November - March
Cape Town (CPT)
4-5 days
South African Rand (ZAR)
Cape Town is a city that has it all: mountains, white-sand beaches, award-winning wineries and great bars and restaurants. With Lion’s Head and Table Mountain as the two landmarks you’ll see from almost everywhere, there are also some great hikes and viewpoints to find. Cape Town mixes urban energy with outdoor adventure, whether you’re into hiking, dining or sipping wine. In this guide, I’ll walk you through what to do, when to go, how to get around and where this trip can take you next, plus where to eat and sleep in separate, deeper guides linked below.
I also want to be upfront about the downside. As beautiful as the city is, it’s also become a magnet for remote workers chasing the sun while living on a European time zone. And the city isn’t fully safe: especially after dark, you need to take Ubers rather than walk. Strolling around is one of the things I enjoy most on a city trip, so not being able to do that freely did affect my own experience a bit. Even so, Cape Town is absolutely worth exploring. It offers such a wide range of experiences that it’s genuinely liked by almost everyone who visits, and it’s also the perfect starting point for a Garden Route road trip.
Table Mountain, the Cape Peninsula, world-class wine and beaches within the city itself.
First-time visitors, hikers, wine lovers, and combining with a Garden Route road trip.
See a full overview, explaining all areas and the best hotels in our full Where to Stay in Cape Town guide.
Cape Town is a year-round destination, but the best time to visit is between November and March, when the weather is warm and sunny. As there are beautiful beaches in the city, this is the period where you can best enjoy all aspects of the city. December and January are high season, so book early if you’re visiting then, since the city gets crowded. The shoulder seasons (October to November and March to April) offer great weather with fewer tourists, which is usually my own preferred window. If you’re combining this with the Garden Route, November is a great month for whale watching along the coast.
Most visitors fly into Cape Town International Airport (CPT), about 20 minutes from the city centre by Uber or shuttle. Compare flights to Cape Town here before you book. When you have a rental car, make sure to take the right road into the city (the N2). If you don’t have a rental car, I recommend booking a Uber to get into the city.
Cape Town has areas that are safe for tourists and areas where it’s not advised to walk around. Next to that, I’d suggest using an Uber instead of walking at night and avoid quiet and poorly lit streets. During the day, popular areas like Kloof Street, Camps Bay and Waterfront are generally safe to walk. Also, make sure to leave jewelry and other belongings out of sight.
Even if you have a rental car, it is often easier to take Ubers around the city, rather than having to deal with parking. Alternatively, you can book a hop-on-hop-off bus to get around the city. Next to that, a rental car is useful when you also want to explore Cape Peninsula and Chapman’s Peak.
Wondering about the Cape Town City Pass? It covers 80+ attractions including the Table Mountain cableway, Groot Constantia wine tasting and the Hop-on-Hop-off bus, and if you’re staying the full 4-5 days we recommend, the 5-day pass costs the same as the 3-day one. However, it doesn’t include for example Robben Island. For an itinerary built around hiking, food and drinks and a day trip to the Cape of Good Hope, we found it cheaper to just book the Table Mountain cableway and a wine tasting separately (the two fun things included). It’s worth it if you’re planning to pack in several paid attractions a day and really want to focus on museums. Also, it can include a sunset cruise and other activities. Pretty fun and it might be an incentive to do some activities in Cape Town you otherwise wouldn’t have done.
Note: You can also book a premium Cape Town City Card, which also includes a premium experience like a safari, paragliding, shark cave diving etc.
Cape Town has enough for a lifetime of trips. Here’s a taste of what made our own list, from hikes to viewpoints to a UNESCO World Heritage Site. For the full list of 15, with opening hours, prices and booking links, see our complete Things to Do in Cape Town guide.
Lion’s Head for 360° views over the city and a great way to get an idea of the city on the first day. If you want to go for sunrise, go in a group or with a tour.
Table Mountain, best done via the Platteklip Gorge hike up and the cable car down.
Bo-Kaap for the colorful houses, though I’ll be honest: our visit felt a little underwhelming beyond the main street.
A full day on the Cape Peninsula, from Boulders Beach to Cape of Good Hope and back via Chapman’s Peak. Full day-by-day route in our Things to Do guide.
Constantia Glen for a wine picnic without leaving the city. Stellenbosch and Franschhoek deserve a trip of their own, not a rushed Cape Town day trip.
Robben Island, where Nelson Mandela spent 18 of his 27 years in prison, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
If you want to have the most complete overview on what to do in Cape Town, I recommend read my complete Things to Do in Cape Town guide.
Wondering how many days you need? If you want to fully explore Cape Town, including a trip to the Cape Peninsula, I’d recommend 4 to 5 full days. That leaves room for an afternoon at the beach too. Below are three ways to plan it, depending on how much time you have.
Day 1: Lion’s Head hike + Bo-Kaap + Kloof Street for dinner
Day 2: Table Mountain + V&A Waterfront + Camps Bay sunset
Day 3: full-day Cape Peninsula trip via Chapman’s Peak. If you only have three days, skip Constantia and Kirstenbosch and save them for a next trip.
Day 1: We kicked off our trip with breakfast at La Belle in Camps Bay, enjoying the ocean views. After a stroll along Camps Bay, we checked in at our hotel and headed to Clarke’s for the laid-back vibe and sandwiches. From there, we took an Uber to Constantia Glen for a wine picnic overlooking the vineyards, then caught a Summer Sunset Concert at Kirstenbosch Gardens.
Day 2: Start with a hearty brunch at Our Local on Kloof Street, then climb Lion’s Head for the views over the city. In the afternoon, head to V&A Waterfront and Time Out Market. For dinner, El Burro Taqueria has fresh tacos and a great end to the day.
Day 3: Breakfast at Between Us, then a quick visit to Bo-Kaap for the colorful houses. From there, head to Clifton 2nd Beach for a relaxed afternoon. As the evening rolls in, bar hop from The Gin Bar to Leo’s Wine Bar and Culture Wine Bar before dinner at Bouchon Bistro (book ahead).
Day 4: Your road trip day. Start early with a coastal drive to Muizenberg and Boulders Beach (or skip it and see the penguins at Stony Point instead if you’re also doing the Garden Route). Continue to Cape Point and Cape of Good Hope, then drive back via Chapman’s Peak and watch the sunset at The Lawns (reservation needed).
Day 5: Save one of Cape Town’s icons for last. Climb Table Mountain via Platteklip Gorge, a steep hike that needs decent fitness and plenty of water. Afterwards, visit Old Biscuit Mill, then end your time in Cape Town with dinner at The Potluck Club and drinks on Kloof Street.
We split our own visit into two: three days before driving the Garden Route, and two more before flying home. Keep in mind some activities only work on weekends.
Take the 5-day plan above and add two days: one full day in Stellenbosch and one in Franschhoek, ideally as an overnight rather than a rushed round trip. I’d genuinely recommend giving the Winelands their own time rather than squeezing them into a Cape Town day trip. Read my full Stellenbosch wineries guide and Franschhoek guide for the details.
If you are short on time and want to squeeze the wine lands in, within limited days, there are plenty of good tours from Cape Town.
Cape Town is packed with restaurants and bars, from beachfront brunch spots to hidden speakeasy-style bars. A few of our own favorites: Our Local @ 117 Kloof Street for the giant avo-toasts, The Lawns at the Roundhouse for sunset with food, The Potluck Club for an upscale night in Old Biscuit Mill (book ahead), and The Gin Bar, hidden behind Honest Chocolate Café, for a proper gin cocktail. Café Caprice is popular for its Sunday scene, but we found it too touristy for our taste.
A few practical things to know: restaurants and bars here range from casual daytime cafés to reservation-only fine dining. Tipping is customary and expected, with 10% as the minimum and 15% or more for good service. Some restaurants already add a service charge for larger groups, so check your bill before tipping again. For the more popular spots, book ahead. Places like The Potluck Club can fill up days or even weeks in advance, especially in high season.
We've written a complete guide with all our favorite restaurants and bars, categorized by breakfast, dinner and drinks. Read the full guide: Best Restaurants in Cape Town.
See all hotels grouped by neighborhood, with photos and Booking ratings. Read the full guide: Where to Stay in Cape Town →
From €105/night (8.6)
A self-catering studio in Sea Point, just 200 metres from the beach. A solid budget-friendly pick if you want your own kitchen and easy beach access.
From €155/night (8.8)
This is where I stayed myself: a bright studio with mountain views in District Six, a central location. Great value for a stylish, well-located base.
From €215/night (9.2)
A boutique hotel and spa in leafy Gardens, close to the city bowl, with breakfast included and a spa on site. Great if you want a bit of luxury.
Before you go
Language
English is widely spoken, alongside Afrikaans and
Packing
Connectivity
Sort your eSIM before you land so Uber and Google Maps work from the airport. Use IBT15 for 15% off your eSIM.
Visa
Safety
Getting there
Compare flights to Cape Town here before you book.
Questions
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