Things to do in Cape Town
Mediterranean in style with an African feel, Cape Town is a magnet for outdoors enthusiasts. Indigenous flora grows at Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens and penguins inhabit Boulders Beach. On clear days, Table Mountain offers outstanding city views and if the temperamental Cape Doctor wind howls, test your windsurfing ability or go wine-tasting in Constantia. Both Robben Island and the South African National Gallery tell the story of the country's turbulent history.
Museums and Galleries
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1. South African National Gallery - Museums and Galleries
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Although small, the South African National Gallery near the Parliament building is the country's premier art museum, with exhibits that reflect South Africa's troubled history. Don't miss examples of the artworks once dismissed as 'craft', such as outstanding Ndebele beadwork.Show this on mapE-mail this item
Cost
R15; concessions R5
Opening hours
Tue-Sun 10am-5pm
Address
Government Avenue, Company's Garden, Cape Town Cape Town 8001
Telephone
+27 (0) 21 467 4660
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2. Robben Island Museum - Museums and Galleries
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Once a prison housing Nelson Mandela, today Robben Island is a living museum and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. A series of exhibits, some in Mandela's former cell, trace and interpret the emotions and conditions of prisoners during apartheid.Show this on mapE-mail this item
Cost
R200; under 18s R100
Opening hours
Ferries depart at 9am, 11am, 1pm and 3pm; tours last 3 1/2 hours
Address
Private Bag, Cape Town 7400
Telephone
+27 (0) 21 409 5100
Attractions
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3. Table Mountain Cable Car - Attractions
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Enjoy a bird's-eye view of the mother city and beyond with a ten-minute cable-car trip up Table Mountain. This table-shaped sandstone plateau is 1085 metres high and three kilometres wide but sometimes hidden by a cloud or 'tablecloth'.Show this on mapE-mail this item
Cost
R160 (return); concessions available
Opening hours
Summer daily 8am-8.30pm (until 7.30pm Feb; 6.30pm Mar; 5.30pm Apr); winter daily 8.30am-5pm (until 6pm Sep-Oct; 7pm Nov)
Address
PO Box 730, Tafelberg Rd, Cape Town 8000
Telephone
+27 (0) 21 424 8181
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4. Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens - Attractions
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Home to indigenous South African plants, Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens are nestled on the eastern slopes of Table Mountain. 36 hectares of cultivated area showcase everything from medicinal to scented species. Learn how to conserve water at the Water-wise Garden.Show this on mapE-mail this item
Cost
R35
Opening hours
Daily 8am-7pm (until 6pm Apr-Aug)
Address
Rhodes Drive, Newlands, Cape Town 7735
Telephone
+27 (0) 21 799 8899
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5. Victoria and Alfred Waterfront - Attractions
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A former working dock, the buzzing Victoria & Alfred Waterfront complex is today Cape Town's most popular entertainment centre. Eat, shop, watch movies or simply relax over a cup of coffee. Don't miss cultural performances at the outdoor amphitheatre.Show this on mapE-mail this item
Cost
Free entry
Opening hours
Daily 9am-9pm
Address
Portswood Close, Portswood Ridge, Cape Town 8002
Telephone
+27 (0) 21 408 7600
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6. Groot Constantia - Attractions
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Groot Constantia, 20km from Cape Town, is the oldest wine estate in South Africa, established in 1685. Sample up to five varieties of wine with a cellar tour or book an evening in period costume at the Manor House.Show this on mapE-mail this item
Cost
R28-R33
Opening hours
Daily summer: 9am-5.30pm; winter: 9am-4.30pm
Address
Groot Constantia Road, Cape Town 7848
Telephone
+27 (0) 21 794 5128
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7. Two Oceans Aquarium - Attractions
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Discover over 300 marine species, including fish, penguins, eels and turtles, at the Two Oceans Aquarium, Africa's largest, near the V&A Waterfront. The I&J Predator Exhibit showcases various different species of shark in more than two million litres of seawater.Show this on mapE-mail this item
Cost
R88; concessions R68; children free-R68
Opening hours
Daily 9.30am-6pm
Address
Dock Road, Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, Cape Town 8002
Telephone
+27 (0) 21 418 3823
Special things to do
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8. Boulders Beach - Special things to do
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Located south of Cape Town, near Simon's Town, Boulders Beach is the place to get up close and personal with a colony of Jackass Penguins, so called for their comical braying call. Drive on towards Cape Point to spot baboons.Show this on mapE-mail this item
Cost
R35
Opening hours
Dec-Jan 7am-7.30pm; Feb-Mar 8am-6pm; Apr-Sep 8am-5pm; Oct-Nov 8am-6pm
Address
Simon's Town, Cape Town 7995
Telephone
+27 21 786 2329
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9. Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve - Special things to do
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Cape of Good Hope witnesses a temperamental climate, stemming from its position at the crossroads of the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. Spot shipwrecks from the days of discovery voyages or diverse wildlife at the Nature Reserve.Show this on mapE-mail this item
Cost
R75
Opening hours
Oct-Mar daily 6am-6pm; Apr-Sep daily 7am-5pm
Address
Cape Point Main Gate , Off Plateau Road, Simons Town, Cape Town 7995
Telephone
+27 (0) 21 780 9526
