What to do in Cape Town

Find out why South Africa’s Cape Town is such a popular destination for travelers! Between sea and mountains, Cape Town has a lot to offer.

Cape Town is a port city on the southwest coast of South Africa, on a peninsula dominated by the imposing Table Mountain (Table Mountain) but also the Signal Hill and Lion’s Head hills. The city also owes its fame to Robben Island, the famous prison, where Nelson Mandela was detained, now a living museum, but also the beautiful Cape of Good Hope, a little further south.

If you’ve ever been to Australia, Cape Town will remind you of the charming and pleasant city of Melbourne. Indeed, many French people have settled here because they appreciate the Mediterranean weather, with mild, wet winters and hot, dry summers, the proximity to wildlife and national parks, the huge beaches, the waves for surfing, the friendly people and the quality of life.

This urban city is home to cultural and artistic activities all year round, and we spent 5 days criss-crossing it to soak up the special atmosphere. That’s the minimum you’ll need to enjoy the city and visit all the neighborhoods at your leisure. In every corner of the city, you’ll feel the ever-present soul of Nelson Mandela through street art and other urban works.

I invite you to consult all our other articles on South Africa to help you prepare for your trip:

• Que voir dans la péninsule du Cap
• Que voir à Knysna
• Plonger avec le grand requin blanc de Gansbaai
• Cours de cuisine et recettes à Bo Kaap
• La route des vins de Franschhoek à stellenbosh
• Que faire à Oudtshoorn
• Le guide pratique pour organiser votre voyage

| HOW TO VISIT CAPE TOWN

• Pour visiter la ville même de Cape Town, et pour la première fois de notre vie, nous avons pris le fameux bus rouge Hop on Hop off, vous savez celui qu’empruntent les nombreux chinois lors de leur première visite à Paris ! Je vous conseille vivement de l’essayer! Cela nous a bien été utile. Le temps d’une journée, on oublie les préjugés, les touristes et on essaye le tour recommandé par de nombreux locaux et français vivant sur place. Le trajet au total, sans arrêt dure 1h30 et vous permet d’avoir un bel ensemble sur la ville. Le bus s’arrête devant les endroits touristiques et visités. Avec votre ticket, vous pouvez monter et descendre du bus autant de fois que vous le souhaitez! ll y a 2 billets disponibles: si vous choisissez un billet valable une journée, vous pourrez découvrir les 4 circuits (rouge, jaune, bleu et violet). Le billet 2 jours vous permet de découvrir tous les circuits  rouge, jaune, bleu et violet pendant 2 jours consécutifs.  Il comprend également deux balades à pied, une croisière dans le port et une excursion en bus au coucher du soleil en été.

➡️ Check bus availability and book

• Pour ceux qui le souhaitent, vous pouvez opter pour la visite guidée de Cape Town en compagnie de votre guide. A bord d’un véhicule climatisé, vous pourrez explorer les quartiers de la ville et poser toutes vos questions.

➡️ Check availability and book your guided tour

• Pour les amoureux de streetart, ne manquez pas cette visite guidée à Salt River est une banlieue industrielle de la ville du Cap

➡️ Check availability and book your guided tour

| CAMPS BAY 

Dominated by the “12 Apostles” mountain range, Camps Bay is an affluent suburb with palm-fringed white sand beaches. Its nightlife attracts a large number of South African and foreign tourists. The red bus makes a stop here, and it’s well worth taking a seat on one of the many seafront terraces to contemplate one of the Cape’s most popular white sand beaches. It’s always windy and ideal for surfing with its intense waves. Not far away is the the long, unspoilt beach of Bloubergstrand, with breathtaking views of Table Mountain and Cape Town.

If you like to laze for hours in the sun, head for the beaches of Clifton which are apparently worth a visit as they are the sunniest and most sheltered on the cape!

For hiking enthusiasts, it’s possible to follow the Kasteelspoort trail from Camps Bay to the summit via a winding path. You can take this walk accompanied by an experienced guide.

| TABLE MOUNTAIN

The Table Mountain, Cape Town’s best-known vantage point offers an exceptional panorama! It’s Cape Town’s landmark, the world-famous symbol of the peninsula, and one of the New Seven Wonders of Nature. Its name comes from its shape, which from a distance resembles the top of a table. When the clouds cover the table, we say the tablecloth is laid.

You have several options for visiting it:

• la plus facile en empruntant le téléphérique aller retour et atteindre les 1086 mètres en quelques minutes.
• Lorsque le vent est trop fort, le téléphérique ne fonctionne plus donc vous opterez pour la deuxième option : la marche ! Compter environ 2h pour une montée abrupte, difficile et en plein soleil et 3 à 4h pour grimper à un rythme plus normal. La descente quant à elle prend 2 à 3h selon votre niveau.

Prefer the Table Mountain early morning or late afternoon as travellers disembark in droves and weather conditions are often better.. If you see that the weather is clear, go for it!

Be aware that you can also climb Table Mountain if you’re not afraid of heights, because once you’re up there, you won’t feel too reassured! The 112-metre descent will give you an adrenalin rush. Several companies, such as Abseil Africa offer this activity. You’ll find more information at the city’s youth hostels and tourist offices.

| LE JARDIN BOTANIQUE NATIONAL KIRSTENBOSCH

Le jardin botanique de Kirstenbosch bénéficie d’une situation exceptionnelle. Situé dans les Newlands, dans la partie la plus aisée de la banlieue de Cape Town, cet immense parc de 528 hectares est couvert par la forêt, la végétation naturelle, et un jardin sur 36 hectares à découvrir principalement au printemps quand les plantes sont en fleurs. (soit notre automne en France)

De novembre à mars, des concerts en plein air de musique classique, folk et jazz sont organisés tous les dimanches. C’est ambiance pique-nique sur les pelouses, cadre idyllique et beaucoup de monde les week-ends. 

| SIGNAL HILL ET LION’S HEAD

It’s possible in the same day to visit Signal Hill and Lion’s Head, two magnificent viewpoints, but we preferred Lion’s head at sunset. Take La route de Kloof road then at the top turn into the first street on the right, keep going straight ahead and Signal Hill is at the very end. What’s really worth it is to be there at 12 noon to see the Noon Gun, a cannon installed at the bottom of Signal Hill.

Once you’re on the road to Signal Hill, a footpath on your left takes you up to Lion’s Head. You won’t want to miss the parking spaces on the side of the road.
The climb takes a total of 1 hour to reach the top of the rock, but before that you’ll have to walk and then climb, and climb a little, so if you’re a bit afraid of heights, think carefully before committing yourself! Some places are quite steep!

At a height of 669 metres, the view is breathtaking and sublime, as you can see Camps Bay, Table Mountain and the city of Cape Town. Try to be at the top by 7pm, as you’ll have plenty of time to watch the sunset. The descent takes about 30 minutes, so make sure you don’t end up in the dark with your flashlight! Even if you’re moonlit, it’s doable but more dangerous, believe me. (all we had was the light from our phone! )

We were too close to the mark when we left the summit at around 7.40pm! As far as walking shoes are concerned, we did it with converses, and from time to time we slipped on the rocks while climbing! So take less slippery shoes, a bottle of water and your camera to capture the moment.

For those who prefer to be accompanied, remember to book a guide and enjoy exceptional views of Cape Town at every turn of the path you climb.

➡️ Book a Lion’s Head guide and check availability

| WATERFRONT ET ROBBEN ISLAND

The full name of this district is the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront. The Waterfront is Cape Town’s most touristy district, home to the city’s marina with colorful little stalls, a Ferris wheel and a huge shopping mall. It enjoys an exceptional setting and offers a wide range of services including bars, restaurants and harbor cruises.

It’s a must-see in Cape Town, a sort of mini-city that looks a little like Disney in terms of architecture. This is also the departure point for visits to Robben Island, where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for more than 20 years, and where political prisoners were held during the apartheid era.

We highly recommend this outing, as you’ll understand South Africa’s tragic history thanks to this guided tour by a former prisoner of the island who thus rubbed shoulders with Nelson Mandela and other political opponents. During the tour, you can see Nelson Mandela’s prison and the lime quarry where he worked all his years. It’s really moving!
There are many starting points, but if you’re on the Waterfront, it’s next to the Clock Tower or Nelson Mandela Gateway, a must-see because of its yellow color!

Allow around 3 hours for the visit (30-minute ferry ride one way if the sea is not rough, otherwise a good hour + 2 hours to visit the prison). Departures are from 9am to 5pm. On your return, you’ll have the chance to see a few sea lions lounging in the sun on the docks!

⚠️ Beware, tickets are selling like hotcakes. In busy periods the site is often quickly sold out so think about getting there in advance!

From the Waterfront, you can also discover Cape Town from another angle, by exploring it on and stand-up paddle.

➡️ Book a paddle and check availability

If, like us, you love covered and open markets, I look forward to seeing you at these two addresses:

• Au V&A Waterfront Market : 17 dock road, à côté du Watershed, ouvert tous les jours entre 10h et 19h l’été et jusqu’à 18h l’hiver. Ce marché couvert rappelle les marchés londoniens du quartier Hipster avec ses jolies briques en façade. Il est moins fréquenté que The Neighbourgood Market à Woodstock mais le concept reste plus ou moins le même. Vous pourrez goûter à des plats des 4 coins du monde. Non loin se trouve le V&A Food market situé à The Old Power Station Building Pier Head, 19 Dock Rd, Victoria & Alfred Waterfront.

• Orange View city farm market: Haul Road, Granger Bay Blvd, Victoria & Alfred. Open every Saturday between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m., this market, located near the Waterfront, is housed in a series of country-style tents. We love the traditional farm atmosphere, with hay on the floor and fruit and vegetable displays in attractive wooden crates. Producers come to sell their fresh produce.

| CITY BOWL, LE QUARTIER CENTRAL ET HISTORIQUE & LONG STREET

We were staying in this lively, colorful neighborhood at the foot of Table Mountain and Signal Hill, and more specifically on Long Street, one of the city’s most attractive thoroughfares. This is Cape Town’s liveliest area, with numerous bars, discos, boutiques and backpacker hotels. But it’s also home to antique shops, bookstores and superb Victorian buildings with colorful wrought-iron balconies reminiscent of New Orleans. A lively and dynamic street, day and night, where it’s a pleasure to stroll! After a certain hour, some of the streets perpendicular to Long Street and around Green Market Square start to get a bit noisy. We saw drug dealers and addicts shooting up in front of our eyes.

If you have a little time to spare, I invite you to discover the shady gardens “Compagny’s garden “in the same neighborhood between Queen Victoria Streetet and Governement Avenue. They were originally the vegetable gardens of the East India Company, built here to feed the sailors. We enjoyed strolling among the squirrels and relaxing in the hanging wicker armchairs for a coffee! For lush garden enthusiasts, you’ll also find 1h from Cape Town, the Babylonstoren organic farm, which produces its own fruit and vegetables, herbs and spices. It is possible to have lunch on site in the restaurant Greenhouse or the Babel gourmet restaurant.

| DISTRICT 6 ET SON MUSÉE SUR L’APARTHEID

Cape Town is a mixed-race city with White, Malay and Coloured people, but it’s still home to a predominantly white community. Unfortunately, the painful past is always present, and cohabitation is not always so simple and straightforward. Social inequalities are apparent, with upmarket neighborhoods contrasting with the townships.

If you want to better understand the history of apartheid and district 6, you absolutely must make a stop at this poignant museum (25 A Buitenkant steet) which pays tribute to the 60,000 people of all races evicted from their neighborhoods in the 1960s-1970s. The museum tour is led by one of the neighborhood’s former residents, who will tell you about the regulations that restricted free movement in the city.

To try and summarize what our guide Rushdi explained to us, the apartheid government at the time created townships according to skin color. You’ll understand how these people lived and how they were evicted without being able to say anything, from one day to the next! It took 15 years to get the people of District 6 moving, because there was a lot of resistance. These were their homes and they didn’t want to part with them.
Between 1974-1980, these people were moved by obligation. The police would come in and destroy their homes to force them to leave. Every resident had to carry an identity card specifying his or her origins (a bit like the Jews with the Star of David on them during World War II in Europe). If they didn’t have it, they were oppressed and could be locked up for one to several months in prison!

So there were 3 cards :

White : For white populations

Malays : For Cape Muslims from present-day Indonesia

Coloured : For the mixed-race population resulting from the unions of the first Europeans to arrive in South Africa with the Bushmen.

If you want to discover Cape Town and as many activities as possible, if you love museums, if you’re accompanied by young children, then I recommend you take a look at the official passl which allows you to benefit from an entry to more than 90 of Cape Town’s best attractions with free multi-stop sightseeing bus transport for the duration of your pass and queue-cutting tickets. It’s valid from 2 to 5 days, so make the most of it!

➡️ Book your pass online

| LANGA, LE PLUS VIEUX TOWNSHIP DE CAPE TOWN

We spent half a day discovering the Township from Langa, the oldest in Cape Town, founded in 1927 and home to part of Cape Town’s black population.

It’s an opportunity to get up close and personal with the local population, and to observe scenes of life in the slums. This is also where you’ll find the Amy Biehl Memorial, dedicated to a young American anti-apartheid activist who was murdered in Guguletu in 1993 for the crime of being friends with black people. The girl’s parents then set up an association to improve things in the township where their daughter’s murderers now work, as a symbol of the evolution of South African society.

Don’t think you’ll be wandering through the narrow lanes of the township on your own, as the tour takes you through some of Langa’s touristy streets. Even so, the guides want to show you a positive image of the area, with more renovated houses instead of tin, guest houses and locals who welcome you for a night. Like us, you will come across many curious travellers who have come to see the “Black” culture.

➡️  Réserver la sortie dans le Township et vérifier les disponibilités

Vous pouvez également faire une soirée avec dîner traditionnel dans un Township. Vous partagerez le repas traditionnel partagé avec les locaux.

➡️  Réserver la soirée dans le Township et vérifier les disponibilités

C’est toujours très compliqué en tant que blanc et occidental, de visiter un township car on n’y va pas pour faire des photos uniquement ou voir les gens ! Le souci est que vous ne savez vraiment jamais sur quoi vous allez tomber ! J’aime pouvoir vivre une vraie expérience et dormir chez les gens pour apprendre à les connaître et échanger sur nos cultures mais ce n’est pas toujours évident de trouver le bon organisme. J’aime quand ce sont des visites éthiques où les sous sont reversés soit à une association, soit donnés à la population pour les aider au quotidien ou dans diverses missions. Si vous recherchez une association, Uthando est connue pour mettre en place des projets éducatifs et culturels et prône un tourisme responsable.

| BO KAAP & WATERKRANT

Cape Town’s multicolored district, which in Afrikaans means « Above the cape» is our Cape Town favorite! This is the city’s picturesque district, built on the slopes of the Signal Hills, and home to the Cape Muslims nicknamed Cape Malays because they are descended from Indian and Indonesian slaves brought by the Dutch in the 1780s. You’ll find some very nice designer and decorating boutiques in this charming neighborhood.

Thanks to our local guide Aiko, we had more time to wander the narrow, steep streets of Bo Kaap, lined with houses with brightly colored facades. This is where we met Gamidah, for a cooking class. A spicy and simple encounter, just the way we like it!

Not far from there, just one street away, you’ll find the gay district of Waterkrant. Many trendy little cafés and restaurants are hidden away here. We invite you to try them out, as Cape Town is reputed to have the second highest concentration of cafés in the world after NYC.

➡️ Book a cooking class and check availability

| LE QUARTIER DE WOODSTOCK

If you have a little time left, stop off at Woodstock, one of France’s most laid-back creative and hipster districts. Cape Town. It’s a district steeped in history that has changed its face over the years and is teeming with cool shops, unusual and unique concepts, art galleries, trendy and vintage stores for those who love to bargain. Today, it’s renowned for its street art, flea markets and industrial-style boutiques. We loved the atmosphere and I found a resemblance with New York’s Brooklyn district. This is the place to be to spot the latest trends in town.

| MARKETS & CAFÉS

The market for Old Biscuit Mill, the old cookie factory in Woodstock is well worth a visit at the weekend. The whole town meets there on Saturdays for brunch and organic shopping. It’s a vibrant place with designer boutiques, restaurants, food trucks and souvenirs. It’s a haven for young designers and antique dealers, as well as young hipsters who come to chill out in these unusual and fashionable places.

We stopped off for a few hours at Cinta café, just across the street from the Old Biscuit Mill, because we fell in love with the place: a boutique offering fresh fruit juices in an ultra-relaxed atmosphere with a decor mixing salvage, modern and wood. Everything we love!

If, like us, you also love covered or open markets, I invite you to visit these two addresses:

• The Neighbourgoods Market: 373 Albert Rd, Woodstock, un marché alimentaire branché, qui a lieu tous les samedis de 9h à 14h et situé dans la fabrique de biscuit The Old Biscuit Mill. Vous y trouverez produits artisanaux  originaux, sucrés ou salés ainsi que des spécialités culinaires du monde entier.
• Market at the Palms: 145 Sir Lowry Road, Foreshore -Cape Town, un petit marché couvert assez bohème, avec des producteurs locaux, des boutiques de déco et d’art. Le lieu est pas mal bondé et vous trouverez difficilement des tables et chaises pour vous asseoir.

| STREETART

For those who want to take time to enjoy the street art, see you in the lower Woodstock (lower Woodstock) between de Cornwall Street, Frere Street, Sussex Street and Lower Church Street. The gallery Woodstock Industrial Center, located at 66 Albert Street, displays a number of works of art and graffiti. It’s best to take a guided tour of this area, which can still have a reputation for being a bit dull!

| BROCANTES

We liked this area because it suited us so well. We love flea markets and flea markets, so it was a bit like being at home! Head for the streets of Albert Road but also to Woodstock Cooperative, next to the Old Biscuit Mill. All you have to do is step out of the door and into the little stores hidden away at the back and upstairs to discover Ali Baba’s cavern. You’ll find vintage, recycled and hand-crafted objects.

| GREEN POINT, LE QUARTIER HUPPÉ

Greenpoint is now the city’s most upscale and westernized district. We spotted it on the famous red bus but didn’t stop. It’s famous for its large sports stadium and its immense lawn, but also because it’s home to the great jewelers of the haute joaillerie. If you want to stay there, I suggest you stay at Antrim Villa, a charming guesthouse with lovely rooms.

| SEA POINT

Adjacent to Greenpoint, Seapoint is one of the city’s densest neighborhoods, located between Signal Hill and facing the Atlantic Ocean. It’s an upmarket, lively suburb known for its sandy beaches, including Milton and Saunder’s Rock, which offer sunset views. The mix is weaker than elsewhere, but people come here for its many children’s playgrounds and also for the Sea Point Promenade, a 7-kilometer walking trail along the waterfront with Lion’s Head in the background. There are numerous sushi bars, fast-food outlets and pizzerias on site.

Locals come to enjoy the seawater pools on the Sea Point Pavilion Swimming Pool while travellers stroll through the colorful Mojo Market, famous for its African crafts, cafés and concerts.

INFOS PRATIQUES - CAPETOWN

| LES BONNES ADRESSES DE CAPE TOWN

| BON PLAN TRANSPORTS 

•  Transports en ville

Vous avez envie de découvrir Cape Town et un maximum d’activités, vous aimez les musées, vous êtes accompagnés de jeunes enfants, je vous conseille donc de jeter un oeil au pass officiel qui permet de bénéficier d’une entrée à plus de 90 des meilleures attractions du Cap avec transport gratuit en bus touristique à arrêts multiples pour toute la durée de votre pass et billets coupe file. Il est valide de 2 à 5 jours alors profitez-en ! 

➡️  Réserver le pass en ligne

• Transports aéroport

| LOCATION DE VOITURE

Pour visiter tout le sud jusqu’au Cap de bonne espérance ainsi que les Township, nous avons réservé des excursions à la journée au départ de Cape Town. C’est assez utile si vous manquez de temps et que vous ne souhaitez pas tout organiser par vous même.

Vous pouvez également louer une voiture pour sillonner les routes.  Nous vous conseillons de vous rendre chez Rentacheapie une agence vraiment bon marché, située sur Marine Drive. Elle pratique des prix défiant toute concurrence! Le seul inconvénient est que l’agence n’est pas en centre ville mais plutôt très excentrée donc ce n’est pas très pratique avec les bagages et le traffic. Trouvez ici votre location de voiture au meilleur prix

| VOLS INTERNES EN AFRIQUE DU SUD 

Si vous devez vous déplacer en avion dans le pays, voici quelques bonnes compagnies Lowcost:

• Flysafair
• Flyairlink
• FlyMango
• Kulula

Nous avons fait un vol Cape Town ➡ Johannesbourg avec Mango AIRLINES pour seulement 62€/p bagage compris de 23kg. Pas mal non ?

Pour avoir un vol au meilleur prix, il vaut mieux réserver  à l’avance. Trouvez votre vol le moins cher pour l’Afrique du Sud ici avec Skyscanner

| QUAND PARTIR A CAPE TOWN 

• Fin Mars/avril : bonne période pour visiter Cape Town
• Décembre/Janvier : Saison très occupée. Longue file d’attente devant les lieux touristiques. Le 2 Janvier a également lieu le Kaapse klopse ou le Cape Town Minstrel Carnival qui célèbre la nouvelle année en musique avec de nombreux défilés extravagants, des danseurs, des musiciens et des chanteurs. Un évènement à ne pas louper si vous y êtes à ce moment.
• Mai/Juin à Novembre/Décembre : Saison des baleines
• Requins visibles toute l’année mais la visibilité est meilleure en Juin/Juillet/Aout. 

| L’AFRIQUE DU SUD, EST- CE DANGEREUX ?

Notez qu’en tant que créatrice de voyages sur mesure agrée, je vous propose de vous accompagner dans la création de votre séjour sur mesure en Afrique du Sud et de vous faire un itinéraire personnalisé et adapté à vos envies. Pour cela, veuillez m’envoyez un email à : contact@mademoiselle-voyage.fr