Last Updated: 8/6/20 | August 6th, 2020
This week, Natasha as well as Cameron from The world Pursuit share their tips as well as advice for visiting Cape Town. It’s one of my preferred cities in the world as well as offers great deals of hiking, history, wine, as well as incredible views!
Dominated by the iconic Table Mountain, which serves as a backdrop everywhere in the city, Cape town is a mish-mash of cultures. Its charm was apparent the day we arrived: we had a monthlong apartment rental as well as a plethora of “must-see” sites, however the laid-back vibe of the city had us in no rush to do so.
After just one hour of exploring, we stated to every other, “We are going to like it here.”
After two months of soaking up the sun, enjoying the outdoors, as well as eating tasty food, we still hadn’t handled to pull away from the city. The magic of Cape town extends well beyond its beauty; it lies in what it can offer visitors.
Whether it was inspecting out a weekend market, hiking, going to a jazz concert, canyoneering, or spotting some wildlife, we never ran out of things to do. as well as you won’t either!
1. Take a free walking Tour
Start your go to off with a free walking tour. It’s the very best method to introduce yourself to the city as well as begin to get the lay of the land. You’ll see the primary sights, discover some history, as well as get to satisfy a regional professional guide who can response all your questions.
Free walking tours Cape town offers free everyday walking tours. Taking one is the very best method to kick your trip off. just be sure to tip your guide at the end (that’s exactly how they make their living).
2. enjoy the view from Table Mountain
At over 3,500 feet above sea level, the views from Table mountain are the very best in the city. Taking the famous cablecar up the mountain was one of the very first things we did. However, at 330 ZAR (USD $22 USD), it is fairly expensive.
If you want to hike up instead, the shortest path takes about two hours. On the top, you’ll get to enjoy a 360-degree view of Cape Town, the harbor, the mountains, as well as the beaches. the very best time to go to is during sunset — hike up, bring some snacks, as well as enjoy the view!
3. Drive Chapman’s peak to Cape Point
Past Chapman’s peak southwest of Cape town is Cape point national Park, where you can witness the collision of the Atlantic as well as Indian oceans at the Cape of great Hope. The national park offers long hikes, coastal birdlife, as well as a possibility to take in the smallest as well as richest floral kingdom in the world, the fynbos (a little belt of natural shrubland).
You will have to pay a 52 ZAR ($3 USD) toll to drive on the road; however, the scenic drive is well worth the cost! The famous highway snakes along the vertical cliff faces of Table Mountain, leaving you wondering whether your vehicle will end up in the Atlantic.
Expect to spend at least 250 ZAR ($15 USD) each day for a rental car. The entry charge to the Cape point national Park is 320 ZAR ($18.50 USD).
4. go to Robben Island
Visiting the former political prison on Robben Island was high on our listing of things to do. Nelson Mandela was imprisoned right here 18 years as well as the site was declared a UNESCO Heritage site in 1999.
A former inmate personally guides everybody around the prison. It is both sobering as well as inspiring to discover first-hand about the very first black president of South Africa from people who really understood him. We were able to hear their stories as well as sit in the exact same precise cells where prisoners who fought for their rights were locked away.
It’s difficult to believe about the victims of political oppression still in prison around the world as well as keep in mind that, in spite of what the news may say, we’re a great deal further along than just two decades ago.
Ferries operate three times a day, starting at 9am (a fourth ferry operates during the summer). Admission is 320 ZAR ($22 USD) for adults as well as 200 ZAR ($13.50 USD) for anyone under 18 (tickets include the ferry ride).
5. check out Hout Bay
On weekends in Hout Bay, artisans as well as vendors from around the city come to the Bay Harbour Market to offer their goods: whatever from fish stew, souvenirs, crêpes, jewelry, art, as well as even mojitos are available, as are online bands.
You can get just about anything you can crave. We found the market by happenstance: we had come to go swimming with the seals in Hout Bay, as well as just complied with the seems of the buzzing market. We enjoyed it so much we returned several times.
The market is open Friday evenings from 5pm-9pm as well as weekends from 9:30am to 4pm.
The bay as well as harbor are likewise house to tons of seals as well as seabirds. between June as well as November, you can likewise discover migrating whales here. right whales, humpback whales, Bryde’s whales, così come i delfini sono proprio qui in abbondanza. Se vuoi prendere un tour di watching whale, aspettati di pagare circa 900 zar ($ 50 USD) a persona.
6. Vedi Giardini di Kirstenbosch
In una bella giornata di primavera, ci siamo diretti verso la periferia meridionale per ispezionare i giardini di Kirstenbosch. Set contro le pendici della Table Mountain, i Gorgeous Botanical Gardens sono correttamente soprannominati “il giardino più splendido in Africa”.
Kirstenbosch offre ai visitatori la possibilità di controllare i Fynbos e i diversi regni floreali scoperti attraverso il continente africano. Annunci di oltre 1.300 acri, i giardini sono stati realmente stabiliti oltre 300 anni, oltre a casa a oltre 22.000 tipi di piante. Assicurati di fare la via del baldacchino dell’albero – offre viste incredibili.
Questo era pratico era uno dei nostri migliori viaggi e fornito una vacanza di benvenuto dalla città. L’ammissione è di 70 zar ($ 5 USD).
7. Rilassati alla spiaggia di Muizenberg
Muizenberg è un sobborgo meridionale di Cape Town famoso per il suo passerella e il surf. È un viaggio di veicoli di 30 minuti dal centro della città, nonché l’area perfetta per scoprire esattamente come navigare. La comunità rilassata è un paradiso di Bum Beach e ha una forte vibrazione multiculturale che è rinfrescante. Una lezione di un’ora con muta costi solo 350 zar ($ 20 USD) e rende un metodo fantastico per attivarsi in vacanza.
Se navigare non è la tua cosa, la comunità è anche una casa a un certo numero di eventi culturali e da uno yoga monolocali. Abbiamo preso una pugnalata in una classe yoga gratuita, rispettata da un involucro sano e da un frullato lungo la spiaggia. In seguito, abbiamo fatto delle foto dei famosi stand della spiaggia che sono dipinti in un arcobaleno di colori.
8. Hike Lion’s Head
Durante l’escursione del tavolo da tavolo può portare a lungo per un’escursione serale, la testa del leone adiacente è solo una salita di 45 minuti in cima. È essenzialmente il bit fratello al tavolo da tavola.
Assicurati di portare una macchina fotografica sulla tua escursione, poiché è una delle zone più fotogeniche di Cape Town. Rising in alto sopra lo skyline della città, fornisce ancora una vista incredibile della città, del mare e della montagna da tavolo. La serata che abbiamo riavviato, abbiamo assistito a uno spettacolo insolito come una bassa coperta di nuvole fatte a sparire tutta la traccia di un ragazzo.
L’alba e il tramonto possono essere tempi congestionati, come la gente del posto e i turisti scivolano allo stesso modo la montagna per prendere l’impressionante Vista. Quando è in cima al picco, assicurati di premiarti con un tradizionale “sundowner” africano (un drink mentre guardi il tramonto). La nostra bevanda personale di opzione è il tradizionale Gin & Tonic; Completa perfettamente un tramonto sulla testa del Lion.
Tieni a mente solo per riportare una torcia per l’escursione!
9. Vedi i Pinguini della spiaggia dei massi
Questo era in cima alla nostra lista di cose da fare a Città del Capo. Quindi, lo abbiamo salvato per un evento speciale e ha reso il nostro metodo per vedere la casa di innumerevoli pinguini africani (la colonia è casa a oltre 3.000 pinguini).
I visitatori possono visualizzarli adeguatamente da un aumento del lungomare, pur fornendo l’enorme colonia il loro spazio personale. Capirai dove il secondo nome del pinguino africano, “Jackass Penguin”, viene da quando li senti chiamare.
Boulders Beach Park costa 152 zar ($ 9 USD) a persona per entrare, con la carica andare alla manutenzione del Parco e alla conservazione dei Penguins. Non cercare di scattare una foto e vicino a un pinguino – mordono (sto parlando dall’esperienza).
10. Vino e cenare a Stellenbosch
Una delle regioni vinicole più famose in tutto il mondo si trova a soli 45 minuti di viaggio fuori da Città del Capo. Ci sono numerosi vigneti privati in modo privo di Stellenbosch, con degustazioni in genere costano 60-75 zar ($ 4-5 USD) (sono offerti anche abbinamenti gastronomici).
Se non hai un veicolo oltre a voler fare un tour, aspettati di pagare a 1.000 zar ($ 68 USD) a persona per un tour di mezza giornata. Allo stesso modo molti ostelli in città gestiscono i loro tour o hanno partnership con guide turistiche regionali che possono portarti anche. Assicurati di fare acquisti per scoprire il prezzo migliore!
Inoltre, ispezionare la vite tramoggia, un furgone hop-on, hop-off con diversi percorsi di vigneti. Se riesci ad andare solo in un vigneto, suggeriremmo Lanzerac per assaggiare l’origine della varietà di pinotaggio estremamente proprie della regione.
11. Roam Bo-Kaap
A pochi passi dal centro della città è la vivace comunità del Capo Malese (musulmano) di Bo-Kaap, gli ex quartieri della popolazione slave della città. Tuttavia, con il passare del tempo, la comunità è cresciuta, così come diversi quartieri che lo hanno chiamato a casa.
Al giorno d’oggi, la popolazione del Capo Malese risiede in un quartiere vibrante. Non sentirti timidi a camminare con le foto; I residenti sono amichevoli e utilizzati per aver fotografato le loro case e pubblicate su Instagram. Siamo andati in comunità la mattina per catturare una grande luce per le foto e guardare la comunità che la comunità è viva.
Abbiamo finito per soggiornare per un paio d’ore, ispezionando la prima moschea del Sud Africa, Auwal Mosque, così comeeating at one of the very best Cape Malay restaurants in the neighborhood, Bo-Kaap Kombuis.
Afterward, we had lots of fun posing for pictures in front of the bright orange, green, pink, blue, as well as yellow houses.
12. go to slave Lodge
Slave Lodge was developed in 1679 by the Dutch east India business to home their slaves. It’s one of the oldest buildings in the city. Up up until 1811, over 60,000 African slaves were given the city, with 300 living in the cramped lodge at a time.
Today, the lodge is a museum where you can discover about the hardships slaves dealt with in their everyday lives in Cape Town.
Typical costs in Cape Town
Compared to other huge cities around the world, Cape town is definitely affordable. Hostels as well as apartments will offer the very best rates on accommodation, buses (albeit sluggish as well as inconsistent) are incredibly cheap, as well as no great meal should expense you more than 120 ZAR ($7 USD) unless it’s at an upscale restaurant.
We were never on an ultra-tight budget plan so we lived rather comfortably, with fantastic food as well as entertainment for a quarter of what it expense in NYC. Our only splurge days included excursions outside of the city, like canyoneering, whale watching, or bungee jumping — which expense between 900-1,400 ZAR ($50-80 USD) per person.
Overall, I would state that you should budget plan 662-836 ZAR ($38-48 USD) each day if you’re a backpacker. If you’re more of a mid-range traveler who stays at inexpensive hotels as well as eats out often, expect to spend between 1,220-1,480 ZAR ($70-85 USD) per day
How to save money in Cape Town
To assist you save money during your visit, right here are a few quick tips that assisted us keep our budget plan intact:
Go in the off-season – Traveling during South Africa’s winter season will assist your wallet. during the summer, locals leave the city to the tourists as well as South Africans from around the country take over.
In the winter, you have the capability to discover cheaper apartments on Airbnb since there is less competition. We visited in September as well as were able to negotiate with a number of apartment owners to discover the very best deal. Vale la pena di guardarsi intorno!
Enjoy free activities – If you’re looking for free things to do, then getting active is a fantastic solution. Climbing Lion’s Head, swimming at the beach, as well as running along the Sea point promenade are all free activities that provide a great workout. almost any type of outside activity in Cape town is sure to offer stunning views of the ocean as well!
Avoid buying in touristy areas – shops at the Watershed, in Camps Bay, as well as downtown offer handmade regional products — however they aren’t cheap. These are a few of the most visited areas in the city so costs are generally higher. If you’re looking to save money, don’t shop in the tourist areas!
Stay in affordable communities – Camps Bay, Sea Point, as well as the Waterfront areas are all genuine estate hotspots: they are a few of the most gorgeous areas of Cape Town. therefore they’re the most costly areas to stay in.
For more inexpensive choices try Muizenberg, Vredehoek, or Woodstock. We stayed in apartments in each of those neighborhoods, which offered their own sightseeing however we were still only an Uber trip away from the primary sights.
Find inexpensive groceries – Shoprite as well as Checker’s are the two cheaper supermarket options. If you’re cooking your own meals, shop at either of these two stores.
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There is bit reason to question why so many people are drawn to Cape Town. The city has almost whatever to offer: beaches, food, mountains, wildlife, history, culture, wine, as well as experience sports.
Exploring Cape town takes time. Life seems to move a bit slower in the Cape. The locals enjoy their city’s extremely laid-back attitude, as well as you’ll want to do the same. We stayed for two months as well as still hear about things that we missed. We’re already plotting our eventual return!
Natasha as well as Cameron run the blog The world Pursuit, focusing on experience as well as cultural travel. You can comply with their adventures on Instagram as well as Facebook.
Book Your trip to Cape Town: Logistical tips as well as Tricks
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