How I Spent 3 Days in Cape Town, South Africa [Beaches, Wildlife, and More]

Cape Town is a major coastal city in South Africa, known for its stunning natural beauty, rich history, and cultural diversity. The city is best known for its incredible views of the iconic Table Mountain and Atlantic Ocean.

It’s often considered one of the most picturesque cities in the world, and I had wanted to visit for over a decade. So when I had the opportunity to finally visit the city as a stop in my Star Alliance round-the-world redemption, I was excited to make the most out of my time there.

Here’s an in-depth look at how I spent 3 days in Cape Town, South Africa.

Arriving in Cape Town, South Africa

Cape Town is served by Cape Town International Airport (CPT) in the Matroosfontein suburb, roughly 11 miles (18 kilometers) southeast of the city.

The airport serves several international destinations with a higher volume of flights to the rest of the African continent, Europe, and a few destinations in the Middle East.

You can also fly nonstop between Cape Town and U.S. airports on 2 airlines:

Where To Stay in Cape Town

Cape Town is a large area, divided into several districts. Each has its own appeal, and there are various reasons why you might stay in different parts of the city.

Downtown Cape Town

The area in and around Kloof Street and the Bo Kaap neighborhood is home to numerous food venues, including coffee shops, brunch spots, and cocktail bars. There are also many boutique shops in the area.

The area also offers a diverse range of hotels, guesthouses, and Airbnb accommodations. The most prominent hotel in the area would be the Hyatt Regency Cape Town. I spent 1 night at this property.

There are many Cape Town tourist attractions within walking distance, including the V&A Waterfront, Castle of Good Hope, Iziko South African Museum, South African Jewish Museum, South African National Gallery, and the District Six Museum.

Camp’s Bay

Camp’s Bay is one of Cape Town’s more upscale neighborhoods, featuring high-end restaurants, nightclubs, and cocktail bars, as well as oceanfront hotels. It is about 15 minutes from the city center.

The world-famous 12 Apostles Hotel & Spa is right in the heart of Camp’s Bay.

Sea Point

Sea Point is another, more prominent oceanfront area, but with a distinctly residential feel. The area has many more cost-effective guesthouses and hotels, making it an excellent choice for more budget-conscious travelers.

The area has some famous attractions, including Mojo Market and Saunders’ Rocks Beach.

False Bay

False Bay is on the southeastern side of the Cape Peninsula, about a 30-minute drive from Cape Town. I spent 3 nights at a friend’s place in Fish Hoek in False Bay.

Although you can reach Cape Town from Fish Hoek in under an hour using the CT Train, I would not recommend staying in this area unless you rent a car to get around.

Hot Tip:

If your travels take you elsewhere in South Africa, consider my 3-day itinerary for Johannesburg and Upgraded Points’ African safari adventure guide.

Day 1

V&A Waterfront

My friend and I started the first day in Cape Town by driving to downtown Cape Town. Our first stop was the V&A Waterfront, the city’s mixed-use harbor district, which is filled with shopping, dining, and entertainment venues.

The waterfront is named after Queen Victoria and her son, Prince Alfred, who started major construction in Cape Town’s harbor in the 1860s.

The V&A Waterfront is home to several attractions, including the Two Oceans Aquarium, the Cape Wheel, and the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa. The harbor is still functioning, and you can see fishing boats, tugboats, and cargo ships.

Bo-Kaap

Next, we headed to the Bo-Kaap neighborhood, best known for its vibrantly colored houses. Bo Kaap is also historically significant as the home of the Cape Malay people, whom the Dutch brought from Southeast Asia and East Africa as slaves and political exiles during colonial times.

Of course, the highlight of the neighborhood was the rows of brightly painted houses. The houses date back to the 18th and 19th centuries, featuring Cape Dutch architectural styles.

As it’s a traditionally Muslim area, there is a strong Islamic identity, with numerous mosques and madrassas (Islamic educational institutions). You can also hear the Islamic calls to prayer throughout the day.

Camps Bay

Next, we drove over to Camps Bay, one of Cape Town’s most scenic and iconic beachfront suburbs. It is best known for its white sand beach and natural backdrop. Camp’s Bay sits between the South Atlantic Ocean and the Twelve Apostles mountain range.

The majority of Camps Bay revolves around Victoria Road, the beachfront promenade filled with numerous restaurants, cocktail bars, lounges, and cafes.

We spent a few hours relaxing on the beach and walking along the promenade. The massive mountains as a backdrop create one of the most picturesque beach settings in the world.

Hout Bay

To end the day, we headed to Hout Bay, another coastal village, just a short drive from Camps Bay. Hout Bay is another iconic tourist spot in Cape Town, offering dramatic mountain scenery, world-class seafood, and a picturesque fishing harbor.

After spending some more time on the beach and enjoying the incredible views, we visited Muriel’s Harbour Cafe to get some food. I went for the hake and chips, a classic South African twist on the timeless British comfort food.

The hake was delicious, among the best seafood I have ever had. Unfortunately, the same couldn’t be said about the chips, which were too soft and soggy.

Day 2

Boyes Drive

After a relaxing first day in and around Cape Town, we decided the second day would be much busier. We began the second day by heading up to Boyes Road, one of Cape Town’s most scenic mountain roads.

Boyes Road is in the mountains above the coastline, offering panoramic views of False Bay, the beaches below, and the surrounding mountains.

Muizenberg Beach

Next, we drove down Boyes Drive until we reached Muizenburg, another seaside suburb on Cape Town’s False Bay coastline. The laid-back suburb is best known for its surfing beach and colorful beach huts.

Muizenburg has become a popular destination for its warmer waters, which make it an ideal spot for surfing. Combine that with the sandy beaches and beautiful mountain views, and it is easy to see why it is beloved by so many.

Kalk Bay Harbor

Next, we visited another suburb and a historic fishing village along the coast, Kalk Bay, to visit its harbor. Though quaint, it remains an active fishing harbor, and you can see fishing boats arriving daily with their catches.

Those visiting Kalk Bay Harbor can purchase fresh fish or dine at one of the many seaside restaurants, including the world-famous Kalky’s (where we had lunch), a harborside food shack best known for its fish and chips.

However, the primary reason for our visit was to see Cape fur seals up close. The seals lounge on the quayside and near the fishing boats.

The seals congregate in the area as fishermen clean their catch, which results in the seals receiving free food.

Glencairn Beach

Next, we got in the car and headed over to another viewpoint and beach at Glencairn Beach. This beach is less visited by tourists, which makes it that much more special.

Glencairn Beach features a large tidal pool near the southern end, providing a more relaxing way to enjoy the water than being in the open sea.

Table Mountain

Next, we went to Table Mountain, one of the world’s most famous natural landmarks and the main attraction of Table Mountain National Park. It is also arguably the most iconic attraction in Cape Town and is one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature.

Since I had already purchased entry and cable car tickets from the official Table Mountain website, we did not need to wait in line, which saved us a considerable amount of time. It is also more cost-effective to buy tickets in advance, as prices are higher at the ticket office (R450, or about $25, online versus R1,100, or about $65, at the box office for adult round-trip tickets).

After waiting for a few minutes, we boarded the Table Mountain cable car, which took us up to the top of the mountain in under 5 minutes.

Table Mountain offers incredible panoramic views of Cape Town, Table Bay, and the Cape Peninsula. In the distance, you can also see Robben Island.

Table Mountain is part of the Cape Floral Region, one of the smallest yet richest plant kingdoms on Earth. There are over 1,500 species of flora and a variety of animals, including dassies, also known as rock hyraxes, which are small mammals that resemble gophers but are actually related to elephants. At the summit, there were also many walking paths, viewpoints, and cafés.

Day 3

Boulder’s Beach

We began the third day by visiting a popular spot: Boulder’s Beach, best known for being one of the only places in the world where you can walk among African penguins in their natural habitat. Boulders Beach is in Simon’s Town on the False Bay side, just past Glencairn Beach, which we visited the day prior.

Although I have seen penguins in zoos before, this was my first time seeing them in their natural habitat. Best of all, the penguins move around so much that they sometimes walk up to you.

Smitswinkel Bay

After the penguins, we drove south to Smitswinkel Bay. It lies on the Cape Peninsula coastal route between Simon’s Town and Cape Point Nature Reserve.

Although we were not originally planning to stop here, we did so as we saw a troop of baboons. The area and surrounding mountain terrain form the natural habitat of the Chacma baboon, which is the largest baboon species in southern Africa and one of the most widespread primates on the continent.

The baboons in this region roam down from the hills and cliffs into coastal terrain. They also occasionally cross on the coastal roads, where vehicles stop and pull aside to view these incredible animals.

Cape Point Nature Reserve

Next, we drove even further south to the Cape Point Nature Reserve, a protected area at the southernmost tip of the Cape Peninsula. The reserve is renowned for rugged cliffs that lead into the ocean, its untouched landscape, diverse wildlife, historic lighthouses, and numerous hiking and walking trails.

At Cape Point Nature Reserve, we hiked up to the Cape Point Lighthouse. Although there was an inexpensive funicular that took visitors to the top, we did the hike, as it was approximately a 45-minute wait to ride.

The hike was not too challenging and took about 20 minutes. There were difficult sections, but the incredible views made me forget about them.

Chapman’s Peak

After admiring the nature reserve, we got back in the car and drove for about an hour to reach Chapman’s Peak Drive, a 5.6-mile (9-kilometer) road carved into the side of Chapman’s Peak mountain. The iconic road is considered one of the most beautiful coastal roads on earth.

We arrived at Chapman’s Peak Lookout, the highest view over the area, right before sunset. From the lookout point, you can see much of Hout Bay and the mountains surrounding it.

Hot Tip:

I visited Cape Town as part of a round-the-world trip. Here’s how to book one yourself.

Final Thoughts

Cape Town is a fantastic city with numerous activities and attractions for everyone who visits. The city itself is pretty amazing and among the most beautiful I have visited, but it’s the natural beauty of the mountains, beaches, and wildlife that really made me fall in love with it.

Although this was my first visit, I am excited to return in the near future. Hopefully, I will have more time to explore other areas and try even more local cuisine next time.