Top 10 things to do in Cape Town

I have been to Cape Town back in 2014 and it was my first time outside Europe. This may have contributed to the fact that it is my favourite city in the entire world. There is so much to do, the food is delicious (and very cheap) and the geography of this town is unique as there is no where else in the world quite like it. It was hard to pick the top 10 things to do as there are many other attractions that are not listed here like diving with sharks, visiting Robben island etc. but these were my personal top picks:

10. Drive up to Bloubergstrand

This beach is half an hour north of the city centre and here you get to see the sun setting on Table Mountain. I was not lucky here and it was very cloudy so the silhouette of Table Mountain was not visible. The pictures are from a talented South African photographer Ilonde Van Hoolwerf. Hopefully I will be back some day to take some awesome shots as hers.

9. Visit Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden

It is so peaceful here. When we visited we encountered nobody else and we had all the time to wander around and explore the gardens. They boast a variety of flowers, like proteas, with the backdrop of Table mountain and waterfalls coming down and streams coming underneath the paths.

8. Visit Cape Point Peninsula and go up the Cape of Good Hope

One hour south of Cape Town’s centre is the Cape Point Peninsula, home to the Cape of Good Hope National Park. Getting to the southern most point involves driving along rugged coast and vast masses of unspoilt land inhabited by baboons, ostriches and  bontebok among others. You can hop on the funicular to reach the light house where you get aerial views of the False Bay and the waves splashing against the cliffs.

7. Watch the sun setting on Camps Bay

This sunset makes it to the top 10 of my favourites. The sandy beach, the houses (truly luxurious ones) built at the foot of the twelve apostles and the peaks facing the sea. Camps Bay is also home to our favourite restaurant in South Africa – Hussar Grill. Some seriously delicious food, in a relaxing ambience at incredible prices. A dinner for two here (main course + desert + wine) will cost you around 500 Rands (equivalent to around €30).

6. Victoria & Albert Waterfront

Great vibes and food. This is the meeting point of Cape Townians. Once again the backdrop of Table mountain makes this waterfront spectacular. We are not shopping lovers so we did not waste a lot of time here but it is still worth a visit.

5. Share the beach with penguins at Boulders Beach

Boulders beach is located near Simon’s town and is accessible via wooden walkways build along the beach. This beach is home to the African penguins colony and you can actually spend a day at the beach with them. These creatures are so cute that you can spend hours watching them play on the beach.

4. Go for wine tasting in Stellenbosch

You have to drive east (around 45 minutes) to the town of Stellenbosch (or Franschhoek or Paarl) where you can book a wine tour which will take you to some of the most popular wineries in the area to taste their wines. You can taste around 10 or 12 wines at each winery (probably after the first two wineries you will get drunk hehe). Even if you are not a big fan of wine the estates offer fantastic scenery as they are located close to the mountains.

3. Head up to Signal Hill

Once again this is another place where you can see the city bowl (that is what they call the centre part of the town) from another angle. You can also see Robben Island, home to the prison of Nelson Mandela.

2. Drive down Chapman’s Peak Drive

No wonder this is one of the most used roads for several car adverts. It is surely one of the most panoramic roads you can drive. I couldn’t help stopping every couple of kilometres to take pictures. As you drive under the cliffs you can stop at various lookouts on Hout Bay and Noordhoek Beach.

1. Go for a helicopter ride over the city

This is the point when you realise that Cape Town is the most beautiful city in the world. The beaches and the mountains create a landscape that is unique and I have not yet found anything similar. After having visited 22 countries and 223 cities this is still my favourite!

Basic info for Maltese Travellers