Editor's picks
A local's shortlist — the places worth your time first, each with a tip.
Table Mountain
Nature · City Bowl
The flat-topped icon over the city — ride the rotating cableway or hike up for jaw-dropping views.
Local tip: Book the cableway online and go early; for a hike, Platteklip Gorge is the direct route — never go alone, and check the weather first.
V&A Waterfront
Culture · Waterfront
A buzzing harbour of restaurants, shops, the Zeitz MOCAA art museum and the ferry to Robben Island.
Local tip: Book Robben Island tickets well ahead; the food market and the Time Out Market are great rainy-day options.
Cape Point & the Peninsula
Nature · Cape Peninsula
The dramatic drive to the Cape of Good Hope, past the Boulders penguins and the cliff-hugging Chapman's Peak.
Local tip: Make a full day of it — Boulders penguins, Chapman's Peak Drive (small toll), and lunch in Kalk Bay or Simon's Town.
Bo-Kaap
Culture · Bo-Kaap
The candy-coloured houses and cobbled streets of the historic Cape Malay quarter, full of heritage and cuisine.
Local tip: Be respectful — people live here. Do a Cape Malay cooking class or food tour rather than just photographing homes.
Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden
Nature · Southern Suburbs
A world-famous garden on Table Mountain's eastern slopes, with the 'Boomslang' tree-canopy walkway.
Local tip: In summer, the Sunday-evening open-air concerts on the lawns are a beloved local ritual — bring a picnic and wine.
The Cape Winelands
Food · Stellenbosch / Franschhoek (~1 hr)
Stellenbosch and Franschhoek — historic wine estates, world-class food, and the hop-on Franschhoek wine tram.
Local tip: Take the Franschhoek Wine Tram and don't drive after tasting; the rand makes superb wine astonishingly affordable.
Explore 92 places across Cape Town
Museums, landmarks, monuments, heritage sites and parks — mapped, with photos. The most notable spots first.
Museums & galleries
(23)
MuseumZeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa
Museum of contemporary art in South Africa
MuseumSouth African National Gallery
Art museum spread over several locations
MuseumGroote Schuur
Estate: Dutch East India Company granary → Hester Anna van der Byl / Coetsee → Cecil Rhodes / Sir Herbert Baker → South African President official residence → museum
MuseumDistrict Six Museum
Memorial in Cape Town, South Africa
Museum
Museum
MuseumIrma Stern Museum
Home and studio of Irma Stern, a South African artist.
MuseumMTN Sciencentre
Science museum in Observatory, Cape Town
MuseumSouth African Sendinggestig Museum
Church Museum in Long Street, Cape Town
MuseumIziko Museums of South Africa
Museum complex in Cape Town
MuseumChavonnes Battery
Building in Africa
MuseumSouth African Jewish Museum
Museum in South Africa
Museum
MuseumHeart of Cape Town Museum
Medical museum in Cape Town
MuseumCape Medical Museum
Provincial Museum in Green Point, South Africa
MuseumMichaelis Collection
Group of paintings donated in 1914, and later 56 paintings donated in 1933 to the municipal art gallery in Cape Town, South Africa (today spread between Cape Town and Pretoria museums)
MuseumRhodes Cottage
Museum
MuseumBellville’s Historical Clay and Stone Quarry and the Adjacent Jail
Museum in Cape Town.
MuseumRobben Island Museum
Museum in Cape Town.
MuseumBo-Kaap museum
Museum in Cape Town
Hout Bay Museum
Museum.
Imizamo Yethu Township Museum
Museum.
Castle Military Museum
Museum.
Landmarks & architecture
(7)
Landmark
LandmarkGrand Parade
Public square in Cape Town, South Africa
Landmark
LandmarkRiebeeck Square
Public square in Cape Town
East Fort
Fort.
Lower East Fort Gun Battery
Fort.
Enigma Mansion
Historic manor.
Monuments & memorials
(22)
MonumentRhodes Memorial
Memorial to English-born, South African politician Cecil John Rhodes
MonumentArtillery Memorial, Cape Town
Memorial to the gunners who fought for South Africa during World War I
MonumentJapanese Lantern Monument
Memorial in Cape Town, South Africa
MonumentCape Town Labour Corps Memorial
Memorial to the labour who fought for South Africa during World War I
MonumentMemorial to Robert Falcon Scott
Monument in Cape Town
MonumentTwo Minutes of Silence and Remembrance
Memorial on the site of the first post-WWI two-minute silence
MonumentSlave Tree Memorial, Cape Town
Memorial in Cape Town
MonumentMendi Memorial
Memorial located in Cape Town, South Africa
MonumentThe Volunteer War Memorial
Memorial located in Cape Town, South Africa
MonumentBishop Robert Gray Memorial
Monument in Cape Town.
MonumentMoturu Kramat
Kramat of Robben Island, South Africa
MonumentKramat of Sheikh Mohamed Hassen Ghaibie Shah
Kramat of Cape Town, South Africa
MonumentObservatory War Memorial
Memorial to who fought for South Africa during World War I
MonumentPrestwich memorial
Monument in Cape Town.
MonumentDelville Wood Memorial
Memorial located in Cape Town, South Africa
MonumentTrojan Horse Memorial
Memorial in Cape Town, South Africa
MonumentSayed Mahmud Kramat
Kramat
MonumentMemorial of Lost Fishermen
V & A Waterfront, Cape Town
MonumentRobert Waterwitch and Coline Williams Memorial
Monument in Cape Town.
Garden of Remembrance
Historic monument.
Antipolis
Historic site.
The Bronze Leopard
Public artwork by Ivan Mitford-Barberton, 1963.
Places of worship
(25)
Religious
Religious
Religious
ReligiousGardens Shul
Synagogue in Cape Town, South Africa
ReligiousCentral Methodist Church, Cape Town
Church in Cape Town, South Africa
Religious
ReligiousDutch Reformed Church, Durbanville
Church in Durbanville, South Africa
ReligiousQueen Victoria Mosque
Mosque in Cape Town, South Africa
ReligiousGreek Orthodox Cathedral of St George
Greek Orthodox cathedral in Cape Town
ReligiousMuizenberg Hebrew Congregation
Synagogue in Cape Town, South Africa
ReligiousLutheran Church in Strand Street
Church in Cape Town, South Africa
ReligiousVredehoek Shul
Synagogue in Cape Town, South Africa
ReligiousNG gemeente Tafelberg
Religious in Cape Town.
ReligiousChurch of the Good Shepherd, Robben Island
Building in South Africa
ReligiousGarrison Church, Robben Island
Building in South Africa
ReligiousMosque Shafee
Mosques in Cape Town
ReligiousCoowatool Islam Mosque
14th Mosque in Cape Town and 8th in Bo-Kaap, established in 1892
ReligiousSt Paul's Church Rondebosch
Religious in Cape Town.
ReligiousSaint James Church, Kenilworth
Religious in Cape Town.
ReligiousSt Mary the Virgin
Church in Woodstock, Cape Town
ReligiousBoorhaanol Islam Mosque
Mosque in Cape Town, South Africa
ReligiousSt Michael and All Angels Anglican Church
Church in Observatory, Cape Town
ReligiousMoravian Church
Church in Cape Town, South Africa
ReligiousSt. Saviour's Church
Church building in Cape Town, South Africa
St Mary's Cathedral
Place of worship.
Heritage & archaeology
(4)
ArchaeologicalPeers Cave
Archaeological in Cape Town.
Orange Kloof pumphouse
Historic ruins.
West Fort
Historic ruins.
Woodhead Tunnel
Archaeological site.
Parks & nature
(9)
ParkKirstenbosch National Botanical Garden
Botanical garden
ParkCompany's Garden
Park in Cape Town, South Africa
Park
ParkArderne Gardens
Public park and arboretum in Claremont, Cape Town
ParkGreen Point Park
Park in Green Point, Cape Town, in South Africa
ParkJack Muller Danie Uys Park
Park in Bellville, South Africa
Raleigh Park
Public park.
Choo Choo Park
Public park.
Pienaar Road Park
Public park.
More to explore
(2)BOS 400 Shipwreck
Visitor attraction.
Die Oog
Visitor attraction.
Data from Wikidata (CC0) & OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Images via Wikimedia Commons — see each credit. Listings are community-maintained and may be incomplete or out of date — verify hours and access before visiting.
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