Cape Town is the legislative capital of South Africa, a coastal city beneath Table Mountain known for dramatic scenery, beaches, the Cape Winelands, the Cape Peninsula, a Cape Malay food heritage and the history of Robben Island and apartheid-era District Six.
Top attractions
The most popular and significant attractions in Cape Town.
-
1
Table Mountain Aerial Cableway
The flat-topped mountain above the city, reached by a rotating cable car in about five minutes, with marked trails and viewpoints on the 1,086 m summit.
Tip: Check live cableway status on tablemountain.net before leaving, as wind can halt service. · Online tickets via Webtickets are cheaper than the ticket office and avoid the longest queue. · Arrive for the first car of the day for the shortest wait and calmest conditions. · Carry a windproof layer; the summit is much cooler and windier than the city. · Parking is limited, so a ride-hailing app or the MyCiTi bus is simpler. · Allow a full day buffer in the itinerary so a closure does not cancel the visit.
-
2
V&A Waterfront
A working harbour turned into a shopping, dining and entertainment district, with the Clock Tower, Two Oceans Aquarium, the Silo District and the departure point for Robben Island ferries.
Tip: Go on a weekday morning for the lowest crowds and easiest parking. · Entry is free, so budget only for activities, meals and parking. · Take the MyCiTi bus or a ride-hailing app to avoid busy parking garages. · Book Robben Island ferries in advance and allow time to reach the departure point. · Stay for late afternoon when the harbour and mountain light is best for photos.
-
3
Robben Island Museum
The island prison where Nelson Mandela spent 18 of his 27 years in custody, visited by ferry with a tour led by former political prisoners.
Tip: Book several days ahead, and weeks ahead from December to February, as popular sailings sell out · Choose a morning departure; seas are calmer and cancellations less likely · Arrive at the Nelson Mandela Gateway at least 30 minutes before departure · Bring a windproof layer and sun protection; the ferry deck is exposed · Keep spare time in the itinerary because sailings are cancelled in strong wind · Seasick-prone visitors may prefer a seat in the lower cabin near the stern
-
4
Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden
A 528-hectare botanical garden on the eastern slopes of Table Mountain, home to indigenous fynbos and the elevated Boomslang tree canopy walkway.
Tip: Arrive at opening time for the coolest, quietest walking and best light · Pack a picnic for the lawns or use the garden's tea rooms · Wear sturdy shoes if planning forest paths, which are steep and can be slippery · Check the concert schedule and arrive early for lawn spots on summer Sundays · Bring a windbreaker; weather on the slopes changes fast · Buy tickets online at sanbi.org to shorten the queue at the gate
-
5
Cape Point Nature Reserve
The dramatic southwestern tip of the Cape Peninsula, with a historic lighthouse, wild coastline, baboons and the signed Cape of Good Hope viewpoint.
Tip: Arrive at opening time to beat tour buses and enjoy clearer skies · Keep all food out of sight and never feed baboons; fines apply · Take layers and a windbreaker because the tip is often windy and misty · Buy the funicular ticket if the 10-minute climb to the lighthouse is too steep · Fill the fuel tank in Simon's Town or earlier; services inside the reserve are limited · Combine with Boulders Beach on the same day, which lies roughly on the route back
-
6
Boulders Penguin Colony
A protected colony of African penguins on sheltered granite coves where visitors walk the boardwalks and swim at Foxy Beach.
Tip: Arrive early morning or late afternoon to avoid midday tour groups · Never touch or feed the penguins; they can bite · Pack a swimsuit if planning to swim at Boulders Beach, but expect cold water · Check Metrorail service status before taking the train, as disruptions are common · Visit with a car or Uber/Bolt if time is short, since the walk from the station is about 2 km · Bring sun protection and a windbreaker for the exposed boardwalks
-
7
Bo-Kaap
A hillside district of brightly painted houses on cobbled streets, the historic home of the Cape Malay community and the Auwal Mosque.
Tip: Visit in the morning for the best light and fewer tour groups · Join a resident-led walking tour for history that signs do not explain · Dress modestly near the mosques and keep voices low during prayer times · Ask before photographing residents and avoid blocking doorways · Avoid walking alone at night · Wear comfortable shoes for the steep, cobbled streets
-
8
Castle of Good Hope
South Africa's oldest surviving colonial building, a pentagonal fortress of 1666-1679 holding military museums and the William Fehr art collection.
Tip: Arrive before 10:00AM to see the key ceremony and cannon · Join a guided tour for the history of the bastions and dungeons · Combine with the District Six Museum, which lies a few minutes' walk away · Confirm ceremony times on the castle website as they can change · Wear comfortable shoes for the cobbles and ramparts · Allow time for the William Fehr Collection, which many visitors skip
-
9
Zeitz MOCAA
The world's largest museum of contemporary African art, in a converted grain silo with a rooftop sculpture garden.
Tip: Check that the museum is open, as it is usually closed on Tuesdays. · Go on a weekday morning for the quietest galleries. · Allow 1.5 to 2.5 hours, plus extra for the rooftop garden. · Ask at the ticket desk about discounted rates for African residents. · Check exhibition signage before photographing, as some works are restricted.
-
10
Company's Garden
The city's oldest public garden, founded in 1652 to grow vegetables for passing ships, with squirrels, a rose garden and several museums at its edge.
Tip: Visit on a weekday morning for the quietest paths · Combine with the Iziko South African Museum and the Slave Lodge nearby · Bring snacks or lunch for a picnic on the lawns · Avoid feeding the squirrels · Keep valuables out of sight and stay on busy paths near dusk · Take the central avenue for the best view of Table Mountain
Attractions by category
Explore by your interests.
Mountain_and_cableway
Table Mountain Aerial Cableway
The flat-topped mountain above the city, reached by a rotating cable car in about five minutes, with marked trails and viewpoints on the 1,086 m summit.
Waterfront_and_shopping_district
V&A Waterfront
A working harbour turned into a shopping, dining and entertainment district, with the Clock Tower, Two Oceans Aquarium, the Silo District and the departure point for Robben Island ferries.
Unesco_heritage_site_and_museum
Robben Island Museum
The island prison where Nelson Mandela spent 18 of his 27 years in custody, visited by ferry with a tour led by former political prisoners.
Botanical_garden
Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden
A 528-hectare botanical garden on the eastern slopes of Table Mountain, home to indigenous fynbos and the elevated Boomslang tree canopy walkway.
Nature_reserve_and_viewpoint
Cape Point Nature Reserve
The dramatic southwestern tip of the Cape Peninsula, with a historic lighthouse, wild coastline, baboons and the signed Cape of Good Hope viewpoint.
Wildlife
Boulders Penguin Colony
A protected colony of African penguins on sheltered granite coves where visitors walk the boardwalks and swim at Foxy Beach.
Historic_neighbourhood
Bo-Kaap
A hillside district of brightly painted houses on cobbled streets, the historic home of the Cape Malay community and the Auwal Mosque.
Fortress_museum
Castle of Good Hope
South Africa's oldest surviving colonial building, a pentagonal fortress of 1666-1679 holding military museums and the William Fehr art collection.
Museum
Zeitz MOCAA
The world's largest museum of contemporary African art, in a converted grain silo with a rooftop sculpture garden.
District Six Museum
A community museum in a former church honouring the people forcibly removed from District Six under apartheid, with floor maps and personal stories.
Iziko Slave Lodge
A museum in the 1679 building that housed slaves of the Dutch East India Company, covering slavery at the Cape and the lives of those held there.
Iziko South African Museum
The country's oldest museum, founded in 1825, with natural history, whale hall and rock-art galleries and a planetarium.
Garden_and_park
Company's Garden
The city's oldest public garden, founded in 1652 to grow vegetables for passing ships, with squirrels, a rose garden and several museums at its edge.
Wine_estate_and_museum
Groot Constantia
South Africa's oldest wine estate, founded in 1685, with the Cape Dutch manor house, cellar tours and tastings.
Scenic_drive
Chapman's Peak Drive
A 9 km scenic road cut into cliffs between Hout Bay and Noordhoek, with 114 curves and sea views over Hout Bay.
Hiking
Lion's Head
A 669 m peak with a spiral path, chains and ladders near the top, and 360-degree views of the city, the Atlantic coast and Table Mountain.
Aquarium
Two Oceans Aquarium
An aquarium of the Atlantic and Indian Oceans with a kelp forest, penguins, sharks and a touch pool, a good wet-weather option.
Viewpoint
Signal Hill and Noon Gun
A hill with open views over the Atlantic coast and the city, and the site of the Noon Gun fired at midday for two centuries.
Bloubergstrand View of Table Mountain
The postcard view of Table Mountain across Table Bay from the northern beaches, popular with photographers and kitesurfers.
Beach
Camps Bay Beach
A white sand beach below the Twelve Apostles with palm-lined cafes and restaurants on Victoria Road.
Muizenberg Beach and Beach Huts
A long gentle surf beach with painted Victorian bathing huts and surf schools.
Harbour_and_seal_island
Hout Bay Harbour
A working fishing harbour with a market, fish and chips and boat trips to Duiker Island's seal colony.
Fishing_harbour
Kalk Bay Harbour
A fishing harbour with a seal-feeding boardwalk, antique shops on Main Road and cafes.
Memorial_and_viewpoint
Rhodes Memorial
A granite memorial on the slopes of Devil's Peak with city and Cape Flats views.
Nature_reserve
Silvermine Nature Reserve
A fynbos reserve with a dam, picnic sites and walks along the peninsula spine.
Promenade
Sea Point Promenade
A 3 km seafront walk and cycle path with sea views, public pools and outdoor gyms.
Practical information
What you need to know before you go.
- Hours
- Museums mostly open about 9:00AM or 10:00AM and close about 4:00-5:00PM, with shorter Sunday hours; Table Mountain and the SANParks reserves open from early morning and close earlier in winter; beaches and promenades are open at all times.
- Fees
- Table Mountain cableway about R475 (approx $28.79) return online; Robben Island ferry and tour quoted from about R600 (approx $36.36) to R1,400 (approx $84.85); Kirstenbosch about R270 (approx $16.36); Cape Point about R430 (approx $26.06); Boulders about R210 (approx $12.73); Castle about R60 (approx $3.64); Zeitz MOCAA about R270 (approx $16.36). Confirm before visiting.
- Best Times
- November-March is warm and dry with long days but strong southeaster wind; April-May and September-October are mild with fewer crowds; June-August is cooler and wetter with cableway maintenance closures. Wildflowers peak August-October.
- Booking
- Table Mountain through Webtickets (tablemountain.net, +27 21 424 8181); Robben Island through robben-island.org.za (+27 21 413 4220); Kirstenbosch via sanbi.org (+27 21 799 8783); Cape Point and Boulders via sanparks.org (Cape Point +27 21 780 9010, Boulders +27 21 786 2329). Transport: Uber, Bolt and MyCiTi (myciti.org.za). Emergency: 112 from a mobile or 10111 for police.
Tips for visiting attractions
Make the most of your sightseeing time.
The Table Mountain cableway is weather-dependent and has an annual maintenance closure of about two to three weeks, usually in July-August; check the live status on tablemountain.net before leaving and buy tickets via Webtickets only.
Robben Island ferries are often cancelled in high wind and sell out several days ahead in peak season; book online through the Robben Island Museum website and carry the passport used for booking.
Use Uber or Bolt for evenings and between neighbourhoods; avoid walking at night in the CBD, the upper Bo-Kaap streets and around the station, and avoid isolated beaches and trailheads after dusk.
Load-shedding (scheduled power cuts) can affect traffic lights, card machines and some attractions; carry some cash and check the EskomSePush app for the area.
Wear layers and sun protection: wind and cloud on Table Mountain, Cape Point and Chapman's Peak can change within an hour, and the Atlantic water is cold.
The MyCiTi bus needs a myconnect card sold at stations and selected shops; the Hop-on Hop-off bus links Table Mountain, Camps Bay, the Waterfront and Kirstenbosch.
Most museums have shorter hours on Sundays; the District Six Museum closes on Sunday and the Castle's last entry is about 4:00PM.
Hike Lion's Head or Table Mountain in groups, start before midday, carry 1-2 litres of water and a charged phone, and never leave belongings visible in parked cars at trailheads.
Frequently asked questions
How many days are enough for Cape Town's attractions?
Three to four days cover Table Mountain, the V&A Waterfront with Robben Island, a Cape Peninsula day to Cape Point and Boulders, and one day for Kirstenbosch, Constantia wine estates and Bo-Kaap.
What is the best way to see Table Mountain?
Take the Table Mountain Aerial Cableway on a clear, still morning; buy tickets online through Webtickets and check the live status on tablemountain.net, or hike up Platteklip Gorge in about 2 to 3 hours.
Do I need to book Robben Island in advance?
Yes. Book on the Robben Island Museum website several days ahead in season; the ferry leaves from the Nelson Mandela Gateway and sailings can be cancelled in wind.
Is Cape Town safe for visitors at the main attractions?
The main attractions are busy and generally safe in daylight; use Uber or Bolt after dark, avoid the CBD and the Cape Flats at night, and do not leave valuables visible in a car.
How much do the main attractions cost?
Table Mountain is about R475 (approx $28.79) return online, Kirstenbosch about R270 (approx $16.36), Cape Point about R430 (approx $26.06) and Boulders about R210 (approx $12.73); the Waterfront, Bo-Kaap and Lion's Head are free.
Can I visit Cape Point without a car?
Not easily. Public transport does not reach the gate; the practical options are a rental car, an Uber/Bolt one-way run or a day tour from the city.