Explore city highlights, coastal gems, the Cape Winelands, Hermanus and the Cape Peninsula with this incredible 7-day Cape Town itinerary.
Cape Town had been on our bucket list for what felt like an age, and while we’d been to Africa before, we’d never quite managed to get to this extraordinary city.
That all changed when we decided to travel an overland route from Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe through Botswana and Namibia to wind up in South Africa.
This was our opportunity to finally spend some time exploring Cape Town, South Africa’s first big city and a place the locals affectionately call the ‘Mother City’.
And while we knew from everything we’d seen and heard that Cape Town is a stunner, rightly included in many lists of the world’s most beautiful cities, we weren’t quite prepared to fall in love with it in quite the way we did.
From iconic Table Mountain to the picturesque beaches of the Cape Peninsula, this 7-day Cape Town itinerary will help you discover our Cape Town highlights, along with its best food, outdoor adventures and rich, yet fraught, history.
What’s in this post?
Our Suggested 7-Day Cape Town Itinerary
– Quick plan
– Itinerary at a glance
– Day 1: Getting to know Cape Town
– Day 2: Table Mountain and Bo Kaap
– Day 3: Cape Winelands tour
– Day 4: Cape Town and Robben Island
– Day 5: Hermanus and the Whale Coast
– Day 6: Cape Peninsula road trip
– Day 7: Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden
Planning an Itinerary for Cape Town: The Practical Stuff
– Best time to visit Cape Town
– Getting to Cape Town
– Getting around Cape Town
– Driving in Cape Town
– Cape Town car hire
– Where to stay in Cape Town
– Is Cape Town safe for tourists
– What to do with more time in Cape Town
– Cape Town on a tour
Book your Cape Town trip
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Our Suggested 7-Day Cape Town Itinerary
At the start of this post you’ll find our quick planner and itinerary at a glance, designed to give you a brief overview of all the key things you need to know to start planning.
You’ll find our detailed, day-by-day Cape Town itinerary a little further on, providing you with our suggested plan of attack for getting the most out of a 7-day visit.
Cape Town Itinerary – Quick Plan
Getting to Cape Town: Cape Town International Airport is well connected, with direct flights from Europe, the USA and Middle East, and via connections through Johannesburg.
How long: While you can see the main city highlights in 3 or 4 days, we think a week in Cape Town lets you balance city sights with the Cape Peninsula, Hermanus, and the Winelands.
Best time to visit: March to May and September to November feel less crowded but still enjoy mild weather. Summer (December to February) is great for beach time, while the best for whale watching is June to November.
Cape Town highlights: City walking tours | Table Mountain | Camps Bay Beach | Cape Winelands | Robben Island | whale watching in Hermanus | Cape Peninsula | Simon’s Town and Boulders Beach | Chapman’s Peak Drive.
Top stays: Never at Home Kloof Street (budget) | Home Suite (beach stay) | The Silo (luxury stay).
Popular Tours: City walking tour | Table Mountain guided hike | Cape Winelands tour.
Best for: Active first-time visitors who want a busy itinerary with a good mix of city highlights, outdoor activities and day trips to wine country and the coast.
7-day Cape Town itinerary at a glance
Here’s an overview of how the itinerary breaks down – detailed highlights, tours and activities are included in the day-by-day itinerary below.
| Day | Highlights and planning tips |
|---|---|
| Day 1 | A city walking tour, City Sightseeing Bus, Camps Bay Beach and the V&A Waterfront Planning tip: Book a walking tour in advance |
| Day 2 | Table Mountain, Bo Kaap walking tour, a helicopter flight and dinner at The Pot Luck Club Planning tip: Keep this day flexible around Table Mountain weather |
| Day 3 | Mountain and vineyard scenery along with fabulous food, wine, cheese and sweet treats Planning tip: Join a tour or agree on a designated driver |
| Day 4 | City sights and museums followed by an afternoon visit to Robben Island Planning tip: Book Robben Island tickets in advance |
| Day 5 | Hermanus cliff top walk and whale watching (in whale season) or Fernkloof, Grotto Beach and Hemel-en-Aarde (outside whale season) Planning tip: Book your car hire and a whale watching trip in advance |
| Day 6 | Muizenberg Beach, Boulders Beach penguins, Cape Point and Chapman’s Peak Drive Planning tip: Start early as this is a very full day of sightseeing |
| Day 7 | A relaxed final morning exploring Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden Planning tip: Plan today around when you need to be at the airport |
Day 1: Getting to know Cape Town
Highlights: Cape Town city walking tour | City Sightseeing Bus | Camps Bay Beach | V&A Waterfront
Morning walking tour
We recommend arriving as early as you can to Cape Town so you can check-in to your hotel and get out to explore the city.
We always try to book onto a walking tour on our first day in any new city. In Cape Town, we opted for a 90-minute history focussed walking tour that took us around some of the city’s historically significant sites, including the City Hall, Parliament, Green Market Square, The Slave Lodge, and Company’s Garden.
While 90 minutes isn’t enough time to gain a detailed understanding of Cape Town’s long and complex history, it was an interesting introduction to the city and a great way to get oriented on our first day.
As you would expect, there’s a wide range of walking tours on offer in Cape Town, covering everything from the city’s history and architecture, to local food and the Apartheid era. Some of the most popular include:
- Private Walking Tour with a Local: A private walking tour of Cape Town with a local that can be tailored to your own personal interests. You can pick any duration between 2 and 6 hours. Rated 4.6 stars from more than 280 reviews. Check tour options and availability.
- Apartheid History and City Walking Tour: A 3.5 hour guided walk around central Cape Town covering the city’s Apartheid history and key sites like Company’s Garden, Parliament, District Six, the Slave Lodge and City Hall. Rated 4.8 stars from recent reviews. See tour details and availability.
- Cape Town Essentials Food Tour: A 4-hour small-group walk through Cape Town that includes more than 10 South African food and drink tastings along the way. Rated 4.9 stars from more than 490 reviews. Check availability and pricing.
Afternoon exploring beaches and coast on the City Sightseeing Bus
While it’s fantastic getting an introduction to Cape Town on foot, you really do need to get out and about by car, bus or tour to really appreciate the sheer beauty of this city, with its mountain scenery and glittering coastline.
That’s why we spent our first afternoon exploring Cape Town on the top deck of the hop-on-hop-off City Sightseeing Bus.
We walked to the Long Street office of City Sightseeing in the CBD to get our tickets, however you can also buy a 2-day pass in advance through GetYourGuide.
City sightseeing routes
While the company offers multiple routes and tours, the primary bus routes around the city are the red and blue lines.Both follow a common route from Camps Bay in and around the city, but instead of going to Table Mountain, the blue line arcs further out into the southern suburbs to Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden and Hout Bay.
We recommend taking the red line that heads through the city centre before continuing on to District Six, and then up past the Table Mountain Cableway before winding its way to beautiful Camps Bay. The views on this leg of the journey are seriously good, so make sure you have your camera to hand.
If you don’t get off anywhere else, you’ll definitely want to stretch your legs at Camps Bay, an area famous for its stunning beach, restaurants and epic escarpment backdrop.
We were absolutely starving by the time we got here and stopped at a spot opposite the beach for a beer and snack before spending some time on the sand.
The drive between Camps Bay and the city showcases the very best of the Atlantic Seaboard and will leave you in no doubt why Cape Town is considered one of the world’s most beautiful cities.
Following the coastline, the road winds through up-market Clifton, lively Sea Point and then past Green Point with its iconic Cape Town Stadium, before finishing up at the V&A Waterfront, where we suggest you hop-off.
Sundowner and dinner at the V&A Waterfront
We reckon the V&A Waterfront is the perfect spot to finish your first day exploring Cape Town; it’s what we did!
If you’re like us this won’t be your last visit to this bustling, historic harbourside precinct located within the oldest working harbour in the Southern Hemisphere.
Today the waterfront is a well-patrolled, safe and vibrant tourist, entertainment and shopping hub with stacks of great restaurants and bars.
We finished our first day in Cape Town at Belthazar Restaurant, where we stopped for a drink. We ended up staying for a fabulous steak dinner accompanied by a tasty Pinotage and incredible views of Table Mountain turning burnt orange as the sun dropped. Make sure you get a table outside on the terrace!
Travel Tip: Be flexible about visiting Table Mountain
While we haven’t included a trip up Table Mountain on Day 1 of this 7-day Cape Town itinerary, it’s worth noting that weather up the mountain is notoriously unpredictable, and it isn’t uncommon for the top to be shrouded in clouds.For this reason, we recommend keeping a close eye on the weather from the time you arrive in Cape Town and seizing your Table Mountain moment – if you have a beautiful sunny morning or afternoon, jump on a bus or book an Uber and get yourself straight up the mountain (you can worry about reworking the itinerary later)!
You can also check the view from the top via the webcam on the cableway’s website.
Day 2: Table Mountain and Bo Kaap
Highlights: Table Mountain | Bo Kaap walking tour | helicopter flight | Pot Luck Club
Today is another busy day so get started with a hearty breakfast.
As we were staying centrally on Kloof Street, we hit up Our Local, an extremely popular café in a reclaimed factory space with mismatched tables, chairs and sofas set around a large fountain. Breakfast, and more importantly coffee, were spot on here so if you stay nearby it’s worth a visit.
Morning visit to Table Mountain
These days the word iconic is perhaps a little overused, however Table Mountain is one place that truly deserves the label.
With World Heritage status, and voted as one of the planet’s New 7 Wonders of Nature, this vast, flat-topped peak rises majestically above Cape Town, flanked by Devil’s Peak, Lion’s Head and Signal Hill.
The easiest way to the top of Table Mountain is via the Cableway, which can be reached using the MyCiTi shuttle, as well as Uber, Bolt, taxi or the City Sightseeing bus.
Tickets can be purchased on the day at the Cableway station, or in advance on the official Table Mountain Cableway website (which also has a skip-the-queue option). Online tickets are valid for 7 days from the specified date too, which is handy, given the unpredictable weather atop the mountain.
Another option is the City Pass combined ticket that gives you a return trip on the Cableway, a one-day pass for the Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour, and a guided city walking tour. It’s valid for 14 days from first use so you have plenty of flexibility to make the best of the weather and your time.
Despite having to queue and, in our case, being crammed into the cable car like sardines, the ride to the top is spectacular – you speed up the steep slope in a rotating cable car getting a 360-degree panorama of the city and coastline.
What we loved most about our visit to Table Mountain was just having the freedom to spend a couple of hours wandering the pathways and trails atop the mountain. The panoramic views over Cape Town, the Atlantic Ocean, Robben Island and out towards the Cape Peninsula are absolutely incredible, so take your time and enjoy one of the world’s most exceptional views.
If you’re feeling more energetic and have a decent level of fitness, you can skip the Cable Car and take on one of the hiking routes up the mountain.
This is a great way to experience Table Mountain’s diverse flora and fauna, stunning rock formations, and sweeping views on the way to the summit, some 1,086 metres above sea level.
These trails are generally well-marked, however markers may vary in frequency and visibility depending on the path’s difficulty and popularity. Just bear in mind that to hike one way and spend time at the top, you’ll need to set aside at least half a day.
If you’d prefer a guided hike up Table Mountain, there are plenty of options available for both private and small-group hikes. The hikes below get good reviews from other travellers and have cancellation provisions should your plans change.
Afternoon Bo Kaap walking tour
After grabbing lunch either up the mountain or in the city, we’d suggest heading to the base of Signal Hill to explore the Bo Kaap neighbourhood on a guided walking tour.
One of the most interesting and photogenic areas of the city, colourful Bo Kaap was once a military garrison before emancipated slaves began to settle here.
As we walked the sometimes steep cobbled streets, our guide regaled us with stories of Bo Kaap’s history, and the distinctive Cape Malay culture and architecture.
We joined the Bo Kaap tour offered by Cape Town Free Walking Tours, starting at 2pm in the city.
If you’d like to explore the neighbourhood and add a hands-on immersion in the local food culture, check out the highly-rated Bo Kaap Walking Tour and Malay Cooking Class experience. It starts with a cultural walking tour, after which you’ll learn how to prepare a traditional Malay meal, with samosas, curry, roti, sambal and donuts. Best of all, you get to feast on your creations.
Take a helicopter flight
One thing we absolutely wish we’d done while in Cape Town was a helicopter flight. We have friends that have raved about this experience so it’s on our Cape Town bucket list for our next visit.
If you have the time, budget and energy, we suggest a helicopter ride this afternoon, or at another opportune moment of your choosing in this itinerary.
Flights run for anything between 15 and 50 minutes, and typically circle Table Mountain, before continuing over Cape Town Stadium, Signal Hill, Camps Bay and Clifton Beach, serving up unforgettable views of the coastline and Twelve Apostles.
This top-rated sightseeing helicopter ride starts and finishes at the V&A Waterfront, and offers a range of flying times. Some flights also include a complimentary boat tour.
A fancy dinner at The Pot Luck Club
This incredible little restaurant located on the top floor of the Old Biscuit Mill in Woodstock was the absolute pinnacle of our Cape Town culinary journey.
We had a late sitting at the bar, where we watched the crew doing amazing things in the kitchen. Our six sensational dishes (it’s tapas sharing style) were washed down with a bottle of lovely Pinotage and everything – food, service and views – were just spot on.
The Pot Luck Club’s reputation as one of Cape Town’s best eateries is very well deserved and it’s incredibly popular, so book ahead to avoid disappointment.
Day 3: Cape Winelands tour
Highlights: Spectacular mountain and vineyard scenery | fabulous wine | cheese and chocs | great guide and friendly small group
We’ve set aside all of Day 3 of our 7-day Cape Town itinerary for wine . . . and chocolate . . . and cheese . . . and some pretty breathtaking scenery!
Rather than driving ourselves we opted for a small-group tour that turned out to be loads of fun, with a great guide and a lovely bunch of fellow wine enthusiasts.
After departing Cape Town, it wasn’t long before we were treated to mountain views across the many vineyards that dot the landscape.
Our morning consisted of a stop at Fairview near Paarl for a pairing of six wines with a selection of yummy local cheese after a tour of the winery, followed by a tasty lunch at Franschhoek Cellar.
After lunch, we were treated to a wine and chocolate pairing at La Bri, before finishing the day at Boschendal in Stellenbosch for a tasting of three sparkling wines in their lovely shady garden.
From there, we headed back to Cape Town where we were treated to a sunset-silhouetted Table Mountain as we rolled into the city.
We were quite merry and exhausted by this stage, and were glad we’d planned ahead to enjoy a charcuterie board at our apartment for dinner – washed down of course, with some of the wine we purchased on the tour.
Summary of the tour we took: 4.9-star rating | over 1,100 reviews | 8-9 hours | cheese and wine pairing | wine and chocolate pairing | winery and cellar tour | champagne and sparkling wine tasting | tasty winery lunch | pick-up and drop off at your stay | free cancellation | Book now and pay later.
Prefer a different style of Winelands tour? There are a variety of ways to enjoy Cape Town’s wine country, from budget coach tours to customisable private tours and tours that include the Franschhoek wine tram. Some of the most popular and best-reviewed options include:
- Paarl, Franschhoek & Stellenbosch tour: A lower-cost full-day coach tour visiting the three main wine regions. Includes 3 wineries and around 15 tastings, along with a guided walking tour of Stellenbosch. Best if you’re on a budget and don’t mind a larger group. Rated 4.9 stars from more than 5,900 reviews. Check availability and pricing.
- Franschhoek Wine Tram & Stellenbosch Tour: A small-group tour with various options that combines a Stellenbosch visit with winery tastings and the Franschhoek wine tram. The tour includes hotel pickup and drop-off, plus tram ticket. Best if you want to experience the wine tram rather than take a traditional guided winery tour. Rated 4.9 from more than 450 reviews. See tour details and availability.
- Private Tour with a Wine Expert: Visit 4 wineries in Stellenbosch and Franschhoek in a private vehicle with a wine expert and itinerary customised to suit your tastes. Best if you want a more personalised experience and are happy to pay more for a private guide and vehicle. Rated 5 stars from more than 700 reviews. Book your private wine tour.
Day 4: Cape Town and Robben Island
Highlights: Cape Town CBD sites | District Six Museum | Robben Island tour
Morning of history and culture in Cape Town CBD
Start the day by heading to Greenmarket Square, there are plenty of cafes around the area if you need a caffeine hit or some brekkie before geting started.
This cobbled plaza dating back to 1696 is one of Cape Town’s oldest squares. It’s pretty much the historic centre of Cape Town, showcasing some of the city’s most interesting architecture.
Originally a slave market and later a trading post, it’s now a lively open-air market where you’ll find African crafts, textiles and souvenirs.
There are several excellent art and cultural institutions within walking distance of Greenmarket Square. Pick one or two to visit this morning that best match your interests:
- District Six Museum: Probably our personal pick of the bunch, the museum tells the story of 60,000 residents forcibly removed from District Six during Apartheid. Displays of photographs, recordings, maps and artefacts offer a moving perspective on the resilience of this displaced community.
- South African National Gallery: This gallery, part of the Iziko Museums, is Cape Town’s premier art institution, showcasing an extensive collection of both historic and contemporary South African and international art.
- South African Museum: Also part of the Iziko Museums, this natural history museum is the oldest in the country. It features diverse collections, from palaeontology to ethnography, including ancient fossils, animal specimens, and exhibits on indigenous cultures.
- Iziko Slave Lodge: This historic building dating back to 1679 once housed as many as a thousand slaves. It’s now a museum focusing on the history of slavery in South Africa.
- Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa (Zeitz MOCAA): Another highlight for us, Africa’s largest museum is dedicated to contemporary art from Africa and the African diaspora, housed in a quirky, reimagined grain silo.
Afternoon tour to Robben Island
Be sure to listen out for the Noon Gun on Signal Hill, a tradition that dates to 1806, as this is your signal to head towards the V&A Waterfront for an afternoon tour of Robben Island.
Known worldwide as the prison where Nelson Mandela and other political prisoners were held during Apartheid, this World Heritage site offers a profound insight into the fight against oppression during this era.
You’ll need to bring photo ID to join the tour, which starts with a scenic ferry ride from the V&A Waterfront, offering sensational views of Cape Town and Table Mountain. Sadly, the video provided on the ferry is dated, and while interesting, was hard to follow.
Once on the island, you’re herded onto buses for (what for us felt like) a slightly rushed tour of the island, before stopping at the jail where groups depart on a guided tour. The prison tours are led by former political prisoners who share their own very moving experiences and memories of the harsh conditions on the island. There’s also a brief visit to Nelson Mandela’s prison cell and the prison yard where he started secretly writing his autobiography, Long Walk to Freedom.
Overall, for us, the Robben Island tour was a slightly disappointing experience insofar as we felt the groups were far too big to be manageable and the tour program was rushed, with little consideration for the visitor experience.
However, given Robben Island’s historic importance and significance in South Africa’s story, we feel it’s an experience worth doing if you have time. Just have realistic expectations.
Day 5: Hermanus and the Whale Coast
Highlights: Hermanus Cliff Top Walk | afternoon whale watching trip
Total driving distance: appx. 225km (140 miles)
Total driving time: appx. 3 hours
Morning drive to Hermanus and a clifftop walk
Aim to be in Hermanus by 10:30am today, so we’d recommend picking up your hire car by 7:30am (or even the night before) so you can get on the road nice and early.
The drive from Cape Town to Hermanus along the N2 is a stunning journey past rugged mountains, vineyards and farms, with distant views of the glittering Atlantic for company. Around halfway, be sure to pop into Peregrine Farm Stall for coffee and some tasty treats.
Once you get to Hermanus head towards the New Harbour area. There’s a boom gate where you can pay the R5 entry fee before finding somewhere to park up and then heading out to the nearby Hermanus Cliff Top Walk.
This is a lovely coastal walkway with lots of coastal heath, scenic benches and great views across the bay towards the dramatic mountain backdrop. Security staff in red vests appear every so often, as do dassies (South Africa’s cute little rodent-like rock hyraxes).
Time your walk to be back in plenty of time if you have boat trip booked. We spent a lovely hour walking along the cliffs, watching a large group of school kids on an organised cliff jumping session, and getting glimpses of the occasional whale breaching offshore.
Is Hermanus worth visiting outside whale watching season?
While whales are the key focus between June and November, a day trip to Hermanus is well worth doing any time of year.
Outside the main whale-watching season you’ll still find marine wildlife boat trips running that may see Bryde’s whales, dolphins, seals, penguins and other marine life.
Alternatively, you could spend longer exploring the Hermanus Cliff Path, go for a hike in Fernkloof Nature Reserve, relax at Grotto Beach, or head into the nearby Hemel-en-Aarde Valley for lunch and wine tasting.
Afternoon whale watching trip
The small town of Hermanus sits on the south coast of the Western Cape of South Africa along Walker Bay, offering some of the best whale watching anywhere in the world.
From June to November each year, southern right whales visit Walker Bay to mate, calve and nurture their young in the protected waters close to shore.
In addition to the southern rights, you may also spot humpbacks and Bryde’s whales, along with seals, dolphins and even orca on rare occasions.
When we went out just after lunch, we had a couple of southern right whales breaching on the way out into the bay while a pod of leaping dolphins kept us company.
Further into the bay we came across mums and calves hanging out in the shallows, with playful babies breaching and generally having a whale of a time. Despite being on the choppy side, it was certainly a trip to remember.
There’s no shortage of whale watching activities in Hermanus, from boat trips to land-based tours and full-day trips from Cape Town that include transport. Popular options include:
- Hermanus Whale and Dolphin-Watching Boat Trip: A 2-hour cruise from Hermanus to view southern right, humpback and Bryde’s whales, plus dolphins and other marine life. Rated 4.7 stars from more than 900 reviews. Best if you want a friendly and professional boat trip that departs from Hermanus. Check availability and pricing.
- Marine Big 5 safari: A 2.5-hour boat safari looking for whales, dolphins, penguins, Cape fur seals and sharks, with hotel pickup included if you’re staying locally. Rated 4.7 stars from almost 100 reviews. Best if you want a broader marine-wildlife trip that includes whale watching. See tour details and availability.
- Private Land-Based Whale Tour with Dave de Beer: A 2.5-hour private tour combining the Hermanus Cliff Path with the Whale House Museum and guided whale spotting from shore. Best if you’d rather stay on dry land and want a more personal tour. Rated 4.9 stars from more than 30 reviews. Check private tour availability.
- Whale-Watching Day Trip from Cape Town: A 7-hour trip with hotel pickup and drop-off in Cape Town that includes a whale-watching boat trip from Gansbaai. Best if you want to see whales but would prefer not to drive yourself from Cape Town. Rated 4.4 stars from more than 400 reviews. See dates and availability.
If you’re feeling peckish after the boat trip or just want to get your land legs back before the drive back to Cape Town, swing by Bientang’s Cave Restaurant & Wine Bar. We stopped by for a quick drink and a plate of oysters and got lucky with spotting a few more whales frolicking offshore.
Dinner at the V&A Waterfront
Back in Cape Town tonight, consider heading back to the V&A Waterfront (with its lovely views and many eating options, this area became a bit of a go-to for us). Depending on what you feel like, we’d suggest enjoying the ribs or fish at Mitchell’s Scottish Ale House washed down with a couple of locally brewed beers.
Or if you’re feeling like something more up-market, maybe check out Den Anker, a tastefully decorated spot right on the water where we enjoyed a great seafood dinner.
Day 6: Cape Peninsula road trip
Highlights: Muizenberg Beach | Boulders Beach Penguins | Cape Point | Cape of Good Hope | Chapman’s Peak Drive
Total driving distance: appx. 150 km (95 miles)
Total driving time: appx. 4 hours
This might just be our favourite day of the entire 7-day Cape Town itinerary, since it has a bit of everything that’s special about South Africa. Stunning beaches, mountains, hiking, coastal panoramas, and wildlife await on this action-packed, but very busy road trip. Also, penguins!
While we did this day trip independently by car (and loved having our own wheels for the ease and flexibility), there are plenty of tours to the Cape Peninsula available if you’d rather not drive. While itineraries vary, they’ll generally include many of the stops we outline below.
Both the Private Full-Day Cape of Good Hope, and the small-group Cape Peninsula & Boulders Penguin Beach tours get consistently good reviews.
Muizenberg Beach
Get on the road early enough to arrive at popular Muizenberg Beach by 9am where you can grab a coffee and have a walk along the beach.
It’s a lovely spot, popular with surfers, swimmers, families and dog walkers, but the real drawcard is the colourful Victorian beach huts lining the back of the sand.
We really liked the ambience of the place and enjoyed watching local kids having sack races while dogs played gleefully in the sand and surf.
Simon’s Town and Boulders Beach
From Muizenberg, continue clockwise around the coast via the charming fishing village of Kalk Bay, with its quirky shops, antique stores and cafés, before continuing past Fish Hoek, which has wonderful coastal scenery, apart from the train line cutting right by the shore.
In around 15 minutes, you’ll be passing through historic Simon’s Town to arrive at Boulders Beach, home to a colony of uber cute African penguins.
Despite the name, the area is actually made up of several small beaches and coves littered with – you guessed it – lots of very large granite boulders, and fringed with white sands and very inviting turquoise water.
Boulders and Foxy beaches are connected by an extremely picturesque boardwalk where you can spy plenty of penguins through the brush, in burrows, even under the boardwalk.
There’s parking and toilet facilities at both ends, but the small visitor centre and (paid) entry to the protected penguin colony is at Foxy Beach, which is where the penguins tend to hang out.
Plan to spend at least a couple of hours here to enjoy the views and explore the boardwalks taking you down to both ends of Foxy Beach, where you’ll get the best views of the penguins lazing about on the beach and boulders and bobbing in the water.
If you fancy a swim, access to the sand is via the southern end at Boulders Beach. There’s also a nice café with water views if you’re after a snack or a caffeine hit.
Cape Point
It’s a scenic 15-minute drive along the coast to the Cape of Good Hope gate in Table Mountain National Park. Enjoy the views along the way, but if you get out of the car, be mindful of the baboons along here – you’ll see the posted warning signs.
Once you’re in the park, head towards Cape Point via the mountains and shrubby flatlands.
Expect it to be busy at Cape Point, where you can either take the funicular or walk up to the lighthouse for sweeping peninsula and ocean views.
Cape of Good Hope
If you have the energy, there’s a 90-minute return hiking trail on a mix of gravel path, rock, clay mud and boardwalk, that winds its way down from the cliffs of Cape Point to the low-lying, windswept shores of the Cape of Good Hope.
It’s an absolutely stunning hike, bursting with wildflowers in season and serving up rugged coastal views that’ll have you maxing out your camera’s SD card. If you’re lucky, you might also spot wild ostrich, baboons, antelope, and even mountain zebras.
There weren’t many people on the trail when we walked it. So we were totally surprised when we reached the end of the hiking trail at the Cape of Good Hope itself to find it absolutely packed with people queuing for a photo at the iconic sign denoting the most south westerly point of the African continent.
As we discovered, you can also drive to the sign from Cape Point if you’d prefer not to hike there and back, or the weather isn’t in your favour.
Journey back to Cape Town via Chapman’s Peak Drive
Don’t worry, there’s still plenty of wow left in today’s itinerary for the journey back to Cape Town.
Heading up the peninsula past striking yellow flowering protea trees, you’ll eventually get to the beautiful beach village of Scarborough. The weather was changing when we got here and treated us to some seriously big waves and a gathering mist on the mountains to the north.
Continue up the coast to the aptly named Misty Cliffs, and then on to the pretty beach towns of Kommetjie and Noordhoek before taking the famous Chapman’s Peak Drive, or ‘Chappies’ as it’s known locally.
This 9km route is tolled but it’s said to be one of the world’s most scenic coastal roads and an absolute must-drive if you have a car in Cape Town. We’ll have to establish that for ourselves next time we visit – sadly, the road was closed due to weather damage when we were there. You can check the road status and toll info at the Chapman’s Peak Drive website.
The road then takes you through Hout Bay and along the famous Atlantic Seaboard all the way back to Cape Town, with unparallelled views for company the whole way. What a day!
A farewell African dinner
We’d forgive you for wanting to fall in a heap after such a huge day, but since it’s the last night of our 7-day Cape Town itinerary, we think a special dinner might be in order.
One option is Belly of the Beast in the CBD, which seats just 30 people and serves an innovative, ever-changing tasting menu of local, seasonal, sustainable fare. We were very keen to go here but weren’t able to secure a reservation, so book well ahead if you want to go.
Otherwise, there’s Pot Luck Club if you’ve yet to go there, or head back to an old favourite like Belthazar or Den Anker.
Day 7: Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden
Highlights: Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden
On our last morning in Cape Town, we checked out of our accommodation and stored our luggage so we could visit Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden without having to worry about leaving our bags in the car.
Frequently included on lists of the best things to do in Cape Town, the gardens are set in an absolutely spectacular spot on the eastern slopes of Table Mountain, with diverse flora and stacks of birdlife.
We easily whiled away a couple of very peaceful hours here, wandering the gardens and bird watching from the raised Tree Canopy Walkway before heading back to collect our bags and (begrudgingly) head to the airport.
With Cape Town now firmly up there as one of our favourite cities in the world, we will absolutely be back.
Planning an Itinerary for Cape Town: The Practical Stuff
Best time to visit Cape Town
The best time to visit Cape Town depends on the experiences you’re after and your tolerance for crowds and cost.
For beach days and outdoor adventures, the warm, sunny months from December to February are ideal, with lively music and cultural events and a vibrant atmosphere. However, this is also peak tourist season, so expect crowds and high temperatures, particularly early in the year.
If you’re not into crowds, and prefer a slightly quieter experience, consider visiting from March to May or September to November. We visited in September/October and had largely decent, sunny, mild weather, with a few showers thrown in for good measure – pretty typical of the season.
As well as less people, another benefit of these shoulder seasons can be lower prices (though it’s worth noting that compared to other big cities around the world, we found Cape Town to be very reasonable cost-wise).
The Winter months between June and August bring cooler temperatures and rain, but we’d also argue it’s pretty much ideal weather for cozy wine tastings in the Cape Winelands. June to November is also the best time for Whale watching.
Getting to Cape Town
Our own first views of Cape Town were of Table Mountain looming impressively in the distance as we travelled south down the highway from Klawer.
Most people, however, fly into Cape Town International Airport, a modern hub that connects the city to major destinations worldwide.
While many flights to Cape Town require a stopover, you can find direct flights from cities like London, New York, Washington, Atlanta, Istanbul, Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Doha and Dubai.
Within the African continent, there are direct flights to and from Cape Town to many popular destinations, including Victoria Falls, Windhoek, Addis Ababa, and Nairobi, as well as regular domestic connections across South Africa.
It’s worth being flexible with your route options if you can. We managed to find a cheaper fare by flying from London to Johannesburg and then hopping on a domestic flight to Cape Town.
Getting around Cape Town
Cape Town International Airport is around 20km from the city centre and although there’s an official taxi booth at the airport, many travellers choose to organise a pickup through their hotel, or use rideshare services like Uber or Bolt to get to and from the city.
The centre of Cape Town is fairly compact and we had no issues walking around the central area during daylight hours. We also found it easy and convenient to use Uber and Bolt, which are widely available and affordable for trips around the city, especially at night. Getting a local SIM or international eSIM like Airalo makes this much easier to organise.
Another option that covers most of the popular spots like the V&A Waterfront, Table Mountain, Camps Bay, Green Point and the Bo-Kaap district is the MyCiTi shuttle. The service is cashless, so you’d need to get a MyConnect card and load it with sufficient credit or a travel pass. Cards are available at MyCiTi station kiosks and some retailers, and there’s an app to help you plan your trips.
For a more scenic experience, the hop-on-hop-off City Sightseeing bus is a nice way to get around Cape Town and, as you’d expect, stops at most of the popular attractions while providing audio guide commentary along the way.
Evening taxis at V&A Waterfront
While we generally found it easy to book rideshare services around Cape Town most of the time, the exception was night-time down at the V&A Waterfront area.This is a vibrant, busy area, which of course is part of the attraction, but the downside of this is that it can sometimes be difficult to get a ride from here after dark.
We advise allowing extra time to get a ride from this area in the evening, or get a recommendation for a local taxi company from your hotel.
There is also a security-patrolled taxi rank at the waterfront (which we’ve used without any issues). If you take a cab from here, just make sure the taxi has a working meter, or you agree a price before getting in.
Driving in Cape Town
While we certainly had some reservations about driving in Cape Town, our experience was a positive one, and we loved having our own wheels to explore the areas in and around Cape Town at our leisure.
We found the major roads to be generally well-maintained, with routes clearly signposted, making navigation straightforward enough. Driving on the left side of the road, with steering wheel on the right, was familiar for us coming from Australia and, for the most part, we found other drivers to be reasonably sensible and courteous.
You’ll need to be cautious of pedestrians, especially in busy areas, and watch out for the minivan taxis as they can be unpredictable at times.
Parking feels fairly straightforward for the most part. In busy areas, street parking is often metered so be sure to check signs for time limits and rates. While we didn’t encounter it personally, we are aware that in some areas, informal ‘car guards’ may offer to keep an eye on your vehicle for a small tip, a common practice in South Africa.
As with driving at home, keep valuables out of sight and don’t leave them in the car. We also kept our doors locked and windows up when driving, and we avoided driving at night. We personally had no problems and never felt unsafe, but it pays to be vigilant and take precautions.
Cape Town car hire
We’ve included three days in this Cape Town itinerary where you’ll need a car, although it’s also possible to go to the same places on day tours from Cape Town if you’d prefer.
We’ve always found the best deals at DiscoverCars and they’re our preferred car rental booking engine, with great rates and free cancellation should your plans need to change.
Booking your Cape Town car rental in advance will get you the best rates and widest choice of vehicle. Find and book your Cape Town rental car here.
You’ll find Cape Town car hire offices conveniently located opposite the international terminal at the airport, with access via a short pedestrian tunnel.
Where to stay in Cape Town
Diverse and eclectic are probably the two words that come to mind when we think about accommodation in Cape Town. From ubiquitous apartment options to funky hostels, stylish boutique hotels, luxury villas, and rooms in renovated mansion houses, Cape Town serves up something for every taste and budget.
Popular areas to stay include:
- Central City Bowl is a decent option for budget-conscious travellers. It’s conveniently central, and close to the nightlife of Kloof and Long streets, though it does have a slightly sketchy feel after dark.
- Camps Bay ticks a lot of boxes with its upscale hotels and decent dining options, combined with gorgeous ocean and mountain views and a lively beach scene.
- Upscale Sea Point had us feeling madly jealous as we passed on the City Sightseeing bus with its lovely views, nice long promenade, and good choice of restaurants and nightlife. It’s on the shortlist for our next visit.
- Further along the coast towards the city is Green Point, another coastal suburb near to the Waterfront with decent nightlife; it’s been dubbed the Soho of Cape Town.
- It’s hard though to go past the vibrant V&A Waterfront area, with its mix of good hotels, restaurants, shopping and nightlife packaged up in a safe, pedestrianised precinct.
With so much choice it’s difficult to narrow down a shortlist, but the following are the ones we like the most and all get consistently great reviews from other travellers:
- Good value: Altona Lodge – friendly staff | clean comfy rooms | close to centre of Green Point | nice breakfast
- Good value: Casa Del Sonder – tastefully decorated | nice spacious rooms | near to Bo Kaap | rooftop patio with mountain views
- Mid-range: CB-ONE Luxury Stay – located in hills above Camps Bay | comfy spacious rooms | fabulous views | great service | ample street parking
- Mid-range: Home Suite Hotels Sea Point – clean, nicely appointed rooms | short walk to beach | rooftop terrace with ocean and mountain views | great breakfast | free on-site parking
- Indulge: POD Camps Bay – close to beach and nightlife | large modern rooms | ocean views | lovely pool deck and bar | free on-site parking
- Indulge: Compass House Boutique Hotel – close to Bantry Bay and 15 minutes’ walk to Sea Point | stylish, spacious rooms | sundeck with views and infinity pool | exceptional staff | free on-site parking
- Very deep pockets: The Silo – among Cape Town’s premier hotels | lovely light-filled rooms | waterfront location | great architecture | attentive staff | rooftop pool/bar with incredible views | free on-site parking.
We stayed at popular budget option, Never at Home Kloof Street which has basic, clean, comfortable private rooms with decent ensuites and mountain views. There’s a bar and restaurant on site, as well as a guest kitchen and lounge area.
We’ve also stayed in a really comfy, centrally located city apartment in a security-controlled building and loved having more space and a kitchen. Many apartments come with access to a car space too, so it’s well worth considering if you plan to hire a car for a few days.
Is Cape Town safe for tourists?
While Cape Town has an unnervingly high crime rate and its fair share of social problems, we generally found it to be a safe place to visit. Popular tourist areas, such as the V&A Waterfront, Table Mountain and the Cape Peninsula generally felt quite safe and well-patrolled.
As with any large city, it’s good to be cautious and aware of your surroundings in Cape Town. We minimised the valuables we wore and carried with us, and only used ATMs in busy, well-lit areas.
We found areas in and around the CBD to be quite sketchy at night, and for that reason we always took Ubers and taxis to and from any restaurants and bars we visited. We didn’t carry cameras or laptops with us after dark.
What to do with more time in Cape Town
It’s pretty much impossible to develop a 7-day Cape Town itinerary without having the nagging feeling we’re just scratching the surface here.
Since our trip, we’ve often fantasised about returning and renting an apartment for a few months so we can really get to know Cape Town – and South Africa – much better.
Our bucket list of things we still want to do here is long, and likely to keep growing, but if you do have more time in Cape Town and you’re looking for some inspiration, here’s our own personal bucket list.
Cage diving with great whites
This is a huge bucket list item for us and while we wavered about doing this for ages before our visit, we decided not to in the end.
While the waters off Cape Town have long been considered an epicentre for Great White cage diving, things aren’t quite what they used to be, and Great White numbers in the area have declined significantly.
One theory is that orcas have moved into the territory and are preying on the sharks resulting in the white shark population moving further east.
Of course, you can still cage dive with sharks near Cape Town at False Bay and further down the coast at Gansbaai and – as several friends of ours who have done this recently can attest – there’s a very good chance you’ll have some incredible close-ups with big bronze whalers and sevengill sharks. Great White encounters are just far less common these days. Still, there’s always a chance.
Take a township tour
With more time, we would include a township tour in our Cape Town itinerary. While controversial for some, township tours can be a great way of learning about the history, culture, economy and everyday lives of people living in the townships – provided they are managed by, and benefit, the communities they operate in.
We experienced an excellent walking tour of Soweto township in Johannesburg with Lebo’s Backpackers, an organisation fully integrated with the local community, and led by guides from the township.
In Cape Town, we’ve read really good things about Siviwe Tours, which is owned and operated by people that live in the township where the tour takes place. Their Langa Township walking tour is on our list for when we next visit.
Hike Lion’s Head
We’d have loved to hike Lion’s Head for sunrise or sunset and will definitely be doing this on our next visit to Cape Town.
You can certainly do this independently, but being as it will either start or finish after dark, we’d be more inclined to do this as a guided hike in a group for safety reasons.
Get out on a Kayak
One thing we didn’t feel we did enough of in Cape Town was getting out on the water. With more than a week here we would aim to include a kayaking trip on our itinerary.
Having read the top-notch reviews, we’ll definitely be signing up for this 2-hour kayak tour from the V&A Waterfront next time we’re in town.
Just thinking about paddling out into the bay and along the coast with views of Table Mountain in the company of dolphins and penguins puts a huge smile on our faces – count us in!
Drive the Garden Route
It’s already on our bucket list of 100 ultimate road trips around the world. This 200km route from Mossel Bay to Storms River along South Africa’s southern coastline sounds unmissable if you have a week or so to give it.
Imagine breathtaking ocean views, lush forests, charming seaside towns, wildlife spotting and loads of outdoor adventure.
We’re keen to do this independently as a self-drive road trip, however you can also do tours from Cape Town with the Garden Route and Addo Elephant Park 6-Day Safari looking like great value with solid reviews.
Skydiving over Cape Town
Another activity we weren’t able to squeeze in, but friends we know who have skydived over Cape Town can’t stop talking about the experience.
Sure, this is one for the adrenaline junkies among us, but a tandem skydive with views over the city, the mountains, the Winelands and the Cape Peninsula would be truly unforgettable.
Cape Town on a tour
If you’re keen to visit Cape Town but would prefer to have someone else sort out the logistics of your visit for you, including accommodation, transfers and tours, then you might consider a guided tour.
Check out these two great options offered by Flashpacker Connect:
- 8-Day Cape, Wine and Safari trip: Including Cape Town highlights, hiking Table Mountain, visiting the Cape Peninsula and its famous penguin colony, wine tastings in the Cape Winelands, and game drives in a private reserve on the edge of Kruger National Park. There’s also a luxury option for this tour if you’re feeling indulgent.
- 8-Day Cape, Whales and Safari trip: This tour starts with an action-packed stay in Cape Town, exploring the Cape Peninsula, Table Mountain, and the whale coast for shark diving and whale watching. You’ll also visit penguin colonies, swim at Kalk Bay, and enjoy local food and wine in the Winelands. The tour ends with game drives in Kruger National Park for close-up wildlife encounters.
Book your Cape Town trip
Stays: Our go-to is Booking.com for its wide choice of accommodation and Genius member discounts. Check prices and availability in Cape Town.
Car Rentals: We use DiscoverCars to compare prices across multiple rental companies, with competitive rates and free cancellation. Compare car hire prices.
Tours: Find top-rated tours, day trips and local experiences in Cape Town with GetYourGuide. See what’s available.
eSIMs: We use Airalo to stay connected while travelling. Browse South Africa eSIMs.
Airport Transfer: Take the hassle out of city airport arrivals and departures by pre-booking a transfer with Welcome Pickups.
Sound like your kind of adventure? If you’ve got any questions about our 7-day Cape Town itinerary or have any suggestions on the best things to do in Cape Town please drop us a comment below.
Check out our Itineraries page if you’re looking for more great itineraries and adventures.
Merci beaucoup pour ces précieux conseils…hâte de vivre ces moments incroyables que vous partagez avec tant de passion
Thanks so much Defromont, we hope you have a fantastic time in South Africa!
Hey,
I’m looking at a solo trip to Cape Town in October and looking at staying in a hostel. Do you have any recommendations from your experience whether the city is safe for solo travellers staying in a shared room?
Hi Cam, thanks for your comment.
From what I can see on reviews on the Booking website the majority of hostels in Cape Town get decent reviews.
We stayed at the Never at Home on Kloof Street hostel in a private room and really liked the place. It had a friendly, welcoming vibe, and there were always plenty of people around, including both staff and other guests.
While we can’t comment directly on what the experience would be like travelling on your own, I can see plenty of positive reviews from other solo travellers at hostels in Cape Town.
Hope that helps and that you have a safe and enjoyable trip in October.
Hi,
I really enjoyed reading this! I’m currently planning a 7-day trip to Cape Town, and I found your site incredibly helpful — there’s so much useful information that has really guided me in putting my itinerary together.
Thank you so much for sharing your experiences — they truly inspire and warm our hearts. Keep sharing your beautiful memories!
Thanks so much Millicent, it’s always great to hear our content is helping other travellers.