Best Places to Visit in Cape Town

Published September 25, 2019 · Updated April 29, 2022

Nestled between the misty mountains and breathtaking sea, Cape Town boasts about its natural beauty. It is one of the must-visit cities in South Africa that will make you stunned with its diverse offerings. Whether you want to simply relax at the beachside or want to try some outdoor activities such as surfing, biking, paragliding and hiking, you will get lot of exposure in this magical city. Here we have listed some of the best places to visit in Cape Town during your upcoming tour to South Africa. Check out this Cape Town travel guide that also consists of top things to do in Cape Town:

Signal Hill and the Noon Gun: Signal Hill provides a magnificent perspective over Cape Town, Table Bay, and the sparkling Atlantic Ocean from the 350-meter top five minutes’ drive west of the city center. Various local visitors travel to the sunset to witness the shining lights of Cape Town light up in the evening. A cannon triggered by an electrical pulse from the Observatory fires a single shot at noon every day (except for Sundays and public holidays). In previous days, this “noon gun” was used to inform sailors in the harbor of the precise hour. Tourists are invited to take part in a free lecture on the history of the Lion Battery Noon Gun and afterward stay at the firing site. It is one of the best places to visit in Cape Town that you can explore all around the year.

The Victoria & Alfred Waterfront: The Victoria and Alfred Waterfront, spread around two haven basins, is a lively area evocative of the San Francisco Fisherman’s Wharf. This recreated seaplane sector is now one of the best tourist attractions in Cape Town, formerly a scruffy fishing harbor, and many of the original buildings were saved and renovated. Sports enthusiasts will appreciate the Springbok Experience Rugby Museum, where interactive displays reveal the history of South African Rugby. Two ocean aquariums have about 300 different fish species from the Atlantic Oceans and the Indian Oceans, especially in the area surrounding the Cape of Good Hope.

Chapman’s Peak Drive: Chapman’s Peak Drive is one of the busiest international driving routes, approximately 25 kilometers away from the city center, which has an endearing name for the locals “Chappies.” This is not a path that motivates people who have 114 bends cut into the rock face and some are more than 500 meters above sea level.Around sunset, vehicles are halted, as seen seeing the sun sink and enjoying a cold drink in the historical South African custom, which is known as sundowners. The glittering Atlantic Ocean below has south-right whales and dolphins to see slowly and carefully.

Robben Island: Robben Island at Table Bay has been a harsh jail for over 400 years, where Nelson Mandela stayed in a small cell for eighteen years during the Apartheid era. The island now is a UNESCO World Heritage site for anybody interested in South Africa’s history and top places to visit in Cape Town. Tours of the island start in the Nelson Mandela Gateway Museum in front of tourist’s boards on the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront. The intriguing element of the tour is that the guides are old Robben Island inmates who relate their stories and provide insights into the evils of apartheid and the forgiving power.

Great White Shark Cage Dives: Thrill seekers can meet one of the ocean’s most dreadful detesters in the cold seas off Cape Town’s banks: great white sharks. The divers have a strong dosage of adrenaline, protected by the heavy bar in the iron cage, while those amazing creatures swim inches from the bar. Cape Town tour providers are offering shark cage dives in the “Big White Shark Capital of the world” locations, including Simon Town, Dyer Island, Mossel Bay, Seal Iceland, and Gansbaai. Between April and October is the greatest time to observe these beautiful beings. Since divers are contained in specialized cages, some funding is directed towards shark research and advice. It is one of the top tourist attractions of Cape Town.

City Hall & the Castle of Good Hope: Within five minutes walk of each other in central Cape Town, the tale enthusiasts may visit two significant historic structures. Cape Town City Hall was built in 1905 and is a remarkable mixture of the neo-renaissance and colonial styles of the British Empire. The 60-meter-high bell tower was patterned on Big Ben in London and was fitted with a carillon in 1923. The inside features lovely mosaic flooring, a marble staircase, and stunning glass. Music enthusiasts should also try to attend the Cape Philharmonic Orchestra performances. The Good Hope Castle is the oldest remaining stone structure in South Africa across the road from the Grand Parade and the popular tourist spots in Cape Town.

Cape Point: Cape Point is located about 60 km outside of town and is among Cape Town’s greatest destinations. This location attracts travelers with its huge cliffs of stone, beautiful coves, winding green slopes, and green valleys. It also acts as a significant haunt for wildlife aficionados and bird lovers as the home for around 250 different birds. It also welcomes you with a row of 1,100 native plants that add to this strange destination’s natural magnificence and the best places to see in Cape Town. A short walk away takes you to the Two Oceans Restaurant, which offers you a delicious African dinner to delight your tastes.

Muizenberg Beach: Cape Town’s seaside neighborhood is Muizenberg Beach. There is not too much sandy beach, however, the water in neighboring Cape Beaches is warmer to swim in. However, its main appeal may be the surfer’s waves; it is here that surfing started in South Africa. Muizenberg Beach is an excellent spot to experience this water activity and the best things to do in Cape Town. In the late 20th century, the neighborhood fell into ruin, however, it now reverberates to its previous glory. The home that Cecil Rhodes constructed and died there in 1902 are non-strand attractions.

Sea Point: The Sea Point is a vibrant and accessible seaside resort in Cape Town. It is located in the neighborhood of the city center on Signal Hill. This lovely walk is the main drawing on the Atlantic Sea, as a picture-only pedestrian. A variety of hotels, pubs, and restaurants can be found there. The scenic splendor of the location, however, increases its genuine attractiveness. The rugged and rocky coast may not be a bathing destination, but you can surely refresh yourself by dipping in the Saunders Rock Tidal Pool.

The Heart of Cape Town Museum: It was inaugurated in the year 2007 and since then recognized as a popular tourist destination where people gather in huge number. Even if you don’t have a medical background, you will love to know more about this place where Christian Barnard did his 1st heart transplant. Here you can consider taking a tour of an hour or so to view the operating facilities and life-saving instruments of historic times. If you are looking for some of the historical places to visit in Cape Town then this museum is an ideal choice.

Table Mountain: Situated at the height of more than 1,000 meters, it is recognized as a highly recommended destination for photography lovers. While been here, you can also consider visiting Table Mountain National Park that features a diverse range of flower species and rare animals such as baboons, caracals and rock hyraxes. From the top of Table Mountain, you can get a glimpse of some of the most spectacular views of Cape Town city.

Boulders Bay: It is situated in Simon’s Town and considered as a home to several African Penguins. Tourists from different parts of the world come to Boulders Bay to experience these natural habitats. It is a perfect setting to watch when these cute penguins make their way through white sand, rocks, and boulders. Photography lovers would love to spend some quality time here capturing some of the most exciting moments of their life in camera.

Bo-Kaap: Located next to the central city, it is one of the most vibrant and unique places to visit in Cape Town that you will come across in Bo-Kaap. Here you can spot several cobblestoned streets and homes painted in different color shades thereby giving it an absolute creative touch. The entire area looks so animated that you will feel like some kind of festival going on here.

Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens: It is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site where you can spot several trees, shrubs and blossoming flowers that give an absolutely unique look to the entire garden. While been here, you can also plan to visit Company’s Garden where several ponds, aviaries, flowers and exotic trees can be found in huge number. In the vicinity of the garden, you can also explore Iziko National Gallery and Iziko South African Museum.

The beaches of Camps Bay and Clifton: If you are a beach lover then you will love staying here for the maximum time of your tour. Here you can spot several beaches, each one of which is popular for some or other thing. One beach offers an opportunity for water sports while another beach is famous for its extremely serene environment. Food lovers will also enjoy this destination as there are several famous restaurants in the vicinity that serve mouth-watering cuisine made from local ingredients.

Spend a Day at the Beach, Sample the Cape’s Wines at a Vineyard Estate, Explore the Cape’s Marine and Wildlife, soak up the Atmosphere of the Inner City, Shop for Souvenirs, Dine Out in the City’s Best Restaurants, Explore the Peninsula, Picnic in Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens, Learn About the Country’s Complex History and hike to the top of the Table Mountain are the top 10 things to do in Cape Town.

What’s next waiting for you?

There is a misconception amongst travelers that the continent of Africa doesn’t offer enough sightseeing. In reality, a destination like Cape Town is packed with diverse offerings and it has all the things that you expect from an ideal holiday destination. Now you know where to go and what to do in Cape Town, go ahead and browse through our other travel guides in Africa to know which other cities you can add to your itinerary.