15 Best Things to Do in Cape Town
Looking for the best things to do in Cape Town in 2026?
After finally exploring this incredible and underrated city, here are my vetted, top 15 must-see attractions in Cape Town – including Table Mountain, Boulders Beach, the Cape of Good Hope and more places to visit in Cape Town that may have skipped your mind.
I wondered what Cape Town looked like for years, and couldn’t wait to finally see the city with my own eyes – and let me tell you, it was worth the wait to finally set foot in the Mother City itself.
View of Table Mountain from the V&A Waterfront; March 2025
Cape Town has a wide variety of things to do and see, from hikes, to beaches, to discovering the funky bars and cafés on Long Street or Kloof Street – this really is a city with something for everyone, making it a perfect escape from winter in Europe and North America.
If you’ve only got a few days in Cape Town, it can be hard to narrow down the city’s top sites – but I’m going to share some of my top favorite things I did when in Cape Town to help make your Mother City bucket list easier.
Here are the top 15 things to do in Cape Town (with 3 more bonus things to do in Cape Town if you read until the very end):
Top 15 things to do in Cape Town
1. Enjoy the View From Signal Hill
This was one of the first things we did in the city, and for good reason – it gave us the perfect first taste of Cape Town. We could see the Atlantic Ocean, the city’s hugging coastline, and Table Mountain from here.
I highly recommend coming here for pictures and just to take in the view, as it seems to be a more underrated spot for tourists.
View of Table Mountain from Signal Hill; Cape Town in March 2025
2. Discover Penguins at Boulder’s Beach
Perhaps one of the things I was most excited for when heading to Cape Town was to see the Boulder’s Beach Penguin Colony – because what trip to Cape Town is complete without seeing these icon penguins?
Penguin colony at Boulder’s Bay in Cape Town, South Africa; March 2025
It’s worth noting that Boulder’s Bay not only has a great and relatively affordable gift shop, but it’s also near Simon’s Town and Boulder’s Beach – both of which are also worth seeing while you’re in the area.
If you didn’t already know, buying a ticket to see the penguins at Boulder’s Beach will help donate money to continued research to help keeps this African penguin species alive!
Boulder’s Beach outside of Cape Town; March 2025
3. Eat A Waterfront Lunch At Kalk Bay
One of the more underrated areas in the Cape Peninsula, Kalk Bay was one of my absolute favorites – it’s situated further away from the city center and closer to Boulder’s Beach, making it a perfect place to stop for lunch or dinner on the way back to Cape Town after a day of penguin sighting.
View of Kalk Bay in Cape Town, South Africa; March 2025
We ate at the Brass Bell in Kalk Bay and everyone loved it. Sure, it can get a little windy – but the WiFi, music, vibes, and food were all good, and not to mention the stunning views!
Views of Kalk Bay at the Brass Bell; Cape Town in March 2025
Funnily enough, when walking around the town of Kalk Bay with a few Aussies – we all agreed that its bohemian vibe was reminiscent of Byron Bay in Australia.
Color vibes and lots of cute shops to explore in Kalk Bay; March 2025
4. Climb to the top of Table Mountain
This may be an obvious one on everyone’s Cape Town list, but it really is worth going up – even if the ticket isn’t the cheapest thing you’ll find in Cape Town, as it’ll run you around $25 USD to take the Cable Car up to the top of Table Mountain.
View from the top of Table Mountain in Cape Town, South Africa in March 2025
You could hike up to the top and take the Table Mountain cable car down if interested – but keep in mind that the hike takes anywhere from 1-3 hours one way depending on which trail up the mountain you opt for.
Regardless, the top has some really nice souvenir shops I couldn’t find anywhere else in Cape Town and beautiful places to watch the sunset.
Watching the sunset at Table Mountain in Cape Town, South Africa; March 2025
5. Enjoy a Beach Day at Maiden’s Cove & Clifton Beach
I knew that Cape Town had some iconic beaches, but I wasn’t ready when we stumbled across Maiden’s Cove.
Maiden’s Cove in Cape Town, South Africa; March 2025
Someone told me that while Clifton’s beaches are the most iconic in Cape Town, they require pesky steps to walk down to any of the 4 Clifton beaches – making Maiden’s cove the perfect place to for pictures and taking in the gorgeous view.
Honestly, the closest place I could think of to compare to Maiden’s Cove were the beaches I saw on the Amalfi Coast… but this was ten times more grandiose.
6. Take a Day Trip on Chapman Peak’s Drive
There isn’t one spot specifically worth seeing, it’s being on the drive in general that will give you that I’m in Cape Town right now feeling – seeing the coastline and various beaches along the way will blow your mind.
View of Hout Bay on Chapman Peak’s Drive in Cape Town, South Africa; March 2025
7. Relax at Company Gardens
This is something I wouldn’t have thought to visit in Cape Town if it weren’t for the tour guide, but I’m glad we did – as the European in me loved this park, it’s views, and it’s calm aura.
Company’s Gardens in Cape Town, South Africa; March 2025
You’ll see people here having family gatherings, taking a walk in the park, or just basking in the sun on a beautiful day.
100% worth checking out, and the views of Table Mountain from the park are stunning.
8. Visit the Cape of Good Hope
Although this is on the more touristic side of Cape Town, it is still a must-do when visiting the Mother City – as the views and coastline are stunning.
Coastline view from the Cape of Good Hope; March 2025
Not to mention, visiting the most southwestern part of the African continent is something really cool to have on your resume!
Seals in the southwestern most part of Africa; March 2025
9. Take in the Ambiance at the V & A Waterfront
This… may have been… my favorite part of Cape Town.
My dad is from San Francisco, and I have since then traveled to a lot of coastal cities with waterfronts – but Cape town is probably has the prettiest waterfront I have ever seen.
V&A Waterfront in Cape Town, South Africa; March 2025
There are seals to see, sweeping waterfront views, and even museums located right there – so you can eat by the water or go shopping right after sightseeing.
Victoria & Alfred Waterfront in Cape Town, South Africa; March 2025
The color Dutch-inspired architecture, affordable waterfront restaurants, available shopping mall, singers on the boardwalk, and random dancers – all of it created a unique atmosphere I really hope to return to again one day!
Ferris wheel at V&A Waterfront in Cape Town, South Africa; March 2025
10. Explore the Funky Cafés on Kloof Street
This is another thing I wouldn’t have known to do with a local’s advice, but this street is where some of the cutest cafés in Cape Town are –including vegan options such as The Conscious Kitchen with entrancing views of Table Mountain.
Sitting at a café on Kloof Street in Cape Town, South Africa; March 2025
11. Wander Around Sea Point
One of the more upscale and manicured places in Cape Town, Sea Point is one of the nicest parts of the city to take a stroll along the water – and also appreciate some of the beautiful beach homes owned by many celebrities.
From being home to the iconic Mojo Market, gorgeous oceanfront walks, native runners along the promenade perfect for people watching, kite flying, and local cafés to explore – Sea Point is one of the safest and most popular neighborhoods in Cape Town for good reason.
Driving through Sea Point in Cape Town, South Africa; March 2025
12. Take a Ferry to the Robben Island Museum
A day to half day excursion, taking the ferry to Robben Island to learn more about Nelson Mendela and South Africa’s rich history could be a highlight of your trip to Cape Town.
Departing from the V&A Waterfront, Robben Island is usually at least a half-day trip from Cape Town and costs anywhere from 200 to 600 South African Rand (up to $36 USD).
View of Robben Island in the distance from Signal Hill in Cape Town, South Africa; March 2025
13. Take Pictures at Surfer’s Corner
If you’re wondering where the iconic colorful beach huts in Cape Town found all over social media are, this is exactly where you can find them.
Even if you don’t surf, it’s a great place to walk, people-watch, and soak up the coastal vibe.
View of Surfer’s Corner and Muizenberg Beach in Cape Town, South Africa; March 2025
14. Go Surfing at Muizenberg Beach
Cape Town can offer great surfing experiences for beginners, and with views like Table Mountain or the 12 apostles in the distance – why would you want to give it a go?
Muizenberg Beach is known as one of the best beaches for surfing in Cape Town, especially for beginners.
15. Hike to the Top of Lion’s Head
One of the most notable mountains in Cape Town, Lion’s Head offers one of the city’s most rewarding hikes.
Just note that this hike is on the more challenging side and you shouldn’t hike Lion’s head alone – as it has some very steep sections not suitable for beginner climbers or hikers. Regardless, the views from the top are known to be absolutely stunning — especially at sunrise or sunset. If you have the energy and the weather cooperates, this is a can’t-miss experience.
View of Lion’s Head from Signal Hill in Cape Town, South Africa; March 2025
Overall, Cape Town has so many things to do – that this top 15 list doesn’t even begin to scratch the surface: there are more beaches, hikes, and neighborhoods to explore.
However, I think this is list is a great place to start for a first trip in Cape Town – but if you’re looking for even more things do to in Cape Town, check out the cards below for some even more fun activities and places to see while in the mother city.
🏖️🐧⛰️ Bonus Things to Do in Cape Town (If You Have Extra Time)
🍴🎶 Mojo Market
Open every day from 11:00 AM to 11:00 PM, Mojo Market is the perfect spot if you have
extra time in Cape Town and want something lively but low-pressure.
This fun indoor market has everything from international food stalls to cocktails,
live music, and even karaoke opportunities.
It’s definitely on my list for the next time I visit this incredible city.
💋 Kissing Booth Filming Locations
Fans of The Kissing Booth will recognize several filming locations in Cape Town.
The airport scenes were filmed at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC),
while many school scenes were shot on the beautiful
University of Cape Town campus.
🦒 Groote Schuur Zoo Ruins
Few people know Cape Town once had its own zoo. The historic
Groote Schuur Zoo near the University of Cape Town closed long ago,
but the grounds still remain. Today, it’s a quiet green space where visitors can explore the old zoo site and enjoy a peaceful walk surrounded by nature.
If you don't plan on seeing the
Garden Route
,
this is a great chance to see wildlife while visiting Cape Town.
🌴⛰️🐧 Cape Town Travel FAQs 🐧⛰️🌴
You can read more about what I thought about safety in South Africa here: Is South Africa safe for solo female travelers?
Honestly, you could spend a full week in Cape Town and have plenty to do and see without getting bored.
Want to see some of these sights and my favorite things I did in Cape Town in action?
Check out my vlog in Cape Town below!
Looking for more advice to plan your trip to South Africa? Click here to read more about what to do in Cape Town and to see on the Garden Route.
Additional articles you might find helpful include:
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Last updated: March 7, 2026