For couples · Cape Town · South Africa
Romantic things to do in Cape Town
Ideas for a couples' trip, from small moments to a special day out.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Jim.henderson, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Cape Town is made for couples who like the outdoors: sunsets over the Atlantic, wine-estate lunches and dramatic coastal drives. Plan around the wind and the light, and leave the evenings for sundowners. Couples tend to stay in De Waterkant and Green Point.
Key facts
- Romantic ideas
- 6
- Couple-friendly sights
- 4
- Area for couples
- De Waterkant and Green Point
- Best months
- April
Romantic ideas
1.Sunset picnic on Signal Hill
Bring wine and snacks to the top of Signal Hill and watch the sun drop into the Atlantic with the city lights coming on below.
2.Chapman's Peak at golden hour
Drive the cliff road from Hout Bay in the late afternoon and stop at the lookouts as the bay turns gold.
3.Winelands lunch
Book a long lunch at a Franschhoek or Stellenbosch estate with views across the vineyards to the mountains.
4.Kirstenbosch sunset concert
On summer Sundays, picnic on the lawns under Table Mountain while a band plays in the garden.
5.Camps Bay sundowners
Watch the sun set behind the beach from a terrace on Victoria Road with the Twelve Apostles glowing behind you.
6.Sunrise on Lion's Head
Climb in the dark with head torches for sunrise over the City Bowl and the mountains of the interior.
Sights couples love
Garden · Newlands
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.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Nature
- Kids
- Couples
- Outdoors
- Photo spot
Viewpoint · Hout Bay
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.
- Time needed
- 30–60 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- Views
- Photo spot
- Couples
Viewpoint · Signal Hill
Signal Hill
Arrive at least 45 minutes before sunset on summer evenings, when the parking area fills up.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Views
- Couples
- After dark
Historic site · Constantia
Groot Constantia
Arrange a ride-hail or driver so nobody needs to drive after tasting.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- History
- Couples
- Food
- Architecture
Where couples should stay
$$$ · Best for couples, nightlife and first-timers
De Waterkant and Green Point
De Waterkant is a small grid of restored cottages on the slope above the Waterfront, with boutiques, cafés and the city's main LGBTQ+ bars. Green Point next door has Green Point Park, the stadium and the start of the Sea Point Promenade. Both sit between the CBD and the Waterfront, so most sights are a short ride away.
- Good
- Central between city and coast; Good self-catering cottages; Lively bar scene
- Watch out
- Can be noisy on weekend nights; Limited parking
- Nearby
- V&A Waterfront, Green Point Park, Sea Point Promenade, Bo-Kaap
Romantic day trips
- Cape Point and the Cape of Good Hope (About 1 hour 15 minutes by car) — 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.
- Stellenbosch (About 45 minutes by car) — South Africa's second-oldest town has oak-lined streets of whitewashed Cape Dutch buildings, a university, galleries and dozens of wine estates in the surrounding hills, many with tasting rooms and restaurants.
- Franschhoek (About 1 hour 15 minutes by car) — A valley town founded by French Huguenots, known for its restaurants and wine estates under dramatic mountains.
- Hermanus (About 1 hour 30 minutes by car) — From roughly June to November, southern right whales come close to the cliffs of Walker Bay, and the cliff path through Hermanus is one of the best places in the world for land-based whale watching.
For dinner
Share local specialities such as Bobotie, Cape Malay curry and Hake and chips. Fish menus often list SASSI ratings; green-listed species such as hake and yellowtail are the sustainable choices.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Cape Town romantic?
Cape Town is made for couples who like the outdoors: sunsets over the Atlantic, wine-estate lunches and dramatic coastal drives. Plan around the wind and the light, and leave the evenings for sundowners.
+What is the most romantic thing to do in Cape Town?
Sunset picnic on Signal Hill: Bring wine and snacks to the top of Signal Hill and watch the sun drop into the Atlantic with the city lights coming on below.
+Where should couples stay in Cape Town?
De Waterkant and Green Point: Cobbled lanes of pastel cottages, Cape Town Stadium and the city's LGBTQ+ quarter.