5 days in Cape Town

Day by day

1. Day 1: Table Mountain and the Aerial Cableway and Robben Island

   Table Mountain and the Aerial Cableway, Robben Island and Boulders Beach penguin colony, then V&A Waterfront in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Table Mountain and the Aerial Cableway

      Check the cableway's live status on the morning you plan to go and take the first clear, calm day you get; the 'tablecloth' cloud can roll in by midday. (3–4 hours, mid-priced).

   2. Late morning

      Robben Island

      Sit on the left side of the ferry heading out for the classic view back to Table Mountain. (About 4 hours including ferries, mid-priced).

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Bobotie

      Cape Malay restaurants in Bo-Kaap and on many traditional South African menus in the City Bowl.

   4. Afternoon

      Boulders Beach penguin colony

      Go early in the morning before tour buses arrive, and combine it with Cape Point further down the peninsula. (1–2 hours, low cost).

   5. Evening

      V&A Waterfront

      Take a short harbour cruise at sunset for a view of Table Mountain from the water.

2. Day 2: Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden and Bo-Kaap

   Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden, Bo-Kaap and Lion's Head hike, then Signal Hill in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden

      Bring a picnic; the lawns below the mountain are one of the best places in the city for a long afternoon. (2–3 hours, low cost).

   2. Late morning

      Bo-Kaap

      This is a residential area with mosques; photograph the houses respectfully and avoid posing on people's front steps. (1–2 hours, free).

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Cape Malay curry

      Bo-Kaap eateries and cooking classes on Wale Street and nearby lanes.

   4. Afternoon

      Lion's Head hike

      If you go for sunset, carry a head torch for the descent and walk down with other hikers. (2–3 hours, free).

   5. Evening

      Signal Hill

      Arrive at least 45 minutes before sunset on summer evenings, when the parking area fills up.

3. Day 3: Chapman's Peak Drive and Zeitz MOCAA

   Chapman's Peak Drive, Zeitz MOCAA and District Six Museum, then Bree Street in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Chapman's Peak Drive

      Drive it from Hout Bay towards Noordhoek in the late afternoon, when the light falls on the bay behind you at the lookouts. (30–60 minutes, low cost).

   2. Late morning

      Zeitz MOCAA

      Look up from the centre of the atrium, then take the stairs rather than the lift to see the carved tubes up close. (1.5–2 hours, mid-priced).

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Gatsby

      Takeaway shops in Athlone, Salt River and the CBD; one roll easily feeds two or three people.

   4. Afternoon

      District Six Museum

      Ask whether a former resident is guiding that day; their talks bring the exhibits to life. (1–1.5 hours, low cost).

   5. Evening

      Bree Street

      The city's best concentration of wine bars, cocktail bars and restaurants, with a slightly older, food-focused crowd.

4. Day 4: Day trip to Cape Point and the Cape of Good Hope

   About 1 hour 15 minutes by car each way. Getting there: Car or guided peninsula tour.

   1. Morning

      Travel to Cape Point and the Cape of Good Hope

      About 1 hour 15 minutes by car (Car or guided peninsula tour); about 65 km.

   2. Day

      Cape Point and the Cape of Good Hope

      The southern tip of the Cape Peninsula is part of Table Mountain National Park, with the Flying Dutchman funicular up to the old lighthouse at Cape Point, sea cliffs, fynbos, ostriches and baboons. Best for first-timers, families and couples.

   3. Evening

      Back in Cape Town

      Dinner: try Hake and chips.

5. Day 5: Two Oceans Aquarium and Castle of Good Hope

   Two Oceans Aquarium, Castle of Good Hope and Company's Garden, then Long Street in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Two Oceans Aquarium

      Time your visit for one of the scheduled feeds listed at the entrance. (2 hours, mid-priced).

   2. Late morning

      Castle of Good Hope

      Pair it with the District Six Museum, a five-minute walk away on Buitenkant Street. (1–1.5 hours, low cost).

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Hake and chips

      Harbour fish shops in Kalk Bay and Hout Bay, and casual fish restaurants at the V&A Waterfront.

   4. Afternoon

      Company's Garden

      Walk through it between Bo-Kaap and Kloof Street; it is the most pleasant route across the city centre. (45 minutes, free).

   5. Evening

      Long Street

      Backpacker bars, balconies and late-night clubs; loud, cheap and busiest on weekends.

Before you go

Reserve timed tickets for Table Mountain and the Aerial Cableway and Robben Island before you travel; the rest of this plan needs no advance booking.

Where to stay for this itinerary

With 5 nights, City Bowl and Gardens keeps most of this route within easy reach. For a calmer or cheaper base, V&A Waterfront ($$$$) suits families, luxury, first-timers and shopping. Compare every area.

Pace and daylight

The sights in this plan add up to roughly 24–32 hours of visiting over 5 days, before meals and getting between them. Daylight runs from about 9.9 hours in June to 14.4 hours in December, so in winter start early and keep museums for the afternoon.

More or fewer days

• One day in Cape Town
• 2 days in Cape Town
• 3 days in Cape Town
• 4 days in Cape Town
• 7 days in Cape Town

Questions travellers ask