7 DAYS OF HIKING, HISTORY, AND FOOD IN CAPE TOWN

QUICK FACTS

Length of trip: 7 days

Lodging/Neighborhood: Camps Bay and Green Point

Season: May

Budget: $-$$

Day 1: City Tour

Start the day with breakfast at Truth Coffee Shop- amazing coffee in an industrial café. Try the espresso in hot chocolate.

From there, walk over to District 6 Museum. It's a small and personal museum that offers insight into the history of apartheid and forced removals in Cape Town. 

 While in the neighborhood, continue on a few blocks to the Castle of Good Hope, the oldest surviving building in South Africa and join one of the tours offered daily. 

Old Biscuit Mill is a short drive away in the hip Woodstock area. It has shops by local artists and some great restaurants like Pot Luck Club (make sure to book far in advance). 

End the day with a walk along Sea Point Promenade. Runners take note- this is a beautiful path to run along and easy to follow so you won’t get lost in a new city.

Dinner: Black sheep restaurant

 Day 2: Hike Table Mountain

Head out in the morning to start the hike up Table Mountain. Stop by the visitor’s center on your way up to grab a map; make sure to leave early enough so you have time to explore once you reach the top. There are amazing walking trails with views of the city and you can reward yourself with a coffee or glass of wine at the café. It’s actually a pretty challenging hike up, so you can also opt to take the Cable Car up and still do some nice walks on the top.

Camps Bay is a great way to spend the afternoon post-hike. Rent chairs from the vendors on the beach during warmer months or get sundowners at one of the many restaurants along the beach. 

Dinner: Codfather, Camps Bay. Laid back with amazing grilled seafood. Your waiter will take you up to the case to pick the fish you want, and it’s all billed by weight so create your own seafood platter.  

 Day 3: Day Trip to Cape Point

Don’t leave Cape Town without heading out to Simon’s Town to see the penguins at Boulder Beach.

If you leave early enough, make it a stop on your way to Cape Point, a national park at the most south-western tip of Africa. You’ll want to spend as much time here as possible- go see the sign at Cape of Good Hope, walk up to the lighthouse, and bring a picnic for the beach or eat at Two Ocean’s Restaurant (which has surprisingly good sushi).

 Day 4-5: Stellenbosch and Franschhoek

Day 4

Start the day with a walk along the Sea Point promenade before heading out to wine country for lunch.

Drive out to Stellenbosch for lunch and a wine tasting. There are vineyards marked along the way so you can’t miss them, but here are some of our favorites:

  •  Vergenoegd Wine Estate was only about 30 minutes outside of Cape Town. While it wasn’t the best tasting we did, the whole set up is absolutely wonderful and mixes up the usual tasting with a number of activities. You can pre-book a picnic lunch to eat outside by their pond. It was a bit chilly so they set us up with blankets and a bottle of wine which we enjoyed while watching their famous duck parade. We then stayed for the wine mixing class and got to take home bottles of our favorite blends with personalized labels. They also do coffee, tea, and olive oil classes.
  •  Tokara Wine Estate has stunning grounds and great food and wines. I would recommend making lunch reservations here for a stop during your day.
  • Waterkloof is a bit removed from the other wine farms but is a must-do for any foodies. It has incredible architecture and a five course tasting menu.

Dinner: Terroir, Klein Zalze

Stay: Klein Zalze Hotel. We went in May, the start of low-season, and there were great deals at most of the hotels. We were able to get this one for under $50/night through Expedia.

 Day 5

We had plans to take the Franschhoek wine tram (a great option if no one wants to drive) but ended up spending the entire day at Babylonstoren. Arrive at 10am to take the garden tour and you will not be disappointed- it is incredible! They then have a light lunch option at the greenhouse, or more formal dining at their restaurant Babel, which was the best meal of our trip. You can follow up lunch with a wine tasting and continue exploring its beautiful grounds.  

 Day 6: Robben Island

Visiting Robben Island is a really powerful trip. You’ll take a ferry over then get on tour buses to learn about the history of Robben Island. The tour of the prison is led by a former political prisoner, which is an incredibly unique and moving experience. Make sure to book tickets in advance either online or by stopping in to the Robben Island Museum at the V&A Waterfront because the ferries can get filled up.

After your return, get lunch at the V&A waterfront and make sure to pick a restaurant with a view. It’s pretty much just a mall, but is a nice place to walk around and great if you want to get some shopping in.

 Day 7: Lion’s Head and Kirstenbosch

Leave early during summer and pack lots of water because it can get hot and there’s not much shade on the path up Lion’s Head. You’ll have amazing views of the city on top. This is a shorter and easier hike than Table Mountain so a good option to substitute if you’re short on time.

Then head over to the Kirtsenbosch Botanical Gardens for lunch. They have a tea shop when you enter or you can picnic on one of the lawns. There’s great pathways and bridges to explore the park. If you’re lucky to visit during the right time of year, they have jazz concerts late afternoon on the weekends.

 Helpful Hints

Packing

Cape Town weather is unpredictable so bring layers. Once the wind picks up you’ll be glad to have a light jacket on you, even in the summer. This is especially true for the top of Table Mountain!

Getting around

Rent a car at the airport or use Uber to move around the city quickly and not worry about parking. Uber is a great way to get to/from the airport.

Eating

Especially during the popular times of year, like December and January, try to make dinner reservations in advance because it can get packed. If you want lunch at one of the wine farms book ahead, but you can just walk-in for tastings.

Nightlife

Head over to Long Street for an area full of bars, restaurants, and hostels.  

Airlines

Look at South Africa Airways, British Airways and their cheaper branches Kulula and Mango from Johannesburg to Cape Town.

 Don’t miss

Cape Point is an absolute gem so make time for a day trip!

 Where to stay

Cape Town has the best selection of Airbnb apartments I’ve ever seen with great places starting at $60-70/night. A lot of them are designed just to be rentals so have everything you need during your stay. If you have a group, splurge for a place with a view near the beach in Camps Bay. Sea Point is a nice neighborhood because it gives you access to walk along the promenade and Green Point is a great area to stay in because you’re walking distance from a number of restaurants and the V&A waterfront.