Cape Town and Cape Peninsula

Cape Town, the oldest city in the country, is rightly one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Nowhere else in South Africa do history and modernity come together so impressively. Cape Town offers many historic buildings, first-class restaurants, countless shopping opportunities, great beaches and varied landscapes, especially on the Cape Peninsula. At least three nights should be planned for Cape Town so that you have enough time to explore the many highlights of the "Mother City".

Table Mountain

The main attraction is the city's landmark: Table Mountain. The cable car or various hiking trails take you up the 1000 meters to the top, from where you can enjoy a breathtaking view of Cape Town and the surrounding suburbs. The last cable car only descends after sunset, making Table Mountain the perfect place for an unforgettable sundowner. However, the mountain is often closed due to bad weather. Visitors to Cape Town should therefore take the first opportunity they get and not wait until the last day.

V&A Waterfront

The tourist heart of the city beats on the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront. Countless stores and restaurants invite you to linger and stroll around. The ferry to Robben Island, the former prison island during the apartheid era, also departs from here. The high-security camp, where Nelson Mandela also spent a long time, is now a museum and former prisoners bring visitors closer to the history of the struggle for freedom and independence. Another attraction on the waterfront is the Two Oceans Aquarium, which offers an insight into the different flora and fauna of the two oceans at the Cape on an area of over 4,000 square meters. In more than 30 tanks, 300 species of fish can be seen, as well as reptiles, penguins, a giant tortoise and, of course, sharks. Another highlight is the new Zeitz Museum Of Modern Arts Africa, the only one on the entire continent dedicated to contemporary African art. The building alone, a former grain silo, is an absolute eye-catcher thanks to its elaborate restoration.

City center

A stroll through the center of Cape Town is also worthwhile. Sights such as the flea market on Green Market Square, the Castle of Good Hope, Cityhall and Company's Garden are within easy walking distance of the Waterfront. There are also many museums around the Company's Garden. The colorful Bo-Kaap district of Cape Town's Muslim inhabitants is a popular photo motif. Trendy people swear by the adjacent trendy De Waterkant district of the LGBT community. Bree Street has blossomed into a restaurant mile, with some of the best bistros and cafés in the city located here.

Beaches

For sun-seekers, Cape Town offers a variety of beaches. The famous city beaches can be found at Clifton and Camps Bay. The latter, with its lively beach promenade, offers countless cafés, restaurants and stores. The beaches in the suburbs of Bloubergstrand, Llandudno, Hout Bay and Noordhoek are much quieter. On the whole, however, the cold Atlantic current does not make for great bathing fun for everyone, but walks or horseback rides in breathtaking surroundings are possible. The water in the Indian Ocean at False Bay is somewhat warmer. There are beautiful beaches in Gordons Bay, Strand, Muizenberg, St. James and Fishhoek.

Cape Peninsula

The Cape Peninsula is best explored on a day trip. You should definitely visit the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve south of Cape Town with Cape Point and the Cape of Good Hope, the most south-westerly point in Africa. Other highlights include Boulders Beach near Simons Town, famous for its penguin colony, Chapmans Peak Drive (one of the most beautiful coastal roads in the world, linking Noordhoek and Hout Bay), the old wine region of Constantia and the Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens, one of the most beautiful botanical gardens in the world.

Good Food

Capetonians are absolute foodies. Hardly anywhere else in South Africa are there as many top restaurants and food markets as in the Cape. The local cuisine is incredibly fresh and diverse. European, Asian and, of course, African influences blend to create an exciting culinary journey of discovery for every taste, whether in a rustic beach bar, a cozy bistro or an upscale Michelin-starred temple. No visit to Cape Town is really complete without a visit to one of the many food markets that take place at various locations and squares from Thursdays to Sundays.

Shopping

Cape Town is also a shopper's paradise. The V&A Waterfront is home to boutiques from international labels such as Superdry and G-Star to Gucci and Louis Vuitton. Tourists tend to flock here. Locals are drawn to the Canal Walk Shopping Mall near Century City, around 20 minutes' drive away. Here you will find international brands as well as many South African chains. There is also a large number of boutiques for the fashion-conscious, often with clothing designed by local designers. Top addresses here are the Cape Quarter in the De Waterkant district and Cavendish Square in Claremont. Bargain hunters will be interested in the Access Park Outlet Center in an industrial area of Kenilworth. Here you will find stores from both local and internationally renowned brands.