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Do Not Miss Out On These Things When In Cape Town

Things To Do May, 09, 2025

CapeTown is often called "the Mother City," which is the name it deserves because it is an old, friendly, and beautiful city. Cape Town is one of the oldest cities available to tourists for adventure in South Africa. It is the second most populous city in the country, after the most populous Johannesburg. All around this beautiful city center is a natural beauty, from the roaring waves of the Atlantic Ocean on the beaches to the famous wildflowers that cover Table Mountain.

Take a tour to learn about the history of the city and check out the shops and restaurants on the downtown Victoria & Albert Waterfront. A day trip is a convenient way to see interesting places outside of the city center, like Robben Island, which is on the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites and where you can see Nelson Mandela's old jail cell.

You can see animals and beautiful cliffs at Cape Point, the Cape of Good Hope, and Hout Bay. You can see a group of penguins at Boulders Beach, which is near Simon's Town. In old places like Stellenbosch and Franschhoek, you can try different wine tastings in Cape Town from the Western Cape Winelands. You, go on a private safari in Cape Town to a nearby wildlife reserve to look for Africa's "Big Five," which includes the magnificent African lion.

Are you confused about all the above places to visit in Cape Town? Don’t worry we got you covered with a list of all the best places to go in Cape Town so that you can get the most out of your trip.

Table Mountain

Let's start with the most obvious, since, well, you can't miss it! Table Mountain is one of the Wonders of Nature in itself. It is 1,085m high and is in the middle of Table Mountain National Park, which goes from the north of the city to the Cape of Good Hope.

The main part of Table Mountain is the flat plateau that looks like a tabletop and is about 3 kilometers (2 miles) long and 2 kilometers (1 mile) wide. It is surrounded by Devil's Peak to the east and Lion's Head to the west. There are many outdoor activities and hiking trails on and around Table Mountain for travelers who like to be active. For those who want an easier way to get to the top, the world-class Table Mountain Aerial Cableway (Cable Car) takes nearly 1 million people up to the plateau each year, where they can see amazing views of the city.

It's also famous for the adventure activities in Cape Town and one of the most beautiful places in the country, so you shouldn't miss it when you go there. And if you want to save time and hassles in organizing transportation, you can effortlessly book your car with Travelstart.


Dive With Great White Sharks

Off the coast of Cape Town, you might see a great white shark, which is one of the ocean's most feared predators. Divers get a rush of excitement when these beautiful animals swim within inches of the thick bars of an iron cage.

From April to October, tour companies in Cape Town offer shark cage dives in places like Simon's Town, Dyer Island, Mossel Bay, Seal Island, and Gansbaai, which is known as the Great White Shark Capital around the World. Divers here don't need to be certified because the sharks are kept in cages that were made just for them, and some of the money goes to shark research and conservation.

From the boat, people who want to see these beautiful animals but don't want to get too close can do so. Animal lovers who aren't as brave can also go on trips to see seals, dolphins, penguins, and whales.

Related Article: Discover South Africa


Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden

Kirstenbosch is an oasis of green in the middle of a big city. You could spend the whole day here if you had the time. This 528 hectares big Garden is one of the largest Botanical Gardens in South Africa. Visitors can see thousands of different kinds of plants and flowers that grow in different parts of the country. The best time to go to Cape Town and the Garden is in the spring when most flowers and trees are in bloom.

A picnic on the grass at Kirstenbosch is a great idea. Rent a car via a reliable car rental platform like Travelstart and drive to Kirstenbosch for a cute picnic.


Robben Island

Robben Island in Table Bay was a terrible prison for more than 400 years. During the apartheid era, Nelson Mandela spent 18 years in a small cell there. The island is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and anyone interested in South African history should go there. Visitors can see multimedia displays in the museum at the Nelson Mandela Gateway on the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront before getting on a boat to the island.

People who come to the island can see the most secure prison, Mandela's old cell, and the lime quarry where prisoners were forced to do hard work. The trip is special because the guides are former prisoners from Robben Island. They tell their stories and talk about apartheid crimes and the power of forgiveness.

Tourists can learn about South Africa's past and present on the Cape Town Townships Tour, which includes a stop at Robben Island.


Boulders Beach

One of the best parts of a tourist's trip is often seeing the Penguin Colony at Boulders Beach. The beach is beautiful, with white sand, big granite rocks, a clear blue sea, and lots of cute African penguins swimming and walking around. You can see them from far away and take some great pictures.

The only places you can find penguins are in South Africa and Namibia. In 1982, the reserve was set up to protect African penguins that were almost extinct. Only a few of them stayed in the area. In the past 28 years, there are now 3000 birds living in the colony.

In Simon's Town, Boulders Beach is close to Cape Point National Park. There are also some great places to stay for people who want to see the sights and tour the Cape Peninsula for a day or two.


Signal Hill and the Noon Gun

Are you looking for places to visit in Cape Town from which you can see the city from above? If that's the case, going to Signal Hill and seeing the Noon Gun should be enough. It is close to the city center and offers beautiful views of the capital area, with the Atlantic Ocean being the main attraction.

The hill is 360 meters tall and there are many ways to hike and climb it. It is also well-known for its historical importance, which goes back to the time when signal flags were raised here to tell ships coming in important news.

If you want to get the most out of your trip to Signal Hill just rent out a car and go at sunset time when the sun makes the hill look orange.


The Victoria & Alfred Waterfront

Explore the magic of Cape Town at this interesting place with a long history of fishing. The Victoria & Alfred Waterfront is in the middle of the city and is surrounded by a lot of restaurants, clubs, and pubs where you can feel the party atmosphere of the city.

You could expect to find a lot of interesting things here if you walk around. There are works of art in the art galleries that will take your breath away. Local restaurants here serve some of the best food in all of Cape Town. At night, there is a lively nightlife scene here. This is the place to be if you like to shop. If you want to learn about the history of the sea, the aquarium and ship museum are both great places to go. Also, keep an eye out for the many live performances that happen at the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront amphitheater.


Bo-Kaap

Bo-Kaap, also called the Malay Quarter, is a lively area in the middle of Cape Town. Its brightly colored, individually designed homes, some of which date back to the 18th century, and cobblestone streets make for great photo opportunities for tourists. Bo-Kaap is a diverse neighborhood with mosques, shrines, and the Bo-Kaap Museum, which shows how early Muslims lived in the area. There are also pieces of furniture from Cape Town homes from the 1800s in the museum. People who have been to Bo-Kaap before say that the best way to see it is on foot.


Cape Winelands

The Cape Winelands are just a short drive from Cape Town and have some of the most beautiful scenery in the country. You can rent out a car through Travelstart and drive to the Cape Winelands. Mountains reach up into the sky in a beautiful way, and grapes grow all over the lush hillside. There are several small villages to visit for a peaceful, rural experience. The beautiful vineyards can teach you about how wine is made and give you the chance to try a variety of great wines from the area. It's easy to spend a day doing things like eating delicious food, taking pictures of beautiful scenery, relaxing, and going on tours.

Conclusion

To sum up, Cape Town is a place that has almost everything a tourist looks for in a place. Cape Town's quiet islands and beaches, like Robben Island, Seal Island, and Duiker Island, are great places for a honeymoon.

If you're addicted to adrenaline and like doing exciting things, this city has everything you could want. There are many sports that will get your heart racing, like paragliding, parasailing, shark cage diving, and scuba diving, to name a few.

This area is a great place for people who love nature because it has beautiful beaches, stunning coastlines, green hills, lush green woods, and interesting hiking trails.

People who want to see wildlife can go on safaris during the day and at night in different natural forests and reserves. In short, Cape Town is a must-see for every traveler because there are so many fun things to do there.

So, mark this place on the world map for your next trip or an upcoming international conference, and have a great time!