Cape Town Travel Guide

This port city is the perfect destination for anyone looking to embark on a getaway that is part downtown escapade and part wilderness adventure. Located along the edge of South Africa’s southwest coast, this exquisite destination is cradled between the mountain and sea. We’ve assembled this Cape Town travel guide to help inspire travellers’ to-do lists while visiting!

Unique Experiences

Just like its landscape, Cape Town is packed with a unique variety of activities that will keep any eager traveller busy for days. For those looking to see the city from a panoramic view, the Table Mountain Aerial Cableway tour is the way to go. The cable car will take visitors to the Table Mountain summit in five minutes. On the way up, the spinning floors ensure that everyone can enjoy an uninterrupted 360° view of the city’s breathtaking scenery.

After seeing Cape Town from the sky, the next best way to explore is by foot! The city has a variety of walking tours for visitors to choose from. These wonderful excursions help tourists experience the town slowly and intimately while discovering cool local spots along the way.

Another incredible experience that should be added to everyone’s Cape Town bucket list, is a foraging and dining experience at Veld and Sea. Founded by Roushanna Gray, the Veld and Sea offers sustainable foraging workshops and pop-up dinners with locally sourced ingredients! An on-site Airbnb accommodation is also available at the Veld and Sea. This is a beautiful space to connect with other travellers, and locals, and interact with sustainable practices in Cape Town.

Last but not least, no trip to the Cape would be complete without experiencing a taste of the vineyards! A great way to visit many of the city’s vineyards in one day is to sign up for the Franschhoek Wine Tram Tour!

Cultural and Historical Spaces

Every year, Robben Island is visited by thousands of people looking to honour and understand South Africa’s history. This island is where the former South African president, Nelson Mandela, remained jailed for the first 18 years of his 27-year-long sentence. Today, it is a living museum used to educate the public about the history of South Africa and the anti-Apartheid movement.

District Six Museum is another especially important museum that travellers should visit to understand the impacts of the Apartheid. In 1966, District Six was declared a white area under the Group Areas Act of 1950. By 1982, the community had been forcibly dissolved and displaced. Before its destruction, the District Six community thrived because of its diversity. Today, this museum is used as a space to bring together all the remains of District Six… To uplift the voices and stories of those who used to call it home, and to educate those who have never heard about it.

Spend Time in the Great Outdoors

While being surrounded by Cape Town’s abundance of unique flora and fauna, visiting this incredible destination without experiencing the magic of its diverse ecosystems feels a little criminal!

With that in mind, hiking through Table Mountain National Park is highly encouraged. The Cape Point Nature Reserve is another incredible location where visitors can see Cape Point for themselves. Cape Point is the longest peninsula in South Africa, and it is also considered a Natural World Heritage Site.

Last but not least, calling all flower-lovers! This next excursion is non-negotiable. Take a fynbos walk through the Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden—home to some of the most unique floral biomes in the world. You can also explore the garden by walking above the treetops on the Centenary Tree Canopy Walkway. This is also a great location to see South Africa’s national flower, the King Protea.