Things to Do in Cape Town

Historic cobblestone square dating from the 1700s, now a daily flea market. Stalls sell African crafts, beads, clothing, and souvenirs. Good place to people-watch and feel the city's street vibe.

🕐 Daily, 09:00 to 17:00 (some stalls close around 16:00)

💡 Go just before lunch on a weekday for a less pushy experience. Haggle politely but firmly—start at half the asking price. Avoid the stalls selling mass-produced 'African' art; look for batik fabrics or wooden spoons made locally.

Historic public garden in the city centre, originally a fruit and vegetable patch for the Dutch East India Company. Old trees, flowerbeds, a small aviary, and a Japanese garden. Walk through to the South African Museum and National Library.

🕐 Daily, 07:00 to 19:00 (October to April), 07:00 to 18:00 (May to September)

💡 Weekday mornings are calmest. Avoid lunchtime on weekends when it gets crowded with families. Check the free bird hide near the pond.

Network of hiking trails on the lower slopes of Table Mountain. You can walk up to the first contour path without paying. Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden entrance costs money, but the free section has great views and trails.

🕐 Daily, dawn to dusk (gates close at 18:00 in summer, 17:00 in winter)

💡 Take the Skeleton Gorge trail early to avoid heat and crowds. Bring a windbreaker; the Cape Doctor can kick up suddenly.

Small, powerful museum documenting the forced removals of 60,000 residents from District Six during apartheid. Photographs, personal artefacts, and a street map on the floor where former residents left messages. Normally R50 entry, but free on certai

🕐 Monday to Saturday, 09:00 to 16:00; closed Sundays and public holidays

💡 First Wednesday of every month is free entrance day. Arrive just after 09:00 to avoid queues. The guided tour by former residents is worth the donation.

Flat-topped mountain forming the northern end of the Cape Peninsula, with views across Cape Town and Table Bay. Cable car or hiking trails.

🕐 08:00-17:00

Public boardwalk alongside the famous African penguin colony at False Bay. The main beach charges entry, but the boardwalk at the edge of Simon's Town gives you good views of the penguins without a ticket.

🕐 Boardwalk accessible anytime; gates open 08:00 to 17:00 (but you can walk outside those hours)

💡 Park in Simon's Town and walk the coastal path from the harbour (about 15 minutes). Go at low tide when penguins are on the rocks, not the sand.