Best things to do in Cape Town
The top 3 according to 1,732 votes from people: Table Mountain · Robben Island · Boulders Beach. (Updated Jul 25, 2026.)
Mountains, penguins, history and wine: the Cape Town experiences Lonely Planet, TripAdvisor and travel blogs recommend most.
Top 10
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1
Table Mountain
Flat-topped mountain reached by rotating cable car or the Platteklip Gorge hike.
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2
Robben Island
Prison island where Nelson Mandela spent 18 years, toured with former inmates; World Heritage Site.
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3
Boulders Beach
Protected colony of African penguins near Simon's Town, seen from boardwalks.
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4
Cape of Good Hope and Cape Point
Rocky tip of the Cape Peninsula in Table Mountain National Park, with a funicular to the lighthouse.
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5
V&A Waterfront
Working harbour with the Two Oceans Aquarium, Zeitz MOCAA and the Watershed market.
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6
Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden
Garden on Table Mountain's slopes with the Boomslang canopy walkway.
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7
Bo-Kaap
Historic Cape Malay quarter of brightly painted houses on Signal Hill's slopes.
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8
Chapman's Peak Drive
9 km toll road carved into the cliffs between Hout Bay and Noordhoek.
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9
Zeitz MOCAA
Museum of contemporary African art in a converted grain silo, opened in 2017.
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10
Cape Winelands
Stellenbosch and Franschhoek wine estates, under an hour from the city.
Candidates
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11
Lion's Head
Sunrise or full-moon hike with chains and ladders to a 669 m summit.
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12
Camps Bay
Palm-lined beach below the Twelve Apostles range, popular at sunset.
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13
Muizenberg Beach
False Bay surf beach famous for its colourful Victorian bathing huts, great for beginner surfers.
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14
Signal Hill
Hill next to Lion's Head with sweeping views over the city and Table Bay, popular at sunset; the Noon Gun is fired nearby.
How is this ranking ordered? By people's votes: each ▲ adds a point and each ▼ takes one away. Anyone can vote and add what is missing.
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Comments (4)
Boulders Beach penguins, adorable.
Boulders Beach penguins are adorable, and you can swim near them at the small beach.
Table Mountain cable car early in the morning before the clouds roll in.
Robben Island tour guided by former prisoners, very moving.