Top 10 Things to Do in Cape Town

Using this list

Ten of Cape Town's landmark experiences as a checklist — the mountain, the peninsula, the winelands, and the history. More than most cities on this list, the weather decides your order.

Let Table Mountain dictate the schedule

The cableway closes in high wind, which is common, and the summit is frequently under cloud — the tablecloth. Keep the day flexible and go the moment the mountain is clear rather than saving it for the last day. People miss it entirely by planning around it.

Booking online avoids a long queue at the base station.

The peninsula is a full day

Chapman's Peak Drive, Boulders Beach penguins, and Cape Point work as one loop and shouldn't be split. Start early; it's a long day of driving with stops.

Robben Island needs booking and cooperation from the sea

Ferries are cancelled in rough weather and tickets sell out in season. Book early in your trip so there's room to rebook if a sailing is called off.

Take local advice on safety seriously

Cape Town is extraordinary and has real crime issues that vary sharply by area and time of day. Don't walk alone at night, don't leave anything visible in a car, use ride-hailing after dark, and ask your accommodation which specific areas to avoid. Hiking on Table Mountain is best done in a group and on the main routes.

Practicalities

Seasons are inverted; summer runs December to February and is windy. A car makes the peninsula and winelands far easier.

Timing

Run it plain, or add due dates from your arrival date.