19 Unmissable Attractions in Cape Town, South Africa

Named after England’s Queen Victoria and her son, Prince Alfred, the V&A Waterfront is centered around the country’s oldest working harbor. This vibrant precinct is home to a shopping center, food and craft market, an aquarium, hotels and many other attractions.

Table Mountain is one of Cape Town’s most famous landmarks and forms part of a national park. It has many popular hiking trails and a cableway that takes visitors to the summit.

Lion’s Head and Signal Hill provides a dramatic backdrop to the city alongside Table Mountain. The unusual shaped peak is climbed by thousands of residents and tourists every year.

The Zeitz MOCAA will be the largest museum on the continent to exhibit African contemporary art. The museum is found in a revamped grain silo in the V&A Waterfront and is set to open in September 2017. Until then, you can enjoy sundowners at the luxury Silo Hotel’s three resto-bars on-site.

This small island in the middle of Table Bay has a long and torturous past, but is best known as the place where Nelson Mandela spent 18 years of his 27-year prison sentence during apartheid.

Cape Point Nature Reserve lies at the extreme south-western tip of Africa within the Table Mountain National Park. Be swept away by dramatic cliffs, awe-inspiring views and acres of land rich in indigenous flora and fauna.

This scenic seaside promenade meanders along the beachfront on the Atlantic Seaboard. It’s a wonderful place to get in some exercise, people-watch or simply enjoy the sea views.

From Clifton to Muizenberg, Cape Town has many pristine beaches that are perfect for sunbathing and water sports.

Take a day trip to the lush Winelands, where country life is complemented by award-winning wines and cuisine.

This lively Saturday market, held at the Old Biscuit Mill, is the go-to place for fresh produce, artisanal food and live music. It’s also a great place to shop for local fashion, jewelry and designer goods.

Camps Bay is famed for its beachfront restaurant strip, picturesque beach and incredible sunsets. If you want to unwind with a cocktail in hand while watching the world go by, then this is the place to go.

The Castle of Good Hope is a historic fort built by Dutch settlers in the 17th century. Today the star-shaped fort houses an array of military artifacts spanning the 1600s to the 1800s, as well as colonial art, furniture and ceramics.

The Company’s Garden is a beautiful oasis in the center of Cape Town with lots of interesting features and attractions, such as the oldest cultivated tree in South Africa. It dates back to the 1600s, when European settlers grew vegetables to feed the colony and replenish passing ships.

The South African Museum was founded in 1825, making it the oldest in the country. Here you will find lots of dinosaur fossils, dioramas and temporary exhibitions on display. The Planetarium was recently upgraded with cutting-edge technology to virtually transport viewers to outer space.

Visit Boulder’s Beach in Simon’s Town to see the adorable African penguins. Boardwalks lead to Foxy Beach – where the penguins love to hang out – while beach-goers prefer to swim in the section sheltered by huge boulders.

Rhodes Memorial was built in 1912 in honor of Cecil John Rhodes, who was prime minister of the Cape of Good Hope in the late 19th century. The Greek-style monument is found on the slopes of Devil’s Peak and offers sweeping views of the city.

Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden lies on the eastern slopes of Table Mountain. It was founded in 1913 to preserve the Cape’s unique flora, and is a lovely place for a leisurely stroll, a picnic in the gardens or lunch at the Tea Room.

St George’s Cathedral is the oldest cathedral in southern Africa, having been in service since 1834. It is known as ‘The People’s Church’ for its stance against the apartheid regime.

Chapman’s Peak Drive is regarded as one of the world’s most scenic coastal drives. The winding mountain road lies on the western side of the Cape Peninsula and has many vantage points and picnic spots offering magnificent views of Hout Bay. It is also a much-loved cycling route and forms part of the famous Cape Town Cycle Tour.