Cape Town: 5 Day Itinerary
Cape town is a city with so much to do that no matter how long you go for youβll still feel like you could stay longer. To make things easier, we have put together a 5 Day Cape Town itinerary that consists of all the best things to do in Cape Town. If you are travelling South Africa, 5 Days in Cape Town is the minimum I would suggest.
Cape Town Itinerary: Day 1 - Cape of Good Hope/Boulders Beach
The cape of good hope, followed by boulders beach is a really popular day trip to cape town tourists and locals, and you really will need a whole day.
The Cape of Good Hope is the most south-western point in Africa and has some of the most incredible scenery South Africa has to offer. You can walk up to the lighthouse for incredible views of the peninsular, and walk along the coastline. Beware birds & baboons will be after your food.
Boulders Beach is home to one of the only land-based colonies of African penguins in the world. The beach is lined with a wooden walkway and viewing platforms for the thousands of tourists that visit everyday. The names boulders beach originated from the giant granite boulders that line its shore.
The cheapest way to do this trip is to book it through city sightseeing tours, which costs Β£35 including the park fee. The big red bus that Iβm sure youβve seen in almost every city. You can pay for private tour buses, but ultimately they arenβt any better and cost slightly more. The buses come with WiFi, a guide, plugs, air-con and pick you up at a couple of locations across the city. You get a set time at each location, but itβs more than enough, and then dropped back to a central cape town location on the way home.
Top tip: No matter what the weather, take extra layers. Winds regularly reach> 25 km/hr, and the walk can get really cold.
Cape of Good Hope: Times: Mon-Sun β Summer: 6:00-18:00 & Winter 7:00-17:00 | Price: Adults- R320 & Child R160 | Website: Cape Point
Boulders Beach: Times: Mon-Sun β Summer: 7:00-19:00 & Winter 8:00-17:00 | Price: Adults- R160 & Child R80 | Website: Boulders Beach
City Sightseeing Tour: Mon-Sun β 9:00-17:30 | 780R (Β£35) | Cape Point & Penguin Tourο»Ώ
Boulders beach - Cape Town
Cape Town Itinerary: Day 2 - Table Mountain/Camps Bay
Table mountain is South Africaβs most iconic landmark and now a modern seven wonder of the world. It is a flat-topped mountain that encases Cape Town and is part of Table Mountain National Park, which spans 1300 acres, and consists of one of the most bio-diverse locations in the world.
You can either hike to the top or travel up in the well-known cable car. However, itβs important to note that the cable car does stop running in high winds (and this is common in Cape Town). So ensure you have enough time to hike back down from the top if you head up.
Camps Bay and Clifton are home to some of the nicest beaches in cape town. With a promenade full of vibrant restaurants and bars, and an incredible view of lions head, itβs a great place to unwind for the afternoon. The area is much pricier than other parts of Cape Town, so if you donβt fancy dinner there, grab a drink in one of the promenades chill vibe bars and watch an incredible sunset.
Table Mountain: Times: Mon-Sun β Summer: 8:00-20:00 & Winter 8:30-18:00 | Price: Adults- R360 & Child R180 | Website: Table Mountainο»Ώ
Climbing up to the top of Table Mountain for an incredible view.
Cape Town Itinerary: Day 3 - Bo Kaap / Distrct 6 museum / Robben island / V&A waterfront
Today is a day to really delve into the history of Cape Town, and how times have changed over recent decades.
Spend the morning in Bo Kaap, an area of Cape Town that is a historic centre of Cape Malay culture. Bo Kaap is a former township that is the most distinct area in cape town, with an array of brightly coloured houses, and so much to see.
Soak up the culture here, before heading to District 6 Museum to learn about the history that makes this city so interesting. The District 6 Museum is located inside a Methodist church and was created in 1994 to educate people on the effects of the apartheid.
Lunch suggestion: Royale Eatery -Rated one of the best restaurants in Cape Town, and famous for itβs burgers. Itβs also located perfectly for leaving the District 6 museum and heading to Robben Island
Next stop head towards the V&A waterfront and jump straight onto the ferry to Robben Island. For this tour itβs usual best to pre-book. Since the 17th Century, Robben island was used as a prison and primarily to incarcerate political prisoners. Most famously those who fought the apartheid and Robben Island was Nelson Mandelaβs home for 18 of his 27 year sentence, before he was cleared of charges.
After a full day if South African history head to the V&A waterfront after you return on the ferry. Relax with a view and try out some of the local restaurants and bars. A couple of favourites are, Belthazars & Firefish
District 6 Museum: Times: Mon-Sat β 9:00-16:00 | Price: 50R (Β£2.50) | Website: District Six Museum
Robben Island: Times: Mon-Sun , 2 daily tours: 9:00, 11:00, 13:00, 15:00 | Price: Adults- R550 & Child R300 | Website: Robben Island
V&A Waterfront: Times: Mon-Sun , 9:00-21:00 | Price: Free | Website: V&A Waterfront
Cape Town Itinerary: Day 4: Swim with Seals in Hout Bay / Lions head hike / Dinner at Belly of the Beast
Wake up early and head to Hout Bay, a fishing village just outside Cape Town, where you can swim with seals at a nearby island. You will have to book this trip in advance, only by a few days during low season, but it can get booked up a couple of weeks in advance during peak season.
There is a reason these animals are called the puppies of the sea. They are super playful, and inquisitive, be sure to take a waterproof camera to capture some incredible shots. If you are traveling to Cape Town Nov-Jan time youβll also be lucky enough to swim with the Seal pups.
Lunch Suggestion: The Lookout Restaurant, Hout Bay. Which has great views of the bay. Here you can fuel up before heading on your Lions Head hike.
Next travel on the open top bus to Lions Head. The top of Lions head offers 360 views of Cape Town, you simply canβt experience anywhere else. Itβs a relatively easy hike and should only take you about 2 hours. The main trail starts at the Lion Head parking lot, and trails in a circle around the mountain.
Another option would be to do Lions head first thing in the morning (5:30am and hike it for sunrise), before heading to Hout Bay late morning.
Finally, itβs time to reward yourself with one of the best tasting menus Iβve ever had the pleasure of experiencing. Belly of The Beast is currently rated 5 stars, and for good reason. They offer an intimate dining experience, with the restaurant seating only 20 guests, and an open kitchen for everyone to witness the magic.
As each dish from their tasting menu is presented to you, your waiter/waitress will talk you through what the dish is made of and how it has been prepared. The Belly of the Beast is a Nose-to-tail eatery, meaning they cook dishes using every part of the animal, and all of their ingredients are seasonal and come from sustainably sourced animals.
Youβll need to ensure you make a reservation really early as some of their tasting menu nights can be booked up months in advance.
Hout Bay Seal Snorkelling: Times: Sat-Thurs, 8:00-11:00 & 12:30-14:00 | Price: 400R (Β£20) | Hout Bay Seal Snorkeling
Lions Head: Times: Mon-Sun, 24hrs | Price: Free
Belly of the Beast: Dinner Times: Tues-Sat , 19:00-23:00 | Price: R450 (Β£22) | Belly of the Beast
Stellenbosch - South Africa
Cape Town Itinerary: Day 5
Letβs be honest, I know youβve been waiting for a day to get drunk on what South Africa is famous for β That incredible, sweet, delicious, WINE. Stellenbosch & Franschhoek form part of the cape winelands, which consists of hundreds of stunning vineyards, some are even centuries old.
They are both located about 45 mins from Cape Town, and 20 mins from each other, so itβs easy enough to do a full day trip with several wine tasting pit stops.
You can either choose to go it alone and hire a taxi for the day or go on a group tour that will arrange everything for you, including transport, wine estate visits, wine tastings and lunch.
Get your guide has some great tour options, with the top rated costing just Β£50 and lasting 10 hours.
Winelands β Stellenbosch & Franschhoek: Tour Days: Sun-Wed & Fri, Departing at 8:00am | Price: 1000R (Β£50) β Travel, lunch & Wine-tasting | Stellenbosch & Franschhoek Day Tourο»Ώ
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