Cape Town is a city shaped by wind and water: the Atlantic’s cool currents, the Cape Doctor’s summer breeze, and the flat-topped sentinel of Table Mountain. Founded in 1652 as a resupply station for the Dutch East India Company, it’s now a layered city where Khoisan heritage, enslaved peoples’ legacies, and global influences meet on colorful streets like Bo-Kaap’s Chiappini and in markets buzzing with spices and song.

Expect big scenery—cliff-hugging roads, penguin-dotted beaches, fynbos-scented trails—alongside serious food and wine. The city’s culinary stars riff on Malay spices, Karoo lamb, and coastal seafood; the nearby Winelands (Stellenbosch and Franschhoek) offer refined tastings amid mountain-backed vineyards. Urban culture is equally strong: contemporary art at Zeitz MOCAA, social history at the District Six Museum, and design-forward neighborhoods like Woodstock and De Waterkant.

Practical notes: Cape Town is best explored with a mix of Uber, MyCiTi buses, and organized day tours; consider a rental car for peninsula and Winelands days. Tap water is potable, cards are widely accepted, and customary tips are 10–15%. Summer (Nov–Mar) brings long beach days and wind; whale season peaks Aug–Oct; wildflower displays along the West Coast shine late Aug–Sept.

Cape Town

Base yourself in the City Bowl (Gardens, Tamboerskloof), V&A Waterfront for walkability, or Camps Bay/Clifton for sunsets and beach access. You’ll weave between rugged nature and a cosmopolitan city with ease—hiking in the morning, galleries by noon, wine by afternoon, and seafood with ocean views at dusk.

Getting there: Book international flights into CPT via Kiwi.com or Trip.com. Typical one-stop flight times: 14–16 hours from Western Europe, 20–26 hours from major U.S. hubs; expect $700–$1,400 roundtrip depending on season.

Where to stay: Search a wide range of stays on VRBO Cape Town or compare hotels on Hotels.com Cape Town. Consider: heritage elegance at Mount Nelson (Gardens), oceanview serenity at Twelve Apostles (Atlantic Seaboard), waterfront convenience at One&Only (V&A), boutique cool at Gorgeous George or Labotessa (City Bowl).

Days 1–3: Settle In—City Bowl, Waterfront, and Table Mountain

Start with an easy loop: stroll the V&A Waterfront boardwalks, browse local design at Watershed, and time a harbor-side sunset. Use the Hop-On Hop-Off bus to get your bearings, hopping off at Camps Bay, Table Mountain, and the City Bowl neighborhoods.

• City highlights: Company’s Garden (meet the resident squirrels), Bo-Kaap’s candy-colored houses and spice shops, Greenmarket Square for crafts, and Bree Street’s eateries.
• Essential tour: Table Mountain, Penguins & Cape Point Small Group Tour Cape Town—hit the icons in a day, ideal early in the trip to orient and use flex time later.

  

• Urban museums: Zeitz MOCAA for contemporary African art; the Slave Lodge for sobering history; District Six Museum to understand forced removals.

• Coffee & breakfast: Truth Coffee (steampunk roastery; flat whites and pasteis de nata), Origin Coffee Roasting (De Waterkant; single-origin pour-overs), Jason Bakery (butter croissants, “doughssants”).
• Lunch: Oranjezicht City Farm Market (Fri night/Sat/Sun; farm-to-table stalls—try Sunshine Food Co. falafel or The Poke Co.), The Pot Luck Club (small plates with city views; book midweek lunch), Clarke’s (smashed-burger and salads on Bree).
• Dinner: FYN (progressive Japanese–South African tasting; months-ahead bookings), Kyōto Garden (Kloof Nek; line-caught fish sashimi), Kloof Street House (Victorian setting; ostrich fillet, mezze to share).
• Drinks: Cause Effect Cocktail Kitchen (botanical, fynbos-forward), The Gin Bar (hidden behind Honest Chocolate), Willaston Bar (Silo rooftop views).

Transport tip: Ubers within the center are usually R50–R150 ($3–$8) and 10–20 minutes. MyCiTi bus runs the Waterfront–Camps Bay corridor; buy a myconnect card at stations.

Days 4–6: Cape Peninsula Road-Tripping—Penguins, Chapman's Peak, and Cape Point

Set aside a day (or two) for the jaw-dropping Cape Peninsula loop: Hout Bay, Chapman’s Peak Drive, Noordhoek, Simon’s Town, Boulders Beach, and the Cape of Good Hope. Early starts help beat wind and traffic, and give penguins their space.

• Private or small-group peninsula tour: From Cape Town: Table Mountain, Cape of Good Hope & Penguins including Park Fees—a relaxed, all-inclusive way to do the classics.

  

• Beach time: Clifton 2nd for wind-shelter and turquoise water; Camps Bay for sunset cocktails; Muizenberg for colorful huts and beginner surf lessons.
• Food stops: Kalky’s (harborside fish-and-chips), Olympia Café (Kalk Bay; chalkboard seafood pastas), Aegir Project (Noordhoek; craft beer and excellent sourdough pizza).

If self-driving, plan a full day—loop time 6–9 hours with stops. Entrance fees apply at Boulders and Cape Point; carry a card.

Days 7–9: The Cape Winelands—Stellenbosch and Franschhoek

Spend two to three days tasting your way through Stellenbosch’s oak-lined avenues and Franschhoek’s valley floor estates. Leave the car—and driving—behind for a tasting-forward day.

• Easy, scenic tastings: Full-Day Franschhoek Hop On Hop Off Wine Tram Tour from Cape Town—classic estates like Haute Cabrière, Rickety Bridge, and Grande Provence with mountain views.

  

• Stellenbosch picks: Kanonkop (Pinotage heritage), Jordan (tastings with vineyard views), Waterford (chocolate-and-wine pairing). Lunch: De Warenmarkt (market hall eats), Post & Pepper (modern South African).
• Franschhoek eats: Chefs Warehouse at Maison (tapas-for-two; seasonal), Reubens (local stalwart), La Petite Colombe (refined tasting menus).

Travel time: 45–70 minutes each way by car/transfer. Expect tasting fees of R60–R150 per estate; many waive with bottle purchases.

Days 10–12: History, Art, and Flavors—Robben Island, Markets, and Food Stories

Dive into Cape Town’s past and present. Alternate weighty history with uplifting food and art to keep balance.

• Robben Island: Robben Island Half Day Tour with Pre-Booked Entry Tickets.—ferry from the V&A Waterfront; former political prisoners guide part of the visit.

  

• City flavors: Malay-spiced bobotie in Bo-Kaap (Biesmiellah is a local favorite), Gatsby sandwiches in Athlone or the City Bowl, koesisters (spiced doughnuts) on Sunday mornings.
• Food tour: Join a small-group tasting walk to connect dishes to history and neighborhoods; look for stops featuring samoosas, biltong, Cape Malay curries, and rooibos-based treats.
• Art & design: Zeitz MOCAA (don’t miss the cathedral-like atrium), Norval Foundation in Steenberg (sculpture garden), design studios in Woodstock’s Albert Road.

• Breakfast & coffee: Molten Toffee (toasties and cortados), Deluxe Coffeeworks (espresso purists), Swan Café (Breton crêpes).
• Lunch: The Old Biscuit Mill’s Saturday Neighbourgoods Market (try Sunshine’s smoothies and Vagabond Kitchen curries), SeaBreeze (Bree Street oysters and hake), Harvest Café (bowls with a view in Bo-Kaap).
• Dinner: Pier (Sashimi and seafood tasting on the Waterfront), Belly of the Beast (nose-to-tail, set menu), Thali (Indian-style “tapas” feast; book ahead).

Days 13–15: Nature Days—Hikes, Botanic Gardens, Constantia Wine, and Dunes

Balance city days with greenery and granite. Keep an eye on wind forecasts and start hikes at sunrise for shade and views.

• Hikes: Lion’s Head (spiral trail with ladders; 60–90 minutes up), Platteklip Gorge (steep, 2–3 hours up; cable car down if running), Pipe Track (gentle contour walk above Camps Bay).
• Kirstenbosch: Meander the Boomslang canopy walkway and protea gardens; summer sunset concerts are a local ritual.
• Constantia wineries: Groot Constantia (historic estate), Beau Constantia (glass-walled tasting room with valley views), Steenberg (method cap classique tastings). Pair lunch at Chefs Warehouse Beau Constantia.
• Adventure: Quad bike the Atlantis Dunes north of the city, or try paragliding from Signal Hill if winds are right.

• Casual eats: Persephone Bakery (Kalk Bay sourdough and pastries if you’re peninsula-bound), The Strangers Club (Green Point garden café), Tiger’s Milk (Muizenberg, pizza and surf views).
• Evening: Sunset on Signal Hill or Clifton 1st with picnic supplies from Giovanni’s (Green Point). For cocktails: The Planet Bar (Mount Nelson) or Fable (creative mixology on Bree).

Days 16–18: Wildlife Encounters—Day Safari and Marine Life

Yes, you can do safari as a day trip from Cape Town. Combine it with time in the Breede River Valley or keep it simple with a focused Big 5 experience.

• Day Safari: Cape Town Day Safari – Aquila Game Reserve with Lunch & Park Fees—about 2–2.5 hours each way; morning and afternoon game drives with chances to spot elephant, rhino, lion, buffalo, and more.

  

• Marine options: Seasonal whale watching from False Bay or Hermanus (Aug–Oct peak); shark and seal cruises depart from Simon’s Town or Gansbaai. Sea kayaking from Mouille Point or Simon’s Town on calmer mornings.
• Easy day add-ons: Cheetah Outreach (Somerset West) for conservation education or West Coast National Park (Aug–Sept) for carpets of spring flowers and turquoise Langebaan Lagoon.

• Hearty lunches: Bertus Basson at Spice Route (Paarl) if you head inland; Nuy on the Hill (near Worcester) for Karoo lamb and valley views—both great paired with a safari day.
• Dinner back in town: The Bailey (brasserie classics on Bree), Hemelhuijs (design-forward plates), Baía (seafood on the Waterfront).

Days 19–21: Beachy Wrap-Up—Sea Point Promenade, Clifton Sunsets, and a Farewell Cruise

Ease into your final days with promenade walks, market grazing, and a last look at the mountain from the water. This is the time for souvenirs and repeat visits to your favorite bites.

• Slow days: Morning jog or cycle on the Sea Point Promenade; mid-day at Clifton 2nd or 3rd; late-afternoon ice creams at The Creamery; sundowners at Camps Bay (Chinchilla for views).
• Harbor perspective: 1 Hour Coastal Catamaran Cruise from Cape Town—green lighthouse, city skyline, and golden light on the Twelve Apostles.

  

• Gifts to take home: Rooibos and honeybush teas, Cape Malay spice blends, small-batch fynbos gins, ceramics from local studios in Woodstock or the V&A Watershed.

• Breakfast: Loading Bay (De Waterkant; shakshuka, granola), Stellski (V&A; great for pre-ferry bites).
• Lunch: SeaBreeze (oyster happy hour), Harbour House (Kalk Bay or V&A; line fish), Blondie (Kloof Street; Mediterranean plates).
• Final dinners: La Colombe (Constantia; perennial fine-dining favorite), Pier (seafood tasting menu), GOLD Restaurant (14-dish pan-African feast with drumming—festive and flavorful).

Practicalities: Getting Around, Safety, and Bookings

• Transport: Uber is abundant; expect R150–R250 ($8–$14) from City Bowl to Camps Bay or Constantia. MyCiTi covers key corridors. For Winelands or peninsula, join a tour or rent a car for a day (automatic transmissions are common; drive on the left).
• Weather & packing: A light windbreaker for the Cape Doctor, layers for cool evenings, reef-safe sunscreen, a hat, and good walking shoes. Even in summer, the Atlantic is brisk—pack a quick-dry towel.
• Safety: Stay street-smart—avoid walking with valuables after dark, use rideshares at night, and keep car interiors empty. ATMs inside malls or the Waterfront are preferable.
• Bookings: Reserve marquee restaurants and Robben Island well in advance. For flights, compare routes on Kiwi.com and Trip.com.

Optional Add-Ons if You Have Extra Energy

• City orientation: Cape Town Hop-On Hop-Off City Tour for easy, narrated transport between hotspots.

  

After three weeks, you’ll have traced Cape Town from mountain top to cellar, from penguin shores to city markets, with stories that tie it all together. This slow-travel rhythm leaves space for spontaneity—your favorite café, a windswept overlook, a last glass of Cap Classique as the sun bows behind the Twelve Apostles.