Cape Town Bucket List
Hike Table Mountain
When the weather is good, one of your first ports of call should be the top of Cape Town’s iconic mountainous landmark. There are several routes leading to the top, each featuring different views, vegetation, and suitable Read Moreto various fitness levels. Table Mountain hikes range between two to six hours and vary in the type of terrain with some offering rocky paths while others require a little more scrambling with steep sections. Regardless of the route you take, you will be towering 1086 metres over Cape Town when you get to the peak and witness the most extraordinary 360˚ views over the Cape Peninsula and the Atlantic Ocean. The mountain is home to an incredible diversity of indigenous fauna and flora. Don’t forget to take enough water, especially if you are hiking in summer as well as some sunscreen. You can opt to take the revolving cableway back down to the bottom for a faster descent and more magnificent views.
Hit Clifton beach
If you are a beach lover, the well-heeled suburb of Clifton and its Blue Flag beach on the Atlantic Seaboard is a must-visit. Nestled between sleepy Bantry Bay and vibey Camps Bay, this exclusive area sees Read Moreexquisite homes with ocean vistas built on cliffs towering over the cool Atlantic Ocean. Known as Clifton’s 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Beaches, these are naturally divided by rocky outcrops and boulders. Each one is pristine with fine, white sand and magnificent azure waters against the horizon. Each beach attracts a different crowd and the largest and most popular, 4th Beach offers changeroom and cold shower facilities, chair and umbrella hire, as well as refreshments. A popular way to view the stunning beaches from offshore is to hire a party yacht and dance, swim or snorkel and watch the sunset with a sparkling sundowner in this spectacular setting.
Go Wine tasting
A visit to Cape Town is not complete without savouring some of the regions internationally renowned wines. Head out to the Winelands where you can visit numerous acclaimed wine estates in Stellenbosch, Read MoreFranschhoek, and Paarl. Go on a cellar tour, enjoy wine pairings, and indulge in gourmet cuisine overlooking valleys, mountains and rolling vineyards. You can also embark on wine tasting tours on horseback, E-bikes, mountain bikes or by helicopter. Some of the wine estates offer luxury accommodation with award-winning spas and restaurants where you can truly unwind and escape into countryside opulence for a few days. If you are strapped for time head to the smaller suburb of Constantia, the county’s oldest wine-producing area, for wine tastings nearer to the city centre.
Walk the Sea Point promenade
Stretching approximately 4,2 km from Mouille Point to Bantry Bay, the Seapoint promenade is a lively hub of activity on the weekends and offers opportunities to spot dolphins, seals, and whales in the spring and summer Read Moremonths. The broad paved walkway follows the coastline with views of the Atlantic Ocean and some small beaches and rock pools dotted along the way. Walk, rollerblade, skateboard, or rent a bicycle and make your way down to the oldest operational lighthouse in South Africa. The promenade also features expansive lawns and play areas as well as benches where you can relax with a book or simply soak in the gorgeous views. Once you have run, cycled, or ambled along the promenade, treat yourself to a sunset cocktail from one of many contemporary cafes across the road.
Hike Lions Head
Lions Head is the smaller, yet very prominent peak next to Table Mountain. The hike up Lions Head is somewhat shorter than a Table Mountain hike starting with a long steep Read Moreand wide gravel pathway. The view from the peak is breathtaking with vistas over the Atlantic Ocean as far as the eye can see. From here you can also soak in gorgeous city and harbour views with Robben Island in the distance. Sunrise and sunset hikes are very popular as the lighting over the city and surrounds is spectacular. You can also join a full-moon hike for an extraordinary hiking experience.
Visits the penguins
Boulders Beach is an apt name for this scenic spot not far from Simon’s Town in the Southern Peninsula of Cape Town. Huge granite boulders surround a cove with a small, white sandy beach where the ocean tides Read Moreform rock pools. However, the boulders, warmer water, and fine sand are not what lure visitors to this iconic beach; it is the colony of penguins that is the main attraction. Thousands of these characterful birds are residents on Boulders Beach. The boarded walkways wind through thick vegetation and over dunes allowing a bird’s eye-view (excuse the pun) of the African penguin in its natural habitat, going about its daily activities. They seem happy to pose for pictures looking delightful in their smart black and white suits but beware of disturbing them, as their beaks are surprisingly sharp and snappy.
Visit Cape Point
A visit to Cape Point is a must on any Cape Town bucket list. Situated in the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve in Table Mountain National Park, this spectacular setting boasts sheer cliffs, crashing waves, Read Moreindigenous fynbos, fauna, and an array of intriguing birdlife. Explore the park on foot, with an E-bike tour or take the funicular up to the original lighthouse built in 1859 which stands 238 meters above sea level. A further hike along the Lighthouse Keepers trail is necessary to access the new lighthouse, but worth the 200-metre cliff face view. End your exploration here with lunch at the exclusive reserve restaurant overlooking the ocean and possibly spot some whales during winter and spring visits. (June to October).
Markets
Markets are synonymous with Cape Town, and there are plenty to choose from. Established markets that run daily in and around the city include the V&A Food Market at the Waterfront, Mojo Market in Sea Point with Read Morea variety of international cuisine and drinks on tap, as well as the African crafts, clothing, and artifacts bazaar in the cobbled Greenmarket Square. Two of the most popular weekend markets not to be missed are The Old Biscuit Mill Neighbourhoods Market, and the outdoor Oranjezicht City Farm Market with its fresh outlook and colourful displays of locally farmed fruits and veg, artisanal bread, fresh herbs, organic produce, as well as a section selling vintage items, flowers, clothing, and shoes.
Shark Cage Diving
Nothing quite beats the adrenalin rush of coming face to face with a predator in its own territory. A visit to Cape Town offers a once-in-a-lifetime chance to meet the extraordinary great white shark in its natural habitat. Read MoreExperience the thrill of a cage dive in Gansbaai, the densest population of great white sharks in the world. Just a few hours’ drive from Cape Town, you will learn more about these magnificent sea creatures and their marine environment before taking a boat ride to Dyer Island and Shark Alley where you will be lowered into the water in a steel cage to observe the sharks.
Watch the sunset
Cape Town must have the worlds most beautiful sunsets. Every sunset is nothing short of magnificant and offer a diverse setting each and every evening. There are many sunset hotspots in Cape Town such Read Moreas Camps Bay and Clifton Beach, Signal hill, the top of Table Mountain and Lion’s Head. You can see the suset from just about anywhere along the Atlantic Seaboard.
Sip cocktails on Camps Bay Beachfront
Camps Bay beach front is home to a street filled with resturants and cocktail bars. If you are looking to sip cocktails in day or night there are many great venues to visit and Camps Bay Beachfront is the place to be. Read MoreIn summer, especially on the weekends Camps Bay is buzzing and boasts a festive atmosphere. Visit Cafe Caprice, The Bungalow or Chinchilla Rooftop bar for our most recommended cocktail venues.
Helicopter Flip
Voted one of the top Cape Town experiences, a helicoptor flip is definetely one for the bucket list. Cape Town helicoptor tours offers flights over the Atlantic Seaboard, Cape Winelands and all the way to Cape Point. Read MoreFlights depart from the Cape Town waterfront daily and are weather dependant. Flight times strat from 15 minutes upwards.
Bokaap
Bokaap has become a top Cape Town attraction with decades of heritage and it’s streets of colorful house. Guided walking tours can be arranged in the area, or many visit with extened day tours of the city. Although there Read Moreisn’t too much to do in the area, Bokaap has taking off during the year with it’s must have, high demand photo’s with the houses in the background.
V&A Waterrfont
The V&A Waterfront is one of the most visited destinations in Cape Town. It has loads to offer with a range of shops, markets, entertainment, an aquarium, boat rides and dozens of remarkable restaurants.
Robben Island
There’s no place better to learn about the history of South Africa with a Robben Island tour. Ferry’s depart the Cape Town Waterfront four times a day on. scheduled tour of Robben Island. Here you will visit Nelson Read MoreMandela’s prison cell and find yourself guided by ex-prisoners and wardens back in time to the apartheid days.