The 10 Best Walking Tours to Take in Cape Town

There’s no denying that Cape Town is the culinary capital of South Africa, and with a range of the city’s trendiest eateries all within walking distance of each other, it’s easy to feel a little overwhelmed. The The 10 Tastings of Cape Town With Locals tour will help to fill in the gaps and expose you to some of the city’s, and the country’s, most popular foods. The tour lasts around three hours and will invariably feature local classics like koeksister (a traditional sweet, sticky donut) and biltong (cured meat).

The top of Table Mountain is a sight to behold, and it’s easy to stumble to the edge of the peak and gawk at the city before returning to the cableway. But there’s much more to the top than immediately meets the eye, which is why taken a guided tour of this epic mountain peak is well worth it.

As one of the oldest wine estates in South Africa, there’s plenty to see on a walking tour of Groot Constantia. Rather than traipse through the peaceful grounds of the estate with dozens of other tourists, you can now plug in to an informative and well laid-out audio tour. There are several walking tour options available on the estate which walk you through both history and present day, and all are free to download from VoiceMap. You can also book a personally guided tour, some of which combine the estate with a visit to Robben Island and Kirstenbosch.

Cape Town is the oldest city in South Africa, and if you know where to look, you’ll find fascinating hints of this in surprising places. It’s easy to be blinkered by the garish and haphazard collection of contemporary buildings and at times overwhelming city streets, but a guided historical walking tour will show you the hidden gems and historical relics that remain. Both will take you to Greenmarket Square, City Hall and the Company’s Garden, among other attractions.

In today’s young, vibrant democracy it’s easy to forget that, historically speaking, apartheid was remarkably recent. There are museums and landmarks throughout the city that pay homage to those who fought against the oppressive regime, and you can visit these on your own steam. But if you want to tie them all together with an interesting walking tour through the Cape Town CBD, Company’s Gardens and District Six, join up for this full day tour that includes the District Six Museum, Robben Island Museum and the historic township of Langa.

Cape Town’s Bo-Kaap is a popular attraction, thanks largely to its array of colourful houses. But many superficial visits to the suburb fail to acknowledge the stories of the people who live behind the doors of these iconic homes, because this area was once a racially segregated district and remains the historic centre of the city’s Cape Malay community, a Muslim ethnic group in South Africa. Guided tours are always best if you want to understand the real heart of this unique part of town.

This four-hour tour is perfect for first-timers or flying visitors in Cape Town. A fairly completist tour of the city, you’ll see an awful lot of both mainstream and under-the-radar sights, all seen through the unique local perspective of your guide. The tour is customizable, but whichever route you take it’ll be filled with cultural and historical insights aplenty. You’ll also be taken to a special eatery, where only the locals go, to enjoy a snack or drink hand-picked by your host.

Few people realise that there’s a vast network of tunnels beneath the surface of Cape Town’s city streets. This is because the first Dutch settlers built canals to funnel water towards farms and other settlements. The canals have since been paved over and deemed off-limits to all but those who embark on a certified, guided tour. Good Hope Adventures will guide you through the history of these remarkable tunnels, starting at the historic Castle of Good Hope.

If you’re looking for something a bit more fantastical, the Elfin Trail audio tour offers an immersive, fantasy-themed tour through one of Cape Town’s most beautiful forests, Cecelia Forest. The GPS-triggered walking tour will take you on a gentle two-hour stroll, and features original music and carefully selected sound effects for a thrilling experience.

Veteran South African travel writer Justin Fox is passionate about the city’s fascinating maritime history. The beautiful coastal suburb of Mouille Point is the perfect place to examine the city’s fascinating relationship with the sea, and this gentle self-guided meander along the promenade is authentic and truly fascinating, whether it’s your first or 50th time visiting the promenade.