Highlights of Cape Town, South Africa 🇿🇦

My trip to Cape Town in April of 2024 exceeded my expectations in every single way. Not only did we have an amazing time on our safari stay as well as our adventures in the wine country, the time spent exploring the city itself was also magical. Cape Town is a stunningly beautiful city, with incredible food, kind people, and a rich culture that was amazing to experience. There’s lots of great things to do, see, eat, and drink in Cape Town, and you can do a lot in just a few days. I had about a full week in the city, and was able to explore and enjoy a lot of it, while still leaving many things to return for. Here are some of the highlights and recommendations from my own experiences.

Travel Tips for Cape Town

1. Be aware of your surroundings. Unfortunately the crime rate is quite high in Cape Town, so having awareness at all times is very important. I don’t recommend going out at night, and if you must move around the city after dark, I would recommend an Uber or taxi instead of walking.
2. Most places do not accept cash. While it’s good to have some small bills on you for parking attendants (if you’re renting a car), you really do not need to take out a bunch of cash from an ATM once you land. Almost everywhere took credit cards, and many places actually did not accept cash payments at all.
3. Tipping culture exists here, while it’s not 20% like in the United States, I found that tipping 10-15% was very appreciated.
4. Don’t be flashy. Avoid getting robbed by not showcasing your most expensive items while in Cape Town.
5. Don’t be afraid. While it was intimidating planning a trip around this city, since many locals were warning us to “be careful” all the time, truly the majority of people we met were so kind and helpful. There are always bad people in cities who ruin it for everyone, but don’t let that taint your overall view on this incredibly beautiful city.

Where to Stay in Cape Town

I had the pleasure of staying in several different areas of Cape Town during my visit, and really enjoyed seeing different parts of the city. I will say that overall it was very easy to get around with Uber, so regardless of which neighborhood you stay in, you won’t have a hard time seeing the top attractions.

Protea by Marriott Sea Point

Located near the beach, this hotel was a great choice for easy access to various restaurants and bars and the waterfront. It was right across the street from Arthur’s Mini Super, a great little bar and cafe that I’d highly recommend checking out. The staff was friendly and the rooms were clean and comfortable.

Protea Marriott Fire & Ice

The Protea Fire & Ice hotel had a great onsite restaurant, fitness center, and an amazing view from my window! It’s also centrally located near Kloof Street, a stretch known for many great cafes, restaurants, and bars. It had a small pool area with lounge chairs, and the rooms were spacious and comfortable. It was nicely tucked away, so even though it was close to busy areas, it wasn’t loud at night.

Top Things To Do in Cape Town

Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden

If you love plants and nature, Kirstenbosch is a must-visit when in Cape Town. These botanic gardens not only have an incredible diversity of plant life, they sit at the foothills of Table Mountain, which provides a stunning backdrop. You can easily spend a few hours exploring here — wear comfortable shoes since you’ll be walking a lot, and there are various hikes around the gardens. There are greenhouses to check out, natural water features, and so many amazing plants. There are informative placards around the gardens to learn about the flora and fauna of South Africa’s different biomes.

Iziko Bo-Kaap Neighborhood

This colorful array of houses in the downtown area of the city is a great quick stop during a day of exploring Cape Town. The history of this neighborhood is fascinating — it was originally a segregated neighborhood, where historically white people rented out homes to Muslim and other multicultural residents from many backgrounds. The homes at the time had to be painted white. When political changes brought about the right to homeownership for people of color, they painted the white homes in bright colors to mark the change of times and express their freedom. There is also a museum you can check out to learn more about the area and its historical significance in Cape Town.

Lion’s Head

A famous hike in Cape Town that is 100% worth doing is Lion’s Head, a popular route for both tourists and locals alike. It’s a fairly easy gravel path at first, and then a rocky bit that takes you to the top, a 5K hike in total distance. I would say it’s a moderately difficult hike, there are some parts with a significant climb, but it’s not a long hike, I think we were up and down in less than two hours.

The hike is spectacular because it gives you 360° views of the city, where you can look down at Sea Point, Camps Bay, and the V&A Waterfront area of the city. You can also get a different vantage point on Table Mountain and Signal Hill. The hike felt safe, with plenty of other hikers around in groups. We went before sunset so that we had ample time to get back down to call an Uber before dark. The trailhead only took about 15 minutes to reach from where we were staying in the city.

Table Mountain

This was the first major attraction we saw in Cape Town, and we ventured here the same day we arrived. Exhausted from 14+ hours of flying, we opted to take the cable car to the top instead of hiking. It was a fairly seamless process to buy the tickets online, show up and scan, and board the cable car for a quick (and breathtaking) ride to the top. It offered some stunning views of the city, and there is ample space to hike around at the top. There is also a bar and cafe at the top, ideal for a drink in a lovely setting. We went just before sunset which bathed the city in great lighting. I would definitely put Table Mountain at the top of any Cape Town list, and the cable car makes it an easy thing to visit if you don’t want to hike for hours.

We also explored Table Mountain National Park on our Cape Peninsula road trip — you can read more about that here.

V&A Waterfront

The Victoria & Alfred Waterfront is a great commercial center with a huge shopping mall, various markets, and other attractions in Cape Town. You could spend a good deal of time wandering the wharf, stopping into various souvenir shops, and dining at various restaurants and cafes that dot the harbor. There are tons of great stores in the mall, perfect if you need anything during your trip.

District 6 Museum

Before apartheid, District 6 was a very diverse area of Cape Town, home to people of different racial backgrounds, religions, economic status, and language. During the apartheid era, it became a target for destruction by the government who wished to break up this diversity and strip power and homes from residents, bulldozing them and declaring the area a whites-only neighborhood. The museum seeks to preserve artifacts and stories from people who inhabited District 6 before its destruction. It’s a small museum, but 100% worth visiting to learn more about Cape Town’s painful history and the people who suffered under apartheid.

The Two Oceans Aquarium

This is an impressive aquarium at the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town, with tons of cool exhibits that are intriguing to both kids and adults. Even though it was quite busy with families and small children when I went, the design of the aquarium was very efficient for moving along and seeing the things I wanted to see. There are huge tanks with sharks, tons of different fish, jellyfish, corals, and more. I loved the art installations within the aquarium too, and the penguins. If you’re venturing to Cape Town with kids who love marine biology, I’d definitely recommend spending an afternoon at the Two Oceans Aquarium.

Robben Island Tour

This all-day tour of Robben Island is a powerful piece of history you can experience while in Cape Town. The site is the former prison that held Nelson Mandela and many others who protested apartheid and fought for equality for decades of their lives. It’s a crucial stop to understand the history of South Africa and the painful human stories that accompany it.

Book your ticket well in advance — ferries and tours can sell out, and if you give yourself some wiggle room on the date and time, this is best. My first choice for the tour didn’t work out since the weather was bad and the ferry didn’t run from the port to Robben Island, but thankfully I was able to reschedule. The ferry ride to get to the island took about 45-minutes, and thankfully the sea wasn’t too rough the day I went.

The tour itself is deeply moving — a former prisoner of the island was our guide, and he showed us the various areas of the prison around the island, including the kitchen where he said he often worked, cooking meals for other inmates. Some portions are by bus, since the island is fairly large and spread out, and it has eerie juxtaposition of hosting some great animal life and natural features while also having a dark history. It’s truly an incredible site to visit when exploring Cape Town, just prepare for it to take up a good portion of a whole day, and have an emotional toll even after you return back to the city.

Zeitz Mocaa Museum

This museum is quite strange, it’s a contemporary art museum filled with weird exhibitions and provocative art pieces. The building itself is quite impressive; it’s a converted Silo in the V&A Waterfront area, with impressive stained glass and interesting architecture. I thought Zeitz Mocaa was a cool spot to visit during a rainy day, but I wouldn’t say this is a must-do in Cape Town, unless you’re really into contemporary and modern art.

Oranjezicht City Farm Market

Want a taste of many of the amazing restaurant offerings, access to some great shopping, and a cool outdoor atmosphere all wrapped up in one? Check out the Oranjezicht Farmer’s Market, open on Saturdays and Sundays in Cape Town. We had a great time trying bites of different foods, including an incredible bagel, some birria tacos, and delicious coffee. You could easily spend a few hours here milling around, checking out what the vendors are selling, and eating and drinking to your heart’s content. It’s a great spot to get gifts too, I bought some artisan candies, barbecue spice, and other trinkets to gift once I got back from my trip.

Restaurants & Bars in Cape Town

Arthur’s Mini Super

This cafe and bar is so cute, it’s definitely worth a stop for an evening drink and appetizer or morning coffee and brunch. The staff were friendly and helpful, prices were just right and the ambiance was cool. Arthur’s Mini Super is located in Sea Point, just across the street from the Protea Marriott Sea Point. We stopped here one evening for a glass of wine at sunset, and came back the next morning for coffee and breakfast — I had Eggs Florentine which was delicious.

Jarryd’s Brunch & Bistro

Another fantastic brunch spot in Cape Town, Jarryd’s in Sea Point area was open on Easter and provided a delicious meal for us to start our first full day of exploring the city. I had amazing avocado toast with poached eggs, coffee, AND a green smoothie. The servers were very friendly and the atmosphere of the restaurant was very cool. There was also an accessories shop in the restaurant where I bought some beautiful earrings.

Mojo Market

Another must-do in Sea Point, Mojo Market is a fantastic indoor market comprised of various food vendors and bars, with live music, TVs playing sports game, and a lively fun atmosphere. There is ample seating and plenty of great places to get a bite to eat. We indulged in some oysters, biltong, and beer while spending a few hours milling around the market, it had a great vibe that was perfect for a relaxing afternoon.

Zest

If you’re looking to enjoy an indulgent, fancier dinner while in Cape Town, look no further than Zest Restaurant. It’s tucked away in a commercial building, making it a bit tricky to find, but once you find it, you’ll be whisked away by incredible service, delicious cocktails, and amazing food. Zest offers some great dining at reasonable prices; we enjoyed prawns, steak, cocktails, calamari, broccolini, and roasted tomatoes, all with a view of the ocean right out the window by our table. It was a really nice dining experience; the food was incredible and servers were super kind and knowledgable.

Kama Sushi

This was the first place we ate at after arriving in Cape Town, checking into our hotel and showering off 14+ hours of airplane grime off, and it was a fantastic stop! Not only was it very affordable for us as visitors, the sushi was delicious. Kama Sushi is located in Sea Point, not far from the Marriott and Mojo Market. It’s a small restaurant, probably better for take out in most instances, but since we were eating at a weird time, we had the place to ourselves. Sushi and beer after a long travel journey might become my new thing.

South China Dim Sum

This was a fantastic spot downtown where we literally tried the entire menu. South China Dim Sum had some incredible small plates and fun servers who paced our meal perfectly. There were some fusion twists to some of the dumplings, as well as some more authentic options. I’d definitely recommend a stop at South China Dim Sum if you’re spending some time exploring more of the downtown area of Cape Town. There is also an incredible souvenir shop just a few doors down — stop in here to get all the trinkets and gifts you need.

Ramenhead

This place was fantastic! After a long day, sometimes you just want to end with a warm bowl of Ramen, and this place absolutely delivered. Not only is the atmosphere super cool, the service was great and the food was delicious. Ramenhead is on Parliament street and is absolutely worth a stop. We split a fried chicken karaage appetizer, and tried two different types of ramen. They also have a very nice patio for outdoor seating.

Our Local

Plant lovers who also love brunch, you must visit Our Local! Located on Kloof Street, it was a considerable wait to get a spot, but it was well worth it. The atmosphere is so cool with plants coming out of every corner, and the servers were super nice. I loved my coffee and avocado toast brunch, and even though the wait was awhile (it was a Sunday, after all) once I was seated I received my food order promptly.

Overall, Cape Town was an incredible city to visit. With beautiful nature, delicious food, fascinating history, and kind people, there is no shortage of amazing things to see and do here. I would absolutely go back for a visit, it’s also a very affordable travel destination for Americans, and while there are safety concerns, with some smart planning and awareness, you shouldn’t have any issues while exploring Cape Town. I loved it, and would love to go back to explore more of the city and country.

Have you been to Cape Town? Tell me about what I should do on my next trip in the comments 🙂