Original Story and Photography Published by: Qin Xie for Metro.co.uk
If you have never visited Cape Town, now is the time to add it to the top of your bucket list.
As one of South Africa’s three capital cities, Cape Town offers that perfect blend of trendy neighborhoods, jaw-dropping landscapes, and some of the best restaurants in the country.
Table Mountain may be its most visited tourist site, but there are plenty of other attractions to keep you busy. And if you have time to venture further afield, you can also see penguins at Boulders Beach and visit the Cape of Good Hope – the most south-western point on the African continent. With the exchange rate so favourable right now, and the summer in full swing in the southern hemisphere, there’s never been a better time to visit the city. Here are a few things you have to do while in Cape Town:
Table Mountain
Of course you have to classic tourist poses (Picture: Qin Xie) You can’t miss Table Mountain when visiting Cape Town – not only do you get a glimpse of it on the flight in, you can see it from just about every vantage point in the city. In fact, there are several spots around the city where you can take ‘postcard’ pictures of its famous ‘flat top’, which, if you look closely, is actually not flat at all. But no visit to Cape Town is complete without scaling to the top for the stunning views of the city and the bays below.
You can’t miss Table Mountain when visiting Cape Town – not only do you get a glimpse of it on the flight in, you can see it from just about every vantage point in the city. In fact, there are several spots around the city where you can take ‘postcard’ pictures of its famous ‘flat top’, which, if you look closely, is actually not flat at all. But no visit to Cape Town is complete without scaling to the top for the stunning views of the city and the bays below.
The fastest way up is via the Cableway, which is a rotating cable car that takes you right to the top. It doesn’t matter where you’re standing inside – the car spins as it goes up so everyone gets to see the views. Tickets start from R275 return, and it’s well worth it as the alternative is a two-hour hike. Bear in mind, though, if the weather is bad or if it’s too windy, the cable cars won’t be operating so you will have to resort to walking. There is almost zero parking so your best bet is to take the free shuttle bus, or drop in as part of a tour with Citysightseeing Cape Town.
Top Tip: If you only have one day, get the Classic Citysightseeing pass, which starts from R180 per person. Start your day early because there is so much to do. The pass lets you hop on and hop off at designated stops on a one-direction tour, and there are four routes to follow. One of the routes circles the Table Mountain range, taking the coastal drive so you can see the Twelve Apostles of Table Mountain and Hout Bay, and features stops at attractions like Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden and World of Birds Wildlife Sanctuary & Monkey Park. People on the Centenary Tree Canopy Walkway at Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens (Picture: Wolfgang Kaehler/LightRocket via Getty Images) On this route, you can break away to join another one, which explores Constantia, the oldest wine region in South Africa. A shorter route takes you straight up to Table Mountain for the cable car. And a fourth route covers the city centre, where you can join free walking tours.
Visit the Silo District and V&A Waterfront
One of the newest neighbourhoods in Cape Town is the Silo District, which is right next to the bay and forms part of V&A Waterfront. It’s where you will find some of the most exclusive hotels in the city, like The Silo Hotel, as well as upscale restaurants. This is also where you might want to do your holiday shop. At the Watershed, you will find everything from clothing to art work designed by local creatives.
There’s a great food market where you can buy small bites to eat in or take away. And the enormous African Trading Port contains just about every kind of souvenir you might want to take home from Africa. Don’t miss the Zeitz Mocaa though. Housed in a former grain silo, it’s now the biggest art museum in South Africa and contains some unusual and stirring works.
Enjoy Really Good Food
Cape Town has a lot of good food on offer. It’s home to British-born chef Luke Dale-Roberts’s The Test Kitchen, which is considered by many to be the best in the country. Between a Dark Room where you sample cocktails and canapes and a Light Room where you sit down to a fine dining menu, you will sit down to a meal quite unlike any other.
But if you don’t want to splash out on a fine dining experience, the city has many casual offerings too. The V&A Waterfront is especially busy and the entire area is pedestrianised. Red Roof at Radisson Red has a casual kitchen and beer truck. Den Anker features hearty classics from Belgium and a whole range of Belgian beers.
