Top 8 Activities in Cape Town
Written by Daryll Williams
Cape Town promises lots of sunshine, sea, and rugged nature. Plus, combined with its captivating blend of cultures and cuisines, and overall fun, excitement, and long list of things to do, it offers everything associated with a world-class metropolis. Here are 7 of the best activities to indulge in.
1. Tackle Table Mountain
Table Mountain is the most recognisable attraction that Cape Town is known for all over the world - especially for the unparalleled views you can take in from the top. If you have to choose one thing to do in Cape Town, this is definitely it. There are different ways of getting to the top. The easiest and the fastest method is to take a cable car from the parking lot. Walking to the top is another option but we’d strongly recommend choosing one of the popular hiking trails.
2. Race over to Robben Island
Robben Island is easily accessible by a boat service that runs several times a day from the Nelson Mandela Gateway at the V&A Waterfront. On the island, a bus will transport you around this historical site. The guides are all former political prisoners from the Island, ready to take you on a journey through 500 years of thought-provoking history. As the tour reaches its end, prepare for a stop inside the cell that housed Nelson Mandela’s during his 27-year imprisonment.
3. Visit the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront
Probably one of the most visited areas of this bustling city is the seaside neighbourhood known as the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront (V&A for short!). Wandering around this area can easily occupy the better part of a day with so much to see and do. You can quite literally work, shop, and socialise your way through this part of town. The Cape Wheel (a giant ferris wheel) boasts the best bird’s eye views of the city, while street performers entertain the crowds beneath. Restaurant after restaurant will be serving up freshly caught seafood and the V&A Food Market is certainly worth a gander.
4. Luxuriate atop Lion’s Head
Part of Table Mountain National Park, and sitting squarely between Table Mountain and Signal Hill, Lion’s Head is one of the most popular things to do in Cape Town for locals and visitors alike. The view from the top will take your breath away – and getting there will burn some calories too. Rising 669 m above sea level, it’s a popular place to hike, especially at sunset and during a full moon.
5. Bask in the blue flag beaches
If you’re after a sun-soaked stay, you’re in luck. Cape Town is famous for its beautiful beaches. From the popular Camps Bay beach with its white powdery sand and palm-tree lined lawned strip, to the magnificent boulders of Bakoven, Clifton, and Bantry Bay, travellers can never have enough of the beaches of the Cape.
6. Zone in on contemporary art at Zeitz MOCAA
Want to see the coolest repurposed building ever? The Zeitz MOCAA (Museum of Contemporary Art Africa) is an awe-inspiring transformation of a series of grain silos into a massive art museum. Even it’s windows and staircases are works of art. It hosts collections from artists from all over the continent and provides an easy half-day worth of sights and sounds. We think this one is a must-see.
7. Be transfixed by Bo Kaap
The most colorful neighbourhood of Cape Town is a must-visit. Its cobbled streets with colorful houses painted in red, blue, green, yellow, orange, and purple is this city's gem. Bo Kaap is simultaneously one of the oldest neighborhoods in the city and one of the favorite spots for photographers and chronic Instagrammers alike.
8. Peruse the Sea Point Promenade
Beginning at the Sea Point public pool and winding its way down the coast is a promenade popular with joggers, bikers, and dog-walkers alike. Stroll down the walkway, breathing the fresh ocean air and practice some people watching as you go. If you’re lucky, you might catch some of the paragliders swooping overhead before landing in the grassy park adjacent to the walking path.
Experience Cape Town’s world-class activities
The real question here is what can't you do in Cape Town. This is a place brimming with adventure. Ready to book your next trip? Visit our site to explore even more fantastic sustainable adventures in Cape Town.
