The most effective Cape City 3-day itinerary – 2023/24 season

When you’re planning a visit and need to get essentially the most out of your go to this Cape City 3-day itinerary is what you want. It’s written by locals (us) for vacationers. The recommended itinerary consists of the town’s finest, suggestions, and insider ideas. It consists of the must-see locations in Cape City. Allow us to show you how to to make the perfect out of your Cape City go to!

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Our Cape City 3-day itinerary

That is the usual itinerary for spending 3 days in Cape City. The itinerary means that you can go to the primary points of interest in Cape City. You possibly can change days round relying on climate circumstances, days of the week, your personal priorities, and so on. Under each attraction, you could find a desk with the opening and shutting occasions that can show you how to modify the itinerary to your wants. 

When you’re not planning to lease a automobile you’ll be able to go to a lot of the locations on this 3-day itinerary utilizing Cape City Metropolis Sightseeing Bus. You possibly can purchase 1 or 2-day tickets on the hop-on-hop-off bus.

Discover out when is the perfect time to go to Cape City to plan your journey accordingly.

Day 1 of the Cape City 3-day itinerary. Cape City’s Pure Landmarks

When you’re planning to incorporate a number of points of interest in your Cape City 3-day itinerary shopping for a Metropolis Move is perhaps value it. The Cape City Metropolis Move consists of entry to over 80 metropolis sights and free use of the hop-on-hop-off bus during your move.

Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardne

• Opening hours – September to March, day by day from 8 am to 7 pm; April to August, day by day from 8 am to six pm.
• Entrance payment – adults – ZAR210/US$11, youngsters (6-18) – ZAR30/US$1,5, youngsters below 6 – free.
• Drive time from Metropolis Bowl to Kirstenbosch – 15-25 min.
• Parking – there’s a parking zone on the territory, in case of a live performance or an occasion it will get full fairly rapidly, and also you’ll should park your automobile outdoors the Backyard. 

Kirstenbosch Botanical Backyard is an ideal place to begin the morning. There are a few locations contained in the backyard the place you’ll be able to have breakfast. One can spend the entire day or simply a few hours right here. There are a number of simple strolling routes and a few longer trails within the backyard. The Skeleton Gorge hike is one in every of them. It begins in Kirstenbosch and goes all the way in which to the highest of Desk Mountain. You’ll want 3 hours to finish it.

The Sky Bridge is a not-to-miss attraction in Kirstenbosch, from right here you will get a pleasant view of the Backyard and the encircling space.

Constantia Wine Route

• Opening hours (Groot Constantia Property) – day by day (besides Good Friday and Christmas) from 9 am to six pm.
• Value – from ZAR100/US$6 per individual
• Drive time from Kirstenbosch to Groot Constantia – 12-20 min. 
• Parking – there are a few parking heaps on the territory.

Go to Constantia with a tour

Visiting a few wine farms in Constantia is a must-add to your Cape City itinerary. Constantia is likely one of the most well-known wine routes in Cape Winelands. When you’re on the lookout for a lesser-known different you’ll be able to go to Durbanville wine farms as a substitute. Each Constantia and Durbanville are situated simply outdoors Cape City, it’s a brief drive from the town middle.

Groot Constantia is likely one of the most well-known wine estates in Constantia. It has a tasting room, a museum, and two eating places on its territory. The world is gorgeous on weekends and holidays; it will get very busy. Tasting is from ZAR 100/US$5 for five wines together with a wine glass which you can take with you as a memento. We often pay for one individual they pour sufficient wine to style and somebody at all times has to drive. Wine tasting and lunch can take between 2 and three hours relying on what number of estates you go to.

Bo Kaap neighborhood

• Drive time from Groot Constantia to Bo Kaap – 30 min. 

Go to Bo Kaap with a tour

To proceed the day head to the colourful Bo Kaap neighborhood – one in every of Cape City’s postcard pictures and possibly probably the most photographed areas of the town. It’s enjoyable to stroll across the homes painted inexperienced, purple, blue, yellow, and so on. and to take pictures, you gained’t want greater than 1h-1.30min. for that.

Desk Mountain

• Opening hours (cable automobile) – occasions differ relying on the month. You could find the up-to-date timetable right here.
• Cable automobile tickets – grownup from ZAR 340/US$18 return, youngsters (4-17) from ZAR 195/US$10 return.
• Drive time from Bo Kaap to Desk Mountain cable automobile station – 10-15 min.
• Parking – there’s a parking zone on the backside but it surely’s fairly a stroll up from there, most individuals park their automobiles alongside the street earlier than or after the station. 

Go to Desk Mountain with a tour

It’s time to go to Desk Mountain – essentially the most iconic attraction in Cape City and a must-include in your Cape City 3-day itinerary. You possibly can see it just about from wherever within the metropolis however going up Desk Mountain is a must-do. When you’re planning to take a cable automobile, the night is a greater time, the mountain is commonly in thick mist within the morning you may need no views in any respect, but it surely often clears up by noon. 

If you wish to go up following one of many Desk Mountain mountain climbing trails it’s higher to do it within the morning when there are extra individuals, the night will not be the perfect time. There are a number of routes that result in the highest of Desk Mountain. The Platteklip Gorge is the most well-liked one. The India Venster is essentially the most difficult. And the Skeleton Gorge is the greenest one. The opposite two routes are the Kasteelspoort and the Diagonal Path each resulting in the well-known Diving Board.

Guided Desk Mountain hikes

Day 2 of the 3-day itinerary (choice 1). The Historic Cape City

On the second day of your Cape City 3-day itinerary, you’ll be able to go to some essential historic landmarks within the metropolis.

Robben Island

• Tour departure occasions – day by day at 9 am, 11 am, 1 pm, and three pm (solely between 1st September and thirtieth April)
• Worth (return boat + guided tour) – from ZAR 400/US$21 (South Africans), ZAR 600/US$31 (foreigners) per individual
• Drive time from Metropolis Bowl to V&A Waterfront – 10-15 min.
• Parking – there isn’t any free parking zone at Waterfront, so that you’ll should park your automobile at one of many paid parking, it’s fairly costly to park right here, for 4-hour parking anticipate to pay between ZAR40-50/US$2,5-3,5.

Go to Robben Island with a tour

Head to V&A Waterfront there are many eating places and low outlets to go to for breakfast with the view. 

Robben Island is a vital historic place in Cape City. The Island is legendary for the jail the place Nelson Mandela spent the final years of his sentence. To get to the Island you’ll should take a ferry that departs from the Nelson Mandela Gateway to Robben Island in V&A Waterfront. It takes 30-45min. to get to the Island. Your entire tour (together with the return boat trip) takes 4 hours.

Throughout the summer season months of December, January, and February it’s extremely beneficial to purchase your ticket prematurely, 9 am excursions are sometimes offered out.

When you have a while earlier than or after visiting Robben Island you are able to do a 30-minute boat cruise to search out out extra in regards to the historical past of the Waterfront and to identify some seals. 

To get the perfect views of Cape City and nice recollections do a helicopter flight. The helicopter leaves from the V&A Waterfront Helipad.

Woodstock neighborhood

• Opening hours – Mon – Fri from 10 am to 4 pm, Sat from 9 am to 2 pm, Solar from 10 am to 4 pm.
• Drive time from V&A Waterfront to Woodstock – 10-15min.
• Parking – from Mon to Fri you’ll be able to park inside the Mill. On Saturdays, there’s paid parking (ZAR10/US$1) on the Faculty of Cape City (in entrance of the market).

Woodstock was a shabby neighborhood of Cape City however within the final couple of years, it became a hipsters’ hub with many small younger companies opening within the space it turned probably the most well-liked locations within the metropolis the place you could find small artwork galleries, conceptual espresso outlets, natural meals markets, and breweries. Espresso Lab is one in every of our favourite espresso outlets in Cape City.

Probably the most well-known and busiest place in Woodstock is The Previous Biscuit Mill market. There are lots of completely different meals stalls, natural farm merchandise, hand-made souvenirs, crafts, and so on. The Mill is likely one of the favourite Capetonians’ locations to satisfy up with family and friends. It’s a very talked-about place to come back on Saturday morning, each Saturday there’s a large Neighborhood Market.

The Fortress of Good Hope

• Opening hours – day by day from 9 am to three.30 pm
• Entrance payment – adults – ZAR50/US$2,5, youngsters – ZAR25/US$1,5
• Drive time – from the Previous Biscuit Mill to the Fortress – 5-10 min.

To proceed with the historical past of Cape City do a fast go to to the Fortress of Good Hope the birthplace of Cape City. It was constructed within the seventeenth century by the Dutch East India Firm as a bastion fort. The go to will take between 1-1.5 hours. The Fortress is on the way in which from Woodstock to Lion’s Head no have to do any additional driving to get there. 

Lion’s Head

• Drive time to Lion’s Head/Sign Hill from the Fortress of Good Hope – 15-20 min., from the Aquarium – 17-25 min.
• Parking – on the slopes (alongside the street) of Lion’s Head or Sign Hill, it is perhaps tough to discover a spot should you arrive too late.

Go to Lion’s Head with a tour

Time to go to one other iconic location in your 3-day itinerary – Lion’s Head. It’s probably the most well-liked hikes in Cape City and an excellent spot for watching the sundown. It’s higher to reach earlier to discover a parking spot. To get to the highest you’ll should hike up the mountain. The Lion’s Head hike consists of some rock, chain, and ladder climbing on the finish. If it’s an excessive amount of for you you don’t should go all the way in which to the highest simply discover a great spot at a decrease degree.

You are able to do a guided sundown hike up Lion’s Head should you don’t really feel assured sufficient or simply don’t need to stroll alone. Watching the sundown from Lion’s Head is the easiest way to complete the second day of your Cape City itinerary.

Another choice is to go to Sign Hill (the neighboring mountain) as a substitute of Lion’s Head. It is perhaps a greater choice should you journey with youngsters as properly. You possibly can drive all the way in which to the highest. Parking is perhaps an issue, so make sure that to reach early.

Day 2 (choice 2). The safari drive

Together with a safari drive in your Cape City 3-day itinerary is perhaps a very good choice for individuals with youngsters and for many who should not planning to go to any safari parks in South Africa throughout their journey. You are able to do a day go to to one of many close by safari parks to see the well-known Huge 5; lion, elephant, buffalo, rhino, and leopard. The closest to Cape City recreation lodge the place you’ll be able to see all of them is Aquila Non-public Recreation Reserve, about 2 hours drive from the town.

When you have extra time you’ll be able to keep on the recreation reserve for a few days, it’s an excellent getaway from Cape City. Spending two days right here you’ll have time to do a day and an evening safari drive and see extra animals. You possibly can drive there your self and be part of a safari tour there or e-book a tour from Cape City that features driving to and again and safari drives contained in the park.

When you drive that method you’ll be able to cease in Stellenbosch, there are various nice issues to do there.

After visiting the safari park you’ll nonetheless have sufficient time to get to Lion’s Head for the sundown.

Day 3 of the 3-day itinerary. The Cape Peninsula scenic drive 

The final day of the recommended Cape City 3-day itinerary is essentially the most scenic one. The drive round the Cape Peninsula is really spectacular, it’s one in every of our favourite day journeys from Cape City. The street waving alongside the rugged coast presents a few of the finest views in the entire nation; unspoiled white sand seashores, dramatic cliffs, cozy cities, and various marine life. It’s doable to affix a small group full-day tour round Cape Peninsula.

Begin the coastal drive at Inexperienced Level, and drive to Hout Bay by means of Cliffton and Camps Bay (the place you’ll be able to cease for breakfast). Cease at Haut Bay harbor there you will have a very good likelihood of seeing Cape Fur seals scavenging on fishermen’s leftovers. If you’d like a better encounter you can go snorkeling with the seals from the Hout Bay Harbor. These guys are very curious and playful snorkeling or diving with them is a whole lot of enjoyable.

Chapman’s Peak Drive

• Drive time from Metropolis Bowl to Hout Bay (by means of Clifton) – 40-50 min.
• Parking – you’ll be able to park on the harbor without cost.

The well-known Chapman’s Peak Drive is likely one of the most scenic drives in Cape City. It begins at Hout Bay, it’s not a really lengthy however completely gorgeous drive with a number of lookouts and viewpoints. There are a few mountain climbing trails that go up the mountain however I’d strongly suggest not venturing up there, the realm will not be secure, and within the final couple of years, there have been a number of assaults on hikers there.

If you wish to stretch your legs a bit there are various nice trails at Cape Level Nationwide Park – the subsequent cease on the way in which. I’d recommend driving to Cape Level by means of Kommetjie (there are some good seashores there), not by means of Simons City, you’ll drive by means of Simons City on the way in which again anyway.

Cape Level Nationwide Park

• Opening hours – day by day from 7 am to five pm
• Entrance payment – adults – ZAR360/US$19, youngsters (2-12 yo) – ZAR180/US$10.
• Drive time from Haut Bay to the Cape Level entrance gate (by means of Kommetjie) – 1h-1h10min.
• Parking – there are a number of free parking areas contained in the park, the primary one is at Decrease Funicular Station.

Go to Cape Level with a tour

Cape Level Nationwide Park with its breathtaking surroundings, white sandy seashores, rugged cliffs, and spectacular lookout factors undoubtedly ought to be in your Cape City itinerary. The well-known Cape of Good Hope is located within the park. Some individuals assume that the Cape of Good Hope is the southernmost level of the African continent but it surely’s not proper. The southernmost level of the continent and the assembly level of two oceans is Cape Agulhas it’s 250km up the east coast within the small city of Struissbai.

Cape Level Nationwide Park highlights

• Dias Seashore – a implausible white sand seaside surrounded by rugged cliffs it’s only a pity that the water may be very chilly. 
• Cape of Good Hope – the well-known level the place you’ll in all probability should line as much as take a photograph. By the way in which, at Cape Agulhas (the precise southernmost level of Africa) there are often only a few individuals.
• The Previous Lighthouse – it’s a brief hike from the parking spot as an choice you’ll be able to take a funicular nearly all the way in which to the lighthouse. The lighthouse itself is sort of good however the views from there are breathtaking. 

There are a number of mountain climbing routes within the park and it’s secure to stroll there, I’d say it’s the perfect space in Cape City for mountain climbing. 

Boulders Seashore

• Opening hours – day by day from 8 am to five pm
• Entrance payment – adults – ZAR170/US$9, youngsters (2-11 yo) – ZAR85/US$4,5
• Drive time from the Cape Level entrance gate to Boulders Seashore – 15-20 min.

Go to Boulders Seashore with a tour

After spending a while at Cape Level head to Boulders Seashore in Simon’s City, a small and delightful white sand seaside with large boulders and plenty of African penguins strolling round. These guys are very small and cute, watching them is a whole lot of enjoyable. I’d suggest stopping right here for lunch there’s a place with a balcony from the place you’ll be able to see the penguins and the seaside whereas having fun with your meal. 

Simon’s City is a well-liked place for diving and kayaking. When you’re a certified diver you are able to do a few dives to see seals, cow sharks, blue sharks, Mako sharks, and plenty of nudibranchs. There are a few locations the place you are able to do shark diving in Cape City.

When you’re in Cape City between July and September, you would possibly see Southern Proper whales from the boat. The most effective place for whale watching is Hermanus, a small city 120 km from Cape City.

Muizenberg

From Simons City proceed driving alongside the coast to Muizenberg, this city is legendary as a great spot to be taught browsing and its colourful wood seaside cabins. It’s only a brief cease to take pictures after which you can begin heading again to Cape City. 

• Drive time from Boulders Seashore to Muizenberg – is 35-45 min., there’s at all times a visitors jam at Fish Hoek and Kalk Bay.

V&A Waterfront

• Drive time from Muizenberg to V&A Waterfront – 45min.-1h.
• Parking – one of many paid outdoors or inside parking heaps.

Exit for dinner or drinks at V&A Waterfront or Camp Bay you is perhaps in time for an additional stunning sundown in Cape City. For a very particular finish to your Cape City journey, as a substitute of getting drinks or dinner on land, you’ll be able to be part of a sundown Champagne cruise.

From Cape City, you’ll be able to proceed your South Africa journey and do a street journey on the Backyard Route. You are able to do it as a self-drive journey; lease a automobile in Cape City and drop it off in Port Elisabeth or be part of a tour.

After exploring Cape City you’ll be able to proceed your journey and go to the spectacular east coast and the well-known Backyard Route.

The place to remain in Cape City?

Metropolis Bowl. The most effective space to remain for backpackers, solo vacationers, get together lovers, and people who come to the town for enterprise. Bree and Lengthy Streets are the primary locations to exit in Cape City with many bars and golf equipment, should you’re up for a pub crawl or get together it’s the place to be. 

V&A Waterfront/Seapoint. The most effective space to remain for households with youngsters, older vacationers, and {couples}. For me, it’s the perfect space to remain within the metropolis, the primary purpose it feels safer right here than in Metropolis Bowl is which you can stroll within the night alongside the promenade, there are various individuals, and it at all times has a festive vibe.

Camps Bay. The luxury space of Cape City is an ideal place for a luxurious keep. It’s the perfect space to remain in Cape City in your South Africa honeymoon vacation. The world is secure with many eating places and bars, stunning white-sand seashores and a few browsing spots, simply keep in mind the water right here is ice-cold, it’s good to stroll round in a bikini however to do something within the water you’ll want a wetsuit. 

Renting a automobile in Cape City

To drive in and across the metropolis, you don’t want an enormous 4×4 automobile, a traditional sedan automobile will probably be greater than sufficient except you’re greater than 5 individuals a minivan is a greater choice. The smaller your automobile the simpler it’ll be to park on the streets of Cape City. The most effective and the simplest is to lease a automobile on the airport on arrival and drop it off there on the way in which again.

Security ideas in your Cape City 3-day itinerary

• Don’t stroll at evening within the metropolis should you exit, take a taxi again to your resort and attempt to keep on with a crowd of 4 or extra.
• When you lease a automobile don’t go away something inside when parking, not even a e-book or an outdated jacket, in any other case you threat discovering your automobile with damaged home windows.
• When driving, make sure that your doorways a locked and home windows should not wide-opened.
• Preserve your invaluable stuff with you on a regular basis, don’t put it on a seat subsequent to you, it’ll disappear earlier than you discover it.
• When you enterprise to hike up Desk Mountain do it on the proper time of the day when there are different individuals strolling it, not late night by yourself carrying an costly digicam.
• Don’t take your passport and all the precious stuff with relatively lock it in a resort secure or locker.
• Use a dependable taxi service, not any random man that stops on the road.
• To attract cash use an ATM in a financial institution workplace, mall, or grocery store. You possibly can pay by card in most lodges, eating places, and ticket places of work.

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