61 Best Sights in Cape Town, South Africa

The town of Constantia takes its name from the wine estate established here in 1685 by Simon van der Stel, one of the first Dutch colonial governors of the Cape. This site was one of the largest owners of enslaved people who must be acknowledged as the actual builders and growers of this establishment—and often get overlooked because of the terrible history of this property. After van der Stel's death in 1712, the land was subdivided, with the heart of the estate preserved at Groot Constantia. The enormous complex, which enjoys the status of a national monument, is by far the most commercial and touristy of the wineries (the tasting room includes a shop, small gallery, free Wi-Fi, and branch of Constantia Valley Tourism). Van der Stel's magnificent homestead, the oldest in the Cape, lies at the center of Groot Constantia. It's built in traditional Cape Dutch style, with thick, whitewashed walls, a thatch roof, small-paned windows, and ornate gables. The house is a museum furnished with exquisite period pieces. The old "Cloete" wine cellar sits behind the manor house and serves as an additional tasting room. Built in 1791, it is most famous for its own ornate gable, which contains a sculpture designed by Anton Anreith. The sculpture, depicting fertility, is regarded as one of the most important in the country.

In the 19th century the sweet wines of Groot Constantia were highly regarded in Europe, but today Groot Constantia is known for its award-winning Chardonnay (voted best in the world in 2013) and splendid red wines. The best of the latter is the excellent Bordeaux-style Gouverneurs Reserve, made mostly from Cabernet Sauvignon grapes with smaller amounts of Merlot and Cabernet Franc. The Pinotage is consistently good, too, reaching its velvety prime in about five years. The estate operates two restaurants: the homey Jonkershuis and Simon's, which serve both sophisticated meals as well as deli-style offerings and picnics, which you can enjoy on the surrounding lawns.

Across from the slave tree on Church Square's eastern end is the entrance to the Gothic-style Groote Kerk. One of South Africa's most famous churches, the Groote Kerk (Large Church) was built in 1841 on the site of an earlier Dutch Reformed church dating from 1704. The adjoining clock tower is all that remains of that earlier building. Among the building's interesting features are the enclosed pews, each with its own door—prominent families would buy these so they wouldn't have to pray with the masses. The enormous pulpit is the joint work of famous sculptor Anton Anreith and carpenter Jan Jacob Graaff. The lions supporting it are carved from local stinkwood; the upper portion is Burmese teak. The organ, with nearly 6,000 pipes, is the largest in the Southern Hemisphere; visitors are welcome to listen to it when it is played, most Sundays between 9:30 and 10. At least 200 people are buried beneath the Batavian soapstone floor, including eight governors. There are free guided tours on request during the week from 10 to 2.

Built in 1679 by the Dutch East India Company to house the enslaved people they'd brought to the Cape for labor, it also housed the supreme court from 1815 to 1914. The lodge now holds a museum with a fascinating and sobering account of slavery in the Cape, as well as excellent and evocative temporary exhibits that generally examine more contemporary views on apartheid and human rights. The somewhat randomly curated upper galleries house exhibits and artifacts from the various groups populating the Cape, as well as ceramics and an Egyptology collection.

Founded in 1825, this natural history museum houses more than 1.5 million scientific specimens, but is 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 throughout the week.

Klein (rhymes with "stain") means "small" in Afrikaans and indicates the relative size of this portion of Simon van der Stel's charming original 17th-century Constantia estate. The winery, which is approached via a gorgeous pass along an tree-lined avenue and over a stream, has an impressive modern cellar, and the estate produces wines of superb quality, as awards displayed in the tasting area attest. The excellent Sauvignon Blanc is used as a point of reference by many South African connoisseurs and vintners. The closest you'll come to the famous Constantia wine of the 18th century is the Vin de Constance, a sweet wine made from predominantly Muscat de Frontignan grapes. The wine was a favorite of Napoleon’s, and he had 30 bottles a month sent to him when he was imprisoned on St Helena. The estate red is one of the best produced in the Cape—a collector's wine that will develop wonderfully over time. A 32-seater bistro is set to open in 2018.

The prominent peak to the right of Table Mountain is Lion's Head, a favorite hiking spot for locals. The hike takes about 1½ hours (each way), with 360-degree views of the city unfolding as you spiral up the "lion" as well as from the top. The trail is gorgeous and well marked; unfortunately its charms have made it so popular that on nice days you can find yourself in a hiker-jam. That said, it's a great hike, and though easier than climbing Table Mountain, the last quarter will earn you a post-hike beer or malva pudding (a baked sponge cake sauced with orange juice, apricot jam, and vinegar). As always, don't hike alone, and keep alert, especially as sunset approaches. For those less inclined to sweat, Signal Hill is the smaller flat-topped hill extending from the northern lower slopes of Lion's Head, also sometimes called the "Lion's Rump." Once the location for signal flags communicating weather warnings to ships visiting the bay, Signal Hill is also the home of the Noon Gun, still operated by the South African Navy and South African Astronomical Observatory. Both Lion's Head and Signal Hill are accessed by Signal Hill Road, which ends at the Signal Hill parking lot. The lot has spectacular views of Sea Point and Table Bay.  Be careful especially after hours and/or if it's deserted. There have been incidents of violent crime.

The section of Long between Orange and Strand streets is lined with magnificently restored Georgian and Victorian buildings. Wrought-iron balconies and fancy curlicues on these colorful houses evoke the French Quarter in New Orleans. Today antique dealers, backpackers' lodges, the Pan-African Market, funky clothing outlets, and a plethora of cafes, bars, and restaurants make this one of the best browsing streets in the city; by night, it can live up to some of its older reputation—a place for debauchery. At the mountain end is the Long Street Baths, an indoor swimming pool, and an old Turkish hammam (steam bath).

This may be the world's most stunningly located public swimming pool. Surrounded by views of Lion's Head and the Atlantic Ocean, the only downside to this amazing saltwater pool is that it isn't heated (and it can get very busy during school holidays). 

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, pick-up 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.

A bit of vibey Ibiza in laid-back Cape Town, this beach club is regarded as a fun and trendy place to hang out, and it's even family-friendly, with a children's play area. You can dine in the oceanfront restaurant, spend a day on the private (man-made) beach, or swim in the pool. At night DJs come on board for a livelier party atmosphere. On days when it's just too hot or raining, there's a covered pool and deck area. The restaurant is busy and a reservations-only spot at night. It sits in an unlikely spot, between two fish-processing warehouses, but there's no odor. Admission to use the beach and facilities is free, but you are expected to buy food and drink.

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 Centre and spans 150 years of South African Jewry. 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, considered among the world's finest.

Inside the Union-Castle House, this museum explains the Cape's long history with the sea, in particular documenting the history of the Union-Castle shipping line. Before World War II many English-speaking South Africans looked upon England as home, even if they had never been there. The emotional link between the two countries was symbolized most strongly by the mail steamers, carrying both mail and passengers that sailed weekly between South Africa and England. Models of ships are accompanied by memorabilia such as a collection of postcards sold from the ships between 1910 and 1960. A fascinating re-creation of Cape Town harbor as it appeared in 1885, which was built by convicts, is on permanent display, as is a chilling exhibit about the SS Mendi, a cargo vessel turned troopship that was carrying the South African Native Labour Contingent to help with the war effort in France during World War I. She was accidentally rammed by a British cargo ship, resulting in the deaths of 607 Black troops.

This museum houses a good collection of 19th- and 20th-century European art, but its most interesting exhibits are the South African works, many of which reflect the country's traumatic history. The gallery owns an enormous body of work, so exhibitions change regularly, but there's always something provocative—whether it's documentary photographs or a multimedia exhibit chronicling efforts to "disrupt" traditional boundaries. The museum would like to position itself as a leader of contemporary and traditional African art. Free guided tours on Tuesday and Thursday take about an hour.

This stunning cathedral was once the religious seat of one of the most recognizable faces—and voices—in the fight against apartheid, Archbishop Desmond Tutu. In his position as the first Black archbishop of Cape Town (he was elected in 1986), he vociferously denounced apartheid and relentlessly pressed for a democratic government. It was from these steps that he led a demonstration of more than 30,000 people and coined the phrase the Rainbow People to describe South Africans in all their glorious diversity. The cathedral continues in its active monitoring role today, holding marches and the new government to account. The Anglican cathedral was designed by Sir Herbert Baker in the Gothic Revival style; construction began in 1901, using sandstone from Table Mountain. The structure contains the largest stained-glass window in the country, some beautiful examples of late-Victorian stained glass, and a 1,000-year-old Coptic cross. If you want to hear the magnificent organ, go to the choral evensong at 6 on Sunday evening.

This pedestrian-only promenade stretches about five blocks from St. George's Cathedral through the city center (passing Greenmarket Square) to the financial district. Shops and cafés line the mall, and street vendors sell everything from T-shirts to African arts and crafts. Street performers and dancers gather daily to entertain crowds of locals and visitors, who rub shoulders on their way to and from work or while sightseeing. The very good "Earthfair" food market is held on the Cathedral end of the mall every Thursday from 11 to 3.

This is a very popular walking road for locals, especially when the weather is fine and windless, as it's perfectly flat with fabulous views over the City Bowl and Table Bay. The road crosses the northern side of Table Mountain before ending at Devil's Peak, providing access to the lower cable station, as well as trailheads for Platteklip Gorge (easiest ascent of Table Mountain) and Devil's Peak. After the Devil's Peak trailhead, the road is restricted to foot traffic and bicycles. As always, take the usual precautions about walking in groups, sticking to the path, and staying alert.

This tranquil national forest is planted with hundreds of tree species from all over the world, including Californian redwoods and a variety of oaks. A favorite spot for picnickers and cyclists, the Arboretum also has a simple tea garden that serves hearty home-style meals and delicious cakes. On the way in to the Arboretum is a crumbling Cape Dutch manor. Built in 1795 with a façade designed by famed architect Louis Michel Thibault, the homestead, which is not open to the public, is reputedly haunted. Visitors should take care, as muggings have been reported in the area lately.

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. Although some Capetonians deem the area too "mallish," the Waterfront remains Cape Town's most popular attraction—probably because of the ease and safety of being a pedestrian here, coupled with favorable currency exchange rates for North American and European visitors, and the ever-increasing number of truly worthwhile attractions and activities on offer. Hundreds of shops, movie theaters, restaurants, and bars share quarters in restored warehouses and dock buildings, all connected by pedestrian plazas and promenades. Newer developments like the excellent Watershed craft market and two fantastic food markets have made the V&A more appealing to locals; it's also home to Two Oceans Aquarium, Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art—Africa's first such institution, and the Robben Island ferries.

With its crowds of people, security cameras, and guards, this is one of the safest places to shop and hang out in the city. That said, you should still keep an eye on your belongings and be aware of pickpockets.

If the scattered benches looking out at the harbor activity are full, this open-air space is a good spot to eat your take-away lunch—if there's no performance on. This popular outdoor space mounts performances ranging from concerts by the Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra to gigs by jazz and rock bands and even variety performances. (Check the Waterfront's website or its branch of the tourism office for a schedule of events.) The amphitheater stands on the site where, in 1860, a teenage Prince Alfred inaugurated the construction of a breakwater to protect ships in the harbor from devastating northwesterly winds.

Spas are obviously big business these days, with most top hotels outsourcing this service, and the wellness element at the elegant Vineyard Hotel in the Southern Suburbs is part of the well-regarded international Banyan group. The Eastern influences begin when you walk in the door: ginger tea is offered, and before beginning treatments, therapists rub your feet with hot towels. Many of the therapists hail from Thailand, and Thai, Balinese, Indian, and Hawaiian techniques are incorporated in the excellent massages (the Angsana pressure-point massage is highly recommended). The Eastern green-and-gold color scheme, views of the mountains from many of the rooms, and lovely outdoor spaces add to the serenity. Clients undress, bathe, and relax in private treatment rooms, and a half hour "calm time," with tea and fruit, is included in every session.

In the center of Cape Town's downtown business district, above the commerce of St. George's Mall, Camelot Spa sparkles with crystal light fixtures, an urban oasis in taupe and champagne, complete with wallpaper on the ceilings. The upscale experience begins at check-in, when you get a Body Composition Analysis. There are couples rooms, a flotation pool, and a relaxation area, not to mention a wide range of body therapies and massages on offer.

The Cocktail Bar is situated inside the top station building and dishes up a spectacular view along with cocktails and bar snacks from 12 noon until the last cable car down. As you might expect, the place has a good wine list, with local labels predominating.

A warm welcome and cup of chai starts you off at this relatively small spa, distinguished among five Ginkgo locations for its attention to detail, great client care, and up-to-date knowledge. The atmosphere, though pleasant, is not memorable; the treatments, however, are first rate, with therapists asking questions and making suggestions based on your skin type and needs. Ginkgo uses Babor and South African–made Nimue products, and has a number of great combination treatments, such as the three-hour Debutante (five treatments designed for a first-time client), and the 4½-hour Mother-to-Be (full-body exfoliation, massage, facial, mani/pedi, and lunch). Golfer's massages serve those enjoying the on-site world-class golf course. The hotel pool and dining room are available to spa clients.

On a more than 300-year-old wine estate amid the dramatic and jagged Jonkershoek Mountains, the large Lanzerac Spa makes for a charming retreat, with a warm, distinctly Afrikaans atmosphere. Among the innovative hydrotherapy treatments is the Dr. Fish Spa Therapy, in which the Garra rufa obtusa fish exfoliates and micro-massages the skin. On arrival you're offered a beverage and a foot soak in warm Epsom-salted water. Treatments use the popular TheraVine range of products; the grapeseed full-body exfoliation and incredibly relaxing new wave massage (employing a series of rolling motion movements) are highly recommended. From the glassed-in relaxation room you can enjoy spectacular post-treatment views of the mountains and a Jacuzzi, indoor pool, and complimentary beverages. Yoga, Pilates, and personal training sessions are also available.

Body Treatments Massage: Avocado and shea butter; deep tissue; kahuna; hair and scalp; back, neck, and shoulder; reflexology; hot stone; new wave massage. Exfoliation: grapeseed body polish. Wraps/baths: body cocoon (using a heated blanket), seaweed wrap, pinotage bath, marula body milk bath, hammam merlot experience, rasul ritual. Beauty: Facials, lash/brow tinting, waxing, manicure, pedicure, special occasion makeup, haircut, hair color.Other: Dr. Fish Spa Therapy.

Prices Body treatments: R280–R760. Facials: R425–R740. Manicure/pedicure: R245–R335.

Die-hard fans return to this beach again and again, and who can blame them? Its setting, among giant boulders at the base of a mountain, is glorious, and sunsets here attract their own aficionados. The surf can be very powerful on the northern side of the beach (where you'll find all the surfers, of course), but the southern side is fine for a quick dip—and in this water that's all you'll want. Lifeguards are on duty on weekends and in season. If you come by bus, brace yourself for a long walk down (and back up) the mountain from the bus stop on the M6. Parking is a nightmare, but most hotels run shuttles in summer. There are no shops here, so take what snacks you need with you. Amenities: parking; showers; toilets. Best for: partiers; sunset; surfing; swimming; walking.

Noon Gun Tearoom and Restaurant up the very steep slope of Signal Hill is a good place to stop for a breather and some traditional, home-cooked Malay food. Your entertaining hostess (and TV chef) Zaine Misbach cooks up a mean curry and biryani (a spicy rice-based dish). And her samosas are to die for. The menu is limited, but Zaine's repertoire is anything but; she's chatty and engaging and also offers cooking lessons.

The large self-service restaurant called, quite simply, The Restaurant serves good hot breakfasts, light meals, sandwiches, and local wine, and has a salad bar.

Rhodes served as prime minister of the Cape from 1890 to 1896. He made his fortune in the Kimberley diamond rush, but his greatest dream was to forge a Cape–Cairo railway, a tangible symbol of British dominion in Africa. The classical-style granite memorial sits high on the slopes of Devil's Peak, on part of Rhodes's old estate, Groote Schuur. A mounted rider symbolizing energy faces north toward the continent for which Rhodes felt such passion. A bust of Rhodes dominates the temple—ironically, he's leaning on one hand as if he's about to nod off.

The Rhodes Memorial Restaurant, tucked under towering pines behind the memorial, is a pleasant spot that serves breakfast, tea, and a light lunch. Unremarkable food, although it is under new management.

San Marco Bistro offers a wide variety of options from sandwiches and salads to pasta, meat, and seafood entrées. Although it's expensive for locals, most visitors find it very affordable. There are hundreds of places to eat at the Waterfront but not many such alfresco locations that are really outdoors in such close proximity to the working harbor. It's a good place to refuel and people-watch while shopping—or waiting to tour one of the naval vessels that occasionally open their doors to the public.