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22 things to do
Cape Town (Afrikaans: Kaapstad, Xhosa: iKapa) is the second most populous city in South Africa. The capital of Western Cape Province, it is also the legislative capital of the nation. Cape Town is on South Africa's southwestern coast close to the Cape of Good Hope, and is the southernmost city on the African continent. It is the gateway to the globally renowned Cape Winelands which includes the towns of Franschhoek, Stellenbosch and Paarl. Cape Town is nicknamed the Mother City within South Africa. Compared to the more business oriented Johannesburg it is known for its relaxed and leisurely atmosphere. Compared to other parts of South Africa, Cape Town is also distinctly more "western". ===Geography=== thumb|300px|Cape Town seen from space: Most of the urban area visible in this NASA Astronaut photo is part of the greater Cape Town metropolitan area. Also visible are Stellenbosch, Paarl, and Fransch Hoek to the northeast, and Rooi-els and Pringle Bay to the southeast The metropolis of Cape Town is spread over a wide area, from Somerset West and Durbanville in the east to Atlantis…
Wikivoyage, revision 5252861. Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Quick facts
Popular tours and experiences
Table Mountain, Penguins & Cape Point Group Tour from Cape Town
US$66.07
Table Mountain & Cape Town City Half Day Private guided Tour
US$144.73
Best of Cape Town Full-Day Private Tour with Table Mountain
US$198.22
Table Mountain, Cape of Good Hope, Penguins and Sightseeing tour
US$66.07
Cape Town Private Tour: Table Mountain, Cape Point & Penguins
US$110.12
Climate
Typical temperatures through the year
Dates to know
Heritage Day
2026-09-24
Day of Reconciliation
2026-12-16
Christmas Day
2026-12-25
Day of Goodwill
2026-12-26 · St. Stephen's Day
New Year's Day
2027-01-01
Photo by User PZFUN on en.wikipedia · CC BY 2.0 · View source
Bo-Kaap
See
This neighbourhood, on a hilly area southwest of the city centre, is where historically Malay Muslim descendants of slav…
Photo by Vincent Steenberg at Dutch Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 2.5 · View source
Castle of Good Hope
See
Popularly called 'The Castle' by locals, it is the oldest surviving building in South Africa, having been built from 166…
Cnr of Castle St and Darling St
09:00-17:00 daily. Tours are offered Monday through Saturday at 11:00, 12:00 and 14:00. Horse and carriage rides are offered daily at 10:30, 12:45 and 14:45. Booking is necessary
+27 21 7871260
entrance fee for adults, for children and pensioners
City Hall
See
This beautiful Edwardian building, completed in 1905, is where Nelson Mandela made his first speech after his release fr…
Photo by Didier B (Sam67fr) · CC BY 2.5 · View source
Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden
See
See the beautiful and highly diverse flowers and plants of the Cape in one of the most stunning botanical gardens in the…
Rhodes Dr, Newlands
daily 08:00-18:00 (19:00 September to March). Guided tours depart from Gate 1 M-F at 10:00, 11:00 and 14:00 and Sa 10:00, and from Gate 2 at 11:00 M-F and Sa 10:00
+27 21 7998899, +27 21 7998783
for adults, for children
Rhodes Memorial
See
Built on the lower slopes of Devil's Peak, the memorial was designed in recognition of imperialist politician and busine…
Rhodes Ave, Devil's Peak
+27 21 6899151
Photo by PhilippN · CC BY-SA 3.0 · View source
South African Houses of Parliament
See
Cape Town is the legislative seat of South Africa (the presidential seat is in Pretoria while the judicial seat is in Bl…
Parliament St, Cape Town City Centre
Tours are offered M-F, but must be booked in advance
+27 21 403-2266
Free entrance and tours
Photo by HelenOnline · CC BY-SA 3.0 · View source
Two Oceans Aquarium
See
A decent-sized aquarium showcasing the biodiversity within the Indian and Atlantic oceans. Displays include clownfish, s…
V&A Waterfront
09:30-18:00
+27 21 418-3823
Adults , children (14-17) and children (4-13)
Photo by Damien du Toit · CC BY 2.0 · View source
Victoria and Alfred Waterfront
See
A huge shopping and entertainment area in the harbour. It is very popular with tourists, because of the high density of…
09:00-21:00 daily
+27 21 408-7600
Photo by Axxter99 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · View source
Cape Town Science Centre
See
A world of discovery under one roof! Expect a wide variety of interactive displays and exciting activities for your enjo…
370B Main Road, Observatory
M-Sa 09:00-16:30, Su 10:00-16:30
+27 21 300-3200
for adults and children. Students, pensioners and group discounts
Nobel Square
See
Along the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront. Features sculptures of South Africa's Nobel Peace Prize winners including Albe…
17 Dock Rd
Photo by Magemu · CC BY-SA 4.0 · View source
Bo-Kaap Museum
See
Located in a home dating from the 1760s, the museum offers an insight into the cultural life of the Muslim community of…
71 Wale Street, Bo-Kaap
M-Sa 10:00-17:00
+27 21 481-3939
entrance fee
District Six Museum
See
District Six is an area near downtown Cape Town which remained multiracial well into the 1960s against all attempts by t…
25A Buitenkant St
M-Sa 09:00-16:00
+27 21 466-7200
, with a guide
Photo by Martinvl · CC BY-SA 4.0 · View source
Groot Constantia
See
One of the oldest wine estates in South Africa and well worth the fee for the internal tour and wine tasting.
Groot Constantia Estate, Constantia
Daily 09:00-18:00. Tours depart hourly from 10:00 until 16:00
+27 21 794-5128
wine tasting. for a wine tasting and a guided tour
Photo by HelenOnline · CC BY-SA 4.0 · View source
Slave Lodge
See
One of the oldest buildings in Cape Town which houses a social history museum.
cnr Adderley and Wale Streets
M-F 10:00-17:00
+27 21 460-8240
Adults ; children, students and seniors
Photo by Discott · CC BY-SA 3.0 · View source
South African Jewish Museum
See
The museum about this small community that has made large contributions in South African society and bringing down Apart…
88 Hatfield Street
Su-Th 10:00-17:00; F 10:00-14:00
+27 21 464-1267
adults, students
Maritime Centre
See
The museum documents the lives of the early seafarers voyaging around the Cape of Good Hope. Small craft, locally made a…
Union Castle Building, V&A Waterfront
Daily 10:00-17:00
+27 21 405 2880
Adults ; children, students and seniors
Photo by PhilippN · CC BY-SA 3.0 · View source
South African National Gallery
See
Located in the Gardens area of Cape Town off Government Ave (about a 20-minute walk from downtown). Contains extensive d…
Government Avenue, Gardens
Daily 10:00-17:00
+27 21 467-4660
Adults ; children, students and seniors
Galleria Gibello
See
Galleria Gibello is a photo gallery that is filled with visually captivating moments of life on the African continent.
Rosevilla, 23 Welgemeend Street Gardens
by appointment
+27 72 143 4503
Zeitz Museum of Contemporary African Art
See
Established in 2017 as the largest museum of contemporary African art in the world. Built out of an old grain silo that…
V&A Waterfront
10.00-18.00 daily, last admission 17.30
+27 87 350 4777
Adults; R 190, Children under 18; free
Photo by Adamina · CC BY 2.0 · View source
Photo by Zaian · CC0 · View source
Baxter Theatre
See
Theatre performances, comedy, jazz and others.
Baxter Theatre Centre, Main Road, Rondebosch
+27 21 685-7880
Photo by Ben Sutherland from Crystal Palace, London, UK · CC BY 2.0 · View source
Labia Theatre
See
Has an African screen showing African-made and African-oriented films all year round.
68 Orange Street, Gardens
+27 21 424-5927
