There is so much to do in Cape Town, for so many different interests and travel styles, that it’s really impossible to condense it into one article! But if you’re looking for guided tours and experiences, this is the place to find them.
I’ve put together all the best tourist activities in Cape Town – from a local’s perspective. This means, which did I love doing best, and what experiences do I recommend to get to know our city and all that we have to offer?
Whether you’re looking for outdoor adventures (both peaceful and high-energy), cultural experiences, or food tours, these are the best ways to experience Cape Town.
Cape Town’s best outdoor tours & adventures
If you’re visiting Cape Town because of its incredible biodiversity and the fact that we have mountains, oceans (plural!), and endless opportunities for adventure, then this is your section. There’s so much to do, the activities below are guided experiences that bring you into contact with some of it!
Sailing from the V&A Waterfront
Price: R350 (~$21)
Why it’s great: Stunning views of Table Mountain and the city
One of the best ways to see the city is from the water – particularly the sunset cruise, as there’s nothing quite like golden hour and the pinkening clouds moving over Table Mountain!
You’ll head out on a catamaran, through the lovely harbor and out onto open waters. Tours usually pass this little red dinghy with seals lazing on it, and stop to watch the sunset dip past the horizon. Depending on the season, you might also spot a few dolphins.
I love the sailing tour as a way to see the city in a really peaceful, striking way – and with some sparkling wine, too! It’s also well-priced, making it popular among locals as well as tourists.
Read more about our experience of the Waterfront sailing trip or check sunset cruise timetable and prices!
Seal snorkeling in Hout Bay
Price: R950 (~$57)
Why it’s great: You get to see these amazing creatures twirl and race in their natural habitat
Off the coast of Hout Bay is Duiker Island, a rocky islet covered top to toe in Cape Fur Seals! They pay the Hout Bay harbor daily visits, but this is their breeding ground and colony, with hundreds of juvenile and adult seals raucously living their at-home lifestyles.
There are regular tours that take people to snorkel with these ‘dogs of the sea’. They’re done carefully, switching off boat engines and avoiding coming too near the actual island. But you’ll be able to watch the lumbering animals plop into the water and become graceful acrobats. The juveniles like to show off a bit, and often stare you right in the eyes as they twist and leap and dart about. It’s a really special, unique experience, and one I’d recommend any day!
I got a bit seasick en route, so if you’re prone to seasickness, keep in mind that it’s a possibility, and keep your heavy, hot gear off till you reach the island.
Read more about our experience snorkeling with the seals or check prices and timetables!
Ocean kayaking in Hout bay
Price: R450 (~$27)
Why it’s great: It’s lovely to be right on the water, exploring our vibrant coastline and spotting marine animals
Another great Hout Bay activity! This little seaside suburb of Cape Town is one of the best places in the city to find not only seals but dolphins too. Families of dolphins have started using the wide harbor as a little haven, and can often be spotted here.
It’s also a lovely way to explore the coastline, learn a bit about this part of the city, and get active. The kayaks are all tandem, so you’ll be practicing a bit of teamwork.
I recommend doing this trip on the weekend, when you can follow it up with a stroll through Bay Harbour Market. There you’ll find incredible food, impeccable coffee, and the work of a lot of local artisans.
While the Hout Bay kayaking is my favorite, there are also kayaking trips from the V&A Waterfront, from Green Point, and from various parts of False Bay!
Read more about what to do in Hout Bay or check prices and timetables!
Boulders Beach & Peninsula tour
Price: R750 (~$45)
Why it’s great: Opportunity to meet penguins without journeying to the poles! And an incredibly beautiful full-day trip
Boulders Beach is home to one of Cape Town’s most surprising animals – the African Penguin! These tiny suited-up little creatures nest on and near the beach, and go for swims in the icy water. You can join them for a swim (but no touching!), explore the beach, and observe them in their natural habitat from walkways and viewpoints.
Continue along the coast to Cape Point, the very tip of Africa! This is a stunning day trip, and you’ll see so much of our rocky coastline, curious animals, and native plant life. It’s one of the best ways to see the natural side of Cape Town in just one day. You can rent a car and do the trip on your own, or join a tour.
Read more about Boulders Beach and Cape Point.
Or check prices for the full-day Cape Peninsula tour!
Table mountain hiking tour
Price: Starting at R1,400 (~$78)
Why it’s great: Hiking up the iconic Table Mountain is must-do (and free) – this is just the guided, informative version
No one should visit Cape Town without seeing Table Mountain! If you don’t have the fitness required to hike it, catch the cable car up – ideally during a weekday, otherwise you may be standing in a queue for an hour.
If you do want to tackle the challenge, it is so worthwhile! You’ll see vegetation that grows nowhere else – plants endemic to Table Mountain alone – and such fantastic views. I recommend Skeleton Gorge and Nursery Ravine as two of the absolute best routes. Just don’t go alone – number one safety tip for Cape Town is to always do things in a group.
If you’d prefer a tour guide so that you don’t have to worry about group sizes and navigation, and can learn more as you go, check prices for this hike up and cable car down or this hike up India Venster (another Table Mountain trail)!
Kelp foraging workshop in Scarborough
Price: R850 (~$45)
Why it’s great: You get to learn so much and discover just how amazing and delicious kelp is!
The coastal foraging workshop is such a unique and fun experience! It includes foraging for seaweeds and kelp along the coastline, followed by a five-course meal prepared using the same seaweeds, coastal plants, and home-grown vegetables.
Lindy Taverner, the facilitator, teaches about the diverse seaweeds and small species that kelp forests protect alongside how to forage and process seaweeds as a nutritious food source. You learn how to identify different oceanic plants and their optimal methods of preparation, while Lindy emphasized the importance of sustainable foraging practices, including only picking half the seaweed and leaving the stem intact for regrowth.
After foraging, we were treated to a feast at Lindy’s home. The dishes included nori chips, caramelised seaweed candy, kelp lasagna, and miso soup with kelp noodles.
The RE Wild workshop offers a unique experience that not only broadens culinary horizons but also strengthens your connection with nature and your understanding of sustainable foraging practices.
Safari and game drive
Price: R4,400 (~$260)
Why it’s great: With game drives and on-foot wildlife tracking, this is an amazing way to see more of our nature – and explore beyond Cape Town
