10 Exciting Things To Do in Cape Town, From Safaris to Surfing

Perched on a peninsula, Cape Town boasts a splendid coastline, incredible natural surroundings, a rich history and culture, and world-class attractions. In fact, this South African city is one of our favourite places to combine a city break with a beach getaway. If you’re reading this, you’re clearly thinking about booking a vacation to Cape Town. Our travel experts at Plum Guide know the city inside out, and have put together this guide to help you plan the perfect trip. Take a look at our top ten things to do in Cape Town.

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Cape Town is a dream destination for wine connoisseurs. Just an hour's drive inland from the city is Cape Winelands, South Africa's main wine-producing area. Encompassing several towns and regions, some of the most well-known sites include Constantia, Stellenbosch, Durbanville, Paarl, and Franschhoek.

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There are numerous wine tours and trails to take, whether you want to sip on Pinotage (South Africa's earthy, smoky signature red) or Méthode Cap Classique (sparkling wine made with Champagne varieties). We particularly recommend Delaire Graff Estate in Stellenbosch, where you can taste award-winning wines with views across Simonsberg Mountain. If you don't have a designated driver, don't despair – simply climb aboard the wine tram in Franschhoek for a hop-on-hop-off winery tour. There are eight different lines to choose from, so you definitely won't go thirsty.

Regarded as the culinary capital of South Africa, foodies will be in their element here in Cape Town. Hot summer days call for a braai, South Africa’s answer to the barbecue. If you’re lucky enough to get invited to one, you’ll typically see meats like boerewors (a type of sausage made with minced meat and spices), sosaties (meat cooked on skewers) and steak.

Other local dishes to try include bobotie (spiced minced meat baked with an egg-based topping), bunny chow (an Indian South African curry served in a hollowed-out loaf of bread), biltong and droewors (dried meat snacks), koeksisters (fried dough infused in syrup or honey), and of course, unlimited fresh seafood. Don’t miss Cape Malay cuisine, a major part of the community’s culture and a fusion of Southeast Asian, Dutch, and African flavours and ingredients.

If you’re searching for family-friendly things to do in Cape Town, be sure to add wildlife watching to your itinerary. The famous Boulders Beach is home to a large colony of African penguins, and the best place to catch a glimpse of these cute creatures is from the boardwalks that snake through the dunes and vegetation around Foxy Beach. Further out to sea are whales, dolphins, seals and sharks – get a closer look with the variety of boat tours available.

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Of course, no trip to Africa would be complete without going on a safari. Just two hours outside the city centre is Aquila Private Game Reserve which offers a ‘Big Five’ safari experience. Join a traditional game drive or try something different and explore the reserve on horseback, quad bikes, or from the air.

It may be a city, but Cape Town is a haven for outdoor enthusiasts. Surrounded by spectacular nature, there are plenty of adventures in the great outdoors to be had. Hikers can’t miss climbing Table Mountain, an iconic natural landmark keeping watch over the city at 1,086 metres. There are various trails to the summit, ranging in difficulty and duration. Other popular hikes include landmarks such as Lion’s Head, Devil’s Peak, and Signal Hill – expect to stop frequently to take photos of the surrounding city, coast, and countryside.

For even more views, take a drive to Cape Point Nature Reserve, home to baboons, ostriches, antelope and zebra, as well as a diverse range of bird species. Meanwhile, adrenaline-seekers can try their hand at paragliding, abseiling, bungee jumping, ziplining, quad biking and sandboarding on the dunes of Atlantis.

The outdoor adventures continue into the water, too. Cape Town is a particularly popular place for surfing, with waves for beginners and pros alike. If you’ve never surfed before, a great place to start is Muizenberg Beach which has gentle waves and a great selection of surf schools. More experienced surfers can head to Llandudno, Dungeons and Outer Kom. Cape Town’s strong and consistent winds are also great for kitesurfing, and popular spots include Bloubergstrand and Langebaan.

As well as surfing and kitesurfing, there are plenty of other watersports to get involved with, such as sea kayaking for those after something a little more relaxing, scuba diving and snorkelling if you want to check out shipwrecks and rich marine life, and sailing to see the coast from a different angle. For the bravest amongst you, shark cage diving gives you the opportunity to get up close and personal with great whites.

If your entire holiday so far has been spent out and about, perhaps it’s time for a relaxing beach day. Cape Town’s stunning coastline is home to many wonderful beaches where you can spend the day sunbathing, swimming and chilling out. Both Camps Bay and Clifton are highly popular, with fantastic views of the mountains. Clifton is actually home to four beaches (referred to as first, second, third and fourth beach) with white sands and clear waters.

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Noordhoek Beach is a lovely spot to horse ride along the sand, while Beta Beach is a secluded bay best for escaping the crowds. Located next to Clifton, Beta Beach is tucked away between boulders and sheltered from the wind, so you can expect calm waters with amazing views of Camps Bay, Lion’s Head and the Twelve Apostles.

One of the most exciting things to do in Cape Town is to take a ride on a vintage steam train. Running on the weekends only, hop aboard a Ceres Rail locomotive for a 160-kilometre journey through South Africa’s finest landscapes. Departing from Harbour Bridge Platform, the voyage takes you through Cape Town and its neighbourhoods, past farmlands and orchards, up and over Sir Lowry’s Pass (one of South Africa’s steepest railway lines) and into the lush Elgin Valley. Your final destination is the Art Deco, Steampunk-style Elgin Railway Market, a great place to spend the rest of the day with live music, craft vendors and street food stalls.

Cape Town has a rich and complex history, and the city’s excellent museums are the best place to learn about its past. We highly recommend visiting Robben Island, a small island just off the coast home to a former prison for political prisoners during the apartheid era – Nelson Mandela was famously imprisoned here for 18 years.

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Back on the mainland, the District Six Museum shines a light on the forced removals of over 60,000 residents of the District Six neighbourhood during the apartheid era. Meanwhile, the Slave Lodge tells the story of the slave trade and slavery in South Africa, housed in a building once used as a slave lodge during the 17th and 18th centuries. In colourful Bo-Kaap, the Bo-Kaap Museum offers a glimpse into this neighbourhood’s Cape Malay culture.

For art museums and trendy galleries, head to the V&A Waterfront. Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa showcases installations from African artists in an old grain silo, while many independent galleries are great places to pick up a unique piece to take home with you.

In between all that sightseeing, take a moment to relax in Cape Town’s beautiful gardens. At the foot of Table Mountain, the Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens is one of the most famous gardens in South Africa. Sprawled across 528 hectares, the garden is bursting with a wide range of indigenous plants. Admire the greenery from the walking trails and canopy walkways. If you’re visiting in the summer, you can even catch a range of concerts here.

Venturing further out into the Cape Winelands is Babylonstoren, a historic Cape Dutch farm. Join a guided tour to learn about the 300 varieties of edible plants grown on the farm, and sample the produce at the farm-to-table restaurant.

Can’t resist a little retail therapy? You’re in the right place for it. The V&A Waterfront has over 450 stores ranging from local artisanal shops to international luxury brands – this is the best place to splash the cash. There are also plenty of restaurants with harbour views should you need to refuel. In the northern suburbs is the huge Canal Walk shopping mall, while the southern suburbs is home to Cavendish Square with over 200 stores.

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If you prefer markets to shopping malls, don’t miss a visit to the Old Biscuit Mill in the Woodstock neighbourhood which has a variety of food stalls, designer stores, and artisanal products. Meanwhile, the Oranjezicht City Farm Market is the best place for fresh produce, homemade goods, and crafts.

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