What To See and Do in Cape Town | Active Travel Guide

Cape Town Active Travel Guide | What To See & Do In Cape Town

Cape Town is one of the most diverse and beautiful cities in the world, which is why I keep going back again and again. Where else can you hike mountains, swim in the sea, drink local wine and eat at a bustling brunch cafe in a single day?! It really ticks all the boxes.

In this guide I am, sharing all my favourite things to see and do in Cape Town, beyond just the obvious tourist highlights. As always, there is an outdoorsy focus and I will be including my favourite hikes, beaches, neighbourhoods and day trips for you to delve into. Basically, this guide covers everything I would recommend to an active friend visiting Cape Town for the first (or fifth!) time.

The Practicalities:

Getting There:

There are multiple direct flights from the UK to Cape Town on a daily basis, more affordable flights can be found on indirect routes.

Getting Around:

We rented a car during our trip to allow us to do day trips from the city easily. For shorter journeys, Uber is widely available and super affordable.

When To Visit:

The peak season is December to February, the South African summer. However it is also worth visiting in the shoulder seasons of March/April and October/November for less crowds and lower prices.

How Long To Stay:

Cape Town is somewhere I could easily spend weeks exploring, there is so much to see and do! As a stand alone destination, it requires a minimum of a week but if you’re passing through as part of a wider trip then you can cram the best bits into around 3-4 days.

Where To Stay:

I always stay in Sea Point as it’s a prime location for access to the waterfront, tidal pools and plenty of cafes, restaurants and gyms. Other popular areas include Camps Bay and Green Point. There are plenty of hotels and airbnbs in these spots.

Prices:

We found food, transport and activities to be pretty affordable in Cape Town compared to other destinations, and we ended up spending less money than we had budgeted for.

Safety:

I haven’t felt unsafe at any point during my trips to Cape Town, but I did keep my wits about me and take basic precautions such as:

Don’t walk around after dark, always take an uber even for short distances.
Keep the car doors and windows locked when driving.
Never leave possessions in the car.
Be discreet with phone and tech use.
Never hike alone.

What To See & Do in Cape Town

Go On a Hike

One of the things which makes Cape Town so special is its proximity to beautiful mountains, which means you can easily do day hikes within and around the city. These are some of my personal favourites:

Lions Head – one of the most iconic sunrise hikes in Cape Town, it’s a bit sketchy and steep though so only for confident hikers.
Table Mountain – there are numerous routes up Table Mountain, but my favourite if you’re feeling a little adventurous and are comfortable scrambling is the India Vester Trail.
Constantia Nek to De Villiers Dam – a quieter route up the back of Table Mountain which ends at a reservoir and dam.
Devils Peak – a short and spicy hike taking you to an incredible peak overlooking the city.
Pipe Track – this is a hugely underrated historic hike. A relatively flat and easy route at the base of the 12 apostles with views over the coastline.
Chapmans Peak – just south of the city, this iconic peak gives stunning 360 views over the Cape peninsula.
Little Lions Head – a lesser known route which is great at sunrise, giving views over Hout Bay and Chapmans Peak.
Crystal Pools – one of the hikes Cape Town locals tend to keep to themselves. It’s a gorgeous route to a pristine remote swimming spot – perfect for a sunny day.

My top tip:

I always recommend hiking with a guide for safety and never alone, I hiked with Cape Town Trails and had an amazing experience. His breakfast picnic spreads are to die for!

Have a Beach Day

If there’s one thing Cape Town does well, it’s beaches. There are so many chose from depending on the vibe you want to go for, here are my recommendations:

Saunders Rock Beach – a social tidal pool which is perfect for a morning cold plunge.
Clifton Beaches – four strips of soft white sand, my favourite spot is the secret patch between the rocks of the 3rd and 4th beaches, it’s much quieter with calmer waters.
Bali Beach – a small sheltered beach packed with locals, perfect for a laid back vibe.
Bakoven Beach – another small sheltered beach which is favoured by locals.
Camps Bay – the most famous Cape Town beach, but it’s typically a little busy for me!

There are also plenty of stunning beaches a short drive away, which I will include in my day trips section!

Eat Delicious Food

Let’s talk about food! There are an abundance of incredible coffee shops, cafes and restaurants in the city including plenty of more nourishing options for those who like a more wholesome meal. Here are some of my personal favourites (mostly around Sea Point):

Paulines – an elevated coffee spot known for their cinnamon and cardamom buns.

Maggy Lous – this spot is always bustling! It’s great for all day brunch or evening drinks.

Nice To Matcha – a hole in the wall matcha spot who prep your drink right in front of you & have plenty of different flavours.

Norfolk Deli – a neighbourhood cafe known for coffee & incredible pastries.

Arthurs Mini Super – another bustling spot, it serves yummy sarnies and salads during the day and turns into a bar at night.

Plato Coffee – this cafe definitely has the longest coffee menu I have ever had seen, and the drinks themselves don’t disappoint.

Three Wise Monkeys – a casual ramen, sushi and bao restaurant. It looks low key but the food is absolutely delicious!

Moro Gelato – the best gelato in town, you need to try the caramel cookie crumble flavour!

The Lawns – the perfect sunset spot for dinner and drinks with a view, make sure you book ahead.

Watch a Sunset

Sunsets in Cape Town are absolutely incredible, and there are some top notch locations you can go to watch them:

Kloof Corner – for a sunset hike.
Little Lions Head – again, a great sunset hike location.
The Rock – a huge clifftop, take a picnic blanket and pizza.
The Lawns – for cocktails and dinner with sunset views.

Watch Live Music

One of our favourite things we did during our time in Cape Town was go to the Kirstenbosch Summer Sunset concerts. Kicking off in November and running through to March, every Sunday evening musicians play live music in the stunning setting of Kirstenbosch Botanical gardens. They perform to a backdrop of mountains and greenery, with visitors bringing blankets, picnics and drinks. It is such a vibe and the perfect way to spend an evening in the city surrounded by locals.

If you aren’t in town when the concerts are on, I would definitely recommend just visiting the botanical garden during the daytime. They’re often named as one of the best botanical gardens in the world, due not only to the biodiversity but the setting. They are too gorgeous to be missed!

Visit the Markets

Cape Town has a vibrant and diverse market scene, with plenty of options for you to explore whether you want delicious food or locally made clothing. Here are some of my favourites:

Oranjezicht City Farm Market – a seriously popular but incredible food market full of fresh farmers produce and artisan food traders. It is totally worth the hype!
The Old Biscuit Mill – a lively weekend market in an industrial style setting which is jam packed with yummy food, independent boutiques and locally made gifts.
Cape Point Vineyards Market – a weekly market on Thursdays, where you can tuck into yummy food and wine with views over the vineyards and ocean.
Mojo Market – a daily casual indoor market in Sea Point with bars, live music and over 30 food vendors.

Go on a Day Trip

Cape Town isn’t just about the city itself, some of its best bits are just a short drive away. I highly recommend you rent a car, plan a few adventures and explore the surrounding bays, beaches and towns. These are some of my favourite spots to explore nearby:

The Winelands. This constitutes areas including Constantia, Stellenbosch and Franschhoek. There are so many ways to explore this region, for example you can just drive up to the vineyards or book in for experiences like wine tastings. However my favourite way is definitely via the wine tram, which you need to book in advance. Just try and go on one of the tramlines which stops at Babylonstoren, as it’s such a magical place.
Hout Bay & Boulders Beach. This is a gorgeous day trip, head to Hout Bay to browse the local market and grab lunch at Dunes with beach views. Then drive down the iconic Chapmans Peak Drive to Boulders Beach to see the famous African penguins – just make sure you go down onto the beach itself so you can get a little closer to them! If you fancy a swim at the end of the day, Millers Point tidal pool is a hidden gem nearby. Then stop off around Cape Point Vineyards on the way home for sundowners. Dreamy.
Kalk Bay, Muizenberg & Llandudno. For a laidback day out, drive over to Kalk Bay which is a cute coastal town packed with independent cafes and boutiques. You can walk around the harbour and go for a swim at Dalebrook tidal pool, before driving down to neighbouring Muizenberg to see the iconic beach known for its colourful houses, and watch surfers in the crashing waves. Then on your way home stop off at Llandudno beach for a secluded spot surrounded by dramatic mountains. It’s a great place to watch the sunset from the rocks!