Speaking to Nigel Cedar a few weeks back at OR Tambo Airport, not knowing my affiliation with Cape Town tourism, he randomly mentions his challenges while planning his trip to Cape Town.
Nigel mentions; "It's his first time to South Africa of which 3 days will be spent inCape Town before he departs back to the UK.
He planned his first day with a visit to Robben Island and bought tickets for the 9:00 am ferry, he also plans to visit Table Mountain and Cape of Good Hope on the same day and wanted to know if this is possible? "
He further explains: "He would like to make the best out of his time in Cape Town as he fly's back to UK on Tuesday morning.
Seeing that you're a local having grown up in Cape Town, what would you recommend? he asked.
So a number of you are probably wondering what you could do in Cape Town for your holiday, whether it may be 3 days, 5 days or 7 days.
In essence of the above conversation I decided to compile a list of activities and day tours in Cape Town to help tourists like Nigel plan more efficiently.
This list of full day, half day and iconic Cape Town attractions will make it easier for tourist planning a trip to Cape Town.
A list of attractions in Cape Town
Table Mountain
Table Mountain Path Way Table Mountain is approximately 20 min from the city center. Tickets can be booked via web tickets or purchased at the cable car entrance. Adventure seekers can also explore the hiking trails to the top of the mountain. The average person takes approximately 2-3 hours to hike to the top via Platteklip Gorge. One way tickets are also available for hikers to come down after a strenuous climb.
Time needed +/- 2 hour
Cable car price per adult (return) R290.00
Cable car price per child > 17 (return) R140.00
Cable car price per adult (one-way) R150.00
Cable car price per child > 17 (one-way) R70.00
Hike via Platteklip Gorge +/- 6hrs FREE
Cape Point
Cape Point sightseeing Surrounded by ocean currents, Cape Point is a beautiful sightseeing attraction that appeals to nature lovers and avid adventurers. The views are magnificent from every angles. The drive to Cape Point takes about an hour from the city but allocate extra time for stops along the way. Cape Point is definitely something you would want to tick off your bucket list.
Time needed 2hrs
Price per adult R147.00
Price per child R76.00
Cape of Good Hope
Cape Point black lizzard Cape of Good Hope is situated to the west of Cape Point. Consider taking the hike from Cape of Good Hope that leads all the way to the top of the light house at Cape Point. The hike takes about 90minutes. Keep your eyes pealed for Baboons, Ostriches, Eland and cormorants. Smaller wildlife such as the Cape Hyrax, Lizards and Snakes may also be seen.
Cape Point and Cape of Good Hope is located in Cape of Good Gope Table Mountain national park, one entrance fee applies to both attractions.
Time needed 2hrs
Price per adult R147.00
Price per child R76.00
Boulders beach (Penguins)
Boulders Beach Penguins Boulders beach is situated in Simons Town. Travel time from Cape Towns city to the Penguins is roughly an hour, but it makes sense to visit Boulders Beach with Cape Point. While you're there, take sometime to explore the walkway to the secluded beach and swim with the penguins.
Time needed 2hrs
Price per adult R76.00
Price per child > 12 R41.00
Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens
Kirstenbosch botanical gardens is approximately 30min from the city centre. This is not your ordinary botanical gardens, this lush garden at the foot of Table Mountain spreads across 7700 hectares of lushes greenery with hiking trails that leads all the way to Table Mountain. A guided tour is included in the entrance fee.
Time needed 2hrs
Price for adults R65.00
Price for children > 17 R15.00
Robben Island Museum
Cape Point sightseeing Robben Island is departure terminal is situated at the water front harbour, approx. 15 min from city central. Robben Island can only be reached by boat although a bird eye tour is also avaliable by helicopter. Travel time to and from the Island is roughly an hour (weather depended). The island tour takes about 3 hours.
Time needed 5hrs
Price per adult R340.00
Price per child > 18 R190.00
view updated Robben Island prices
Castle of Good Hope
The Castle, situated in central city is the oldest building in Cape Town. Its an awesome cultural and historical attraction to explore, try to visit the castle before the canon goes off at 10:00am. A guided tour is scheduled every hour and included in the entrance fee.
Time needed 1 hr
Price R50.00
District 6 Museum
District 6 museum is small museum just outside the city, close to the university. The museum has captured the history and suffering of apartheid and opened the display to the public.
Time needed 45min
Price R50.00
Jewish Museum
The museum is located in the city center
Time needed 45min
Price R50.00
Company Gardens
The Company Gardens has a demarcated walk way through the garden. Squirrels and birds control the territory so take them a snack, you might find them a little more welcoming. Spare some time to visit the South African Museum and the art gallery while you are there.
Time needed 2hrs
Price R50.00
Cape Town full day tours
Most of the popular tours are packaged with highlights around the main attraction. Although these tours can be explored with a self-drive option, exploring with a local tour guide has several advantages which increases the overal experience. Herewith, a list of Cape Towns most popular private and scheduled day tours that you could do on your own:
Cape Peninsula Tour
This tour is focused around the penisula, the main attractions are Cape Point, Cape of Good Hope and the Penguins in Simons Town. It is possible to explore the Cape Peninsula with Table Moutain, Constania Winelands or Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden although this would reduce your time at the Cape of Good Hope national park. If you plan to do a self-driven Cape Peninsula tour, be sure to check if Chapmans Peak is open ahead of time.
Cape Peninsula private tour prices
1 pax R 2600.00
2 pax R 2600.00
3 pax R 3200.00
4 pax R 3700.00
5 pax R 4300.00
6 pax R 4800.00
Cape Town City & Table Mountain Tour
A Table Mountain tour includes the cable car to the top of the mountain, a drive through the city and several city attraction. Some tour operators include most of the following with a city tour:
A city tour is not something you would want to do self-drive. History and culure is vital to a city tour and unless you've have some serious super-powers, you'll probably miss out on the full experience of a local guided tour.
City and Table Mountain tour prices
1 pax R 2800.00
2 pax R 2800.00
3 pax R 3500.00
4 pax R 4400.00
5 pax R 5100.00
6 pax R 5800.00
Robben Island and Table Mountain
Includes Robben Island ferry/boat ride, the island tour as well as Table Mountain. Cape Coastal Tours also includes a visit to District 6, The Castle of Good Hope, Slave Lodge and if time allows, the South African Museum. Of all the tours, the Robben Island - Table Mountain tour may be the one tour you could explore on your own and save some cash for the gift shop, if you do go this route be sure to visit the Castle and District museum. These 2 attractions are closely related to Robben Island and amplifies the Robben Island experience so much more.
Robben Island extended tour prices
1 pax R 2900.00
2 pax R 2900.00
3 pax R 3700.00
4 pax R 4700.00
5 pax R 5500.00
6 pax R 6300.00
Wine Route tour
Cape Town Wine Tours and about more than wine tasting, and wine cellars. Even though we have some of the choicest and most exclusive wines in the world, the tours include chocolate, cheese, farms and some of the classiest and wine estates. Cape towns wine route is spread across 5 regions, Constantia, Stellenbosch, Paarl, Franshoek, Wellington and Durbanville
Cape Peninsula private tour prices
1 pax R 3000.00
2 pax R 3000.00
3 pax R 3500.00
4 pax R 4000.00
5 pax R 4500.00
6 pax R 5000.00
Shark cage diving
Shark Cage diving could be done in Gaansbaai. It's a 3 hour drive and 3-4 hour shark cage experience. Snacks are given and a video could be watched. This tour is not for the faint hearted
Shark cage diving tour prices
1 pax R 3000.00
2 pax R 3000.00
3 pax R 3500.00
4 pax R 4000.00
5 pax R 4500.00
6 pax R 5000.00
Whale watching
Whale watching is at its peak just before summer. It includes a visit to the town of Hermanus, home to 12 kilmeter stretch of blue flag beaches and 2 hour drive from Cape Town. The boat whale watching experience lasts about 3-4 hours. Additional attraction included with whale watching is wine tasting, penguin viewing, Harold Porters Botanical Gardens a beach stop or Cheetah outreach.
Shark cage diving tour prices
1 pax R 4000.00
2 pax R 4000.00
3 pax R 4800.00
4 pax R 6000.00
5 pax R 6800.00
6 pax R 7200.00
Safari day tours
A visit to South Africa is incomplete if you havnt witnessed the wildlife in its natural glory. An excellent wild life reserve is the Aquila Game Safari, a 3 hour drive from Cape Town. The big 5 safari tour lasts about 3 hours.
Cape Town Safari tour prices
1 pax R 4000.00
2 pax R 4000.00
3 pax R 4800.00
4 pax R 6000.00
5 pax R 6800.00
6 pax R 7200.00
Garden Route Tours
The Garden Route is is about 4 hours drive from Cape Town. Spread across 300km on the south-western coast of South Africa, this 300km stretch contains a hive of activities. The main attraction are located within the following areas:Main places
Main places
Garden Route Tours tour prices
1 pax R 8000.00
2 pax R 13000.00
3 pax R 18000.00
4 pax R 23000.00
5 pax R 28000.00
6 pax R 33000.00
Looking for a perfect tour?