10 Things To Do In Cape Town

Cape Town’s coastal lifestyle, scenic beauty and diverse history all contribute to the wealth of activities on offer. But with so much to see and do, it’s easy to get confused about what to include in your itinerary. Luckily, we’ve rounded up the most unique experiences you can have in the Mother City.

Take the cable car to the top of Table Mountain

Table Mountain may be one of the city’s most well-known landmarks, but a visit to Cape Town would not be the same without a trip to the summit. Standing at 1,085 metres (3,560 feet), the flat-topped mountain is low enough to climb in a few hours and high enough to offer spectacular views of the entire city.

Go sandboarding in Atlantis or Betty’s Bay

Watch the sunset from Signal Hill

The Atlantic Seaboard is famed for its magnificent sunsets, with Signal Hill being one of the best spots to watch the sun dip below the horizon. Take a picnic basket and enjoy a few sundowners at the top of the hill, which is also known as the Lion’s Rump.

Locals and tourist enjoying the sunset from the top of Signal hill

Explore Cape Town’s underground tunnels

Unbeknown to most people (including Capetonians), the city has a huge underground network of tunnels that form part of a popular historical tour. These tunnels, which date back to 1652, were built to divert gallons of spring water into the ocean, but as the city expanded they were eventually built over and all but forgotten – until now.

Enjoy a glass of wine at the oldest wine estate in South Africa

What better place to indulge in wine tasting than at the oldest wine estate in the country? Founded in 1685, Groot Constantia has produced excellent varietals for generations and is renowned for its beautiful grounds. Take the Wine Tour with City Sightseeing and spend a languid afternoon among the vineyards.

Groot Constantia Winery (Landgoed Estate)

Take a cooking lesson in Cape Malay Cuisine

You may be able to sample Cape Malay cuisine at a local restaurant, but nothing beats the hands-on experience of a cooking lesson in the Bo-Kaap. Embark on a cooking tour of the colourful neighbourhood and learn how to make traditional Cape Malay dishes in the home of a local expert.

Watch a movie under the stars

You can always head to a movie theatre to watch the latest blockbuster, but when you’re surrounded by scenery as beautiful as Cape Town’s, why not watch a movie in the great outdoors? The Galileo Open Air Cinema makes for a great night out on a balmy summer evening.

Go horseback riding on Noordhoek Beach

Noordhoek boasts one of the longest unspoiled beaches in Cape Town, that is just begging to be explored on horseback. Book a ride with one of the local schools and enjoy the breathtaking views of Chapman’s Peak as you amble along the water’s edge.

Horse riders taking a stroll on beach at Noordhoek

Learn about the history of South Africa’s most popular sport

If you’ve ever wondered why South Africans are so crazy about rugby, then pay a visit to the Springbok Experience Rugby Museum. Inside you will learn all about the origins of the sport in South Africa, and get to test your kicking and passing skills in the interactive game zone.

See African penguins at Boulder’s Beach

People don’t often equate cold weather-loving penguins with Africa, but the icy Atlantic Ocean is actually the perfect habitat for the African penguin. While penguin colonies can be found all along the South African coast up to Port Elizabeth, Boulder’s Beach offers the best viewing points to see these adorable seabirds.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

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