Chrissy Cape Town features stunning landscapes, a rich history, and a vibrant culture, which captivates travelers from all over the world. If you’re thinking about visiting the South African capital, this post will come in handy.
I assembled the ultimate 6-day Cape Town itinerary that includes must-do activities and attractions, as well as some relaxing time and night-out adventures. Keep on reading to discover all the things you can do during your Cape Town trip.
Here is your ultimate Cape Town itinerary to explore the best of South Africa’s capital!
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Best Time To Go To Cape Town?
Before we begin this Cape Town itinerary it’s important to discuss the best time to visit Cape Town, which depends on your expectations for the trip. In general, Cape Town has a Mediterranean climate, with warm, dry summers and mild, wet winters.
The summer months (December to February) offer long sunshine days, great for outdoor activities, beach days, and exploring the city both during the day and at night. On the other hand, summer brings loads of tourists which can create big crowds and an increase in hotel and flight prices.
Autumn (March to May) and spring (September to November) are excellent seasons to enjoy Cape Town without too many tourists and with the perfect weather for outdoor activities. As for winter (June to August), you can expect cooler temperatures and occasional rainfall, but in general, it is a great time to enjoy wine tasting in the Cape Winelands.
How Many Days Do You Need In Cape Town?
I recommend you book a “long trip” to Cape Town, around 5-6 days, to properly explore the city. This way you’ll have plenty of time to visit iconic attractions, eat as much as you want, and still have some time to relax.
Where To Stay in Cape Town?
Deciding where to stay when traveling can be a stressful process, which is why this section will help you out. Here’s a brief description of the most popular neighborhoods and what they offer:
Camp’s Bay
Camp’s Bay is known for its beautiful beach and stunning views of the Twelve Apostles mountain range. If you’re a luxury traveler or beach enthusiast, then Camp’s Bay is a go-to choice.
Sea Point
Sea Point offers a laid-back atmosphere with stunning views, excellent for all kinds of travelers. Whether you’re looking for beachfront hotels or self-catering apartments, Sea Point has plenty of options to choose from. During my Cape Town trip I stayed in Sea Point and it was in walking distance to shopping, cafes, restaurants, and most importantly the beach!
Green Point
Close to the V&A Waterfront and the city center, Green Point is a vibrant neighborhood known for its trendy bars, cafes, and proximity to attractions like the Green Point Urban Park and Cape Town Stadium.
V&A Waterfront
The V&A Waterfront features a wide range of hotels, restaurants, shops, and entertainment options. What’s great about this area is that you can easily walk to many of Cape Town’s attractions like the Two Oceans Aquarium, and the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa.
When choosing where to stay in Cape Town, make sure to consider key factors such as the time of the year you’re traveling, your preferences, and, most importantly, your budget.
I always use booking.com to find a hotel that matches my budget when I travel. It helps me search for the best location wherever I go.
How To Get Around Cape Town
You might have a long list of places to go in Cape Town, but how do you get to them? Let’s talk about how to get around Cape Town so you can have an idea of what to expect and how much money you should set aside for commuting.
Uber
Uber is widely available in Cape Town and offers a convenient and affordable way to get around the city, especially if you’re traveling short distances or late at night. You know the drill with Uber, simply add the details of your starting point and destination and the app will give you a fixed price.
Uber in Cape Town is cheap. I took a 30-minute trip and my cost with tip was around $13 USD.
Rent A Car
Renting a car gives you the freedom to explore Cape Town and its surroundings at your own pace. Many international car rental companies operate in the city, and driving is relatively easy, with well-maintained roads and clear signage. You can rent a car at the airport after you’ve landed or book a car in advance through a rental company.
Is Cape Town Safe?
I went solo as a female traveler and can confirm that Cape Town is safe. But, you should always be aware of your surroundings and avoid walking alone at night, if possible, in uncrowded areas. Avoid looking too lost or like a typical tourist, and always keep your belongings close to you.
I also recommend wearing comfortable and casual clothes and nothing flashy. You will stick out tremendously.
Overview Cape Town Itinerary
- Day 1: Bokaap, Marine Tour, V&A Waterfront
- Day 2: Aquila Game Reserve, Sea Point Promenade
- Day 3: Cape Peninsula
- Day 4: Table Mountain, Kloof Street
- Day 5 Cape Winelands
- Day 6: Lion’s Head, Camp’s Bay
6-Day Cape Town Itinerary
Cape Town Itinerary Day 1
Bo-Kaap
Consider waking up early on your first day in Cape Town and begin with a one-of-a-kind breakfast. The perfect place for that is Bo-Kaap Deli, a little corner that features delicious dishes and pastries for affordable prices.
After this, it is time to explore the nearby architecture and admire the beautiful colorful homes. You can take a walking tour and learn about the history of this neighborhood.
Marine Tour
In the afternoon, take a marine tour and get close to Cape Town’s marine life, including dolphins, starfish, penguins, and sea lions. This was one of my favorite things to do in Cape Town and I would do it again when I return.
V&A Waterfront
To conclude your day, stroll through the V&A Waterfront and do shopping for yourself and you can purchase some souvenirs as well. You could easily spend a whole day here. It’s huge!
Be sure to have dinner at Den Anker, a well-known Belgian restaurant loved by the locals in the V&A Waterfront. I recommend grabbing a table outside on the waterfront. Keep your eyes open because wildlife will be peeping out of the water. Be sure to order the local fish, Kingkilp, a white fish similar to Snapper.
Cape Town Itinerary Day 2
Aquila Game Reserve
You can’t miss an opportunity to go on a proper Cape Town safari and Aquila Game Reserve is the perfect place to enjoy a wonderful day admiring the wildlife closely.
There are different types of safari you can choose, such as half-day, full-day, and overnight safari. Here you can admire the big 5, lions, elephants, buffalos, leopards, and rhinos, in a family-friendly and luxurious space.
Sea Point
After a day filled with incredible wildlife and plenty of pictures taken, I recommend you head over to the stunning park, Sea Point Promenade for a peaceful stroll while admiring the sunset. Don’t forget to stop by Mojo Market and indulge yourself in a feast there!
Cape Town Itinerary Day 3
On this day of your Cape Town trip, you’ll be thrilled to join a Cape Peninsula guided tour. This will take a whole day in this Cape Town itinerary. You will visit numerous popular spots along the peninsula. What I enjoyed most about this tour was being able to visit numerous spots in one day. There were even a few places I returned to during my visit.
Muizenberg Beach
First on the list is Muizenberg Beach, where you will see the colorful beach huts and the stunning coastline. It does get crowded during the summer months so be prepared.
Kalk Bay
Kalk Bay is an adorable fishing town and a wonderful gem to visit. Here you will have time to walk around and shop at the many quaint shops. Here is also the local’s favorite for fish and chips at Kaulky’s being the best in all of Cape Town. Do walk along the pier and be greeted by the sea lions. You can catch this swimming in the bay or sunbathing on the pier. If you plan on visiting another day, I highly suggest you dine at Olympia Cafe. Their croissants are some of the flakiest I have had, even better than the ones I had in Paris!
Boulder’s Beach
A Cape Town itinerary wouldn’t be complete without visiting Boulder’s Beach. Get cozy with the penguins, but be sure to keep a healthy distance! If you plan to visit arrive early or buy your tickets in advance online as the queue gets long. It’s open every day from 8 AM to 5 PM.
Cape Point
Next, the tour continued at Cape Point, one of the most pristine places on the planet. Driving through the park you will encounter ostriches, baboons, and more. Be sure to take the short hike to the New Cape Point Lighthouse. The views of the coastline as you approach the top are simply amazing. It can be windy, so ladies I suggest you wear shorts under your dresses if you plan on wearing one. Admission to Cape Point is $5 USD. Be sure to visit the website for opening hours as they vary depending on the season.
Chapman’s Peak Drive
One of the most stunning drives you could ever take is the 9-kilometer route, Chapman’s Peak Drive. This 593-meter-high extension has 114 curves along the Atlantic coast and has the best scenery you will see in Cape Town. They do drive on the left side of the road, so plan accordingly when coasting this road. You could end up on the wrong side and have only a side mountain view and not the coast. The tolls to drive through Chapman’s Peak Drive are less than $5 USD, and credit cards are accepted.
Gin Tasting
To conclude this tour you will end with a local gin tasting. For gin lovers, you will be pleasantly surprised by how delicious the gin is in South Africa.
Cape Town Itinerary Day 4
Table Mountain
If there’s something you must do while in Cape Town it is take a cable car ride to the top of Table Mountain to enjoy the best views of the city and its surroundings. Table Mountain also has a wide range of activities you can enjoy before or after your cable ride, such as exploring its gift shop, enjoying a nice meal at its stunning open-air venue, and hiking.
There are two queues at Table Top Mountain. The first one is to purchase your ticket and the other is for the cable car. The lines are long if you don’t arrive early, so be sure to purchase your ticket in advance to skip to the cable car line. Admission to Table Mountain varies from $15- 20 USD depending on the time of day you arrive. Also, be sure to check weather conditions before going. If the wind speeds are high the cable cars close.
Kloof Street
Once you’re done with this, head over to Kloof Street, and walk through the trendy boutiques, cafes, and eateries. Consider grabbing a meal at a local hotspot at the Dark Horse. Indulge in their delicious tapas-style menu and carefully crafted cocktails.
Cape Town Itinerary Day 5
Did anyone say wine tasting? Take a wine tour and discover the award-winning wines of the Cape Winelands with visits to Muratie Stellenbosch, Le Pommier, Eikehof, and Fairview, and enjoy a nice glass of wine with stunning views of the vineyards.
Here’s a quick breakdown of each:
- Muratie Stellenbosch: Located in the Knorhoek Valley north of Stellenbosch and dates back to 1685. It is a cozy winery and they make you feel at home. There is a restaurant on the premises and an adorable boutique to do some shopping.
- Le Pommier: Located on Helshoogte Pass, the main route between Stellenbosch and Franschhoek, and features excellent wine tastings. It is also a hotel, so if you want to drink a little more you can stay overnight and wake up to the mountains.
- Eikehof: Nestled in the shade of lush green old oak trees alongside the R45, and has a lot of different options to choose from, such as 3-wine tasting and mouth-watering platter degustations. This by far was my favorite winery I visited. As you’re tasting the owners make sure to visit every table, so you do feel like a welcomed guest.
- Fairview: A farm that’s located in the Paarl mountain range, and hosts plenty of South African producers of excellent wine and cheese. They have unusual pairings with sauces, wine, and cheese that will be an explosion of flavors on your tastebuds.
You can also have a hop-on-hop-off experience in the Winelands as well. Due to circumstances, I wasn’t able to experience this excursion, but always an excuse to return to Cape Town.
With the hop-on-hop-off experience, you can choose between 5 different lines taking you to numerous wine estates. It’s very flexible and you can create your Cape Town itinerary for the wineries you would like to visit and eat for the day.
Cape Town Itinerary Day 6
Lion’s Head
To finish off this incredible Cape Town itinerary, I recommend you hike up the 669-meter Lion’s Head for breathtaking views of Cape Town and the Atlantic Ocean. It is located between Table Mountain and Signal Hill, so you don’t need to travel a lot to get there. Expect to hike close to 90 minutes to reach the top. Be sure to hike in a group and not alone. For inexperienced hikers be sure to book a tour for this trek.
Camp’s Bay
After this incredible hike, head over to Camp’s Bay for a well-deserved meal at The Codfather—Al Pacino reference, noted. It is a nice place with a friendly and cozy atmosphere and some of the freshest fish you’ll try in Cape Town. Be sure to make reservations in advance as they do get booked rather quickly.
Some rooftops worth visiting while there are Baptiste Rooftop Bar & Lounge and Chinchilla.
Cape Town Itinerary Final Words
I hope this one-week in Cape Town itinerary helps you plan your trip properly, as well as give you an idea of how much you can explore each day. Cape Town is truly a wonderful place you should add to your travel bucket list!
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