Cape Town walking tour & city guide

The city

The V&A Waterfront is a lively harbor with shops, restaurants and the Zeitz MOCAA art museum in an old grain silo. Bo-Kaap's brightly painted houses climb the slopes of Signal Hill. Boats leave the waterfront for Robben Island, where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned.

Mountain and coast

A cable car climbs Table Mountain for spectacular views. The Cape Peninsula drive leads past Camps Bay, Chapman's Peak and the penguins of Boulders Beach to Cape Point. Kirstenbosch is one of the world's great botanical gardens.

A day in Cape Town

Start early with the cable car up Table Mountain, when the air is clearest and the queues shortest; on top, paths lead to viewpoints over the city, Robben Island and the Twelve Apostles. Then head down to Bo-Kaap, the neighborhood of brightly painted houses and mosques, and learn about Cape Malay culture.

In the afternoon, take the ferry from the V&A Waterfront to Robben Island, where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for 18 years, with tours led by former prisoners. End the day at Camps Bay or on Signal Hill for sunset over the Atlantic.

Good to know

Cape Town's weather changes fast, and the 'tablecloth' cloud can close the cable car suddenly, so check before going up. Summer, from November to March, is dry and sunny, with a strong wind called the Cape Doctor.

Use ride-hailing apps rather than walking alone at night, and keep valuables out of sight. Day trips go to Cape Point, the penguins at Boulders Beach and the winelands of Stellenbosch and Franschhoek.