If you’re planning a trip to Cape Town and you only have three days to take in the sights, cultures, and attractions, a well-planned itinerary is what you need. In terms of transport, it’s best to rent a car so you don’t have to wait for public transport, and you can get to your exact location without extra walking. In terms of accommodation, The O’Two Hotel offers stunning views and a centralised location – close to everything you’d want to visit. Of course, you will have to skip some excellent places, but that gives you an excuse to come back at a later date. So have a look at what you can look forward to.
Day 1: Natural Landmarks
Start your first morning in Cape Town by heading to Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden for a pleasant breakfast in nature. You’ll see a variety of species of birds, flowers and trees. Perhaps you could go on a short walking trip along the many trails and walking routes that Kirstenbosh has to offer. The Skeleton Gorge hike is one of them. It starts in Kirstenbosch and goes all the way to the top of Table Mountain. You’ll need 3 hours to complete it. The Sky Bridge is a not-to-miss attraction in Kirstenbosch, from here you can get a nice view of the Garden and the surrounding area.
For lunch you may want to stop by one of the wine farms along Constantia’s Wine Route – it’s only a 20-minte drive from Kirstenbosch. Groot Constantia is arguably the most famous wine farm in Constantia, and an attration with a significant heritage. It has a tasting room, a museum, and two restaurants on the premesis. The area is beautiful on weekends and holidays, however, it can get very busy. Make sure you won’t be driving if you’re drinking, though.
End off your first day at the top of Table Mountain to savour the sunset. The cable car halts service for the day at 7pm (6pm if it isn’t summer), which means you may have to walk down the mountain if you want to stay for the sunset. However, it is absolutely worth the hassle. You’ll get a panoramic view of the Atlantic Ocean and Seaboard under skies or brilliant orange, pink, and purple.
Day 2: Cape Town’s History
Begin your 2nd day with a boat trip to Robben Island from the V&A Waterfront to see some of the country’s best preserved and most important historical landmarks. he Island is famous for the prison where Nelson Mandella spent the last years of his sentence. The entire tour, boat
trips and all, takes about four hours, and the first ferry leaves at 9am, so book off your whole morning schedule.
You can spend your afternoon sightseeing and taking in the culture in the towns of Woodstock and Observatory. Woodstock used to be a shabby neighbourhood, but has since become a paradise for hipsters, with interesting cafes, art galleries, organic food markets and breweries. Be sure to stop at The Old Biscuit Mill market for freshly made, authentic cuisine, arts and crafts, and delicious treats. Observatory, on the other hand,is a bustling student town famous for Lower Main Road – a cultural hub of thrift stores, clubs, pubs, restaurants, and galleries.
For the evening of your second last day, you could make your way across town to the base of Lion’s Head for a sunset hike. Don’t worry – it’s nothing hectic, making it the most popular hike in Cape Town. The Lion’s Head hike includes some rock, chain, and ladder climbing at the end. If it’s too much for you you don’t have to go all the way to the top just find a good spot at a lower level. You can do a guided sunset hike up Lion’s Head if you don’t feel confident enough or just don’t want to walk alone. Watching the sunset from Lion’s Head is the best way to finish the second day of your Cape Town itinerary.
Day 3: The Cape Peninsula scenic drive
We’ve left the best for last. Surely you’ll be tired from the past two days of running around Cape Town, so sit back and relax as you drive around some of Cape Town’s most beautiful attractions. Experience some of the best views in the country along the Cape Peninsula. The road weaves along the coastline, revealing unspoiled whilte sand beaches, dramatic cliffs, rolling waves and a plethora of marine life. Start the coastal drive at Green Point, and drive through Cliffton and Camps Bay (where you can stop for breakfast) to Hout Bay. Stop at Hout Bay harbor there you have a good chance of seeing Cape Fur seals scavenging on fishermen’s leftovers. If you want a closer encounter you can go snorkeling with the seals from the Hout Bay Harbor. They’re very curious and playful, so snorkeling or diving with them is heaps of fun.
From Hout Bay after lunch, you can make your way up the famous Chapman’s Peak Drive. The drive isn’t very long, but it’s picturesque with many stops and lookout points along the way. Spend some time here to really take in the magnificent views, then head to Boulder’s Beach in Simon’s Town. You’ll find high boulders and cute little African Penguins. Simon’s Town is a popular place for diving and kayaking. If you’re a qualified diver you can do a couple of boat dives to see seals, cow sharks, blue sharks, Mako sharks, and many nudibranchs.
End off your final day with dinner at V&A Waterfront. There is a wide selection of restaurants to chose from, all with different themes and cuisines. After dinner, walk around an dexplore the waterfront. Perhaps you could go on an evening boat ride, experience the Cape Wheel, or go onn a shopping spree at the mall.
There’s So Much More
As you’d probably know this is only a whisper of what Cape Town has to offer. Your next trip to the Mother City can be one that isn’t as overwhelming and you can venture out further to forests, wine farms and other fascinating attractions. We hope to see you soon!
