Cape Town in 7 Days: a guidebook for getting the most out of your visit

Cape Town is one of the brightest cities in South Africa and its brightness does not come from an artificial source. The city shines because it is full of nature. From vineyards that occupy trails, to the Big Five of Africa and the Big Five of the ocean, in this majestic place you will learn a lot about African biology, history and culture.

Among the best things to do in Cape Town I propose a 7-day itinerary, where you will know the most essential in the city and then go into its surroundings. You will go to the nature reserves, live a safari experience, dive into the ocean to see sharks, learn about the wine tradition of the region and much more.

The plan for your first day in the city is to explore its iconic destinations, especially those located in the Old Town area. On your tour you will visit places like Greenmarket Square, St. George's Cathedral, City Hall, the District Six Museum, the Bo-Kaap neighborhood and the Castle of Good Hope.

Greenmarket Square

Greenmarket Square is one of the oldest urban spaces in the city, dating back to 1696. It is a picturesque area, with lots of people and a colorful market. Here you can buy clothes, handicrafts, jewelry, souvenirs and more. You can also go into one of the nearby restaurants, bars or cafes to taste the local cuisine. For all these reasons, the place is one of the frequent stops on guided tours of Cape Town.

St. George's Cathedral

Just 4 minutes from the above destination, walking along Burg St and Wale St, you will find St. George's Cathedral, a religious precinct of neo-Gothic architecture, which is one of the largest churches in South Africa. In it, Mandela addressed the world for the first time after his release from prison. The structure is notable for its soaring arches and 40-meter tower.

The Town Hall

Now it's time to visit the City Hall. You will have to walk for 7 minutes along Adderley St and Darling St to reach the seat of the city government, which boasts Edwardian architecture. The facade spans roughly four blocks and is made of sandstone. City Hall is situated so that Table Mountain can be seen in the background , so take the opportunity to get a good photo.

Castle of Good Hope

Discover the Castle of Good Hope just 4 minutes from the previous destination, walking along Darling St and Castle St. It is a colonial castle that is a must-see destination on Cape Town bike tours. Visit the surrounding dungeons, watch the changing of the guard and, if you wish, enter the Iziko Military Museum.

District Six Museum

Leaving the castle behind, heading towards Buitenkant St, you will arrive at the District Six Museum, an area of high spiritual, historical and cultural value, as it gathers the traces of the struggle of black South Africans. This space owes its name to the multi-ethnic District Six neighborhood, which suffered demolition during the apartheid period. The museum also houses a moment to the 60,000 people who lived there.

The Bo-Kaap neighborhood

At 1.5 km from the museum you will find a destination that is never missing in the itineraries. It is a space full of colorful houses, with a great prominence for the Muslim culture that makes life in the region. The history of this neighborhood can be discovered in more detail if you enter the Bo-Kaap Museum. In Bo-Kaap you can finish your tour and opt for dinner in one of the restaurants and cafes around.

I suggest you spend your second day at the V&A Waterfront leisure complex. This is an extensive space that houses stores, restaurants, museums, the Two Oceans Aquarium and is also a venue for shows, festivals and concerts.

Two Oceans Aquarium

If you are traveling to Cape Town with children this will be a destination they will love. It is an aquarium with more than 350 species of marine animals, such as turtles, fish, rays, sharks and a kelp forest that shows the richness of this plant species. You can also see coral reefs and microscopic living creatures.

The Nelson Mandela Gateway

About a 6-minute drive from the previous destination, you will arrive at the Nelson Mandela Gateway, a monument to this important activist and former president of South Africa. This museum houses permanent exhibits alluding to both the history of South Africa and Mandela's life. Take advantage of your visit to visit the clock tower, located just across the street.

Robben Island

From the previous museum, you will be close to the harbor to connect with the ferry that will take you to Robben Island. You will sail for about 30 minutes until you reach the destination, a place of great historical value, as it functioned as a prison for approximately 300 years. The island itself is now a museum and a World Heritage Site. If you wish, you could opt for a guided tour and get to know various spaces, especially the cell where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned.

End the day at The Cape Wheel

On your way back from the island you can take the opportunity to ride the observation wheel to end your day. You will be delighted with the night view of the city and its surroundings from a height of 50 meters, in a tour of approximately 30 minutes. This activity is an excellent choice among the recommended things to do in Cape Town at night.

On your third day of travel, it's time to start exploring around the city and one of the first must-see destinations are the towns of Stellenbosch and Franschhoek. These are two towns with an important winemaking tradition, so you can take a wine tour through Stellenbosch and Franschhoek to see their vineyards, learn about the process of preparing this beverage and delight in its flavors and landscapes.

Stellenbosch

Leaving from the center of Cape Town you will have to travel by car for approximately 45 minutes. As you approach the destination, you will begin to see the plantations that populate the terrain of the region.

Once in the town, you will only have to choose which winery to visit. Most of them have an important family tradition that gives a special touch to their products. For example, you can visit:

• Lanzerac Winery, pioneer in the process of wine production in South Africa, especially a characteristic species of the region: pinotage. Here you can also taste chocolates, cheeses and several varieties of wine.
• Hidden Valley Winery, full of green trails, the possibility of guided tastings and only 26 minutes from the previous destination.

Franschhoek

Continuing with this wine tour, you will have to travel by car for another 45 minutes to reach Franschhoek, a region that dates back to 1688. This locality is also of great beauty, covered by mountains, dressed by forests and vineyards that are painted in colors according to the season.

A curiosity is that from the village you will have access to about 60 wineries, so you can taste a wide variety of wines. You can go to Chamonix Wine Farm, a popular winery located 12 minutes from the center, with attractive gastronomic options and an array of selected wines to delight your palate.

On your fourth day of travel, I suggest you head towards the southwest of the region, on a tour that takes in three important natural environments: Cape Point, Cape of Good Hope and Boulders beach. This tour can be done on your own or through an excursion. In this case, you will be accompanied by a guide who will give you additional information about each place at the various stops. Depending on your decision, an itinerary you can follow is:

1. Muizenberg Beach

A half hour drive from the center of Cape Town will take you to Muizenberg Beach. You can easily identify it because it is full of small colorful houses. You will notice its high waves, which have made the place ideal for surfing. If you wish, visit the town of Muizenberg and explore the promenade.

2. Simon's Town

This town is a favorite among tourists for its beauty and rich natural and historical heritage. You will reach it in about 18 minutes if you drive from the previous destination. It is home to a major naval base and some of the region's best-known beaches, especially Boulders Beach, our next stop.

3. Boulders Beach

The magic of this beach goes beyond its waters or its sand. This space is home to hundreds of African penguins, which found in this ecosystem an ideal environment for their habitat. Therefore, it is an unmissable place if you want to see penguins.

4. Cape Point Nature Reserve

A 32-minute drive, equivalent to about 24 km, will take you from the previous beach to the Punta del Cabo Nature Reserve. This protected area was established in 1949 and covers an area of 45 km, with a high number of species such as monkeys, zebras, whales, dolphins, rhinos, seals, penguins and much more. It is also full of cliffs and is a place for activities such as kayaking, hiking or whale watching.

5. Cape Point Lighthouse

Because of its proximity, you should ideally continue to the Cape Point Lighthouse, which you can reach by climbing the stairs or by funicular. You will reach the top and enjoy the spectacular view at about 30 meters high. In fact, it is the highest lighthouse in South Africa, so take the opportunity to take pictures of the Atlantic coast.

6. Cape of Good Hope

The Cape of Good Hope is the final destination for the day. It is a southern point of the continent and will allow you to see the Atlantic in all its splendor. You could go to the Cape of Good Hope nature reserve, hike the cliff trails, etc. I remind you that you can get to know all these destinations through an excursion to Boulders Beach from Cape Town.

After completing 5 days in Cape Town, I think you can venture out and do something more adventurous: drive through the rainforest in an off-road car to see the wildlife spectacle that nature has in store for you.

Located just over 2 hours drive from the center of Cape Town, this nature and hotel complex will give you a unique viewing experience and at the same time give you a taste of what it is like to be a guest at their hotel.

You will depart from the door of your hotel to the reserve. When you arrive at the hotel, they will be waiting for you with a glass of wine and a special breakfast. You can take a tour of the resort facilities and take advantage of some of the benefits of being a guest. This means you can take a dip in the pool or go to the spa for a relaxing session. You can also simply lie back and admire the surrounding scenery while waiting for the adventure to ramp up a notch.

Africa's Big Five

You'll climb into an off-road car to take on the trails of this reserve. Open your eyes wide and get your camera ready, because in a few moments the show will begin. You will see Africa's famous Big Five: lions, buffaloes, leopards, rhinos and elephants.

The species will be in their natural habitat and you will be able to observe them doing activities such as simply taking a walk or feeding. Of course, you will see many other animals, such as monkeys, giraffes or even the exotic bird Aquila Verreauxii. All this, accompanied by a guide who will tell you facts about the wild world and what you are observing on the excursion.

At the end of this unforgettable moment, you can taste some of the local cuisine to replenish your energy and start the way back. This safari tour to Aquila Game Reserve is an adventure like no other.

Your long stay in Cape Town would not be complete without a good contact with the ocean. So, for day 6 of the itinerary, I invite you to dive into the ocean waters to see none other than the big five of the ocean.

For this experience, you will join a guided tour. You will be picked up at the door of your hotel and start your way to the port. Once there, you will board the boat to sail the Atlantic Ocean for a while. When you arrive at the observation point, it will only take a few minutes for the observation experience to begin.

The big five of the ocean

The idea is for you to see sea lions, dolphins, whales and the great white shark. While you observe and take pictures, pay attention to the information explained by a marine biologist, a professional who will be present on the tour for educational purposes, so that you can better understand the behavior of these species from their own habitat.

To complete the group of the big five aquatic species, you will travel by boat to the well-known penguin and seabird sanctuary, an environment full of life with penguins as protagonists. There you will learn about the care of this species and other aspects of their biology.

That's why this experience is never missing on a Cape Town safari tour. Don't worry about safety, as you will have the necessary equipment, such as a life jacket. To replenish your energy, you can eat some muffins on the boat, as well as water, coffee and tea.

You can end your visit in Cape Town with another amazing day on the ocean. This is an activity that is always included among the day tours from Cape Town. To live this guided experience, you will have to travel by car for a little more than two hours to Gansbaai. You will go to the dive center there to learn a little about the instructions and best practices for diving.

Then you will go to the observation point. You will board a boat and sail for 20 minutes to Dyer Island. There, you will stop at the strategic location determined by the guides and, shortly after, the descent through the oceanic waters will begin.

With the protection of the barriers of a cage, you will have an experience full of adrenaline. Activate your sense of vision and keep an eye out for the appearance of some white sharks. You will be able to see how they move from one side to the other and interact with that metallic object that seems strange to them.

For this excursion, you will always have the support of guides and professionals in each of the phases of the experience, so you have nothing to fear. Rather, be prepared not to miss a single moment of this hyper-realistic experience of contemplation. If you are wondering about your meals during the day, keep in mind that you will be able to consume snacks, drinks and appetizers on board.

If you want to visit Cape Town in 3 days or less, or you want to take more time to rest between one day and another, a very good option to do so is to opt for the tourist bus.

The Cape Town tourist bus will allow you to visit dozens of attractive places in the city, including almost all of the above mentioned, in an interval of 1 or 2 days. The routes are divided into 3 and spread over 30 or so stops. The best part is that you can hop on and off the bus at your convenience to customize your tour, while still enjoying every corner of the city.