Cape Town Tours &
Things to Do
Discover the best Cape Town tours, the cable car up flat-topped Table Mountain, the scenic Cape Peninsula to the Cape of Good Hope and the Boulders Beach penguins, the moving history of Robben Island, the vineyards of Stellenbosch and Franschhoek, Big Five safaris and seasonal whale watching. Compare top-rated activities and plan your perfect Cape Town itinerary.
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Explore Cape Town by interest
Whatever brings you to Cape Town — world-class museums, the river, or a long lunch — start with the experiences travellers love most.
Table Mountain
The cable car and views.
ExploreCape Point & penguins
The peninsula drive.
ExploreRobben Island
Mandela’s prison island.
ExploreWinelands
Stellenbosch and Franschhoek.
ExploreSafari & Big Five
Game drives near the city.
ExploreWhale watching
Seasonal at Hermanus.
ExploreCity & food
Bo-Kaap and flavours.
ExploreDay trips
Peninsula, wine and more.
ExploreTop attractions in Cape Town
The landmarks that define the city — and the tickets and tours that get you in, often skipping the line.
Table Mountain
The cable car and views.
Cape of Good Hope
Dramatic clifftop point.
Robben Island
Mandela’s prison island.
Cape Winelands
Stellenbosch and Franschhoek.
Boulders Penguins
African penguins up close.
Whale Watching
Seasonal at Hermanus.
Lion's Head
Sunset hikes and views.
Big Five Safari
Game drives near the city.
Cape Town in 2 days
- 1Day 1: Table Mountain & city
- 2Day 2: Cape Peninsula
- 3Cape Point & penguins
- 4Robben Island
Cape Town in 3 days
- 1Day 1: Table Mountain & city
- 2Day 2: Cape Peninsula
- 3Day 3: Winelands
- 4Mountain, coast & wine
Cape Town with kids
- 1Table Mountain
- 2Boulders penguins
- 3V&A Waterfront
- 4Two Oceans Aquarium
Cape Peninsula in a day
- 1Chapman's Peak scenic drive
- 2Cape Point & Cape of Good Hope
- 3Boulders Beach penguins
- 4Hout Bay seal cruise
Cape Winelands wine day
- 1Stellenbosch cellar tastings
- 2Franschhoek Wine Tram
- 3Constantia vineyards
- 4Lunch among the vines
Peninsula awayCape Point
Clifftops and penguins.
1 hr awayWinelands
Stellenbosch and Franschhoek.
Ferry awayRobben Island
Mandela’s prison island.
2 hrs awayBig Five Safari
Game drives near the city.
2 hrs awayHermanus Whales
Seasonal whale watching.
In the city awayTable Mountain
The cable car and views.
Know before you go
Short, straight answers to the questions every Cape Town visitor asks before booking.
The sweet-spot months
Summer and the shoulders (November–April) bring warm, sunny weather ideal for Table Mountain, beaches and the peninsula — the prime time to visit Cape Town.
Summer (Dec–Feb)
Warm, dry and lively, perfect for beaches, the mountain and the Winelands; it’s the busiest, priciest season, with occasional strong “Cape Doctor” winds.
Autumn (Mar–May)
Mild, calm and beautiful, with fewer crowds and the Winelands at harvest — a wonderful, often underrated time to visit.
Whale season (Jun–Nov)
Cooler and wetter, but the best time for whale watching at Hermanus, with southern right whales close to shore.
Winter (Jun–Aug)
Cooler and rainier with green landscapes and lower prices; Table Mountain can close in cloud, so plan flexibly.
Watch the weather
Table Mountain and boat trips depend on clear, calm conditions; keep plans flexible and go up the mountain on the best day.
One day
Enough for Table Mountain and the city.
Two days
Add the Cape Peninsula and Robben Island.
Three days
The sweet spot: mountain, peninsula, and Winelands.
Four to five days
Add a safari, whale watching and the beaches.
A week or more
Explore the Garden Route and the wider Western Cape.
Travelling with kids
Mix penguins, the cable car and the Waterfront gently.
Tour transfers
Most Table Mountain, peninsula and Winelands tours include hotel pickup across Cape Town.
Ride apps
Uber and Bolt are widely used, affordable and convenient for getting around the city and suburbs.
Car hire
A rental car gives freedom to explore the peninsula, Winelands and beaches at your own pace.
Hop-on hop-off bus
The City Sightseeing bus links Table Mountain, the Waterfront, Camps Bay and the city’s sights.
Ferries
Ferries from the V&A Waterfront reach Robben Island; book ahead.
From the airport
Cape Town International is about 20–30 minutes from the city centre by transfer, taxi or ride app.
Climb the mountain on a clear day
Table Mountain’s cable car is weather-dependent; go up on a calm, clear day and book ahead to skip the queue.
South African rand
Cape Town uses the rand; cards are widely accepted, but carry some cash for tips, markets and small vendors.
Stay aware
Cape Town is welcoming but take normal city precautions — use ride apps at night and keep valuables out of sight.
Book Robben Island early
Robben Island ferries sell out and depend on the weather; reserve ahead and allow flexibility.
Enjoy the wine and food
Cape Town offers world-class, affordable wine and dining; a Winelands tour or food tour is a must.
Sun and wind
Bring sun protection and a windproof layer; the “Cape Doctor” wind can be strong in summer.
Robben Island
Ferries sell out and depend on weather — book ahead.
Table Mountain
Pre-book cable car tickets to skip the queue.
Winelands tours
Popular wine tours and the Wine Tram fill up — reserve early.
Safaris
Big Five day safaris have limited places — pre-book.
Whale & shark trips
Seasonal whale and shark-cage tours sell out — book ahead.
Summer season
December–February is very busy — plan and book early.
Table Mountain
Around €25–35 for a return cable car ticket.
Cape Peninsula
About €40–70 for a full-day Cape Point and penguins tour.
Robben Island
Roughly €30–40 for the ferry and guided island tour.
Winelands tours
Around €45–80 for a day of tastings with transport and lunch.
Safaris
About €90–140 for a Big Five day safari with lunch.
How to save
Cape Town offers great value; share group tours, use ride apps, and enjoy free sights like the beaches and Bo-Kaap.
Cape Town through the seasons
What's best, how busy it gets, and one booking tip for each time of year.
- Best for
- Beaches and the mountain.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Peak season; book ahead.
- Best for
- Calm weather and harvest.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Lovely and less crowded.
- Best for
- Whales and green scenery.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Cooler, wetter; good value.
- Best for
- Wildflowers and whales.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Mild; whale season peaks.