One Week Guide for Cape Town

I’m pretty sure Cape Town is on most people’s bucket lists. Now that I’ve been there I totally understand the obsession with Cape Town. There aren’t many places where you can hike a mountain in the morning looking out onto dramatic coastal views, then spend some time at the beach before hitting a winery, all in the same day. It’s a place I could actually see myself living. Plenty of people have succumbed to Cape Town’s allure and relocated. One of these was a good friend of mine so I had a sort of “local” guide while I was there which is always nice.  I’ve put together what I hope is a helpful one week guide to Cape Town. I suggest no less than 5 days here because there is SO much to do. I will list the highlights and then suggest a way to put it all together to maximize your time.

South Africa Basics

Language

South Africa has 11 official languages but the ones you will hear the most in this part of the country are English and Afrikaans. Tribal languages such as Zulu and Xhosa may be encountered.

Currency

South African Rand (ZAR)       15 ZAR = $1 USD

ATM machines are easy enough to find and credit cards (VISA and Mastercard) are widely accepted.

Safety

South Africa has many political problems and there is some racial strife stemming from decades of apartheid and exploitative economic policy. Visitors should be aware that there is a huge distinction between “haves” and “have-nots” in this country. The economic inequality is pronounced in Cape Town since its popularity is pricing many people out of certain areas.  Don’t walk alone at night unless in crowded area. Avoid wearing flashy jewelry and keep your camera packed away unless using it. Only go to the ATM machine in busy areas and during the day. I didn’t experience any problems luckily but it’s good to always be careful wherever you are!

Read More:  One Week Garden Route Itinerary South Africa

Cape Town Highlights

City Walking Tours

A walking tour is a good way to get acquainted with a new city and it’s usually one of the first things I do. Many are free and work on a tips only basis. I did the historic City Walk in the morning and then Bo Kapp in the afternoon right afterwards with the same company. It is really interesting and I think necessary to really understand some of the history of Cape Town. It’s so much more than just an Instagram worthy city.  Cape Town is the oldest city in South Africa. You’ll learn about the Portuguese explorers that first landed here followed by the Dutch East Indian Company as well as how slaves came to be here and built the city. You’ll learn how South Africa came to be the “Rainbow Nation” with so much mixing of colors and cultures.

I liked seeing the Cape Dutch architecture. The memorials as pictured below showing the names of some original slaves, many of whose families still exist.  I found it interesting how they were named by where they were from or after the month they arrived. I also like that they have this memorial for those people whose hands literally built the city.

This is Green Market Square in downtown Cape Town.  One of the oldest markets and the historical center of Cape Town with lots of local handicrafts for sale.

Bo Kapp

You’ve probably seen pics of this colorful neighborhood.  The Malay Quarter was built largely by and for the artisans of Cape Town between 1790 and 1825 and was subsequently occupied by Muslims including political exiles from Java and Ceylon.  Liberated slaves moved into the area after 1834 and with them Malay people who had been living in the town. Over the years the area has come to be identified as the heart of the cultural life of the Malay people.

If you have time to take a cooking class here, it looks like a great experience.  Cape Malay cuisine is spicy and aromatic and some consider it the national food of South Africa. You get to shop and cook in the home with a local Malay woman.

Check out this great tour to orient yourself to the city when you first arrive. Cape Town Introductory Tour

Table Mountain

Table Mountain has been voted as a Natural World Wonder. The original Khoisan name is Hoerikwaggo which means mountain within the ocean. It can be seen from 150 miles away!

Many people visit table mountain by hiking, either alone or with a tour. There are two ways to hike it, one more challenging than the other but both not easy. I took the cable car.  Make sure to reserve Table Mountain for a clear day otherwise you won’t see much from the top and hiking ould actually be dangerous. Give yourself at least an hour at the top to walk around regarding all the various views. You really get a feel for the different parts of Cape Town this way.  Keep in mind that if you hike Table Mountain, this will be a day-long affair rather than just a half day.

***Skip the line and get your tickets online and just screenshot for your entry.

Lion’s Head Mountain

This is a must do hike and one of the most beautiful hikes I’ve ever done. Many do it at sunrise or sunset which involves walking partly in the dark. Make sure you have a flashlight and go when conditions are clear and not wet. It can be dangerous. I did it in the morning on a perfect day and it was really challenging with lots of rocky inclines, some involving scrambling. I wouldn’t do this if you haven’t hiked before. It takes roughly 1 to 1 1/2 hours to climb and a bit less to get back down. Give yourselves 30 minutes minimum to enjoy the top. It can get really hot so be prepared with sunblock, water and a hat. The earlier you go the better in my opinion. It is quite popular and can get crowded.

Camps Bay Beach

Cape Town has many beaches and if you have time try to see them all. Camps Bay has a bit of a “scene” and reminded me a bit of Miami Beach, except much more beautiful. There are cafes and restaurants along the street near the beach and the beach itself is stunning. I enjoyed just sitting on these rocks and watching the surfers before I had a bite.

Clifton Beach is also worth checking out!  Referred to as the ‘French Riviera of South Africa’, Clifton beaches are divided by granite boulders into four beaches – namely First Beach, Second Beach, Third Beach and Fourth Beach.

Wine Routes

South Africa’s Wines are world famous. There are several different wine regions or “Wine Routes” as they call them. I found it challenging to visit them without my own car. Having a car is convenient but then you need a designated driver (and it ain’t gonna be me!).  There are many tours available but I ended up doing the Red Bus tour of both Stellenbosch and Franschhoek. I enjoyed it and was happy to see both regions but I would have preferred to spend a day in each, choosing the wineries I visited. Taking an Uber is also an option and it isn’t prohibitively expensive.

Stellenbosch

This is the most famous wine route. The town was founded in 1679 by the Governor of the Cape Colony, Simon van der Stel, who named it after himself.  Stellenbosch means Stel’s Forest. The town is the 2nd oldest in South Africa after Cape Town.

There are so many great options here, all with stunning scenery. My tour went to Vergenoegd Estate (I definitely CANNOT pronounce that) which is famous for the duck parade!  Turns out that ducks and geese love to eat beetles and worms that infest the vines so twice a day they are unleashed into the vineyards to feast and help out the winegrowers. It’s hilarious to see all the excited fowl literally running straight for the vines.

Franschhoek

The name translates to “French corner” in Afrikaans. In 1688, 176 French Protestants were forced to leave France, or face persecution. These refugees settled in the valley with only their bare necessities and began farming. They were welcomed by the Dutch who weren’t very good at winemaking and needed help from the experts.

The town of Franschhoek is worth visiting. The restaurants are excellent but be prepared for some New York prices. I loved my vegetarian meal at Foliage but 2 courses plus water and wine and tip came to 490 rand ($40 USD)  I also can’t say enough good things about the chocolate and coffee tasting at De Villiers Chocolate Cafe. That’s right I said chocolate cafe.  What could be better when you need to energize for another half day of chugging sipping wine? Only $10 USD for 3 coffees and 6 chocolates.

If you get yourself to Franschhoek you can use the Vinehopper train to get around to different wineries. I would totally do this next time!

Paarl is another wine route that is apparently beautiful and less touristy than the others. If you want to do all three you could consider this South African Winelands Full Day Tour. 

Constantia

This wine route is the easiest to visit as it is practically in Cape Town. From downtown, it is a 20-30 minute drive. You can also do a tour visiting 3 wineries here with the Red Bus I mentioned above.

I only visited 2 wineries here. One because of the views and good food. One because of the wine and chocolate pairing. I couldn’t visit more because I was without car and it wasn’t easy to get an uber quickly. I ended up bumming a ride with random people at one point!

Groot Constantia offers great wine tasting as well as wine and food tastings. I did the wine and chocolate pairing for 140 Rand (less than $10 USD) and tasted 5 wines along with 5 handcrafted chocolates designed to go with the wines. Have you ever had Chardonnay or Pinot Noir Chocolate? Well, you need to try!

Constantia Glen has seriously mouthwatering views as well as food. I ate my body weight in cheese here and I’m not proud of it.

Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens

One of the finest botanical gardens in the world focused on indigenous fauna. The setting is breathtaking. Set against the foothills of Table Mountain, you feel like you are roaming around in the Jurassic Era, minus the huge lizards.

Cape Peninsula

There are several ways to see this part of Cape Town. If you can self-drive, you will have more freedom to stop where you want and take as much or little time as you need in each place. I think this would be ideal. I did a tour with Baz Bus. There are many other Cape Peninsula tours out there. This one was pretty good because it was a small group but there were aspects I didn’t like.

Seal Island

There is a large Cape Fur Seal colony that lives here and they are lucky in that the area doesn’t have sharks. I loved seeing the cute little guys frolicking in the water near the boat.

Chapman’s Peak Drive

This may be one of the most beautiful scenic drives in the world with awestriking views.  I was very upset the bus wouldn’t stop and let us take photos. Shame on you Baz Bus! I will definitely go back. Sunset is also a great time to do this drive.

Boulders Beach

Boulders Beach is a sheltered beach near Simon’s Town with inlets of beach between granite boulders for which it gets its name.  Here you can see the African Penguin. My only regret is that we didn’t get a chance to actually walk on the beach and get a bit closer to the penguins. If you do this, don’t try to touch them and always respect their habitat and give them room. I  know someone who inadvertently got too close to a nest and got bit on the bum.

Cape of Good Hope

This is the southernmost point in Africa and of course, there is a photo-op sign.  The tour I did gave us the opportunity to bike around the national park after lunch which was really fun. There is a hill to climb near the sign with a lighthouse at the top and more incredible views. If you haven’t noticed now, Cape Town has no shortage of these. In fact, I’m looking at a thesaurus now to find other words for “views” because I think I’ve used this word a hundred times already.

Suggested Itinerary for One Week in Cape Town

Day 1   Historic City Tour followed by Bo Kapp walking tour.

You will still have time to go to the beach after this in the late afternoon if you wish. Or check out the waterfront area.

Day 2  Hike Lion’s Head in the morning and then head to the beach. If you already had enough beach time you could go to Kirstenbosch or Table Mountain in the afternoon.  Maybe do a cooking class in Bo Kapp.

Day 3  Kirstenbosch and Constantia Wine Routes. These are both close to each other so makes sense to combine them.

Day 4  Cape Peninsula including Seal Island Chapman’s Peak Drive, Boulder’s Beach and Cape of Good Hope.  If you are pressed for time, I have seen half day tours of this.

Day 5  Stellenbosch or Franschhoek or both. In an ideal world, you would spend one day in each region but if pressed for time, there are tours that take you to both in one day.

Day 6  Visit Table Mountain then head to the beach or hang out in the Woodstock neighborhood. You could also visit Robben Island where Nelson Mandela was held prisoner.

As you can see you can do a lot in 5 to 6 days if you plan right. The problem is that if the weather doesn’t cooperate, or if you want more time to relax and enjoy other Cape Town neighbourhoods and cafes, it’s nice to have an extra day or two. If you have more time, spend two days in the wine regions, spend a whole day exploring the various beach areas and take time to see all the cool neighbourhoods in Cape Town.

Places to Eat in Cape Town

You will not be spoiled for choice since there are many great restaurants in Cape Town.  Here are a few suggestions.

Pizza/Italian

Woodlands Eatery (Vredhoek)

Cafes

These places all great for breakfast, brunch, lunch or a lite bite.

Sidewalk Cafe (Vredhoek)

Red Sofa Cafe (Vredhoek)

Nourish’D (Gardens).  Need your avo toast and green juice or smoothie bowl? This is the place. Go early because it gets packed.

Beachfront restaurants

Sotano’s in Seapoint is a cozy spot right along the Promenade.

12 Apostles Hotel is the perfect place to have sundowners and enjoy the view.

Markets

Mojo Market (Seapoint) is a food court where you can get anything from massive burritos to noodle bowls or sushi.

Woodstock

This hip neighbourhood is one of the oldest of Cape Town’s suburbs and is a local’s hangout. Here is a great guide to all the restaurants, pubs and things to do here.

Where to Stay

I stayed with my friend in her Airbnb apartment in the Vredhoek region. It was a fantastic apartment with great views! If you want a hotel or hostel, you can book here and I’ve given some suggestions below based on research and speaking with other travellers.

Booking.com

Hotels

Luxury

• 12 Apostles Hotel and Spa
• The One and Only Cape Town
• The Grand Daddy

Mid Range

• Hotel on the Promenade
• Kingslyn Boutique Guest House
• The Villa Rosa

Hostels

• The B.I.G. Cape Town
• ONCE in Cape Town
• The Surf Shack
• Atlantic Point Backpackers

I hope you make it Cape Town someday because it is truly one of the world’s most beautiful cities with so much to do. I am struggling to not pack bags and move there immediately!

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