Cape Town is a unique coastal city with stunning natural landscapes, diverse wildlife, and incredible outdoor adventures. It also offers beautiful vineyards outside the city, many with unique hotels and spas. When my husband and I visited we loved hiking Lion’s Head and diving with sharks, more on that once-in-a-lifetime experience later! In this post, you’ll find all the information you need for all the best things to see and do in this city including my tried and trusted Cape Town itinerary!

When’s the best time to visit Cape Town?

South Africa’s summer corresponds with America’s winter, and vice versa. If you want to plan a trip to Cape Town you may continue to safari. You may plan to stay in South Africa at Kruger National Park or venture to another African country. It’s no surprise Cape Town’s summer is the most popular and expensive time to visit. However, the most popular months for safari are the dry season between June and October. It will be cooler in Cape Town during these months, but will also be less crowded and more affordable!

How to get around Cape Town?

The best way to get around Cape Town is by car. The city is quite spread out, especially if you’re planning multiple outdoor activities. South Africa also offers wonderful vineyards that aren’t too far outside the city. It would be easiest to reach these vineyards by car.

In our experience, Cape Town is very affordable and so was renting a car. We rented a car for three full days from the airport (which can be more expensive) and it only cost us around 150 USD.

Cape Town Itinerary: A Complete Guide to Cape Town South Africa

Is Cape Town South Africa Safe?

Be alert in Tourist Destinations

Cape Town is divided by its geography including Lion’s Head and Table Mountain. Cape Town is a large city and it’s very spread out. To be safe in Cape Town, do not walk around after dark regardless of the area, and be extra vigilant in tourist areas. When driving, stick to main highways, and do not attempt shortcuts through neighborhoods. Even when we traveled to Cape Town and stayed in ‘safe’ Camps Bay, we had 24/7 surveillance and a security guard at our hotel.

Bring cash for Parking attendants

When parking our car in Camps Bay, we looked for paid parking signs but there were none. Since we noticed parking attendants we asked our waitress at the restaurant where we had lunch about the parking situation. One of the waitresses was unaware (which seemed odd), but the other told us that you pay the parking attendants a small fee to ‘watch your car for you to avoid break-ins.’ This was very unusual to hear as we’ve driven in many different countries and never encountered this.

When we were done with lunch back at the car one of the attendants asked for money. He wore a somewhat unofficial-looking shirt, but other attendants were wearing them too. He informed us they only accept cash for parking but we didn’t have any. Thankfully the attendant was nice and told us to pay him next time. We also encountered this in other areas around South Africa, mostly in large tourist areas.

Make sure to carry small bills with you if you plan to drive around Cape Town or other areas in South Africa. It will usually cost you less than 1 USD.

Do you need a visa to visit South Africa?

When we planned our Cape Town itinerary and traveled in the fall of 2024 there was no visa requirement. We planned to visit Cape Town, Zimbabwe, and Botswana too. These countries did not require a visa but did require a Yellow Fever vaccination card.

It’s always best to consult a travel clinic before visiting Africa if you will need any additional vaccinations or medications to bring with you during your trip. When preparing to travel to Africa, my husband and I required a few vaccinations and even malaria pills. Don’t travel to Africa without reading this comprehensive guide before visiting!

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Best Places to Stay in Cape Town

Best Neighborhoods to Stay in Cape Town

Hands down one of the best places to stay in Cape Town is Azamare Guest House $$. This is where we stayed during our time in Cape Town. It had the most wonderful location overlooking Lion’s Head with incredible service, and was also very affordable.

Cape Town Itinerary Overview: 3 days in Cape Town

Day 1

Explore Cape Town

Day 2

Drive to Simon’s Town and See the Penguins at Boulders Beach

Day 3

Enjoy the South African Vineyards

Day 1: Best Things to Do in Cape Town

Climb Lion’s Head

Lion’s Head is one of the most popular hikes in the city and should be included in your Cape Town itinerary. This hike is very popular at sunset, so if you’re planning to visit at sunset arrive early because the parking area is quite small. Surprisingly, we didn’t encounter any of the ‘official yet unofficial’ parking attendants at this parking lot requesting money when we visited early in the morning. You’ll find a small coffee stand in the parking lot, but there are no other spots for water and even bathrooms. There are two ways up to the top, the easier or moderate option. There is a park map at the base near the parking lot for reference.

When we visited, we took the ‘easier’ route which was the circular route in counterclockwise direction. This allowed us to have an easier hike up but it does turn into a moderate trail towards the top. It’s also much more of a gradual incline, and you will have 360 views of the mountain. This is compared to the other steeper way up which won’t give you the same 360 views.

If the Lion’s Head parking lot is full, look for spots along Signal Hill Road and you’ll find gravel sidewalks where you can park. There is also “a secret spot” on Signal Hill Road between Lion’s Head and Signal Hill. To reach this spot take a right turn to the gravel road and you’ll find it about 2km from the trailhead. You can also park at Kloof Nek parking. There’s a dedicated lot here on the right from Lion’s Head on the way to Table Mountain. There are always places available and it’s only around 700m to the start of the trailhead.

Take the funicular up Table Mountain

Taking the funicular up Table Mountain is one of the best things to do in Cape Town and should be on your Cape Town itinerary. You can buy tickets online to save a few dollars. There’s however usually a line to ride the funicular, and buying tickets online won’t save you from queueing. The views from Table Mountain offer 360 views of Cape Town. The weather can change quickly and is frequently cloudy. There’s a camera on their website so you can monitor up-to-date weather conditions.

Parking at Table Mountain is free. When we visited there was quite a bit of road construction, and were unable to drive up the road towards the entrance and park along it. There is a large parking lot at the base where you can park and free shuttles to the entrance. If you’re interested in hiking Table Mountain, here is some great information from the Cape Town tourism board. I also love using the AllTrails app. I find it very helpful when searching for hikes and reading reviews from other hikers!

Day 2: Swim with Sharks in Simon’s Town

Book a Cage Dive with Shark Explorers

Simon’s Town is such a quaint seaside town. It has a few shops and restaurants, especially on the water. One of the best parts is the drive from Cape Town, the views are spectacular. After quite a bit of research, ‘Shark Explorers’. was the company we booked the experience through. There are quite a few that are all comparable in description and price. This experience was incredibly safe, I was more afraid of the water temperature! Be prepared to swim with seven gill sharks, and maybe even a bronze whaler. We saw one jump out of the water to try and catch some of the bait, it was incredible and a once-in-a-lifetime experience!

Visit Seal Island

Once you arrive for your cage dive experience, you’ll be escorted to the boat that will take you out on the water. On the way out to sea, you’ll pass ‘Seal Island’. This island is home to over 60,000 seals and grows by the day as great white sharks no longer inhabit the area because of climate change.

Spend the day on the Water

Some cage dive companies provide transport from Cape Town but Shark Explorers do not. There was a small parking lot down the road where we parked our car all day. We were instructed to bring warm clothes because the boat ride from the harbor to the area where you’ll dive can be quite cold. You’ll also want a few layers of clothes once you’re done swimming. You will be provided with wet suits. If you’re lucky, like we were, you could have a smaller group and be allowed to stay in the cage for almost an hour or more! It did take some time to bait the sharks, and the crew didn’t have us change into wet suits until they were ready for us to get in the water.

Here’s another shark cage diving experience that includes transport from Cape Town if you’re not planning to rent a car.

What to expect when Swimming with Sharks

Because it’s illegal to feed sharks, the Shark Explorers team will chop fish into small pieces and continuously release them into the water. The smell of the fish with the current is meant to bait the sharks to come close to the boat. Our guides said it’s like fishing, it can take a few minutes or hours for them to ‘take the bait.’ Our guides did say that their company releases more bait than the other two competitors we saw close by, hence a greater likelihood of seeing more sharks.

I will say we were the only ones on the water that day that saw the bronze whaler shark! It almost took our bait but quickly swam away. The experience was incredible. It’s not like we saw only one shark, we were able to swim with quite a few during our time in the water! Check out their website and details on how to book!

See the Penguins at Boulders Beach

This is one of the most popular activities to do in Cape Town South Africa. It would be no surprise if you wanted to add it to your Cape Town itinerary. If you’re traveling to Simon’s Town, this beach is just a short drive away. Summer is the best time to see the penguins, but you can still see them between September to October and other times of the year. Take time to walk along the boardwalks around the beach which will have different views of the penguins. You will also be able to glimpse their surrounding natural habitats. There is a small fee to enter to view the penguins and tourists aren’t allowed to freely roam the beach.

You can also pay to visit an adjacent beach, however, you won’t be able to see the penguins from here and it’s quite small. The views are still incredible if you want to see more than just the penguins. Keep in mind the parking lot is quite small, and you may find the ‘official yet unofficial’ parking attendants there to ‘watch your car’.

Drive along the South African coast

The drive along the South African coast is insanely beautiful. Even if you don’t have a destination in mind there are plenty of national parks in the area. If you’re close to the Muizenberg Beach Huts, you stop and snap a photo! You can find their location easily on Google Maps. You can also drive to the Cape of Good Hope. It can be quite a drive down but if you have time, it’s the most south-western point of the African continent!

My husband and I were trying to drive to the very tip of the coast where there is a national park after visiting Simon’s Town. We only found a national park listed on Google Maps and hadn’t even read about it. When we arrived it was a national park however it was closing when we arrived. We thought we would be able to drive around the area at least, but there was a large barricade for the closing time, and were unable to pass. Even though the shark cage dive will take up most of the day, you’ll still have time to visit Boulders Beach after and drive along the coast just in time for sunset!

Bungee jumping in South Africa Cape Town

If you’re looking for adventure, check out the world’s highest commercial bungy bridge Bloukrans Bungy. It will be easiest to fly to this location as the drive is around seven hours from Cape Town.

Check out how to visit this famous bridge and do the jump!

Day 3: Enjoy the South African Vineyards

What’s wonderful about Cape Town is it’s not a far drive from so many incredible vineyards. You could spend an entire day during your Cape Town itinerary at the vineyards, or do a day trip from Cape Town if you’re not renting a car.

Spend a day in the South African Vineyards

Steenberg Tasting Room: We sadly arrived when this tasting room was already closed, we stayed for dinner at their restaurant Tryn. We tried many dishes but the ‘Pear and Chevin tart was to die for! It was goat’s cheese mousse served with cranberry chutney, a port reduction, and topped with walnuts and a crisp salad’. This was one of the most delicious dishes I think I’ve ever eaten! We also tried their ‘open ratatouille ravioli’ and ‘fish tartar’ which was also so delicious. It honestly felt like a happy mistake we ended up staying for dinner!

Groot or Kelin Constantia: These vineyards are right down the street from each other and even though they share the same name they have separate owners. They both have stunning vineyards, check out their websites for more details.

Wine tasting tours Cape Town South Africa

If you’re not renting a car in Cape Town here’s a full-day wine tour that would be perfect for you. Or check out this other full-day tour that includes three different Cape Town vineyards!

The famous traveler The Blonde Abroad once lived in Cape Town and has lots of other suggestions on her website!

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Cape Town Itinerary: Best Things to See and Do

When’s the best time to visit Cape Town?

How to get around Cape Town?

Cape Town Itinerary: A Complete Guide to Cape Town South Africa