Best things to do in Cape Town

Cape Town Essentials

Cape Town is defined by its dramatic geography, stretching from the flat-topped sandstone cliffs of Table Mountain to the rocky headlands of Cape Point and the Cape of Good Hope. The city’s history is preserved in the 17th-century Castle of Good Hope and the Edwardian City Hall, while the District Six area reflects its complex social past. Coastal highlights include the granite inlets of Boulders Beach and the white sands of Clifton and Camps Bay. For horticulture and marine life, the Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens and Two Oceans Aquarium showcase the region's unique biodiversity.

Cape Town Essentials — Map

Abu Shawka / CC0

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Table Mountain

Table Mountain is a flat-topped mountain forming a prominent landmark overlooking the city of Cape Town in South Africa.

Charlesjsharp / CC BY-SA 3.0

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Boulders Beach

Boulders Beach is a sheltered beach made up of inlets between granite boulders, from which the name originated.

Zaian / Public domain

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Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens

Kirstenbosch is an important botanical garden nestled at the eastern foot of Table Mountain in Cape Town.

Bernhard Hecker / CC BY-SA 2.0 de

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Cape Point

Cape Point is a promontory at the southeast corner of the Cape Peninsula, a mountainous and scenic landform that runs north-south for about…

Coda.coza / CC BY 2.5

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Table Mountain (Maclear's beacon)

Table Mountain is a flat-topped mountain forming a prominent landmark overlooking the city of Cape Town in South Africa.

Diego Delso / CC BY-SA 4.0

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Cape of Good Hope

The Cape of Good Hope is a rocky headland on the Atlantic coast of the Cape Peninsula in South Africa.

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Lion's Head

Lion's Head is a mountain in Cape Town, South Africa, between Table Mountain and Signal Hill.

Ossewa / CC BY-SA 3.0

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Cape Town City Hall

Cape Town City Hall is a large Edwardian building in Cape Town city centre which was built in 1905.

Axxter99 / CC BY-SA 4.0

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V&A Waterfront

The Victoria & Alfred Waterfront in Cape Town is situated on the Atlantic shore, Table Bay Harbour, the City of Cape Town and Table…

Damien du Toit / CC BY 2.0

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Victoria Wharf Shopping Centre

The V&A Waterfront is a mixed-use destination located in the oldest working harbour in the Southern Hemisphere.

David Graham / CC BY 3.0

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Flying Dutchman Funicular

The Flying Dutchman Funicular, also known as the Cape Point Funicular, is a funicular railway located at Cape Point, near the Cape of Good…

SkyPixels / CC BY-SA 4.0

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Clifton Beach

Have a nice afternoon on the beach with white granitic sand located near an exclusive residential area.

Warrickball / CC BY-SA 3.0

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Camps Bay Beach

Camps Bay is an affluent suburb of Cape Town, South Africa, and the small bay on the west coast of the Cape Peninsula after which it is…

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Gold of Africa Museum

Located in the Martin Melck house, this small museum features an exhibit on the role of gold in Africa.

Danie van der Merwe / CC BY 2.0

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St. George's Cathedral

St George's Cathedral is the Anglican cathedral in Cape Town, South Africa, and the seat of the Archbishop of Cape Town. St.

Vincent Steenberg / CC BY-SA 2.5

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Castle of Good Hope

The Castle of Good Hope is a bastion fort built in the 17th century in Cape Town, South Africa.

HelenOnline / CC BY-SA 4.0

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District Six

District Six is a former inner-city residential area in Cape Town, South Africa.

Jim.henderson / CC BY-SA 4.0

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Two Oceans Aquarium

The Two Oceans Aquarium is an aquarium located at the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront in Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa.

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