6 Must Do Things in Cape Town, South Africa
Must-Do Things in Cape Town, South Africa
Cape Town was never just a checkmark on my travel list—it was the place that made me rethink what a “perfect trip” really looks like. From the moment I saw the clouds while on top of Table Mountain to when I lost track of hours trying the amazing South African wines, Cape Town grabbed me in every sense. It is the kind of city where natural beauty and cultural energy collide in the best way possible.
If you are planning your first visit, you are probably overwhelmed by the options—hiking, wine tasting, history, and beaches. That is why I have narrowed it to 6 must-do things in Cape Town that combine unforgettable views, local culture, and a touch of adventure. Whether you have a weekend or a full week, these picks will help you experience the very best of the city—no fluff, no filler, just the real good stuff
1. Franschhoek Wine Tram
Though technically not in Cape Town, this is an absolute must-do activity if you are a wine lover visiting Cape Town. Located about an hour outside of the city are amazing wineries that are the perfect way to spend your afternoon or even day!
To get to the Franschhoek Wine Tram, I recommend taking an Uber. My Uber driver charged us $20 USD each way. Make sure to make arrangements with the driver to pick you up as cell service was a struggle in the region. We told our Uber driver what time to come get us. You can also book a shuttle through the Franschhoek Wine Tram Website.
Upon Arrival you either get on a bus or tram that will take you out to start your wine tasting!
Make sure to look into the different lines you can choose to make sure it stops at the wineries you want to check out. While there we spent time at three of the wineries and each had a wine special for those who were doing the hop-on hop-off experience.
Also, make sure to look into which wineries have food so that if you are there for a while you are able to order food. Some of the wineries require you to order food ahead of time.
To read my full review of this experience, check out the Franschhoek Wine Tram.
2. Muizenberg Beach
Muizenberg Beach is a short drive from Cape Town. We hired an Uber for the day that took us to Muizenberg Beach and Boulder Beach so that we could do both.
This Beach is famous for the colorful houses pictured to the left, and many beachgoers can be seen swimming and surfing.
This is a family-friendly beach and close by there is a pavilion that offers after slides, a swimming pool, and a putt-putt course.
There is a great ice cream shop at the beach that you should check out before you head back to Cape Town.
3. Boulder Beach
You cannot leave South Africa without seeing the penguins. There are a few ways to do this, but heading to Boulder Beach lets you watch the penguins in their natural habitat.
It costs R215 for international adult visitors and R105 for children. You will be able to take pictures but if you want to see them up close and personal you will need to not enter through the official Bolder beach entrance.
4. Table Mountain
Staying in the city of Cape Town, check out Table Mountain. Table Mountain gives you such amazing views of the City! You can do a hike to Table Mountain or take the cable cars to the top.
When you arrive at Table Mountain you can pay for the cable cars. I would recommend having a card that is MasterCard because for some reason all my cards, like Visa, would not work.
The views from the top were absolutely amazing and they have a cafe at the top. So if you want to eat with amazing views I recommend checking it out. I spent time walking around and exploring while admiring the views before taking the cable cars back down.
I chose not to hike as I was not ready for that level of activity.
5. Robben Island
Robben Island is a not to miss tour that you should add to one of your days. You purchase a ticket and head on a ferry that takes you over to the island. Once there you are put onto buses and eventually meet a prisoner who will tell you about their time there in addition to showing you where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned on the island.
You get to learn more about apartheid and what life was like during that time, in addition to the history of the prisoner who is your guide.
6. Gold Restaurant
After Robben Island, I walked to the Gold Restaurant.
This is a 14-dish immersive experience, and the food is good. Throughout the evening, there is dancing and singing that occurs, and after dining, you can join the experience by participating in a drumming session.
The dancers come to each section of the restaurant, so you do not have to worry about not getting good views! The optional drumming session costs R150, and the dinner is R530 per person. Children are half of this.
This is an experience I would not miss. You can make reservations online to ensure that you get to taste all the amazing food.
Conclusion
Cape Town is such an amazing city, and I cannot wait to head back. I did not get to do everything and would have loved to spend more time exploring the V and A waterfront, heading to the Cape of Good Hope, and trying more restaurants while immersing myself in the culture. Let me know in the comments what places you checked out while in Cape Town.
Other Posts about South Africa
Ukutula Lodge and Game Reserve: Walk with Lions
Tips to plan a trip to South Africa
| Travel Resources | Information about Resources |
| Airalo | If you need phone service while out of the country, check out Airalo to avoid all the fees. |
| Amazon | Find the perfect items for your next vacation! |
| Booking.com | If you want to book a mix of hotels and houses check out booking.com! |
| Expedia | Need a package that includes flight + hotel or want to add a car? Expedia is the perfect site to book an entire vacation. |
| Priority Pass | If you do not have a travel credit card you can still get lounge access through, Priority Pass. Click to learn more! |
| Ticketmaster | Heading to a concert or event, make sure to check out Ticketmaster. |
| Vrbo | Find the perfect rental house for your vacation and/or staycation. |
| Viator | The perfect place to find all your excursion |
I’d love to take the cable car to the top of Table Mountain! As much as I enjoy hiking, when I travel, I like to make the most of my days and the cable car would be the quickest way up!
Yess… It’s such a pretty view on the way up as well.
Cape Town looks like so much fun, especially the hike or cable car up table mountain. I love a good view from the top! Do you know what the hike is like? The edges of that mountain look so steep, that I assumed it would be a tough hike!?
Urgh, I feel like it would be really important to visit Robben Island and learn about that history. More people should know about this so we don’t allow it to happen again! There is still so far to go in the world though to make things equitable.
I heard the hike difficulty is dependent on the route and can take anywhere from 2.5 hours to 6 hours.
Looks like an awesome mix of adventure, culture, and cool views! I appreciate your tip about the Kirstenbosch Gardens since a sunset concert with views would be amazing.
Omg I know I have to visit Robben Island when I visit but that Wine Tram looks amazing!
Yes. The Robben island tour is such a great tour and I loved the wine tram!
Such a great list, Cape Town is a beautiful city and I can’t wait to go back again. For me, hiking Table Mountain is an absolute must
Let me know how it goes, I kinda feel like I need to go back and try it