Top 10 Things To Do In Cape Town - Recommended By A Local

Picking a single wine farm to visit in Cape Town is an impossible task. Instead, you’re better off choosing a general region to visit, and then picking out one or two estates that appeal to you. The major wine regions for tourists include Franschhoek, Stellenbosch and Constantia. Although Franschhoek and Stellenbosch are a lengthy drive out of the city, they offer peace and tranquility in truly unique settings. Constantia, on the other hand, is much more manageable trip from the city, but feels less remote. Whichever estate you choose to visit, though, it’s safe to say that a day spent hopping between the city’s wine farms is one of the best Cape Town experiences.

Robben Island is the country’s most important historical landmark. It’s here that many political prisoners, including Nelson Mandela, were held during apartheid. Today, the island sits as an important reminder of the oppressive political system, and the triumph of the humans who made it through the regime to help transition the country to a miraculous democracy. The only way to visit Robben Island is to take a ferry from the V&A Waterfront as part of an organised tour, and during the peak summer months these book up well in advance. As such, it’s worth booking a ticket online as soon as possible in order to avoid disappointment.

Cape Town’s beaches are spectacular, and even if you’re not particularly fond of a day on the sand it’s well worth visiting at least one to take soak up the atmosphere. There are beaches on each side of the peninsula that each offer something unique. Beaches north of the city, in Table Bay, offer panoramic views of Table Mountain; those along the Atlantic Seaboard offer pristine white sand and shimmering blue waters; where as those further south of the city are often less populated and more pristine. If you’re looking for warmer water and predictable surf, you can’t go wrong with Muizenberg - a popular beach in False Bay. If for some reason you find yourself wondering what to do in Cape Town on any particular day, a quick trip to the closest beach is usually the perfect solution!

The best restaurants in Cape Town are generally located on the city’s wine farms, with a few celebrated establishments popping up in the Cape Town city centre. Although foodies are revelling in the likes of the Test Kitchen, La Colombe, Chef’s Warehouse, Potluck Club and Foxcroft, these are often booked up well in advance. The good news is if you fail to get a reservation at one of these famous establishments, it’s hard not to find a good meal at most wine estates and busy establishments in the CBD - particularly on Bree Street and Shortmarket Street.

The colourful houses of Bo-Kaap, a suburb on the outskirts of the CBD, are among the most popular places to visit in Cape Town. Although they make for dramatic photographs, there’s important history to explore in this neighbourhood. The Bo-Kaap dates back to the 1760s, when several houses were built and leased to slaves brought to the city from Malaysia, Indonesia and other countries in Africa. The people, who became known as Cape Malays, lived in plain white houses for many generations. But the story goes that when slaves were eventually allowed to buy their houses, they painted them in bright colours as a celebration of their freedom. A walk through the neighbourhood is a rewarding experience, and the nearby Bo-Kaap Museum offers important insight.

Cape Town’s weekend markets have become a popular pastime, for both local residents and visitors from abroad. There are now several markets to choose from, each of which offers a selection of food stalls, craft items, or a mix of both. The markets usually run on a Friday night or Saturday or Sunday morning, and the most popular include those in Hout Bay, the Old Biscuit Mill, and the Oranjezicht Market at Granger Bay. If you’re looking for fascinating odds and ends, it may also be worth paying a visit to the Milnerton Market on Saturday mornings - there you’ll find a wide range of items ranging from worthless trinkets to old cameras and other hidden gems. Or if you find yourself in Muizenberg on a Friday evening after that day at the beach, the Bluebird Garage Market is always good times.

Although the V&A Waterfront is the most visited tourism attraction in the city, the true charm of this harbourside shopping mall is not in the vast array of stores located indoors, or the outdoor tourist-centric restaurants. The appeal lies in the fact that this is still a working harbour, and home to beautiful views and interesting industrial sights that somehow blend together to make for an intriguing attraction. The newly built Silo District, which is where you’ll find the remarkable Zeitz MOCAA, adds to the appeal of the Waterfront. Dedicate some time exploring at least one floor of this striking gallery, which is the largest museum of contemporary African art in the world.

If you’re looking for tranquil nature just a stone’s throw away from the city, then a trip to Kirstenbosch Gardens should serve you well. These spectacular botanical gardens are set on the slopes of Table Mountain, and could easily soak up the better part of a day - particularly if you include a visit to one of the on-site restaurants, which offer various South African dishes, or pack your own picnic, which is regarded as a local weekend past time! If you’re fortunate enough to be visiting the city on a Sunday in summer, Kirstenbosch also hosts popular concerts that feature some of the country’s best musicians in a truly spectacular natural amphitheatre.