25 Incredible Things to Do in Cape Town
Cape Town is one of the most breathtaking cities in the world. Framed by mountains, surrounded by beaches, and rich in history, culture, and food, it offers something for every type of traveller. Whether you’re visiting for a few days or a few weeks, this guide covers 25 incredible things to do in Cape Town, from iconic landmarks to hidden gems.
1. Ride the Cable Car Up Table Mountain Cape-Town-City-Tour
No visit to Cape Town is complete without experiencing Table Mountain, one of the New Seven Wonders of Nature. Take the rotating cable car to the top of Table Mountain for panoramic views over the city, Atlantic Ocean, and surrounding peaks. The main feature of Table Mountain is the level plateau approximately three kilometres from side to side, edged by impressive cliffs. The plateau, flanked by Devil’s Peak to the east and by Lion’s Head to the west, forms a dramatic backdrop to Cape Town.
2. Hike Table Mountain or Lion’s Head Table-Mountain-Hike-Guide
If you’re feeling adventurous, hike up Table Mountain or Lion’s Head. Hiking Lion’s Head in Cape Town is a popular, moderately challenging hike offering spectacular 360-degree views, featuring a spiral path with gravel, rocky sections, and chain-assisted climbs for the final ascent, with options to bypass the ladders for easier passage; it’s famous for sunrise/sunset hikes but requires water, proper shoes, and caution on slippery surfaces, especially when wet.
3. Explore the V&A Waterfront Va-Waterfront-Cape-Town-Guide
The V&A Waterfront is Cape Town’s iconic, bustling harbour district, a major tourist hub with shopping, dining, entertainment, hotels, and residential areas set against Table Mountain and the working harbour. It blends historic charm with modern vibrancy, featuring over 500 stores, 80+ restaurants, museums like the Zeitz MOCAA (Museum of Contemporary Art Africa), the Two Oceans Aquarium and markets, offering a lively, pedestrian-friendly destination for locals and visitors.
4. Visit Robben Island Cape-Town-City-Tour
A Robben Island Museum Tour offers an immersive journey into South Africa’s Apartheid History, starting with a ferry from the V&A Waterfront to Robben Island, where former political prisoners guide you through key sites like Nelson Mandela’s cell, the lime quarry (site of hard labour), and the prison grounds, providing poignant personal accounts of oppression and resilience, culminating in a sobering yet triumphant experience of liberation.
5. Drive over Chapman’s Peak Cape-Peninsula-Tour
Chapman’s Peak Drive (or “Chappies”) is a spectacular 9km scenic toll road on South Africa’s Cape Peninsula, winding between Hout Bay and Noordhoek with 114 curves, offering dramatic cliffs, ocean views of the Atlantic, and stunning mountain vistas, picnic spots, and as a route for major cycling events like the Cape Town Cycle Tour. Chapman’s Peak Drive is one of the most spectacular marine drives in the world.
6. Meet the Penguins at Boulders Beach Meet-The-African-penguins
The Penguins at Boulders Beach are the endangered African Penguins known for their braying calls and unique chest spots. They are small, adapted to warmer climates, and famously live among granite boulders, nesting in burrows or under bushes, forming monogamous pairs, and can be seen waddling on the beach or swimming in False Bay. A boardwalk system allows close-up, respectful viewing of this charismatic colony, though visitors must avoid feeding or touching them.
7. Relax on Camps Bay Beach Cape-Town-Best-Secret-Beaches-A-Locals-Guide
Camps Bay Beach is Cape Town’s iconic, Blue Flag-certified beach. It’s famous for its stunning scenery with white sand, clear Atlantic waters, and the dramatic Twelve Apostles mountains as a backdrop. Camps Bay features a lively palm-lined promenade with trendy restaurants, bars, and shops, plus tidal pools for safe swimming, making it a vibrant spot for sunbathing, dining, and sunset watching. Camps Bay Beach is especially busy in summer.
8. Explore Cape Point & the Cape of Good Hope Cape-Peninsula-Tour
Cape Point and the Cape of Good Hope are nearby landmarks at the southern tip of South Africa’s Cape Peninsula, often confused but distinct: the Cape of Good Hope is the famous rocky headland symbolizing Africa’s southwestern most point, historically a navigational marker, while Cape Point is a higher, more dramatic cliff east of Cape of Good Hope, featuring a historic lighthouse and stunning views. Both landmarks fall within the Table Mountain National Park, known for diverse fynbos flora, baboons, wild ostriches, zebras, eland, small antelope and rugged coastline, with the actual meeting point of the Atlantic and Indian Oceans being Cape Agulhas further southeast.
9. Wander Through Bo-Kaap The-Colourful-History-Of-Bo-Kaap
Bo-Kaap is Cape Town’s vibrant, historic Malay Quarter, famous for its brightly coloured houses, cobbled streets, and rich Cape Malay culture, situated on the slopes of Signal Hill above Cape Town’s CBD. Originally built as rental houses for slaves and political exiles from Asia, it’s the spiritual home of the city’s Muslim community, known for its Islamic heritage, historic mosques like Auwal Masjid, and distinctive Cape Dutch/Georgian architecture.
10. Book a Cape Winelands Tour Cape-Winelands-Tour
Embark on a breathtaking journey through the stunning Cape Wine Regions and historical towns of Stellenbosch, Franschhoek and Paarl. This is red wine country, famous for Bordeaux grape varietals such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot. Stellenbosch is a university town and home of Cape Dutch architecture. Franschhoek was established in 1688 by the French Huguenots. Paarl is the third oldest town in South Africa and produces some of the best red wines in the world. You will experience a private wine cellar tour, where you will discover the history of South African wines and experience a unique wine tasting. You will enjoy a gourmet lunch, tasting local cuisine, on a world class Wine Estate, surrounded by vineyards and majestic mountains. We will then move onto some hidden local Wine Estates, where you will have fun pairing chocolate with wine.
11. Book a Hermanus Whale and Wine Tour Hermanus-Whale-Tour
The Whale Season is from June to December. Our journey to Hermanus, along the scenic Clarens Drive, offers spectacular coastal views of False Bay. Visit Stony Point Nature Reserve which is home to one of the largest successful breeding colonies of African Penguins in the world. Embark on an exhilarating 2-hour Whale Watching Boat Trip in search of the majestic Southern Right Whale. Our Tour continues into the stunningly picturesque Hemel-en-Aarde Wine Valley for a relaxing, wine-filled experience, with vineyards stretching along the entirety of the Valley.
12. Visit Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens Cape-Peninsula-Tour
Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden, set against the east slopes of Table Mountain, in Cape Town, is a world-renowned botanical garden focused on South Africa’s indigenous flora, particularly the rich Cape Floral Kingdom, and is part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Kirstenbosch features cultivated gardens showcasing thousands of plant species, extensive natural forest and fynbos areas, walking trails and the iconic ‘Boomslang’ Tree Canopy Walkway. Kirstenbosch also hosts Summer Sunset Concerts, making it a hub for nature lovers, educators, and families.
13. Discover Local Art at Zeitz MOCAA World-Class-Museums-In-Cape-Town
Zeitz MOCAA is a major public, not-for-profit museum in Cape Town’s V&A Waterfront, dedicated to exhibiting, collecting, and preserving 21st-century art from Africa and its diaspora, housed in a striking, converted grain silo building designed by Thomas Heatherwick, featuring over 100 galleries, educational centres, and a rooftop restaurant with amazing panoramic city views. It serves as a vital platform for African creativity, offering both permanent collections and rotating exhibitions of contemporary works, promoting cultural understanding, and providing access for all through its art education and artist residency programs.
14. Book a Shark Cage Diving Adventure
Shark Cage Diving in Gansbaai is one of South Africa’s most thrilling wildlife experiences, offering a rare chance to encounter great white sharks in their natural habitat. Often called the “Great White Shark Capital of the World,” Gansbaai is about 2 ½ hours from Cape Town and is famous for its rich marine life, particularly around Dyer Island and Geyser Rock, which host large colonies of seals that attract sharks.
15. Enjoy a Sunset Cruise
A Sunset Catamaran Cruise from the V&A Waterfront is one of the most relaxing and romantic things to do in Cape Town. Table Bay sunset cruises offer a magical experience, providing spectacular views of Table Mountain, the city, and the Atlantic Ocean, as the sun sets. There are opportunities to spot dolphins and seals. The routes vary with the wind but generally head along the coastline towards Clifton Beach, for stunning golden hour photo opportunities, before returning to the twinkling harbour lights.
16. Explore Kalk Bay Cape-Peninsula-Tour
Kalk Bay is a charming, bohemian fishing village and suburb of Cape Town, nestled between the mountains and False Bay, famous for its authentic working harbour, vibrant arts scene, eclectic shops, and excellent seafood restaurants. It offers a unique blend of historic buildings, tidal pools like Dalebrook, and adventurous cave exploring, all set against stunning ocean and mountain backdrops, with the train line running right along the water’s edge.
17. Surf at Muizenberg Beach Surfemporium
Surfing at Muizenberg Beach is world-renowned for its beginner-friendly, gentle, rolling waves breaking over a soft sand bottom, perfect for learning on longboards with plenty of surf schools available. Located on the warmer False Bay side of Cape Town, Muizenberg offers long, fun rides, especially in winter when northwest winds create ideal, consistent conditions, though it can get very crowded with learners. Shark Spotters monitor the area, making it generally safe, and it’s a classic spot to learn to surf in South Africa, with iconic colourful huts adding to the atmosphere.
18. Eat Your Way Through Cape Town
Eating your way through Cape Town is one of the best ways to understand the city. Its food scene is a reflection of its history, cultures, landscapes, and oceans: bold, diverse, and deeply satisfying. From street food to fine dining, here’s what it really means to eat your way through Cape Town.
Begin by tasting iconic South African foods that locals grew up with. Try biltong and droëwors from a butcher. Order bobotie, a fragrant Cape Malay dish of spiced minced meat topped with egg custard, often served with yellow rice and chutney. For something more casual, grab a gatsby sandwich—an enormous, messy Cape Town institution best shared with friends.
Cape Town’s coastal location means exceptional seafood. Enjoy fish and chips in Kalk Bay, snoek straight off the grill, or fresh oysters with a sea view. For something special, book a table at a fine-dining seafood restaurant overlooking the Atlantic Ocean.
Cape Town is internationally recognized for its restaurants. You’ll find everything from relaxed neighbourhood bistros to world-renowned fine dining. Many chefs focus on seasonal, locally sourced ingredients, blending African, European, and Asian influences. Tasting menus here often rival global culinary capitals, at a fraction of the price.
19. Visit District Six Museum World-Class-Museums-In-Cape-Town
The District Six Museum is one of Cape Town’s most powerful and emotionally moving places to visit. More than a traditional museum, it is a space of memory, storytelling, and reflection that preserves the human impact of apartheid-era forced removals.
Located in Cape Town’s CBD, District Six was once a vibrant, multicultural neighbourhood where people of different races, religions, and backgrounds lived side by side. In 1966, the Apartheid Government declared the area a “whites-only” zone under the Group Areas Act. Over 60,000 residents were forcibly removed from their homes, and the neighbourhood was largely demolished.
A visit to the District Six Museum is quiet, reflective, and deeply human. It offers essential context for understanding Cape Town and South Africa’s history—and reminds visitors that cities are shaped as much by the people who live in them as by the buildings themselves.
20. Take a Township Tour
A Township Tour offers a powerful, eye-opening look at everyday life beyond Cape Town’s tourist centres. It’s not about poverty tourism. It’s about understanding history, resilience, culture, and community through respectful, locally led experiences.
Townships are residential areas created during apartheid to segregate non-white communities. Today, they are vibrant neighbourhoods filled with small businesses, schools, churches, street art, music, and strong community ties. Popular townships visited on tours include Langa, Khayelitsha, and Gugulethu.
Rather than a scripted lecture, Township Tours encourage open conversation. You’ll learn how people live, work, and celebrate, as well as the challenges communities still face—and the initiatives driving positive change. Many tours highlight grassroots projects focused on education, skills training, and economic empowerment. Reputable Township Tours are designed to be ethical and community-focused and visitors are encouraged to engage with curiosity rather than judgment.
A township tour provides context that you simply won’t get from guidebooks. It deepens your understanding of Cape Town’s social history and present-day realities, while also showing the hope, creativity, and determination that define these communities. Done respectfully, a Township Tour is not just a sightseeing activity. It’s a meaningful exchange that benefits both visitors and the communities they visit.
21. Go Paragliding Over the City
Tandem paragliding from Signal Hill is one of the most exhilarating and scenic ways to experience Cape Town. It’s a peaceful, adrenaline-filled adventure that lets you see the city from a completely new perspective while floating silently between mountain and ocean.
The views are absolutely breathtaking. Below you, the city unfolds in every direction: Table Mountain rising behind you, the V&A Waterfront and city bowl beneath you, and the Atlantic Ocean stretching endlessly toward the horizon. On clear days, you can see Robben Island in the distance and the Twelve Apostles Mountain Range along the coast.
Flights are weather-dependent, relying on wind direction and strength. Safety is a top priority, with modern equipment and highly trained pilots. Most flights last 10–30 minutes, depending on conditions, and land smoothly on the grass near Sea Point Promenade.
Tandem paragliding from Signal Hill is one of those rare experiences that combines adventure, beauty, and accessibility. You don’t need to be an extreme sports enthusiast to enjoy it: just a sense of curiosity and a love for unforgettable views.
22. Visit Signal Hill for Sunset
Visiting Signal Hill at sunset is one of the simplest yet most magical experiences in Cape Town. It’s a moment where the city slows down, locals and visitors gather, and the landscape puts on a show that never feels ordinary, no matter how many times you’ve seen it.
As the sun begins to dip, Signal Hill offers sweeping 360-degree views over the city bowl, Table Mountain, the Atlantic Ocean, and the curve of the coastline. The light shifts from bright gold to soft orange and pink, washing over the mountains and reflecting off the ocean below. On clear evenings, you can see all the way to Robben Island, silhouetted against the horizon.
The atmosphere at sunset is relaxed and social. Couples bring blankets, friends arrive with takeaway coffees or drinks, and paragliders can often be seen launching into the glowing sky. There’s a shared sense of appreciation: people talking quietly, cameras clicking, and the occasional cheer as the sun finally slips below the sea
23. Shop at Local Markets
The Old Biscuit Mill is one of Cape Town’s most vibrant and creative spaces—a place where food, design, and local culture come together in an energetic, urban setting. Located in Woodstock, the Old Biscuit Mill was once a functioning biscuit factory. Today, it has been transformed into a lively hub of artisanal food, fashion, and design, while still retaining its industrial charm with exposed brick, steel beams, and open courtyards.
The Oranjezicht City Farm Market is one of Cape Town’s most loved food markets—a vibrant celebration of fresh produce, artisanal food, and community, set against a stunning mountain and sea backdrop. At its heart, the market showcases locally grown, seasonal produce from small farms around the Western Cape. Stalls overflow with organic vegetables, free-range eggs, artisanal cheeses, fresh bread, olives, honey, and handmade preserves. Many of the vendors are the producers themselves, happy to talk about where their food comes from.
Greenmarket Square is one of Cape Town’s oldest public spaces and a lively meeting point of history, culture, and everyday city life. Located in the heart of Cape Town’s CBD, it has been a marketplace for over 300 years, making it a fascinating place to experience Cape Town’s past and present in one setting. The square is best known for its open-air craft market, where stalls line the cobblestones selling handmade goods from across Africa. You’ll find carved wooden sculptures, beaded jewelry, textiles, paintings, leather goods, and souvenirs.
The Watershed at the V&A Waterfront is one of Cape Town’s best places to discover locally made design, fashion, and crafts in a beautifully curated, contemporary space. It’s a celebration of South African creativity, set right on the edge of the working harbour. The Watershed is home to over 150 small, independent brands, all carefully selected for quality, originality, and local production. As you walk through the airy, light-filled building, you’ll find handcrafted jewelry, leather goods, ceramics, textiles, home décor, skincare, stationery, and art, mostly made in South Africa.
24. Take a Scenic Helicopter Flight
A scenic helicopter flight along the Cape Peninsula is one of the most spectacular ways to experience Cape Town’s dramatic landscapes. It offers a rare, unforgettable perspective, where mountains plunge into the ocean, coastlines curve endlessly, and Cape Town feels beautifully small beneath you.
As the helicopter follows the coastline, the scenery becomes increasingly dramatic. You’ll soar past Clifton’s white-sand beaches, the palm-lined curve of Camps Bay, and the rugged peaks of the Twelve Apostles. From the air, you can truly appreciate how closely the mountains and ocean collide along this stretch of coast.
The helicopter’s large windows ensure unobstructed views, perfect for photography. The contrast of deep blue ocean, rugged mountains, and urban coastline is striking, and every turn reveals another postcard-worthy scene.
25. Simply Soak It All In
Slowing down and relaxing in Cape Town is all about embracing the city’s natural beauty, vibrant culture, and laid-back coastal lifestyle. While it’s easy to get caught up in ticking off landmarks and activities, some of the most memorable experiences happen when you pause, breathe, and let the city unfold at its own pace.
The V&A Waterfront offers a leisurely way to soak in the harbour views, watch boats come and go, and enjoy street performances. Grab a coffee, sit on a bench, and watch the world drift by. Early mornings or late afternoons are especially peaceful.
The Sea Point Promenade stretches along the Atlantic Ocean and is perfect for walking, jogging, or cycling. The sound of waves, sea breeze, and the sight of dolphins offshore make it an ideal spot to unwind. Bring a picnic or just pause on a bench to take it all in.
Cape Town has a thriving café culture. Sit back in a cozy café in Kloof Street or sip a cocktail at a rooftop bar with mountain or ocean views. People-watching, good coffee, or a glass of local wine can turn a simple afternoon into pure relaxation.
Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens offers wonderful green spaces for strolling, picnicking, or simply lying on the grass and enjoying the breathtaking surroundings. Nature has a remarkable way of slowing the mind and body down.
Take advantage of Cape Town’s wellness and spa offerings. Many boutique hotels and wellness centres provide massages, yoga classes, and spa treatments that complement the city’s calming natural surroundings. Part of relaxing in Cape Town is adopting the city’s rhythm: less hustle, more appreciation. Chat with locals, linger over coffee, walk instead of drive, and leave time for unplanned discoveries.
Final Thoughts: Why Cape Town Is Unforgettable
Cape Town combines natural beauty, rich history, adventure, and world-class food in one destination. Whether you’re here for beaches, mountains, culture, or wildlife, these 25 incredible things to do in Cape Town will help you plan a trip you’ll never forget.
At Cape Ability Tours, we don’t just show you the landmarks; we help you weave your own story into the fabric of this incredible region.
