The perfect Cape City 3-day itinerary – 2023/24 season

In the event you’re planning a visit and wish to get essentially the most out of your go to this Cape City 3-day itinerary is what you want. It’s written by locals (us) for vacationers. The prompt itinerary contains town’s greatest, suggestions, and insider suggestions. It contains the must-see locations in Cape City. Allow us to make it easier to to make the most effective out of your Cape City go to!

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Our Cape City 3-day itinerary

That is the usual itinerary for spending 3 days in Cape City. The itinerary permits you to go to the principle points of interest in Cape City. You’ll be able to swap days round relying on climate circumstances, days of the week, your personal priorities, and so on. Under each attraction, you will discover a desk with the opening and shutting occasions that may make it easier to modify the itinerary to your wants. 

In the event you’re not planning to hire a automobile you may go to a lot of the locations on this 3-day itinerary utilizing Cape City Metropolis Sightseeing Bus. You’ll be able to purchase 1 or 2-day tickets on the hop-on-hop-off bus.

Cape City 3-day itinerary

Day 1. Pure landmarks

• Morning. Kirstenbosch Botanical Backyard.
• Afternoon. Constantia Wine Route. Bo Kaap Neighborhood.
• Night. Desk Mountain (cable automobile). Sundown.

Day 2. Historic Cape City

• Morning. V&A Waterfront. Robben Island.
• Afternoon. Woodstock Neighborhood. The Citadel of Good Hope.
• Night. Lion’s Head, sundown.

Day 3. The scenic drive

• Morning. Sea Level, Clifton, Camps Bay, Hout Bay. Chapman’s Peak Drive.
• Afternoon. Cape Level Nationwide Park. Boulders Seashore, Muizenberg.
• Night. V&A Waterfront. Sundown cruise.

Discover out when is the most effective time to go to Cape City to plan your journey accordingly.

Day 1 of the Cape City 3-day itinerary. Cape City’s Pure Landmarks

In the event you’re planning to incorporate a number of points of interest in your Cape City 3-day itinerary shopping for a Metropolis Move could be price it. The Cape City Metropolis Move contains entry to over 80 metropolis sights and free use of the hop-on-hop-off bus in the course of your move.

Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardne

• Opening hours – September to March, every day from 8 am to 7 pm; April to August, every day from 8 am to six pm.
• Entrance charge – adults – ZAR210/US$11, kids (6-18) – ZAR30/US$1,5, kids beneath 6 – free.
• Drive time from Metropolis Bowl to Kirstenbosch – 15-25 min.
• Parking – there’s a parking zone on the territory, in case of a live performance or an occasion it will get full fairly rapidly, and also you’ll need to park your automobile exterior the Backyard. 

Kirstenbosch Botanical Backyard is an ideal place to begin the morning. There are a few locations contained in the backyard the place you may have breakfast. One can spend the entire day or simply a few hours right here. There are a number of straightforward strolling routes and a few longer trails within the backyard. The Skeleton Gorge hike is one in every of them. It begins in Kirstenbosch and goes all the way in which to the highest of Desk Mountain. You’ll want 3 hours to finish it.

The Sky Bridge is a not-to-miss attraction in Kirstenbosch, from right here you will get a pleasant view of the Backyard and the encircling space.

Constantia Wine Route

• Opening hours (Groot Constantia Property) – every day (besides Good Friday and Christmas) from 9 am to six pm.
• Price – from ZAR100/US$6 per individual
• Drive time from Kirstenbosch to Groot Constantia – 12-20 min. 
• Parking – there are a few parking tons on the territory.

Go to Constantia with a tour

Visiting a few wine farms in Constantia is a must-add to your Cape City itinerary. Constantia is likely one of the most well-known wine routes in Cape Winelands. In the event you’re searching for a lesser-known various you may go to Durbanville wine farms as an alternative. Each Constantia and Durbanville are situated simply exterior Cape City, it’s a brief drive from town heart.

Groot Constantia is likely one of the most well-known wine estates in Constantia. It has a tasting room, a museum, and two eating places on its territory. The realm is gorgeous on weekends and holidays; it will get very busy. Tasting is from ZAR 100/US$5 for five wines together with a wine glass that you could take with you as a memento. We often pay for one individual they pour sufficient wine to style and somebody all the time has to drive. Wine tasting and lunch can take between 2 and three hours relying on what number of estates you go to.

Bo Kaap neighborhood

• Drive time from Groot Constantia to Bo Kaap – 30 min. 

Go to Bo Kaap with a tour

To proceed the day head to the colourful Bo Kaap neighborhood – one in every of Cape City’s postcard photographs and doubtless one of the vital photographed areas of town. It’s enjoyable to stroll across the homes painted inexperienced, crimson, blue, yellow, and so on. and to take pictures, you received’t want greater than 1h-1.30min. for that.

Desk Mountain

• Opening hours (cable automobile) – occasions range relying on the month. You’ll find the up-to-date timetable right here.
• Cable automobile tickets – grownup from ZAR 340/US$18 return, kids (4-17) from ZAR 195/US$10 return.
• Drive time from Bo Kaap to Desk Mountain cable automobile station – 10-15 min.
• Parking – there’s a parking zone on the backside but it surely’s fairly a stroll up from there, most individuals park their automobiles alongside the street earlier than or after the station. 

Go to Desk Mountain with a tour

It’s time to go to Desk Mountain – essentially the most iconic attraction in Cape City and a must-include in your Cape City 3-day itinerary. You’ll be able to see it just about from anyplace within the metropolis however going up Desk Mountain is a must-do. In the event you’re planning to take a cable automobile, the night is a greater time, the mountain is commonly in thick mist within the morning you might need no views in any respect, but it surely often clears up by noon. 

If you wish to go up following one of many Desk Mountain mountain climbing trails it’s higher to do it within the morning when there are extra folks, the night just isn’t the most effective time. There are a number of routes that result in the highest of Desk Mountain. The Platteklip Gorge is the most well-liked one. The India Venster is essentially the most difficult. And the Skeleton Gorge is the greenest one. The opposite two routes are the Kasteelspoort and the Diagonal Path each resulting in the well-known Diving Board.

Guided Desk Mountain hikes

Day 2 of the 3-day itinerary (choice 1). The Historic Cape City

On the second day of your Cape City 3-day itinerary, you may go to some necessary historic landmarks within the metropolis.

Robben Island

• Tour departure occasions – every day at 9 am, 11 am, 1 pm, and three pm (solely between 1st September and thirtieth April)
• Value (return boat + guided tour) – from ZAR 400/US$21 (South Africans), ZAR 600/US$31 (foreigners) per individual
• Drive time from Metropolis Bowl to V&A Waterfront – 10-15 min.
• Parking – there isn’t any free parking zone at Waterfront, so that you’ll need to park your automobile at one of many paid parking, it’s fairly costly to park right here, for 4-hour parking anticipate to pay between ZAR40-50/US$2,5-3,5.

Go to Robben Island with a tour

Head to V&A Waterfront there are many eating places and occasional outlets to go to for breakfast with the view. 

Robben Island is an important historic place in Cape City. The Island is legendary for the jail the place Nelson Mandela spent the final years of his sentence. To get to the Island you’ll need to take a ferry that departs from the Nelson Mandela Gateway to Robben Island in V&A Waterfront. It takes 30-45min. to get to the Island. The complete tour (together with the return boat experience) takes 4 hours.

Through the summer time months of December, January, and February it’s extremely really useful to purchase your ticket prematurely, 9 am excursions are sometimes bought out.

When you’ve got a while earlier than or after visiting Robben Island you are able to do a 30-minute boat cruise to search out out extra concerning the historical past of the Waterfront and to identify some seals. 

To get the most effective views of Cape City and nice reminiscences do a helicopter flight. The helicopter leaves from the V&A Waterfront Helipad.

Woodstock neighborhood

• Opening hours – Mon – Fri from 10 am to 4 pm, Sat from 9 am to 2 pm, Solar from 10 am to 4 pm.
• Drive time from V&A Waterfront to Woodstock – 10-15min.
• Parking – from Mon to Fri you may park throughout the Mill. On Saturdays, there’s paid parking (ZAR10/US$1) on the Faculty of Cape City (in entrance of the market).

Woodstock was a shabby neighborhood of Cape City however within the final couple of years, it changed into a hipsters’ hub with many small younger companies opening within the space it turned one of the vital common locations within the metropolis the place you will discover small artwork galleries, conceptual espresso outlets, natural meals markets, and breweries. Espresso Lab is one in every of our favourite espresso outlets in Cape City.

Essentially the most well-known and busiest place in Woodstock is The Previous Biscuit Mill market. There are various totally different meals stalls, natural farm merchandise, hand-made souvenirs, crafts, and so on. The Mill is likely one of the favourite Capetonians’ locations to fulfill up with family and friends. It’s a highly regarded place to come back on Saturday morning, each Saturday there’s a large Neighborhood Market.

The Citadel of Good Hope

• Opening hours – every day from 9 am to three.30 pm
• Entrance charge – adults – ZAR50/US$2,5, kids – ZAR25/US$1,5
• Drive time – from the Previous Biscuit Mill to the Citadel – 5-10 min.

To proceed with the historical past of Cape City do a fast go to to the Citadel of Good Hope the birthplace of Cape City. It was constructed within the seventeenth century by the Dutch East India Firm as a bastion fort. The go to will take between 1-1.5 hours. The Citadel is on the way in which from Woodstock to Lion’s Head no have to do any additional driving to get there. 

Lion’s Head

• Drive time to Lion’s Head/Sign Hill from the Citadel of Good Hope – 15-20 min., from the Aquarium – 17-25 min.
• Parking – on the slopes (alongside the street) of Lion’s Head or Sign Hill, it could be tough to discover a spot for those who arrive too late.

Go to Lion’s Head with a tour

Time to go to one other iconic location in your 3-day itinerary – Lion’s Head. It’s one of the vital common hikes in Cape City and an amazing spot for watching the sundown. It’s higher to reach earlier to discover a parking spot. To get to the highest you’ll need to hike up the mountain. The Lion’s Head hike contains some rock, chain, and ladder climbing on the finish. If it’s an excessive amount of for you you don’t need to go all the way in which to the highest simply discover a great spot at a decrease stage.

You are able to do a guided sundown hike up Lion’s Head for those who don’t really feel assured sufficient or simply don’t wish to stroll alone. Watching the sundown from Lion’s Head is the easiest way to complete the second day of your Cape City itinerary.

An alternative choice is to go to Sign Hill (the neighboring mountain) as an alternative of Lion’s Head. It could be a greater choice for those who journey with kids as effectively. You’ll be able to drive all the way in which to the highest. Parking could be an issue, so be sure that to reach early.

Day 2 (choice 2). The safari drive

Together with a safari drive in your Cape City 3-day itinerary could be choice for folks with kids and for many who aren’t planning to go to any safari parks in South Africa throughout their journey. You are able to do a day go to to one of many close by safari parks to see the well-known Huge 5; lion, elephant, buffalo, rhino, and leopard. The closest to Cape City sport lodge the place you may see all of them is Aquila Non-public Recreation Reserve, about 2 hours drive from town.

When you’ve got extra time you may keep on the sport reserve for a few days, it’s an amazing getaway from Cape City. Spending two days right here you’ll have time to do a day and an evening safari drive and see extra animals. You’ll be able to drive there your self and be part of a safari tour there or guide a tour from Cape City that features driving to and again and safari drives contained in the park.

In the event you drive that manner you may cease in Stellenbosch, there are lots of nice issues to do there.

After visiting the safari park you’ll nonetheless have sufficient time to get to Lion’s Head for the sundown.

Day 3 of the 3-day itinerary. The Cape Peninsula scenic drive 

The final day of the prompt Cape City 3-day itinerary is essentially the most scenic one. The drive round the Cape Peninsula is really spectacular, it’s one in every of our favourite day journeys from Cape City. The street waving alongside the rugged coast affords a few of the greatest views in the entire nation; unspoiled white sand seashores, dramatic cliffs, cozy cities, and various marine life. It’s attainable to affix a small group full-day tour round Cape Peninsula.

Begin the coastal drive at Inexperienced Level, and drive to Hout Bay via Cliffton and Camps Bay (the place you may cease for breakfast). Cease at Haut Bay harbor there you could have likelihood of seeing Cape Fur seals scavenging on fishermen’s leftovers. In order for you a better encounter you can go snorkeling with the seals from the Hout Bay Harbor. These guys are very curious and playful snorkeling or diving with them is a variety of enjoyable.

Chapman’s Peak Drive

• Drive time from Metropolis Bowl to Hout Bay (via Clifton) – 40-50 min.
• Parking – you may park on the harbor free of charge.

The well-known Chapman’s Peak Drive is likely one of the most scenic drives in Cape City. It begins at Hout Bay, it’s not a really lengthy however completely beautiful drive with a number of lookouts and viewpoints. There are a few mountain climbing trails that go up the mountain however I’d strongly suggest not venturing up there, the world just isn’t secure, and within the final couple of years, there have been a number of assaults on hikers there.

If you wish to stretch your legs a bit there are lots of nice trails at Cape Level Nationwide Park – the subsequent cease on the way in which. I’d counsel driving to Cape Level via Kommetjie (there are some good seashores there), not via Simons City, you’ll drive via Simons City on the way in which again anyway.

Cape Level Nationwide Park

• Opening hours – every day from 7 am to five pm
• Entrance charge – adults – ZAR360/US$19, kids (2-12 yo) – ZAR180/US$10.
• Drive time from Haut Bay to the Cape Level entrance gate (via Kommetjie) – 1h-1h10min.
• Parking – there are a number of free parking areas contained in the park, the principle one is at Decrease Funicular Station.

Go to Cape Level with a tour

Cape Level Nationwide Park with its breathtaking surroundings, white sandy seashores, rugged cliffs, and spectacular lookout factors positively must be in your Cape City itinerary. The well-known Cape of Good Hope is located within the park. Some folks assume that the Cape of Good Hope is the southernmost level of the African continent but it surely’s not proper. The southernmost level of the continent and the assembly level of two oceans is Cape Agulhas it’s 250km up the east coast within the small city of Struissbai.

Cape Level Nationwide Park highlights

• Dias Seashore – a implausible white sand seaside surrounded by rugged cliffs it’s only a pity that the water may be very chilly. 
• Cape of Good Hope – the well-known level the place you’ll most likely need to line as much as take a photograph. By the way in which, at Cape Agulhas (the precise southernmost level of Africa) there are often only a few folks.
• The Previous Lighthouse – it’s a brief hike from the parking spot as an choice you may take a funicular virtually all the way in which to the lighthouse. The lighthouse itself is kind of good however the views from there are breathtaking. 

There are a number of mountain climbing routes within the park and it’s secure to stroll there, I’d say it’s the most effective space in Cape City for mountain climbing. 

Boulders Seashore

• Opening hours – every day from 8 am to five pm
• Entrance charge – adults – ZAR170/US$9, kids (2-11 yo) – ZAR85/US$4,5
• Drive time from the Cape Level entrance gate to Boulders Seashore – 15-20 min.

Go to Boulders Seashore with a tour

After spending a while at Cape Level head to Boulders Seashore in Simon’s City, a small and delightful white sand seaside with enormous boulders and plenty of African penguins strolling round. These guys are very small and cute, watching them is a variety of enjoyable. I’d suggest stopping right here for lunch there’s a place with a balcony from the place you may see the penguins and the seaside whereas having fun with your meal. 

Simon’s City is a well-liked place for diving and kayaking. In the event you’re a certified diver you are able to do a few dives to see seals, cow sharks, blue sharks, Mako sharks, and plenty of nudibranchs. There are a few locations the place you are able to do shark diving in Cape City.

In the event you’re in Cape City between July and September, you may see Southern Proper whales from the boat. The perfect place for whale watching is Hermanus, a small city 120 km from Cape City.

Muizenberg

From Simons City proceed driving alongside the coast to Muizenberg, this city is legendary as a great spot to study browsing and its colourful picket seaside cabins. It’s only a brief cease to take pictures after that you could begin heading again to Cape City. 

• Drive time from Boulders Seashore to Muizenberg – is 35-45 min., there’s all the time a site visitors jam at Fish Hoek and Kalk Bay.

V&A Waterfront

• Drive time from Muizenberg to V&A Waterfront – 45min.-1h.
• Parking – one of many paid exterior or inside parking tons.

Exit for dinner or drinks at V&A Waterfront or Camp Bay you could be in time for one more lovely sundown in Cape City. For a very particular finish to your Cape City journey, as an alternative of getting drinks or dinner on land, you may be part of a sundown Champagne cruise.

From Cape City, you may proceed your South Africa journey and do a street journey on the Backyard Route. You are able to do it as a self-drive journey; hire a automobile in Cape City and drop it off in Port Elisabeth or be part of a tour.

After exploring Cape City you may proceed your journey and go to the spectacular east coast and the well-known Backyard Route.

The place to remain in Cape City?

Metropolis Bowl. The perfect space to remain for backpackers, solo vacationers, social gathering lovers, and people who come to town for enterprise. Bree and Lengthy Streets are the principle locations to exit in Cape City with many bars and golf equipment, for those who’re up for a pub crawl or social gathering it’s the place to be. 

V&A Waterfront/Seapoint. The perfect space to remain for households with kids, older vacationers, and {couples}. For me, it’s the most effective space to remain within the metropolis, the principle motive it feels safer right here than in Metropolis Bowl is that you could stroll within the night alongside the promenade, there are lots of folks, and it all the time has a festive vibe.

Camps Bay. The luxury space of Cape City is an ideal place for a luxurious keep. It’s the most effective space to remain in Cape City in your South Africa honeymoon vacation. The realm is secure with many eating places and bars, lovely white-sand seashores and a few browsing spots, simply bear in mind the water right here is ice-cold, it’s good to stroll round in a bikini however to do something within the water you’ll want a wetsuit. 

Renting a automobile in Cape City

To drive in and across the metropolis, you don’t want an enormous 4×4 automobile, a traditional sedan automobile can be greater than sufficient until you’re greater than 5 folks a minivan is a greater choice. The smaller your automobile the better it’ll be to park on the streets of Cape City. The perfect and the best is to hire a automobile on the airport on arrival and drop it off there on the way in which again.

Security suggestions on your Cape City 3-day itinerary

• Don’t stroll at night time within the metropolis for those who exit, take a taxi again to your resort and attempt to persist with a crowd of 4 or extra.
• In the event you hire a automobile don’t go away something inside when parking, not even a guide or an previous jacket, in any other case you threat discovering your automobile with damaged home windows.
• When driving, be sure that your doorways a locked and home windows aren’t wide-opened.
• Maintain your beneficial stuff with you on a regular basis, don’t put it on a seat subsequent to you, it’ll disappear earlier than you discover it.
• In the event you enterprise to hike up Desk Mountain do it on the proper time of the day when there are different folks strolling it, not late night by yourself carrying an costly digicam.
• Don’t take your passport and all the dear stuff with moderately lock it in a resort secure or locker.
• Use a dependable taxi service, not any random man that stops on the road.
• To attract cash use an ATM in a financial institution workplace, mall, or grocery store. You’ll be able to pay by card in most inns, eating places, and ticket workplaces.

Journey assets to plan your itinerary

The gorgeous half of Stingy Nomads, liable for all our land adventures (mountain climbing, climbing, strolling the Camino) and following them write-ups. Alya loves strolling since she was a toddler, she prefers to stroll 1000 km with a backpack moderately than to do a ten 000 km street journey (really any street journey). Alya is an enormous fan of Latin America, the Spanish language, and dancing. Each time we go away she desperately misses our canine Chile.