Seductively located between mountains and sea, Cape Town proudly flaunts its natural beauty. Towering over the city, the iconic Table Mountain, which offers the perfect plateau for panoramic views stretching out to the sparkling Atlantic, botanical gardens that beckon from its slopes, and the city’s long blonde beaches, backed by towering peaks, are some of the best in South Africa.
Learn about the best plans to enjoy when traveling to Cape Town, South Africa’s «Mother City» with our list of top tourist attractions that it has.
The best plans to enjoy when traveling to Cape Town
Go to Table Mountain
Rising 1,087 meters south of the city center, the flat-topped Table Mountain is South Africa’s most photographed landmark and a constant reminder that nature is the queen of this stunning coastal city. Created from huge beds of sandstone and slate, the mountain forms the northern tip of the Cape Peninsula and lies within the Table Mountain National Park.
Depending on the starting point, the climb lasts between two and four hours. For magnificent views of Table Mountain and the best vantage point for photographing this iconic landmark, walk or drive to Signal Hill or Lion’s Head; both offer impressive views from their peaks.
Get to know the Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens
In a beautiful setting on the eastern slopes of Table Mountain, the Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens are part of the UNESCO World Heritage site of the Cape Floristic Region. The site was handed down to the state by Cecil Rhodes in 1902 and the gardens were established in 1913 to preserve the country’s indigenous flora, one of the world’s first botanical gardens with this mission.
More than 20,000 plant species native to South Africa are collected, cultivated and studied in the 528 hectare mountainous nature reserve of indigenous and fynbos forests.
A hedge of wild almond trees planted by Jan van Riebeeck in 1660 and an avenue of camphor and fig trees planted by Cecil Rhodes in 1898 are of particular historical interest. The flowers, shrubs and trees are arranged in such a way as to display a flower show, and color illuminates the gardens throughout the year.
You cannot miss the proteas, the scented garden, the impressive collection of cycads, the Sculpture Garden, and the Conservatory of the Botanical Society, a custom made greenhouse with plants from arid regions.
Well-marked trails wind through forested slopes, and the Tree Canopy Walkway offers panoramic views of the gardens backed by mountains. One of the trails leads through a ravine to the top of Table Mountain. In summer, the gardens are an evocative venue for open-air concerts.
Go to the beaches in Clifton and Camp’s Bay
About six kilometers from the city center, the beaches in Camp’s Bay and Clifton attract visitors. In Clifton, you will find some of the most expensive real estate in the city overlooking four glistening white sand beaches flanked by smooth granite boulders and lapped by bright but crisp blue seas.
First Beach is a favorite spot for volleyball and offers decent surf when the conditions are right. Just south of Clifton, trendy Camp’s Bay has another stunning beach, backed by the magnificent Twelve Apostles and the distinctive peak of Lion’s Head. Watching people along this pretty palm-lined stretch is an art, as well as in the stylish cafes and boutiques that line Victoria Street, especially on weekends and holidays when locals and tourists flock here to soak up the scene.
Camp’s Bay and Clifton’s Fourth Beach have the coveted Blue Flag status for clean water, safety and environmental stewardship, making them a great option for families too.
Stroll through the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront neighborhood
The Victoria and Alfred Waterfront, which stretches around two harbor basins, is a lively entertainment neighborhood. It was a scruffy fishing port once, and now this reinvented seaside district is one of the city’s top tourist attractions, and many of the old buildings have been preserved and restored. Millions of visitors a year flock to shops, jazz venues, restaurants, hotels, theaters, drama schools, cinemas, and museums.
Sports fans will love the Springbok Experience Rugby Museum, which tells the history of South African rugby through interactive exhibits. Two Oceans Aquarium has more than 300 species of fish from the Atlantic and Indian Oceans, particularly from the area around Good Hope Cape.
Visit Robben Island
For almost 400 years, Robben Island in Table Bay was a brutal prison where Nelson Mandela spent 18 years in a tiny cell during the apartheid era. Today, the island is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a must-see attraction for anyone interested in South African history.
Tours of the island begin with multimedia exhibits at the museum at the Nelson Mandela Gateway on the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront before travelers board the boats to the island. The boat trip takes between 30 minutes and an hour depending on weather conditions and can be difficult during big waves.
While on the island, visitors tour the maximum security prison, Mandela’s old cell, and the lime quarry where prisoners were forced to endure backbreaking labor. What’s interesting about the tour is that the guides are former Robben Island prisoners who share their experiences and offer insight into apartheid atrocities and the power of forgiveness.
The full-day small-group guided tour includes a round-trip ferry ride to Robben Island, a visit to Cape Town’s District Six Museum, and the nearby township communities of Langa and Gugulethu.
Great white shark cage diving
In the cold waters off the coast of Cape Town, thrill seekers can come face to face with one of the ocean’s most feared predators: great white sharks.
Protected by the thick bars of an iron cage, divers get a huge dose of adrenaline as these magnificent creatures swim just inches from the bars.
Tour operators in Cape Town offer shark cage diving in areas such as Simon’s Town, Dyer Island, Mossel Bay, Seal Island and Gansbaai, the «Great White Shark Capital of the World». The best time to see these magnificent creatures is between April and October.
There are also seal, dolphin, penguin and whale watching tours for shyer animal lovers.
Tour the Cape Town Heart Museum
At the Groote Schuur Hospital, the Cape Town Heart Museum opened in 2007 to honor the 40th anniversary of the first heart transplant performed here by Christiaan Barnard. Expert teachers take visitors on a fascinating two-hour tour to see recreations of the operating facilities in the royal rooms where the surgery took place. The tours also explore everything from the ethical implications of the time to the history of the recipient and the donor. Even visitors with no medical history appreciate learning about the history of this life-saving procedure.
ALFA