From classy cocktail bars to windswept craggy cliff walks, to a hike up to the iconic Table Mountain, back down for a traditional South African braai, Cape Town’s rich diversity is hard to beat. Things to do in Cape Town equals a seemingly endless set of choice. Of course, Cape Town’s landmarks are as varied as they come; here we offer you our Cape Town tips.

Woodstock Street Art is a myriad of wall murals showcasing breathtaking public art, while the well-heeled neighbourhoods around Camps Bay are a sight to behold, tinged with Dutch Colonial elegance.

Enjoy wine tasting in the beautifully dappled vineyards around Stellenbosch and Constantia, and back into downtown - Bree Street for dining, Long Street for shopping, the Neighbourgoods Market for absorbing local flavour. The V&A waterfront is a classically glitzy harbour and boasts world-class cuisine. Then there are the Nature Reserves that frame the Mother City, the stunning coastline, the Garden Route and the sun-dappled wineries.

Nature-lovers, thrill-seekers, art and culture enthusiasts, foodies and wine aficionados - things to do in Cape Town will meet everyone’s needs.

A must-do

Try a communal braai (barbecue) on the plastic tables at the open-air shack restaurant at Mzoli’s in the Gugulethu township, and when sunset falls, Long Street is known as the city’s party spot.

Local Heritage

Spend an afternoon at the Iziko South African Museum; home to the majestic Whale Well – a beguiling experience of marine wonder that includes a 20.5 metre blue whale skeleton, as well as fossils, art and heritage.

Visit the penguins

Check out the African penguin colonies at Boulders Beach, followed by a meander around the Neighbourgoods Market where you can feast on everything from biltong to craft beer in über-trendy surroundings.

Soak up the culture

The Zeit Museum of Contemporary African Art is a hub for experimental art; head out to Stellenbosch for a taste of Dutch Colonial life in the Village Museum, meandering there through the Cape Winelands.

Explore the nature

Enjoy wildflowers at the Postberg Flower Reserve in the West Coast National Park, (August - September) with views over the Langebaan lagoon, intriguing rock formations and stunning fields of of orange, pink and white daisies

From the outlandish, think abseiling off Table Mountain, a catamaran cruise or hang-gliding, to the culturally immersive like Bo-Kaap Museum showcasing the history of former slave houses to an afternoon in the Two Oceans Aquarium - Cape Town covers every niche, with something for every family member.

With adventure, sports of all kinds, history and culture and an eclectic culinary scene, family-friendly Cape Town meets the needs of the whole group. The choice of beaches is endless, and proximity to National Parks and wildlife makes for a thrilling trip.

From Go-Karting to watching seals, cookery classes, educational exhibitions and outdoor adventures, Cape Town is a safe bet for the whole group.

Highlights

• Spend a morning at Boulders Beach enjoying the colonies of African penguins followed by fine cuisine at the Noordhoek Farm Village and a trip to the urban skate park, Battery Park, to round the day off

• Take a trip to the Science Centre for its interactive displays, followed by a frolic in the Company’s Gardens, find out about the San people at the Khwa ttu cultural centre just north of Cape Town 

• Take the ferry out to Robben Island (where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for 18 years), followed by an afternoon at surf school on Muizenberg Beach and finish up with a barbecue dinner

• Head to the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve; home to Chacma baboons, large antelopes (elands,) ostriches, rare tortoises, bonteboks and zebras, followed by a pit stop at Monkey Viz for gifts; the shop sells hand-made souvenirs that are intricately made, supporting local women offering work in traditional beadwork.

Travel to and around Cape Town can be done easily, responsibly and without hassle, if you follow our guide.

Is Cape Town safe for travelling around? Put simply, yes, so long as tourists take normal precautions, don’t flash expensive items and are mindful of the surroundings. Avoiding walking alone at night in certain parts of the city is sensible, and using the very affordable Uber taxis or registered pre-booked cars for getting around Cape Town is wise.

Flights from the UK

British Airways offers direct flights from London Heathrow (12 hours) to Cape Town, with only a 2 hour time difference (one hour during the summer), meaning no jet lag. Alternative options are offered by Virgin Atlantic or South African Airlines, which offer flights to Cape Town with a stop at Johannesburg.

Affordable flight options including a stop-over are offered by Emirates (stop at Dubai). Qatar Airways (stop at Doha) and Ethiopian Airlines (stop at Addis and Johannesburg).

Public transport

Cape Town International Airport is the second busiest airport in South Africa and is about 20 kilometres from the city centre. Options for getting into town range from hired car, Uber, metered taxi, bus or shuttle. MyCiTiBus runs regularly from the airport. Expect the journey to cost between R300 and R400 for a taxi or Uber.

Getting around by car

Getting around Cape Town using Uber is an efficient and very affordable way to get the best of out of the city, without having to worry about tickets or cash; shared taxis (Ricci’s Taxis) are a way to save expense and the environment, they can also be used privately too. Other options are metered taxi, rented bikes or MyCiTi buses (for the latter, no cash, myconnect card only.)

South Africa’s “mother city” offers seemingly endless natural jewels, but taking care of these through responsible tourism in Cape Town has never been more current.

Earth-friendly travel can involve simple, day-to-day choices, from morning coffee to bigger choices such as which wineries, restaurants and sites to enjoy, choice of travel and shops to endorse when supporting Cape Town through ecotourism.

Planet-friendly options are everywhere if you take the time to discover them; they can also be unique small businesses with something authentic and sustainable to offer along with a dash of local flavour.

Supporting local entrepreneurship and making sustainable shopping choices go hand-in-hand, observing animals in their natural environments and enjoying delicious, locally sourced cuisine all contribute towards climate-conscious ecotourism in Cape Town.

Head down to Artvark for local crafts, or Mungo for beautiful linens and woven homewares produced with conservation and community uplift in mind. Neighbourgoods Market is a bustling bazaar for artisan goods, unprocessed local produce from home-grown fare to locally made handicrafts. Monkey Viz supports local women in the traditional beadwork industry - their worry dolls are ultra-cute as gifts. Nude Foods encourages shoppers to bring their own containers, Spaza Shop (homewares) and Unpacked Pantry (Food) are all part of the effort to bring ecotourism to Cape Town.

Eating sustainably is a great way to travel in an earth-friendly style. The Test Kitchen, is not only one of Cape Town’s best-known restaurants, but also one of the most eco-friendly places to eat with seasonal produce, supporting local and natural farming methods. Opting for delicious vegetarian options or going for ethically sourced free-range cuts of meat contribute towards responsible tourism in Cape Town. Frankie Fenner Meat Merchants are an eco-friendly provider, perfect for a typical braai.

Low impact ways of enjoying Cape Town include hiking, cycle tours through the Stellenbosch Winelands, walking tours and of course the five stunning National Parks: Agulhas, Bontebok, Table Mountain, Tankwa Karoo and West Coast, all of which preserve this region’s natural habitat; an ideal way to support ecotourism.