If you happen to’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 contains the town’s greatest, suggestions, and insider suggestions. It contains the must-see locations in Cape City. Allow us to make it easier to to make one of the best 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 lets you go to the primary sights in Cape City. You’ll be able to change days round relying on climate circumstances, days of the week, your individual priorities, and many others. Under each attraction, you could find a desk with the opening and shutting occasions that can make it easier to regulate the itinerary to your wants.
If you happen to’re not planning to hire a automobile you may go to many of the locations on this 3-day itinerary utilizing Cape City Metropolis Sightseeing Bus. You should purchase 1 or 2-day tickets on the hop-on-hop-off bus.
Cape City 3-day itinerary
Day 1. Pure landmarks
Morning. Kirstenbosch Botanical Backyard.
Afternoon. Constantia Wine Route. Bo Kaap Neighborhood.
Night. Desk Mountain (cable automobile). Sundown.
Day 2. Historic Cape City
Morning. V&A Waterfront. Robben Island.
Afternoon. Woodstock Neighborhood. The Citadel of Good Hope.
Night. Lion’s Head, sundown.
Day 3. The scenic drive
Morning. Sea Level, Clifton, Camps Bay, Hout Bay. Chapman’s Peak Drive.
Afternoon. Cape Level Nationwide Park. Boulders Seaside, Muizenberg.
Night. V&A Waterfront. Sundown cruise.
Discover out when is one of the best 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
If you happen to’re planning to incorporate a number of sights in your Cape City 3-day itinerary shopping for a Metropolis Cross is likely to be price it. The Cape City Metropolis Cross contains entry to over 80 metropolis sights and free use of the hop-on-hop-off bus at some stage in your go.
Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardne
Opening hours – September to March, each day from 8 am to 7 pm; April to August, each day from 8 am to six pm.
Entrance charge – 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 car parking zone on the territory, in case of a live performance or an occasion it will get full fairly rapidly, and also you’ll must park your automobile outdoors the Backyard.
Kirstenbosch Botanical Backyard is an ideal place to start out the morning. There are a few locations contained in the backyard the place you may have breakfast. One can spend the entire day or simply a few hours right here. There are a number of straightforward 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 may get a pleasant view of the Backyard and the encompassing space.
Constantia Wine Route
Opening hours (Groot Constantia Property) – each day (besides Good Friday and Christmas) from 9 am to six pm.
Price – from ZAR100/US$6 per individual
Drive time from Kirstenbosch to Groot Constantia – 12-20 min.
Parking – there are a few parking tons 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. If you happen to’re on the lookout for a lesser-known various you may go to Durbanville wine farms as a substitute. Each Constantia and Durbanville are positioned simply outdoors Cape City, it’s a brief drive from the town heart.
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 realm 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 that you would be able to take with you as a memento. We often pay for one individual they pour sufficient wine to style and somebody all the time 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 photographs and possibly probably the most photographed areas of the town. It’s enjoyable to stroll across the homes painted inexperienced, crimson, blue, yellow, and many others. and to take photographs, 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 car parking zone on the backside but it surely’s fairly a stroll up from there, most individuals park their automobiles alongside the highway 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’ll be able to see it just about from wherever within the metropolis however going up Desk Mountain is a must-do. If you happen to’re planning to take a cable automobile, the night is a greater time, the mountain is usually 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 folks, the night just isn’t one of the best time. There are a number of routes that result in the highest of Desk Mountain. The Platteklip Gorge is the preferred 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 may go to some essential historic landmarks within the metropolis.
Robben Island
Tour departure occasions – each 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 a free car parking zone at Waterfront, so that you’ll must 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 occasional retailers to go to for breakfast with the view.
Robben Island is an important 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 must 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. The whole tour (together with the return boat journey) takes 4 hours.
Throughout the summer season months of December, January, and February it’s extremely really useful to purchase your ticket upfront, 9 am excursions are sometimes offered out.
You probably 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 concerning the historical past of the Waterfront and to identify some seals.
To get one of the best 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 may park inside the Mill. On Saturdays, there may be paid parking (ZAR10/US$1) on the School 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 grew to become probably the most in style locations within the metropolis the place you could find small artwork galleries, conceptual espresso retailers, natural meals markets, and breweries. Espresso Lab is one in every of our favourite espresso retailers in Cape City.
Essentially the most well-known and busiest place in Woodstock is The Outdated Biscuit Mill market. There are lots of totally different meals stalls, natural farm merchandise, hand-made souvenirs, crafts, and many others. The Mill is likely one of the favourite Capetonians’ locations to satisfy up with family and friends. It’s a very fashionable place to come back on Saturday morning, each Saturday there’s a large Neighborhood Market.
The Citadel of Good Hope
Opening hours – each day from 9 am to three.30 pm
Entrance charge – adults – ZAR50/US$2,5, youngsters – ZAR25/US$1,5
Drive time – from the Outdated Biscuit Mill to the Citadel – 5-10 min.
To proceed with the historical past of Cape City do a fast go to to the Citadel 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 Citadel 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 Citadel of Good Hope – 15-20 min., from the Aquarium – 17-25 min.
Parking – on the slopes (alongside the highway) of Lion’s Head or Sign Hill, it is likely to be troublesome to discover a spot for those who 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 in style hikes in Cape City and an awesome spot for watching the sundown. It’s higher to reach earlier to discover a parking spot. To get to the highest you’ll must hike up the mountain. The Lion’s Head hike contains some rock, chain, and ladder climbing on the finish. If it’s an excessive amount of for you you don’t must go all the way in which to the highest simply discover a great place at a decrease stage.
You are able to do a guided sundown hike up Lion’s Head for those who 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.
An alternative choice is to go to Sign Hill (the neighboring mountain) as a substitute of Lion’s Head. It is likely to be a greater choice for those who journey with youngsters as effectively. You’ll be able to drive all the way in which to the highest. Parking is likely to be an issue, so ensure that to reach early.
Day 2 (choice 2). The safari drive
Together with a safari drive in your Cape City 3-day itinerary is likely to be a superb choice for folks 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 Large 5; lion, elephant, buffalo, rhino, and leopard. The closest to Cape City recreation lodge the place you may see all of them is Aquila Personal Recreation Reserve, about 2 hours drive from the town.
You probably have extra time you may keep on the recreation reserve for a few days, it’s an awesome 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’ll be able to drive there your self and be a 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.
If you happen to drive that approach you may cease in Stellenbosch, there are numerous 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 across the Cape Peninsula is actually spectacular, it’s one in every of our favourite day journeys from Cape City. The highway waving alongside the rugged coast presents a number of the greatest views in the entire nation; unspoiled white sand seashores, dramatic cliffs, cozy cities, and various marine life. It’s potential to affix a small group full-day tour round Cape Peninsula.
Begin the coastal drive at Inexperienced Level, and drive to Hout Bay via Cliffton and Camps Bay (the place you may cease for breakfast). Cease at Haut Bay harbor there you’ve got a superb probability of seeing Cape Fur seals scavenging on fishermen’s leftovers. If you would like a more in-depth 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 loads of enjoyable.
Chapman’s Peak Drive
Drive time from Metropolis Bowl to Hout Bay (via Clifton) – 40-50 min.
Parking – you may park on the harbor totally free.
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 advocate not venturing up there, the world just isn’t 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 numerous nice trails at Cape Level Nationwide Park – the subsequent cease on the way in which. I’d recommend driving to Cape Level via Kommetjie (there are some good seashores there), not via Simons City, you’ll drive via Simons City on the way in which again anyway.
Cape Level Nationwide Park
Opening hours – each day from 7 am to five pm
Entrance charge – adults – ZAR360/US$19, youngsters (2-12 yo) – ZAR180/US$10.
Drive time from Haut Bay to the Cape Level entrance gate (via 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 needs to be in your Cape City itinerary. The well-known Cape of Good Hope is located within the park. Some folks suppose 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 Seaside – a unbelievable 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 must 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 folks.
The Outdated Lighthouse – it’s a brief hike from the parking spot as an choice you may take a funicular virtually all the way in which to the lighthouse. The lighthouse itself is kind 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 one of the best space in Cape City for mountain climbing.
Boulders Seaside
Opening hours – each day from 8 am to five pm
Entrance charge – adults – ZAR170/US$9, youngsters (2-11 yo) – ZAR85/US$4,5
Drive time from the Cape Level entrance gate to Boulders Seaside – 15-20 min.
Go to Boulders Seaside with a tour
After spending a while at Cape Level head to Boulders Seaside in Simon’s City, a small and delightful white sand seaside with enormous boulders and plenty of African penguins strolling round. These guys are very small and cute, watching them is loads of enjoyable. I’d advocate stopping right here for lunch there’s a place with a balcony from the place you may see the penguins and the seaside whereas having fun with your meal.
Simon’s City is a well-liked place for diving and kayaking. If you happen to’re a professional 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.
If you happen to’re in Cape City between July and September, you may see Southern Proper whales from the boat. The perfect 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 place to be taught browsing and its colourful wood seaside cabins. It’s only a brief cease to take photographs after that you would be able to begin heading again to Cape City.
Drive time from Boulders Seaside to Muizenberg – is 35-45 min., there may be all the time 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 tons.
Exit for dinner or drinks at V&A Waterfront or Camp Bay you is likely to be in time for one more stunning sundown in Cape City. For a extremely particular finish to your Cape City journey, as a substitute of getting drinks or dinner on land, you may be a part of a sundown Champagne cruise.
From Cape City, you may proceed your South Africa journey and do a highway journey on the Backyard Route. You are able to do it as a self-drive journey; hire a automobile in Cape City and drop it off in Port Elisabeth or be a part of a tour.
After exploring Cape City you may 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 perfect space to remain for backpackers, solo vacationers, occasion 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, for those who’re up for a pub crawl or occasion it’s the place to be.
V&A Waterfront/Seapoint. The perfect space to remain for households with youngsters, older vacationers, and {couples}. For me, it’s one of the best space to remain within the metropolis, the primary purpose it feels safer right here than in Metropolis Bowl is that you would be able to stroll within the night alongside the promenade, there are numerous folks, and it all the time has a festive vibe.
Camps Bay. The luxury space of Cape City is an ideal place for a luxurious keep. It’s one of the best space to remain in Cape City in your South Africa honeymoon vacation. The realm 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 might be greater than sufficient until you’re greater than 5 folks a minivan is a greater choice. The smaller your automobile the simpler it’ll be to park on the streets of Cape City. The perfect and the best is to hire a automobile on the airport on arrival and drop it off there on the way in which again.
Security suggestions on your Cape City 3-day itinerary
Don’t stroll at evening within the metropolis for those who exit, take a taxi again to your lodge and attempt to keep on with a crowd of 4 or extra.
If you happen to hire a automobile don’t depart something inside when parking, not even a e-book or an previous jacket, in any other case you danger discovering your automobile with damaged home windows.
When driving, ensure that your doorways a locked and home windows should not wide-opened.
Maintain your beneficial 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.
If you happen to enterprise to hike up Desk Mountain do it on the proper time of the day when there are different folks strolling it, not late night by yourself carrying an costly digital camera.
Don’t take your passport and all the dear stuff with relatively lock it in a lodge 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’ll be able to pay by card in most inns, eating places, and ticket places of work.
Journey sources to plan your itinerary
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The beautiful half of Stingy Nomads, accountable for all our land adventures (mountain climbing, climbing, strolling the Camino) and following them write-ups. Alya loves strolling since she was a toddler, she prefers to stroll 1000 km with a backpack relatively than to do a ten 000 km highway journey (truly any highway journey). Alya is an enormous fan of Latin America, the Spanish language, and dancing. Each time we go away she desperately misses our canine Chile.