hop-off Bus

Hours – Roughly 8am-8pm but each stop is different and it changes seasonally. You can find the full timetable here.
Cost – One day classic for R245 ($17 USD), pre-purchase your ticket here and show it on your phone at the nearest stop.

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7 // Sip your way Through the Winelands Aboard the Franschhoek Wine Tram

Now this is a recommendation you might have expected. The wine regions just outside Cape Town, known as the Winelands, are a must for any wine lover. Stellenbosch is arguably the most famous, and largest, region producing 14% of the country’s wine. But the most fun way to experience Cape Town’s Winelands is to head to the smaller historic town of Franschhoek.

Related // The Best Franschhoek Wine Tram Route

This one-road town is lined with phenomenal cafés, restaurant patios, boutique shops and is best known for its wine tram. Much like Cape Town’s sightseeing bus, the Wine Tram has multiple ‘lines’ with different winery options along the way. And unlike some wine tours, these are some of the best wineries in the country. It’s a super fun and relatively affordable way to experience the best of the region.

The Deets – Franschhoek Wine Tram

Hours – Each route has a different schedule. Our favourite (Orange/Purple) leaves first at 9:30am and most routes return between 5pm and 6pm
Cost – R 260 ($17 USD) for the tram only, tastings at each winery are extra.
Location – Start at the ticket booth in the centre of town
Booking – Advanced reservations are recommended

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8 // Cook up the best Cape Malay cuisine in Bo-Kaap

Bo-Kaap neighbourhood is truly unique. The oldest surviving neighbourhood in Cape Town is home to many Muslim and Cape Malay people who have proudly painted their houses bright colours for over a century. This was our base for nearly two weeks and we wanted to learn more about the area, so we did a free walking tour (which we’d highly recommend). At the end, we passed by Faeeza’s Home Kitchen where she hosts a cooking school.

Fun Fact: The same night as our cooking class, oddly enough, we got a recommendation from Martin’s parents to watch Netflix’s Somebody Feed Phil exploring Cape Town’s food scene. Lo and behold, there was Faeeza showing Phil how to cook Cape Malay curry.

Faeeza does cooking classes twice daily. We joined a group of students for the dinner class and she walked us through some simple, traditional, and delicious Cape Malay dishes. We made roti. From scratch. We stuffed samosas. We cooked curry in half an hour, dispelling our preconceived notions that curries are only good if they’ve been simmering all day. And it was way easier than expected. Faeeza’s patience, humour and motherly warmth made the experience very personal. It’s must-do in Cape Town.  You’ll leave with a new set of skills, a very full stomach, and a new friend.

Related // Cape Town Foodie Guide

The Deets – Faeeza’s Home Kitchen

Hours – Mon-Sat 11am or 4pm
Cost – R400 ($28 USD)
Location – At Faeeza’s home in Bo-Kaap
Bookings – Reservations are required, email Faeezashomekitchen@gmail.com to book

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9 // Whale Watching in Hermanus

Our history with whale watching has been more miss than hit. In fact, despite several other attempts, Hermanus was the first time we actually got out on a whale watching boat. The bay is just under 2 hours drive from Cape Town and is home to several types of whales. During certain months of the year its known as one of the best places to see Southern Right Whales when they swim into the bay to feed. We weren’t visiting in prime season but were lucky enough to spot a pair of humpbacks as they swam side by side. Plenty of playful seals and dolphins swam up to the ship to entertain us while we waited searched for a whale spray. All in all an amazing trip.

Make a day of it and take the winding coastal route past Pringle Bay on your way back to town, the views are stunning.

The Deets – Whale Watching in Hermanus

Seasonality – The Southern Right Whales only come into the bay for part of the year and the timing is always slightly different. June-December is your best bet, though we went in June and saw humpbacks.
Hours – During high season (June-Dec) daily charters depart at 9am, noon and 3pm. The morning trip typically has the best weather but is a bit early if driving from Cape Town (we visited from Franschhoek).
Cost – There are multiple companies but we went with Southern Right Charters for R 900 ($62 USD)

Related // Another great day trip is Cape Point National Park

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A SIB Perspective on Township Tours

Among the top things to see and do in Cape Town are ‘Township tours’. The Townships were created during apartheid when entire neighbourhoods were racially segregated and relocated from the city center to the outskirts of town. Today, there are several companies offering tours of these slums in an effort to educate visitors and, in turn, create income for the neighbourhood. There are a lot of good things about this but something made us hesitant about the authenticity and ethics of the experience. 

It would clearly be eye-opening for many people who might otherwise only see the shiny, thriving side of Cape Town. And in many cases, it’s creating jobs and giving back to the community that needs it most. On the other hand, we are always wary of turning someone else’s way of life into a ‘tourist attraction’. And we especially don’t like the idea of invading people’s privacy. We found the perfect balance, for us, in Nairobi, but ultimately, this is a personal choice and one you should consider and research before your visit to Cape Town.

If you do decide to go on a Township tour:

• Research the Company – try to find a small business that is run exclusively by residents of the township where the profits are guaranteed to go back into the community.
• Be Respectful – this should go without saying but put your camera away, be kind, ask questions and truly view this as a learning experience, not a chance to gawk at another way of life. 

If you decide not to go on a Township tour:

• Educate Yourself – We implore you to visit the District 6 museum to understand the recent history of the city and why it’s so divided.
• Read Up – Consider reading more about apartheid – Nelson Mandela’s The Path to Freedom is a great place to start. Or, if you want a more lighthearted retrospective, consider Trevor Noah’s Born a Crime. 
• Give Back – Find other ways your desirable tourism budget can give back to the community. Whether that’s buying from a small shop vs. a chain, donating at District 6 Museum, or somewhere meaningful elsewhere on your journey. Try not to spend all of your Cape Town funds at the V&A waterfront shops making the rich richer.