16 Best Sights in Cape Town, South Africa

Spectacular in every season, this renowned botanical garden was established in 1913, and was the first in the world to conserve and showcase a country's indigenous flora. With its magnificent setting extending up the eastern slopes of Table Mountain and overlooking the city and distant Hottentots Holland Mountains, these gardens are truly a national treasure. In addition to thousands of out-of-town visitors, Capetonians flock here on weekends to laze on the grassy lawns, picnicking and reading while children run riot. Walking trails meander through the plantings, and there's emphasis on the fynbos biome—the hardy, thin-leaved plants that proliferate in the Cape—so you will find plenty of proteas, ericas, and restios (reeds). Highlights include the Tree Canopy Walkway (aka "Boomslang," a large cycad garden), the Bird Bath (a beautiful stone pool built around a crystal clear spring), the fragrance garden (which is wheelchair-friendly and has a tapping rail), and the Sculpture Garden. Free 90-minute guided tours take place daily except Sunday. Those with difficulty walking can enjoy a comprehensive tour lasting one hour (R70, hourly 9–3) in seven-person (excluding the driver) golf carts. Concerts featuring top South African artists—from classical music to township jazz to indie rock—are held on summer Sundays at 5 and everyone rocks up with blankets and picnic hampers (arrive early to get a good spot), and the Galileo Outdoor Cinema ( thegalileo.co.za) screens movies on select weekday evenings an hour after sunset. The visitor center houses a restaurant, bookstore, and coffee shop. Several trails take you to the top of Table Mountain, from which point you can hike all the way to the cable car station.

This aquarium is widely considered one of the finest in the world. Stunning displays reveal the regional marine life of the warmer Indian Ocean and the icy Atlantic. It's a hands-on place, with a touch pool for children, opportunities to interact with penguins, and (for certified divers only) to dive in the vast, five-story ocean exhibit with shoals of fish, huge turtles, and stingrays. There's the shark exhibit, where you might share the water with large ragged-tooth sharks (Carcharias taurus) and enjoy a legal adrenaline rush (for an additional fee, of course). If you don't fancy getting wet, you can still watch daily feedings in either the ocean, penguin, or shark exhibits. But there's more to the aquarium than just snapping jaws. Look for the absolutely enchanting jellyfish display gallery, which looks like something from another universe, seek out the endangered Knysna seahorses, and don't miss the alien-like spider crabs.

If you really want a one-of-a-kind experience, book the "Penguin Experience" where you'll get to meet several of the aquarium's rockhoppers, all of which have either been rescued or were born at the facility. Rockhoppers aren't native to South Africa, but when they get stranded or injured here, they are rescued by aquarium conservationists who nurse them back to health. You learn about their personalities, photograph them up close, and then accompany them as they return to their beach-like enclosure within the aquarium just in time for feeding time. It may be one of the loveliest moments you ever get with human-habituated wild animals. It's for two people at a time, lasts about 45 minutes, costs R890 per person, and must be pre-booked.

A half-hour drive north of Cape Town, this is the beach from which all those iconic "sea with Table Mountain" postcards are shot. Blouberg is divided into two parts: Big Bay, which hosts surfing and windsurfing contests, and Little Bay, better suited to sunbathers, rock-pool explorers, and families. It can be windy here, which is great for kite flying and kite surfing. Kite surfing has become extremely popular along this side of Table Bay, and adrenaline junkies blow off work to come here and ride the waves. For safety, swim in front of the lifeguard club. Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards; parking; water sports. Best for: surfing; walking; windsurfing.

Almost always wind-free, these fantastic white-sand beaches—known as First, Second, Third, and Fourth Beaches—are naturally divided by huge granite outcroppings and voluptuous boulders. Fourth Beach is popular with families and teens, whereas the others support a strong social and singles scene. Dogs are technically allowed only on First Beach. Swimming is reasonably safe, although the undertow is strong and the water can be characterized as freezing for much of the year. Lifeguards are on duty on weekends and in peak season. Fairly steep staircases provide access to all four beaches, but once you arrive, you will find vendors with drinks, ice cream, and beach loungers for rent in summer. Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards; parking (fee); showers; toilets. Best for: partiers; sunset; surfing; walking. Parking is a nightmare in season; instead, take an Uber or the MyCiTi bus, which has stops here.

This strikingly modern, well-structured space has a huge exhibition gallery, gigantic walls, and proper lighting, all of which make it a pleasure to visit and take in what are usually the best exhibitions you'll see in Cape Town. Curation is exceptional, with descriptive information panels and no expense spared to showcase the depth of an artist's work, or to bring innovative and eye-opening new work to the public's attention. Unlike Zeitz MOCAA where the focus is often on conceptual work lacking emotional gravitas, here you will feel the soul of the artists speaking to you. There is also a beautiful garden that showcases a permanent collection of phenomenal large-scale sculptures, plus there are beautiful views of the mountain, and a children's playground, a research library, and a destination restaurant.

The easiest way to reach the summit is by cable car, which affords fantastic views from start to finish; even its mechanics are thrilling to observe. Today’s high-tech rotating cars have a snazzy, round design and are capable of traveling at up to 10 meters (33 feet) per second and carrying up to 65 passengers (or 8,500 kg/18,740 pounds). The cars have been through multiple iterations—those installed for the cableway’s opening in 1929 carried only 25 people, and it was only in the 1960s that metal, rectangular capsules replaced the original wooden cars. Models of the different kinds of cars used are displayed near the lower cable station from where the two large, wheelchair-friendly revolving cars depart regularly; take an Uber or the MyCiTi bus to get to the station.

To avoid disappointment, check ahead for exact operating times, as they vary from month to month according to season, daylight hours, and weather. In the ever-expanding peak season (December–April), if you arrive at 10 am without tickets, you could wait for an hour, so book online beforehand; there is a queue-skipping ticket option for R995 round-trip, or R650 one way. Several tour operators also include a trip up the mountain in their schedules. Lines to purchase tickets for the cable car can be crazy in peak/high season, so book online to speed things up.

The cable car stops operating in strong wind conditions (common in summer), so be sure to factor in that possibility, especially if relying on it to get back down after a tiring hike up, and take note of the last one down's time (changes but can be as early as 4 pm).

The spectacular western edge of Table Mountain, known as the Twelve Apostles, provides the backdrop for this long, sandy beach that slopes gently to the very cold water from a grassy verge. Playing Frisbee or volleyball is very popular on this beach, as are early-morning cold-water plunges. The surf is powerful, but sunbathers can cool off in the tidal pool on the west end of the beach. Be warned that the wind can blow hard here—or not at all. Dauntingly busy in summer, Camps Bay's super-popular bar-and-restaurant strip lies yards away across Victoria Road, and is a mix of trendy, overpriced establishments, die-hard old-school hangouts, and a fair share of sidewalk souvenir sellers. The strip is alternately a refreshment break for groups of cyclists; a watering hole for movie stars, models, and the wannabe rich and famous; and a tourist trap. As such, it tends toward the pretentious on weekends. Amenities: food and drink; parking (fee); showers. Best for: partiers; surfing; walking.

This is a non-profit science center that's part of a wide range of non-classroom initiatives aiming at improving the understanding of science in the country. While the building may look a little rundown from the outside, this science center is full of cool things to see and do and is a huge hit with children. 

In the heart of the city, this is a great place to seek relief from a sweltering summer day if the beach is packed. These lush, landscaped gardens are all that remain of a 43-acre tract laid out by Jan van Riebeeck in April 1652 to supply fresh vegetables to ships on their way to the Dutch East Indies. By 1700 free burghers (Dutch-speaking colonists no longer indebted to the Dutch East India Company, aka VOC) were cultivating plenty of crops on their own land, and in time the VOC vegetable patch was transformed into a botanic garden. It remains a calm haven, surrounded by museums, art galleries, the country's oldest cathedral, and Parliament, and is graced by fountains, exotic trees, rose gardens, and a pleasant little tea shop (careful, though, there's also a large café which is not so pleasant). At the bottom of the gardens, close to Government Avenue, look for an old well that once provided water for the town's residents and the garden. The old water pump, engraved with the maker's name and the date 1842, has been overtaken by an oak tree and now juts out of the tree's trunk some 6 feet above the ground. A huge statue of the colonist Cecil Rhodes, the Cape's prime minister in the late 19th century, looms over the path that runs through the center of the gardens. He points to the north, and an inscription reads, "Your hinterland is there," a reference to his dream of extending the British Empire from the Cape to Cairo. A self-guided walking brochure with detailed historical information about the gardens and nearby sights is available at the shop adjacent to the small but informative visitor center.

Founded in 1825, this natural history museum houses more than 1½ million scientific specimens, from Stone Age tools to fairly recent finds. It's most popular for its "Whale Well," where life-size casts of enormous marine mammals are suspended over a multi-storied chamber, which leads to displays of marine and terrestrial animals in the old diorama style. International photography exhibits are often on display upstairs, and there is an interesting if creepy section on the fossil remains of prehistoric "mammal-like" reptiles. In the adjoining planetarium, visitors can experience the thrills of a 360-degree multisensory, full-dome theater, where a variety of shows for children and adults play six days a week.

Perhaps the most innovative museum in Cape Town, this space tells stories about our relationship with our canine companions, and not always in obvious ways. Aside from the dog portraits, the brief histories of significant South African celebrity dogs, and a chance to listen to songs recorded by famous artists that happen to be about special dogs in their lives, the section upstairs includes an exhibition of artifacts and brief stories about intimate relationships between dogs and their humans—these are tales submitted by members of the public and range from ridiculously funny to absolutely heartbreaking. There's also a small screening room showing dog documentaries and short films, and a section downstairs displays pet paraphernalia and artworks for purchase. There's also a curious display of photographs of U.S. presidents with their dogs, accompanied by the stories behind America's First Dogs, which does hint at the personality biases of certain political figures. Regular events are hosted to raise funds for charitable canine causes; these might include dog-themed wine tastings, dog adoption days, and classical music concerts.

This may be the world's most stunningly located public swimming pool; the main pool is Olympic-sized and a second, smaller pool has springboards for diving, and there are two splash pools for children. Surrounded by views of Lion's Head and the Atlantic Ocean, the only downsides to this amazing seawater-filled pool are that it's not heated and can get extremely busy during school holidays and on hot summer days.

About 10 km (6 miles) long, The Prom, as its locally known, starts at Mouille Point near the V&A Waterfront, and continues through to Sea Point. It's populated by a constant slew of walkers, runners, dog walkers, and cyclists. To one side of the promenade, grassy lawns buffer pedestrians from the street, making them a popular spot for picnics, pickup soccer games, and people-watching. To the other side, a few city beaches (none recommended for swimming) offer stunning urban views of the wild Atlantic Ocean.

Housed in the Old Synagogue—South Africa's first synagogue, built in 1863—this museum sits in the same complex as the Cape Town Holocaust & Genocide Centre and spans 150 years of South African Jewry, tracing the history of local Jewish culture back to Eastern Europe and elsewhere. The themes of Memories (immigrant experiences), Reality (integration into South Africa), and Dreams (visions for the future) are conveyed with high-tech multimedia and interactive displays, models, and artifacts. The complex also includes the Great Synagogue (built in 1905), an active place of worship, a temporary gallery for changing exhibits, an auditorium, and a museum restaurant and shop. The museum also exhibits the extraordinary Isaac Kaplan collection of Japanese netsuke (miniature ceremonial carvings), considered among the world's finest. Photo ID required for entry.

Said to be the busiest tourist "attraction" in Africa, the V&A (Victoria & Alfred) Waterfront is the culmination of a long-term project undertaken to breathe new life into the city's historical dockland. Expansion plans are underway that, by 2050, will have added entire new districts and facilities both on land (including land still to be reclaimed from the sea) and on the water.

The ease and safety here, coupled with favorable currency exchange rates for North American and European visitors, and the ever-increasing number of truly worthwhile activities on offer keep the area buzzing. Hundreds of shops, movie theaters, restaurants, bars, and hotels have taken residence in restored warehouses and dock buildings, all connected by pedestrian plazas and promenades. Newer developments like the excellent Watershed craft market and two dedicated food markets have made the V&A more appealing to locals, and, in the so-called Silo precinct of the V&A, there's the architecturally significant Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa—Africa's first such institution. It's also home to Two Oceans Aquarium and the Robben Island ferries.

Keep in mind, though, that this is still a working waterfront, and you'll be greeted with fish smells, the cacophonous noise of ships being mended, cruise liners pulling in to dock, seals in the water, and boats of all sizes zipping in and out. And mind the seagulls who will gladly help themselves to your chips or chicken wings.