Cape City 3-day itinerary – 2022/23 season

Should 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 greatest, suggestions, and insider suggestions. It consists of the must-see locations in Cape City. Allow us to provide help to to make the perfect out of your Cape City go to!

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 may swap days round relying on climate situations, days of the week, your individual priorities, and so forth. Beneath each attraction, yow will discover a desk with the opening and shutting instances that can provide help to to regulate the itinerary to your wants. 

Should you’re not planning to hire a automotive 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.

Day 1. Pure landmarks

• Morning. Kirstenbosch Botanical Backyard.
• Afternoon. Constantia Wine Route. Bo Kaap Neighborhood.
• Night. Desk Mountain (cable automotive). Sundown.

Day 2. Historic Cape City

• Morning. V&A Waterfront. Robben Island.
• Afternoon. Woodstock Neighborhood. The Fort 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 the perfect time to go to Cape City to plan your journey accordingly.

It’s at all times really useful to have journey insurance coverage once you go abroad particularly if you happen to’re planning on doing some out of doors and journey actions. Selecting an organization, make sure that it has expertise in working within the worldwide journey market. Should you don’t have one but we will suggest utilizing World Nomads. Their insurance coverage insurance policies are very versatile and simple to buy on-line earlier than or throughout your journey. You should purchase a coverage that covers the entire journey or solely part of it. Get an prompt quote now!

Day 1. Cape City’s Pure Landmarks

Should you’re planning to go to a number of points of interest throughout your 3 days in Cape City shopping for a Metropolis Move is likely to be price it. The Cape City Metropolis Move consists of entry to over 80 metropolis sights and free use of the hop-on-hop-off bus throughout 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 underneath 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 need to park your automotive 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 may have breakfast. One can spend the entire day or simply a few hours right here. If you wish to stroll this route slightly than do it over the weekend when there are extra folks it is likely to be harmful to stroll it alone. 

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) – day by day (besides Good Friday and Christmas) from 9 am to 4 pm. Tickets offered between 9 am and a couple of.30 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 without doubt one of the most well-known wine routes in Cape Winelands. Should you’re on the lookout for a lesser-known different you may go to Durbanville wine farms as an alternative. Each Constantia and Durbanville are situated simply outdoors Cape City, it’s a brief drive from the town heart.

Groot Constantia is without doubt 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 could take with you as a memento. We normally 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 among Cape City’s postcard photographs and doubtless some of the photographed areas of the town. It’s enjoyable to stroll across the homes painted inexperienced, pink, blue, yellow, and so forth. and to take images, you received’t want greater than 1h-1.30min. for that.

Desk Mountain

• Opening hours (cable automotive) – from 8.30 am to six pm (within the peak summer season months from 8 am to 7 pm)
• Cable automotive 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 automotive station – 10-15 min.
• Parking – there’s a parking zone on the backside however it’s fairly a stroll up from there, most individuals park their automobiles alongside the street earlier than or after the station. 

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 may see it just about from wherever within the metropolis however going up Desk Mountain is a must-do. Should you’re planning to take a cable automotive, the night is a greater time, the mountain is commonly in thick mist within the morning you may need no views in any respect, however it normally 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 the perfect time for it. You may be a part of a morning tour and do the hike with a information, the entire exercise takes about 4 hours.

Day 2 (choice 1). The Historic Cape City

Robben Island

• Tour departure instances – day by day at 9 am, 11 am, 1 pm, and three pm
• Worth (return boat + guided tour) – adults – ZAR600/US$33, youngsters (2-17 yo) – ZAR310/US$17.
• Drive time from Metropolis Bowl to V&A Waterfront – 10-15 min.
• Parking – there isn’t a free parking zone at Waterfront, you’ll need to park your automotive at one of many paid parking, it’s fairly costly to park right here, for 4-hour parking count on to pay between ZAR40-50/US$2,5-3,5.

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

Robben Island is a vital historic place in Cape City. The Island is known for the jail the place Nelson Mandella spent the final years of his sentence. To get to the Island you’ll need to 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 trip) takes 4 hours.

Through 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.

In case 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 reminiscences do a helicopter flight. The helicopter leaves from V&A Waterfront Helipad.

Woodstock neighborhood

• Opening hours – Mon – Fri from 10 am to 4 pm, Sat from 9 am to 2 pm, Solar closed.
• 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 once 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 some of the common locations within the metropolis the place yow will discover small artwork galleries, conceptual espresso outlets, natural meals markets, and breweries. Espresso Lab is one among our favourite espresso outlets in Cape City.

Essentially the most well-known and busiest place in Woodstock is The Outdated Biscuit Mill market. There are various completely different meals stalls, natural farm merchandise, hand-made souvenirs, crafts, and so forth. The Mill is without doubt one of the favourite Capetonians’ locations to fulfill 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 Fort of Good Hope

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

To proceed with the historical past of Cape City do a fast go to to the Fort 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 Fort is on the best way from Woodstock to Lion’s Head no must do any further driving to get there.  You should purchase entrance tickets on-line.

Lion’s Head

• Drive time to Lion’s Head/Sign Hill from the Fort 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 likely to be tough to discover a spot if you happen to arrive too late.

Time to go to one other iconic location in your 3-day itinerary – Lion’s Head. It’s some of the common hikes in Cape City and an incredible spot for watching the sundown. It’s higher to reach earlier to discover a parking spot. To get to the highest you’ll need to 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 need to go all the best way 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 if you happen to don’t really feel assured sufficient or simply don’t need to stroll alone. Watching the sundown from Lion’s Head is one of the best ways to complete the second day of your Cape City itinerary.

An alternative choice is to go to Sign Hill (the neighboring mountain) as an alternative of Lion’s Head. It is likely to be a greater choice if you happen to journey with youngsters as nicely. You may drive all the best way to the highest. Parking is likely to be an issue, make sure that to reach early. Should you’re up for an journey you are able to do paragliding from Sign Hill or Lion’s Head, the final night session is at 6 pm.

Day 2 (choice 2). The safari drive

Together with a safari drive in your 3-day itinerary is likely to be an excellent choice for folks with youngsters and for many who are usually 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 may see all of them is Aquila Personal Recreation Reserve, about 2 hours drive from the town.

In case you have extra time you may keep on the recreation reserve for a few days, it’s an incredible 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 may drive there your self and be a part of a safari tour there or ebook a tour from Cape City that features driving to and again and safari drives contained in the park.

Should you drive that means you may cease in Stellenbosch, there are lots of 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. The Cape Peninsula scenic drive 

The final day of the recommended Cape City itinerary is essentially the most scenic one. The drive round the Cape Peninsula is really spectacular, it’s one among our favourite day journeys from Cape City. The street waving alongside the rugged coast presents among the greatest views in the entire nation; unspoiled white sand seashores, dramatic cliffs, cozy cities, and numerous marine life. It’s potential to affix a small group 8-hour tour that follows the recommended route.

Begin the coastal drive at Inexperienced Level, and drive by means of Cliffton and Camps Bay (the place you may cease for breakfast) to Hout Bay. Cease at Haut Bay harbor there you have got an excellent likelihood of seeing Cape Fur seals scavenging on fishermen’s leftovers. If you need 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 quite a lot of enjoyable.

Chapman’s Peak Drive

• Drive time from Metropolis Bowl to Hout Bay (by means of Clifton) – 40-50 min.
• Parking – you may park on the harbor at no cost.

The well-known Chapman’s Peak Drive is without doubt one of the most scenic drives in Cape City. It begins at Hout Bay, it’s not a really lengthy however completely beautiful 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 just isn’t protected, 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 lots of nice trails at Cape Level Nationwide Park – the following cease on the best way. I’d counsel 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 best way 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.

Cape Level Nationwide Park with its breathtaking surroundings, white sandy seashores, rugged cliffs, and spectacular lookout factors positively needs to be in your Cape City itinerary. The well-known Cape of Good Hope is located within the park. Some folks assume that the Cape of Good Hope is the southernmost level of the African continent however it’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 implausible white sand seaside surrounded by rugged cliffs it’s only a pity that the water could be very chilly. 
• Cape of Good Hope – the well-known level the place you’ll most likely need to line as much as take a photograph. By the best way, at Cape Agulhas (the precise southernmost level of Africa) there are normally only a few folks.
• The Outdated Lighthouse – it’s a brief hike from the parking spot as an choice you may take a funicular nearly all the best way 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 protected to stroll there, I’d say it’s the perfect space in Cape City for mountain climbing. 

Boulders Seaside

• 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 Seaside – 15-20 min.

After spending a while at Cape Level head to Boulders Seaside in Simon’s City, a small and exquisite white sand seaside with big boulders and plenty of African penguins strolling round. These guys are very small and cute, watching them is quite a lot of enjoyable. I’d suggest 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. Should you’re a professional diver you are able to do a few boat 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.

Should you’re in Cape City between July and September, you may see Southern Proper whales from the boat. One of the best 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 known as a great spot to be taught browsing and its colourful wood seaside cabins. It’s only a quick cease to take images after which you could begin heading again to Cape City. 

• Drive time from Boulders Seaside to Muizenberg – is 35-45 min., there may be at all times a site 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 an additional stunning sundown in Cape City. For a extremely particular finish to your Cape City journey, as an alternative 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 street journey on the Backyard Route. You are able to do it as a self-drive journey; hire a automotive in Cape City and drop it off in Port Elisabeth or with a gaggle tour alongside the Backyard Route.

The place to remain in Cape City throughout your 3 days?

Metropolis Bowl. One of the best space to remain for backpackers, solo vacationers, occasion lovers, and those that 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, if you happen to’re up for a pub crawl or occasion it’s the place to be. 

V&A Waterfront/Seapoint. One of the best 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 simply feels safer right here than in Metropolis Bowl, you may stroll within the night alongside the promenade, there are lots of folks, it at all times has the festive vibe.

Camp Bay. The fanciest space of Cape City and 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 protected with many eating places and bars, stunning white-sand seashores and a few browsing spots, simply bear 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 automotive for 3 days in Cape City

To drive in and across the metropolis you don’t want an enormous 4×4 automotive, a standard sedan automotive will likely be greater than sufficient until you’re greater than 5 folks a minivan is a greater choice. The smaller your automotive the better it’ll be to park on the streets of Cape City. One of the best and the best is to hire a automotive on the airport on arrival and drop it off there on the best way again.

Renting a automotive at Cape City airport for 3 days

*it’s costlier to hire a automotive with computerized gear.

Cape City security suggestions

• Don’t stroll at evening within the metropolis if you happen to exit, take a taxi again to your resort and attempt to stick with a crowd of 4 or extra.
• Should you hire a automotive don’t go away something inside when parking, not even a ebook or an previous jacket, in any other case you danger discovering your automotive with damaged home windows.
• When driving, make sure that your doorways a locked and home windows are usually not wide-opened.
• Preserve 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.
• Should you 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 digicam.
• Don’t take your passport and all the dear stuff with slightly lock it in a resort protected or locker.
• Use a dependable taxi service, not any random man that stops on the road.
• To attract cash use ATM in a financial institution workplace, mall, or grocery store. You may pay by card in most resorts, eating places, and ticket places of work.

Beneficial books and guidebooks

Many books and guidebooks are accessible at no cost for Amazon Kindle Limitless customers, this system means that you can get entry to 1000’s of e-books and audiobooks from any system (Kindle, pill, cell). You may strive Amazon Kindle Limitless at no cost for 30 days.

Journey sources to plan your journey

Please observe and like us:

The gorgeous half of Stingy Nomads, answerable 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 slightly than to do a ten 000 km street journey (really any street 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.