Discover Cape Town: Top Attractions, Hidden Gems, and Unforgettable Experiences

Cape Town was an unexpected surprise! We didn’t have many expectations going in, but it completely redefined what I enjoy in cities. Initially, we had some reservations since our research painted Cape Town as a bit dangerous, and we struggled to find easy day trip options. But boy, were we wrong!

The city itself is vibrant and friendly, with an amazing blend of African and European design within its architecture. We spent a total of 7 days in Cape Town, and every moment was filled with adventure and discovery.

We started with the hop-on hop-off bus tour, which was the perfect way to get a feel for the city. We explored the Victoria & Albert Waterfront, a bustling area with shops, delicious eateries, and stunning marina views with Table Mountain as the backdrop. Boulders Beach was a highlight with its adorable penguins and picturesque setting.

Riding the Table Mountain cable cars was an experience I’ll never forget – the views from the top are simply breathtaking. Bo-Kaap charmed us with its colorful houses and rich Cape Malay culture. We also had a fantastic time at the Two Oceans Aquarium, where we marveled at the marine life.

Cape Town exceeded all my expectations and is now one of my top three cities to visit. It's a place I plan to visit again. The mix of culture, adventure, and natural beauty made it an unforgettable destination.

*You are going to see almost every day where we eat food. The food was AMAZING. The cost, quality, and experience you got with the meals were some of the most memorable food we have had in the world.

Before we get into the full Cape Town Itinerary here is a quick snapshot of our South Africa Trip:

Day 1 | Travel to South Africa
Days 2- 5 | Cape Town
Days 6- 14 | Myejane Bush Camp & Kruger National Park
Day 15 | Pit Stop in Cape Town
Days 16- 21 | Mossel Bay 
Day 22 | Cape Town
Day 23| Travel Home

Travel Day(s)

Our adventure began with a mix of excitement and a little bit of chaos, as travel often does. Jeff got upgraded to Delta One (lucky him!), Shelly enjoyed the comforts of business class, and Wallace’s took one for the team in coach, making it a cozy nest for the kids to stretch out and lay down. The flight was long, but the kids did great, sleeping for 7 hours. We made sure to have plenty of snacks and movies on the iPads to keep them entertained.

Boarded airplane: Jeff upgraded to Delta One, Shelly in business class, Wallace in coach with kids.
Flight details: 11:42 am -> 5:20 pm (SLC -> ATL), 8:50 pm -> 6:15 pm (ATL -> CPT). Jeff & Shelly utilized Delta Points 120,000 each, Wallace family purchased tickets for $525.00 each.
Flight duration: 3h 38m (SLC -> ATL), 14h 25m (ATL -> CPT).
Kids: Slept for 7 hours, entertained with snacks and movies on iPads.

Day 1: Arriving in Cape Town

We landed in Cape Town around 6:00 PM and were pleasantly surprised by the ease of navigating the airport. A quick Uber ride got us to our Holiday Inn, where we used our points to book three small but clean rooms. By the time we got to the hotel from the airport, checked in, and set luggage down it was after 8:00 pm. We were surprised that most everything was starting to close down at this time. Fortunately, there was a hotel around the corner that had a restaurant within it called Mint.

Arrival time: Around 6:00 PM.
Transport: Uber from the airport, $15.00.
ATM: Withdrew $442.00 per family (7000 rand) with a 6% fee.
Hotel: Holiday Inn Express Cape Town City Centre, used IHG points (20,000 points per room), three small but clean rooms.
Dinner: Mint within the Taj hotel, $75.00 for six, good service, Andrew tried ostrich . He always orders what the staff suggests.

Day 2: Exploring Cape Town

Our first full day in Cape Town started with a hop-on-hop-off bus tour, the perfect way to get our bearings and see the city’s highlights. The Hop-On Hop-Off bus in Cape Town offers various routes, including the Red City Tour, Blue Mini Peninsula Tour, Yellow Downtown Tour, and Purple Wine Tour, with stops at attractions like Table Mountain, V&A Waterfront, Camps Bay, Kirstenbosch Gardens, and Constantia Wine Route. Buses run every 15-20 minutes from early morning to early evening.

By the end of the day, we had ridden the bus through the entire route and got off at four different destinations.

Activity: Hop on Hop off bus tour, $16.00 per person. Bus Route Info

Tip: Wear sunscreen and bring water!

Victoria & Albert Waterfront was a hit, nestled between Table Mountain and the Atlantic Ocean, was an absolute delight with its lively mix of street performers, shops, and delicious eateries. We spent hours exploring the boutiques, enjoying fresh seafood, and taking in the marina views while the kids loved the aquarium and play areas. With so many amenities, from shopping and dining to boat tours and cultural attractions, the V&A Waterfront quickly became one of our favorite spots in Cape Town! One of our favorite activities was listening to the school singing groups come and perform all throughout the waterfront.

We visited the VA almost every day that we were in Cape Town.

Lunch: La Parada at Victoria & Albert Waterfront, $75.00 for 6 people, 7.5/10.

Location: Victoria & Albert Waterfront, vibrant shops, food, and live music.
- VA Waterfront Info (shopping/entertainment center)
- La Parada Info (resturant)

Day 3: Boulders Beach and Penguins

Boulders Beach was an absolute Bucketlist item! Bolder Beach changed the way we started to see animals. 95% of the time our interactions with animals outside of our pets is looking in through a cage or glass. This was the first experience where you were able to be around the animals in their natural environment.

It took around an hour to get to the beach. There are two parts of the experience.

The first part is the “viewpoint” where you go out on a pier and can view them from above. You see their nests and see many at the same time. You pay at the ticket booth before you go out on the deck to view. They do have a cute shop with souvenirs here.
The real magic is up the trail… At first, we were disappointed because we had seen videos like the Bucketlist Family playing next to the penguins. We decided to explore and walked up the trail. About 10 minutes later we came to another entrance where the locals go and swim, and this was the jackpot! You climb through the boulders to find a place that you want to park it for a few hours.

This was a great opportunity to teach the kids about observing and protecting animals. We were very carful to watch, take photos and have great discussions but never touch them or leave anything out that would be harmful.

We spent the afternoon with adorable penguins, strolling along the boardwalks and soaking in the beauty of the beach.

Activity: Boulders Beach, $16.00 per person, adorable penguins, clear water, huge boulders.
Transport: Uber to and from the hotel, $40.00 each way.

Tip: Watch the documentary ‘Pegiun Town’ on Netflix, it is about this exact spot!

Dinner at Mozambique at the V&A Waterfront and ice cream from Unframed topped off our day perfectly.

Dinner: Mozambique (V&A), $67.00 for 6. Steak & fish.
Dessert: Ice cream at Unframed.

Day 4: Table Mountain and Bo-Kaap

Riding the cable car up Table Mountain was a fantastic experience! The views were breathtaking, and we spent hours hiking and exploring. We all loved riding the cable car up the mountain, it gave you time to really take in all of the beauty around Cape Town. (If you don’t want to ride the car up, hiking is an option.)

It was amazing to walk on top of a flat mountain and see how the plants and animals have adapted to be there. It is the most iconic spot in Cape Town.

Activity: Table Mountain cable car, $16.00 per person, hiking, panoramic views.

Tip: While down in Cape Town in the early morning situate yourself to see the clouds ascade over the mountain, it is mesmerizing.

Bo-Kaap, formerly known as the Malay Quarter, is a historic area in Cape Town that dates back to the 1760s. Strolling through its cobblestone streets, you’re surrounded by brightly colored houses that reflect the vibrant culture of the Cape Malay community, brought over as slaves from Southeast Asia. It was different than what I expected.

In the photos we saw before, and even the ones I’ve included here, the neighborhood appears very open, clean, and pedestrian-friendly. It wasn’t exactly like that; it was a bit hard to find and functioned very much like any other residential street. Some cars were driving quite quickly next to the sidewalk, and people were coming in and out of their homes. I’m glad we saw it; it was just different than expected. One of the highlighting experiences of this area was to come upon a group of older men playing a game of Chess. We watched for around 30 minutes and it was fascinating to see how connected their community was.

Location: Bo-Kaap, colorful houses, Cape Malay heritage.
Shopping: African dresses with Mama BB, $15.00.
Dinner: Gibson’s, VA Waterfront, $100.00 for 6, hamburgers, steak, ice cream.
Transport: Uber to/from V&A, $6.00.

Tip: When photographing the area, turn the brightness up on your camera (higher ISO); you’ll be so much happier with the photos. We also randomly got the girls bright dresses while walking to the neighborhood, which made the photos much more engaging and gave them a definite vibe

Day 5: Two Oceans Aquarium

The Two Oceans Aquarium was fantastic. The kids loved the interactive exhibits, and we all learned a lot about marine life. Generally, we don’t visit zoos or aquariums when we travel. In the past, we’ve felt that it takes time away from seeing the unique location we’re in, and we can visit those places in the States. We decided last minute to go to the aquarium because we thought it would give us a breather from running around the city and support our focus on learning about animals. The aquarium ended up being a great choice, as it was a primer for the girls to get engaged in the learning aspect of the trip.

We used the second half of this day to prepare our luggage and minds to return to the airport to fly to Kruger National Park.

Activity: Two Oceans Aquarium, $15.00 per person, interactive exhibits.
Lunch: Baia at V&A, $135.00 for 6 entrees. Featuring a game trio of ostrich, steenbok, and kudu, as well as salmon and lobster. This went down as one of the best meals we have had, ever!
Dinner: Pizza to go, $11.00, ate in the hotel room.