Cape Town is a city where two oceans meet beneath a flat-topped icon, and where cultures—Khoisan, Malay, Dutch, Indian, and more—wove a distinctive South African tapestry. Once a refreshment station for ships rounding the Cape, it grew into a thriving port and creative hub set against the rising cliffs of Table Mountain National Park.

Today, the Mother City brims with outdoor adventure and refined pleasures: penguins at Boulders Beach, Cape Point’s shipwreck coast, and world-class wine estates in Stellenbosch and Franschhoek. Its neighborhoods—Bo-Kaap’s candy-colored homes, Woodstock’s murals, Bree Street’s eateries—invite unhurried exploration.

Practical notes: summer (Nov–Mar) is sunny and breezy; winds can close the Table Mountain Cableway. Uber is reliable; tap water is generally safe. Book key attractions (Robben Island, wine tours, top restaurants) in advance. Load-shedding can occur, but most hotels run generators.

Cape Town

Cradled by mountains and the Atlantic, Cape Town delivers postcard views at every turn. Hike Lion’s Head at sunrise, sip Chenin with vineyard vistas, and watch the sun melt into the sea from Camps Bay or Signal Hill.

• Top highlights: Table Mountain, Cape Point, Boulders Beach penguins, Robben Island, V&A Waterfront, Bo-Kaap, Zeitz MOCAA, Woodstock street art, Clifton and Camps Bay beaches.
• Food & drink: From Cape Malay curries and seafood feasts to cutting-edge tasting menus (FYN, La Colombe group), plus coffee roasters and rooftop bars galore.
• Getting around: Uber and e-hailing are efficient; self-drive is easy for the peninsula and Winelands.

Getting there (book flights): Fly into Cape Town International (CPT). From London, nonstop flights are ~11.5–12 hours; from New York, ~14–15 hours nonstop; from Johannesburg, ~2 hours. Typical round-trips range from ~$800–$1,400 long-haul and $60–$120 domestic one-way (season dependent). Search and book on Trip.com flights or Kiwi.com.

Where to stay (bookable picks):

• One&Only Cape Town — Resort-style luxury on the V&A Waterfront with mountain views and a standout spa; perfect for walkers and families.
• Radisson Blu Hotel Waterfront, Cape Town — Ocean-edge rooms, a pool deck for sunset, and easy Waterfront access.
• The Twelve Apostles Hotel and Spa — Dramatic setting between mountain and sea near Camps Bay; superb sunsets and spa.
• Mojo Hotel — Sea Point social hub above a lively food market; great value near the Promenade.
• The Backpack — Long-running, design-forward budget favorite with a community ethos in the City Bowl.
• Browse more stays on Hotels.com (Cape Town) or apartment-style options on VRBO (Cape Town).

Day 1: Arrival, V&A Waterfront, and Atlantic Sundowners

Afternoon: Land in Cape Town and settle into your hotel. Stretch your legs along the V&A Waterfront—browse the Watershed for local design and watch working harbor tugs cruise past Table Mountain’s silhouette.

Evening: Casual dinner at Willoughby & Co (famous for sushi and tempura, no-frills setting inside the mall) or Baia (grilled line fish, Mozambican prawns, and balcony views). Cap the night with a harbor sunset cruise booked at the waterfront kiosks, then an Amarula nightcap at Cause Effect Cocktail Kitchen (creative, Cape botanicals-driven cocktails).

Day 2: Table Mountain, City Bowl, and Bree Street

Morning: Ride the rotating cable car up Table Mountain (go early for calmer winds and fewer queues). Walk the Dassie or Agama trails for panoramic views across the Cape Flats and Atlantic Seaboard; bring a windbreaker and sunscreen.

Afternoon: Coffee at Origin Coffee Roasting in De Waterkant (house roasts and pour-overs). Stroll Bo-Kaap’s colorful terraces, learn about Cape Malay heritage, and sample a koesister from a local bakery. Wander Company’s Garden and the Iziko South African Museum if you enjoy natural history.

Evening: Dinner on Bree Street: try FYN for a contemporary Japanese-South African tasting menu (book ahead), or Kloof Street House for fairy-lit garden dining with modern South African plates. Post-dinner drinks at The Gin Bar (hidden behind Honest Chocolate; try a fynbos-forward G&T) or Tjing Tjing Rooftop (Japanese-leaning cocktails, city views).

Day 3: Robben Island, District Six, and Cape Malay Flavors

Morning–Afternoon: Take the ferry to Robben Island for a sobering, essential look at South Africa’s struggle and resilience. Former political prisoners often guide aspects of the tour. Pre-book to avoid sellouts:

Cape Town: Robben Island Tour: Pre-Booked Ticket and Transfers

Evening: Explore the East City. Eat at Belly of the Beast (intimate, nose-to-tail tasting menu) or Upper Union in Gardens (wood-fired sharing plates, great for groups). For a relaxed option, Biesmiellah in Bo-Kaap serves Cape Malay curries, dhaltjies, and fragrant bredies.

Day 4: Cape Peninsula Grand Day Out (Chapman’s Peak, Penguins, and the Cape of Good Hope)

Full-day coastal adventure: circle the peninsula via Hout Bay and Chapman’s Peak Drive (lookouts are spectacular), visit the African penguin colony at Boulders Beach, and continue to Cape Point and the Cape of Good Hope. Expect ocean breezes, fynbos, and possible ostrich and baboon sightings. Book a small-group tour for stories, driving, and park logistics handled:

Cape of Good Hope and Boulders Penguins Day Tour from Cape Town

Return via Kalk Bay’s fishing harbor (stop for fresh snoek if time allows). Dinner back in town at Asoka (Kloof Street; dimly lit, vibey lounge with Asian-influenced small plates) or The Bungalow near Clifton for seafood with surf views.

Day 5: Franschhoek Wine Tram (Cape Winelands)

This is the most scenic, stress-free way to taste the valley. Transfer from Cape Town to Franschhoek, then ride color-coded tram lines to cellar doors for tastings, cheese boards, and vineyard lunches amid mountains. Book a seat with hotel pickup:

Full-Day Franschhoek Hop On Hop Off Wine Tram Tour from Cape Town

On return, keep dinner light: Clarke’s Bar & Dining Room (all-day diner, excellent salads and burgers) or Tiger’s Milk Kloof Street (casual pizzas and grills) before an early night.

Day 6: Markets, Street Art, and Zeitz MOCAA

Morning: If it’s Saturday, hit the Neighbourgoods Market at the Old Biscuit Mill for artisan coffee, Cape Malay samoosas, and biltong. On Sundays and select Wednesdays, the Oranjezicht City Farm Market at Granger Bay is superb for farm-to-table bites and sea views. Otherwise, explore Woodstock’s murals with a local guide.

Afternoon: Head to the Silo District for Zeitz MOCAA, Africa’s largest contemporary art museum, housed in a dramatic reimagined grain silo. Coffee at The Yard or a gelato break in the square, then amble the Waterfront boardwalk.

Evening: Book The Pot Luck Club (top-floor views at the Biscuit Mill; sharing plates like fish tacos, sticky pork, and famed pot du crème). Nightcap at The Athletic Club & Social (multi-level heritage bar; live music some nights) or at Cause Effect in the Waterfront.

Day 7: Beaches, Promenade, and Aerial Views

Morning: Brunch at Jarryds Sea Point (ricotta hotcakes, shakshuka, and strong espresso). Walk or cycle the Sea Point Promenade, people-watch, and look for dolphins offshore.

Afternoon: Beach time at Clifton 2nd or Camps Bay; rent an umbrella and dive into the crisp Atlantic. For a splurge, take a short scenic helicopter flip from the Waterfront for jaw-dropping coastline views (bookable on-site), or try tandem paragliding from Signal Hill if the wind plays nice.

Evening: Sunset cocktails at Chinchilla (Camps Bay rooftop), then dinner at The Codfather (choose your seafood from the counter; sushi bar also excellent) or The Nines in Sea Point (coastal grill, oysters, and city-lights panoramas).

Day 8: Big Five Day Safari

Trade ocean for veld on a full-day safari at a well-run private reserve 2–2.5 hours from Cape Town. Expect morning or afternoon game drives in open vehicles with the chance to see lion, elephant, rhino, buffalo, and giraffe, plus a hearty lunch. This popular option includes hotel pickup:

Aquila Big Five Game Reserve Safari with lunch from Cape Town

Back in the city, keep it easy: tacos and margaritas at Hacienda on Bree or comforting pastas at Villa 47.

Day 9: Sand Dunes, Blouberg Views, and Bree Street Nightlife

Morning: Coffee at Deluxe Coffeeworks (Kloof Street), then head to the Atlantis Dunes for a guided quad-biking session on rolling white sands. It’s a surreal landscape with photo ops for days—wear sunglasses and a buff for sand.

Afternoon: Continue to Bloubergstrand for the postcard view of Table Mountain across the bay. Grab fish and chips from a local takeaway, watch the kitesurfers, and stroll the promenade.

Evening: Bree Street crawl: start with small plates at Thali (Indian-inspired sharing feast by Liam Tomlin—book ahead), then cocktails at The Gin Bar or Dark Horse. For dessert, find artisanal chocolate at Honest Chocolate.

Day 10: Last Sips, Souvenirs, and Departure

Morning: Brunch at Jason Bakery (Green Point; famed croissant doughnuts and flat whites) or Starlings in the Southern Suburbs if you’d like a leafy patio. Pick up souvenirs at Greenmarket Square or the Watershed (local ceramics, textiles, and beadwork).

Afternoon (departure): If time allows, a quick spin on a hop-on hop-off bus is great for a final lap of the Atlantic Seaboard and City Bowl. Grab a final gelato on the Waterfront before your afternoon flight.

Optional Add‑Ons and Swaps (If You Want More Guided Structure)

• Swap Day 2’s DIY mountain visit with skip-the-queue tickets if winds look favorable another day.
• Trade the tram day for a guided multi-region tasting that adds Paarl and Stellenbosch, or a cellar masterclass.

Two excellent, pre‑bookable options are below if you prefer them on other days:

Robben Island Half Day Tour with Pre-Booked Entry Tickets.

Cape of Good Hope and Boulders Penguins Day Tour from Cape Town

Local logistics tips: Book restaurants at least a few days ahead in peak season. Carry a light jacket; evenings can be cool even in summer. For day trips, plan morning departures to beat traffic and wind. Keep small cash for markets; cards are widely accepted elsewhere.

Airport transfers: Uber from CPT to the City Bowl is typically 20–30 minutes off-peak. For flights, compare on Trip.com or Kiwi.com and arrive at CPT 2.5–3 hours early for international departures.

Where to book your stay: Waterfront and City Bowl are walkable and central; Camps Bay and Sea Point suit beach lovers. Compare rates across Hotels.com and VRBO to match your style and budget.

Viator experiences featured in this itinerary:

• Robben Island: Pre-Booked Ticket and Transfers
• Cape of Good Hope & Boulders Penguins Day Tour
• Franschhoek Wine Tram Day Trip
• Aquila Big Five Safari with Lunch

In ten days, you’ll trace the Cape Peninsula’s wild curve, sip through storied valleys, and step into chapters of South Africa’s past and present. Cape Town rewards curiosity—every corner offers a new vista, flavor, or story to carry home.