11 Best Places to Visit in Cape Town, South Africa
Looking for the best places to visit in Cape Town, South Africa and unsure what places will make your time most enjoyable? Cape Town is known for its incredible mountain ranges, beautiful beaches (some with penguins!), and of course their delicious wine. In this post I will take you through the 11 best places to visit in Cape Town that you can’t miss!
Let’s get into the 11 Best Places to Visit in Cape Town, South Africa!
1. Bo Kaap
If you’re looking for a bright and colorful street walk, this is your place! Bo Kaap is a historical and very old part of the city of Cape Town. Once called Malay Quarter, it signifies freedom after South Africa gained its independence in 1994. Residents painted their white homes bright colors to signify their freedom.
And don’t be fooled, it’s not just 1 street! There are multiple connecting streets with different shades of colors. You never know what color or type of building you’ll see when you turn the corner.
I even found a cute little colorful elephant!
2. Two Oceans Aquarium
What two oceans are we talking about here??? The tip of South Africa connects both the Indian and Atlantic Ocean. This aquarium showcases the marine life of this area very well. From sharks, to turtles, to jellyfish, to penguins, and many many more, the Two Oceans Aquarium has it all.
I thought the coolest part was seeing penguins! Who would have thought penguins would find a home in South Africa? Well, they just so happen to be everywhere, and you can get up close to look at them here!
3. Greenmarket Square
This is one of Cape Town’s oldest markets. It’s perfect for picking up little trinkets and gifts for your family and friends back home – I got 12 small little painted safari animals that I brought home for all my coworkers! They also have handmade wooden kitchen utensils, decorative ebony home goods, and traditional paintings.
Tip: the vendors can be tricky since they can tell you’re a tourist! They may start out with a high price but they do welcome bargaining if you can’t pay for it or think it’s too much for the price they’re asking. This was my first time bargaining and I got the hang of it really quick. I’m sure you will too!
4. Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens
Known as the most beautiful garden in Africa and found right off of Table Mountain, Kirstenbosch inhabits stunning flora and diverse forests of South Africa. You will find thousands of plant species, beautiful trails, and incredible mountainous scenery.
This is a must-visit for those who are up for a beautiful walk, learning about new plants, or just enjoying a picnic surrounded by the beautiful landscapes of South Africa.
5. Gold Restaurant
Gold is a MUST! This is the perfect place to surround yourself with traditional African culture. You can pay a little extra for a drumming experience right at your seat. You also get a 14 course meal (you better come hungry)! 14 courses of traditional food (ostrich, South African roosterkoek, Zanzibar linefish + much more). I was entirely full but oh so happy by the end of this experience.
There are also beautiful singers and dancers who offer such great entertainment and do the best job explaining and showing their culture to us. A must-visit!
6. Neighbourgoods Market/Old Biscuit Mill Gallery
Have an opening on your visiting weekend? The Neighbourgoods Market/Old Biscuit Mill Gallery is open every Saturday and Sunday at 9am. From delicious food, to artsy vendors, and even a DJ. This is the place to be on the weekend. You can get gifts for your loved ones back home, grab a new outfit for your next night out, or grab a delicious lunch while on the way to your next attraction. This is a great place to stop for an hour or two if you have time in your busy schedule.
7. The Watershed
Another perfect place for all my shoppers out there! Gosh, Cape Town is just coming in clutch for all of us spenders. The Watershed is another place for vendors and cute shops. I would say this one is different than the others in the fact that there are more clothes and actual stores (isn’t a mall but acts sort of like it). You can still get little trinkets of course.
My favorite part is how it’s sides are completely open so if it’s a beautiful day you get the perfect breeze and skip in your step while shopping.
8. Table Mountain
For all my hikers and non hikers out there, this is THE place. It’s called “Table Mountain” because it has an evident flat top imitating a table that you can see from miles away. When you get to the top, you have a breathtaking view overlooking all of Cape Town and the mountains/ocean. There’s walking trails as well as a place to eat and gift shop!
If you’re not feeling up for the climb, they have a cable car that brings you right to the top. PLUS it rotates 360 degrees so you can get the entire view of Cape Town and the mountains – a win win!
I highly recommend you go at either sunset or sunrise (due to heat and beautiful scenery).
9. Camps Bay Beach
Camps bay is quite the popular spot in Cape Town. Along the beach there are tons of fun restaurants, bars, and shops. The city seems to be alive at all hours of the day/night. I will say it is much more “touristy” than other parts of Cape Town so you can expect to run into lots of other international travelers here.
Grab a spot on the white beach or head to the bar! You can easily spend an entire day in this area (especially if your hotel is close by).
10. Steenberg Wine Farm
Next stop, wine!
Less than 30 minutes away is access to a highly rated and stunning winery found right in Cape Town. Present are very knowledgeable staff who give fantastic history about the wine and add that much more to the wine tasting. This is just one of the hundreds of wineries you can check out in South Africa!
According to Constantia Wine Route, BistroSixteen82 (located in Steenberg’s tasting room) has been recognized as one of the World’s 20 Best Winery Restaurants!!!! Time to grab some wine and yummy food😊
11. Boulders Beach
Lastly is Boulder’s Beach! If your a penguin fan, this is your place. Some penguins walked right up to the board walk and popped out of nowhere in the most random spots. This is the perfect opportunity to see the penguins in the wild. You get to see how they act, where they live, and of course how cute they are.
Boulders Beach is about about a 40-45 minute drive from Cape Town. I recommend hitting the beach nearby for a swim after and picking up some gelato! (located right outside boulders beach admission desk).
Thanks for reading the 11 Best Places to Visit in Cape Town, South Africa!
I hope you gained some insight and ideas on what to do when you visit Cape Town😊
P.S.! South Africa can be very very hot! Check out 11 Easy Ways to Stay Hydrated While Traveling to make sure you’re keeping your fluids up and aren’t feeling tired/fatigued while you enjoy all of these attractions!
See you next time!