Trusted by 1,000+ trip planners
Top 20 Things To Do in Cape Town
Discover Cape Town's must-see attractions and highly-rated experiences. Our expertly curated guide helps you plan the perfect visit with insider recommendations and traveler favorites.
JD
MK
AS
RW
4.9/5 from 200+ reviews
2,847
trips planned this month
Cape Town Travel Guide
Cape Town dazzles visitors with one of the world's most spectacular natural settings, where the iconic Table Mountain rises dramatically above pristine beaches and world-renowned wine regions. Take the cable car to Table Mountain's summit for breathtaking 360-degree views, explore the historic Robben Island where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned, and wander through the colorful Bo-Kaap neighborhood with its vibrant houses and rich Cape Malay culture. Relax on stunning beaches like Camps Bay and Clifton, with their white sand and crystal-clear waters. Cape Town's world-class wine regions are just minutes away, offering tastings at award-winning estates in Stellenbosch and Franschhoek surrounded by dramatic mountain landscapes. The city's diverse cultural heritage creates an exciting culinary scene blending African, European, and Asian influences, while the V&A Waterfront provides shopping, dining, and entertainment with harbor views. With its perfect Mediterranean climate, stunning natural beauty, and complex history, Cape Town offers profound and unforgettable experiences.
Explore Cape Town by Category
Top 20 Ranked
Best Attractions in Cape Town
Our expertly curated list of the top experiences, tours, and attractions based on traveler reviews and ratings.
#1
Top Rated
Cape Peninsula & Penguins Private Day Tour, Entrances Included.
5 (77)
A tour that’s the boast of the Atlantic coast. Mile upon mile of quiet rolling roads with some of the most spectacular views imaginable. The attractive suburbs of Sea Point and Camps Bay quickly give way to quaint villages and fishing harbours backed with magnificent mountains, fringed with sandy beaches. Visit Good Hope Nature Reserve, home to exotic birdlife, antelope and zebra. Not to mention historic lighthouses and shipwrecks. Next stop Boulders Beach where you can marvel at the huge colony of penguins, before returning to Cape Town via yet more idyllic villages
#2
Top Rated
Kayak with penguins and Hike Cape of Good Hope
5 (63)
We paddle by kayak from Simon’s Town to Boulders Beach, where African penguins waddle and swim at arm’s length. Then off to hike a beautiful trail in the Cape of Good Hope with history, adventure, and natural beauty.
#3
Top Rated
Cape Town Khayelitsha Township Tour
5 (34)
This is the only township tour that will make you connect with locals through, arts, music, food and storytelling and unforgettable memories are created .we work together with the community in creating responsible tourism. -Stop at Khaltsha Cycles -walk and meet local entrepreneurs -Visit the first Story Room Creatives Art school
#4
Top Rated
Jeep Dune Adventure Tour, Cape Town
5 (26)
Book one of our modern Jeep Wranglers with a professional driver and enjoy exploring this Nature Reserve with its large dunes, vegetation and wildlife all from your open top Jeep Wrangler. Thrilling ride up and over dunes, drops with some exciting rollercoaster driving by your experienced drivers in a controlled and safe environment. See Cape Town's Table Mountain from this unique location and stop at a few other sights to take the best photos before heading to a base camp tent setup where we have a sand boarding instructor, lunch and refreshments waiting.
Plan Together
Start Planning Your Cape Town Trip
Build the perfect itinerary, find activities, track your budget, and plan an unforgettable experience with friends.
Plan Your Trip Free
#5
Top Rated
Private Cape Peninsula Tour
5 (24)
See the best of the Cape Peninsula on an entertaining day long highlights tour. This area is renewed internationally for its spectacular natural scenery Craggy mountain peaks contrast with endless oceans visits and lush grey valleys. No matter where you travel in the Cape there are historical and modern sites on fabulous activities. On this tour we still tour includes Chapmans Peak (weather permitted) scenic route, Cape of Goodhope & Cape Point and Boulders beach the home of the penguin colony. We will have a leisurely lunch in the Historical town of Simon's Town before departing back to Cape Town. This tour is a private tour and is very flexible and can be customized on the day and even during the day. Your guide will make sure that you see the most and make the most of your day out.
#6
Top Rated
Cape Town: India Venster Half-Day Hike on Table Mountain
5 (26)
Experience the wild side of Table Mountain on foot. Enjoy superb views and learn more about the fauna and flora from your highly experienced, fully qualified guide.
#7
Top Rated
Breath-taking Cape Peninsula Tour
5 (15)
This day tour will take you to the Cape of Good Hope/ Cape Point most commonly known as the tip of Africa. Experience the wonderful sceneries of Houtbay Harbour, Chapman's Peak, Noordhoek along the way, then Simons Town and the Boulders Beach which is the home of African Penguins on your way back to Cape Town. Minimum number of people in this tour is four
#8
Top Rated
Full Day Cape Peninsula Motorcycle Tour on a Royal Enfield
5 (15)
Enjoy the highlights of Cape Town on a vintage-style motorcycle. After an early start at 8:30am in the morning, you will explore Cape Towns most scenic routes on the Cape Peninsula, visit the penguins at Simons Town and enjoy a lunch in of the many restaurants. We will then continue to the famous Cape of Good Hope, ride along the coast next to baboons and ostriches, and of course, ride on the most beautiful coastal road in the world, Chapman's peak before catching the stunning sunset at Camps Bay. You will have the flexibility to make stops along the route, or to add additional sights. Your day tour includes motorcycle rental for one person, petrol, helmet, your personal tour guide, and snacks. Pillions are welcome at a surcharge. Not included are personal expenses, entrance fees to attractions and local sights, tips, meals.
#9
Top Rated
Table Mountain, Penguins & Muizenberg Beach Private Half Day Tour
5 (14)
Take an in-depth Private Half Day tour to discover Cape Town's treasures. While you enjoy the breathtaking scenery of Bo-Kaap, Maiden Cove, Table Mountain, Chapman's Peak, Boulders Penguin Colony in Simons Town a home to a unique and endangered land based colony of African Penguins, Muizenberg Beach are all visited on the tour.
#10
Top Rated
Winelands Tour
5 (10)
The Winelands of the Western Cape hold many gems among them! On this one-of-a-kind tour, we experience 3-4 of the most unique tastings the region has to offer. There is something for everyone, a famous duck parade, wine and cheese pairings, delicious cupcakes and a cave based tasting experience. This is a day you'll be talking about for the rest of your travels. So, let's leave the thoughtful nodding, experts swirling, and careful smelling to the connoisseurs- and raise your glasses to having fun with fermented grapes.This trip is all about good times with good people.
#11
Top Rated
10 Day Cape & Garden Route Tour Combo with add-on accommodation
5 (12)
The iconic sights of Cape Town and the wondrous Garden Route unfold before you on this 10-Day Tour Package. Spend five days exploring the euro-chic city and its famed surrounds. Guided day trips along the Cape Peninsula and Cape Winelands gives you the opportunity to visit several local hotspots and sample award-winning wines with unique pairings.  During your Cape Town stay you can explore the city on your own with an included hop-on-hop-off City Sightseeing bus pass; that stops at popular attractions like Table Mountain, Kirstenbosch Gardens, V&A Waterfront, Camps Bay and Constantia. Accommodation in Cape Town is an optional extra that can be added. The guided five-day Garden Route tour sees you immersed in pure wilderness. Visit majestic national parks, Addo safari; 4x4 game drive; Cango Caves, optional bungy from the world’s highest commercial bridge jump; Knysna heads, optional surfing in J'bay and wine tasting along Route 62 are just some of the activities you'll experience.Â
#12
Top Rated
Constantia Hidden Gem Cycle Half Day - Private Tour
5 (8)
Just 15 minutes from Cape Town CBD, Constantia Valley is where Dutch governor, Simon van der Stel, started the wine industry of South Africa dating back to the 17th century. We start our tour at the historic and picturesque Groot Constantia Estate. Following a short estate tour, we commence with a fabulous wine-tasting and cellar tour undertaken by the resident estate winemakers. We then commence our Winelands cycle experience, moving through upmarket leafy suburbs and picturesque wine estates within the Constantia Valley. We stop at some of the finest wine farms, carefully chosen for their exceptional wines and beautiful estates. Wine farms in the region include the famous Buitenverwachting, Klein Constantia, Constantia Uitsig and Steenberg Estate. Each farm is unique and exquisite and we are confident you will be hard pressed to pick a favorite after completing this spectacular tour! Note: Minimum group size is 2 guests.
#13
Top Rated
Nelson Mandela's Robben Island Prison Museum Cape Town City Tour + Ferry Tickets
5 (12)
This is a great tour which brings the tourist face to face with history, nature and sightseeing opportunities. Experience the life of World Statesman Nelson Mandela during his 18 years of imprisonment at the world heritage site Robben Island as part of his 27 years in prison. Climb the Table Mountain - voted one of the new 7 world wonders in 2012, attracts 800 000 visitors annually. Experience Cape culture at Bo-Kaap that has bright coloured houses as a celebration of their freedom from slavery. The first residents arrived from Indonesia, Java, Malaysia and other parts of Asia. It is also a heritage site. The Company Gardens has a rich history, it has also has museums like the Slave Lodge, the Iziko South African Museum, the Planetarium. The S.A. Art gallery, the Cape Town Holocaust centre, St Georges Cathedral. There is also amazing fauna and flora. The Castle of Good Hope is the oldest standing colonial building in South Africa.
#14
Top Rated
Private City Tour Table Mountain + Cable Car Ticket Camps Bay H/D
4.9473686 (19)
This tour brings the travelers to the leading tourist destination in Africa. It has a lot of attractions within a few minutes drive. Travelers are taken on a sight seeing tour as they drive along the dramatic landscape of the coast. This drive is lined with blue flag beaches and upmarket residential properties. The charming coastline with its trendy coffee shops and restaurants. Traveleres will visit the iconic Table Mountain - the only attraction on the New 7 wonders of nature in a city. This city is loaded with history since the arrival of the Dutch in 1652. All developments going inland throught the southern African region started here. This tour takes travelers to most of the landmarks and the oldest buildings in South Africa. It is home to the Parliament of South Africa and the place where medical milestones where achieved. The first ever human heart transplant in December 1967 and the first ever male transplant in the world in 2014.
#15
Top Rated
Abseiling Table Mountain
5 (8)
You get some serious bragging rights when Abseiling down one of the 7 wonders of nature which is the iconic Table Mountain. This is also the world’s highest commercial Abseil !!
#16
Top Rated
Jetski Experience
5 (6)
This unique jet ski experience is the perfect combination of adventure and excitement! With the most beautiful views of Table Mountain, you'll enjoy every moment. Our highly qualified skippers are there to guide, support and supervise you to ensure the utmost safety during your experience!
#17
Top Rated
Full-Day Private Robben Island, Penguins & Cape of Good Hope Tour
5 (6)
Enjoy a full day experience in Cape Town that includes a Robben Island boat trip and and stops at the Boulders Penguins Colony and Cape of Good Hope. This tour includes scenic routes and picturesque stops.
#18
Top Rated
Half day am or pm Boulders Beach & Penguins with visit to Cape Point Great tour
5 (6)
Drive pass Millionaire's paradise, Clifton and Camps Bay Hout Bay drive by Chapman's Peak Cape Point and Cape of Good Hope Penguins at Boulders Beach Simonstown drive through
#19
Top Rated
Hike Table Mountain via the India Venster trail
5 (5)
India Venster is one of the classic Table Mountain ascents and hiking with an experienced guide adds immense value! This adventurous hike is not for the faint-hearted but if you're looking for a more exciting Table Mountain experience offering superb views in good weather then this is the hike for you. - Table Mountain Experts - Local in-depth knowledge of the Fauna & Flora of Table Mountain - Incredible Views of Cape Town - Adventurous Route with challenging rock scrambles - Quieter Trail away from the masses
#20
Top Rated
Hiking Cape of Good hope, Cape Point & Penguins Private Full Day
5 (5)
What makes this tour unique as a private excursion it can be customized as you like. However our suggestions are as follows: Our Cape of Good Hope hike start on the Western shoreline of the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve and cross over to the Eastern side of the reserve offering breathtaking views of False Bay. In spring spectacular flora and abundant bird-life are one of the many highlights as well as Whale watching. The Cape of Good Hope hike take you South toward Cape Point and Cape of Good Hope. The hike is mainly along the coastline with stunning beaches and involve occasional rock scrambling. You are almost bound to get very close to baboons. Following a rest at Cape Point the hike take you to the old light house and along a well-maintained and marked boardwalk to the famous Cape of Good Hope most South Western tip of Africa. The trail is popular for the unsurpassed views over the pristine Diaz Beach.
Review counts and ratings based on Viator and Tripadvisor data
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do tours cost in Cape Town?
Tours in Cape Town range from $225 to $19122, with an average price of $3207. The highest-rated tour is "Cape Peninsula & Penguins Private Day Tour, Entrances Included." at 5 stars.
What are the best experiences in Cape Town?
Our guide features 20 top experiences in Cape Town, averaging 5 stars across 391 reviews. The top-rated is "Cape Peninsula & Penguins Private Day Tour, Entrances Included.".
When is the best time to visit Cape Town?
The ideal time to visit Cape Town depends on your preferences. Plan your trip with Plan Harmony to organize all your activities and make the most of your visit.
Ready to explore Cape Town?
Start planning your trip with Plan Harmony and create the perfect itinerary with your travel companions.
Plan Your Cape Town TripReady for your next adventure?
Plan your next Cape Town adventure together
Join thousands of travelers who plan smarter, not harder. Create your first trip in minutes.
Free forever plan
4.9/5 rating
No credit card required