Author: Zaheerah
Cape Town captivated my heart and it’s where the love for travel started for my husband and I.
Our first trip was in 2018 and since then we visited the Mother City twice.
If it’s your first time going then I have made up an itinerary for you based on the places we have been to and enjoyed.
We stayed near the V&A Waterfront all 3 times, so this itinerary is based on that as a starting point.
Hotels we stayed at and recommend:
- Southern Sun Waterfront – 2018
- Southern Sun Cullinan – 2022
- The Capetonian (Halaal) – 2024
5 day itinerary
Arrival in CPT – Day 1
1. Visit Table mountain
2. Spend the afternoon at the V&A Waterfront.
(Plenty to do: Go on a boat ride, Canal ride, walk through the mall, take some photos at the photo frame, Cape Wheel, etc. there’s always a vibe at this place).
Supper: Saray restaurant, there’s also some halaal options in the mall like Steelies, Nandos, Fisherman’s Choice, Simply Asia.
Day 2
Start the day early as the drive to Cape Point is a long one.
1. Boulders Beach to see some penguins
2. Cape point (Take the funicular ride)
3. Drive back through Chapmans Peak
4. Hout Bay (go on a Boat ride)
Places to eat @ Hout Bay: Fish on the Rocks, Snoekies (if you are going in the holidays, be prepared for hectic queues).
Day 3
1.Robben Island is definitely worth the visit
The tour is about 3.5 hours with the boat ride. Book in advance online as the tickets do sell out.
2. Spend the rest of the day @ V&A – visit the 2 oceans aquarium (tickets are cheaper after 3pm)
Day 4
-Option 1
1. Spend the morning at the Muizenberg beach (Luckys fish & Chips is a good place to eat).
If you are interested in shopping, Muizenberg has a flea Market only open on a Sunday.
2. Access Park Shopping mall also a great place to shop on route to Muizenberg.
-Option 2
1. Visit Camps Bay Beach
2. Drive to sea Point and stroll on the promenade
3. Stop at Bo kaap area for some pictures and visit the small Museum
Highly recommend Bo Kaap Kombuis for supper.
If the beach or shopping is not for you, then you can pack a picnic basket and visit Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens.
Day 5
1. Babylonstoren
It’s about 45 min drive from the waterfront area but it’s a stunning estate and you can spend hours there.
There’s plenty to see and do at the V&A so we always found ourselves ending our day there, but other places to check out if you have time:
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- Signal Hill (near table mountain)
- Kalk Bay
- Stop at Simons Town
- Kirstenbosch botanical gardens
- Canal Walk shopping Mall
Restaurants and Takeaways we enjoyed:
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- Steelies (Gatsby & toasted steak sandwich)
- Ala Turkish (My favourite – Beyti Sarma)
- Bo Kaap Kombuis
- Snoekies
- Luckys Fish and Chips
- Ramzis (braaied snoek was delicious)
- Barakah @ the V&A Timeout Food market
Tips:
- Table mountain is free if it’s your birthday month, it’s also cheaper if you go in the afternoon, in our recent visit we were only successful on the 3rd attempt as the winds were strong and they close due to this, so if this happens you can adjust your itinerary.
- Most of the attractions have a SA price and a foreigner price so you will need to carry your ID with you to get the SA price.
Pensioners also get a discount at some attractions so that was a plus point as this trip we did with my parents. - There is a Red Hop on Hop off bus that goes to many of the attractions, if you do not intend on hiring a car then this could be an option for you however it would be great if you stayed near one of the pick up points so it’s walking distance.
On our first trip we used the bus and it was very convenient when we went to Table Mountain as it gets busy and parking is not easily found. - I suggest booking a hotel with breakfast as this sets you up for the day and you would just need to worry about lunch and supper.
- Snoekies was crazy busy, waited 1.5 hours in the queue to order and 30 min for the food, so carry snacks on the longer day trips or stop somewhere to have a bite before going there. It gets crazy in the school holidays.
- Be prepared for construction happening at some places like Table mountain.
Hope you enjoyed reading my article and it helps when you planning your trip to Cape Town.
