- Cape Town Travel Guide
- Hotel Search
- Flight Search
- Map
- Climate
- Sights
- Eating Out
- History
- Practical Information
- Getting Around
- Getting There
- Museums
- Day Trips
- Beaches
- Shopping
- Nightlife and Entertainment
- Internet Cafes
- Bars and Cafes
- Festivals
- Things to do
- 7 Day Itinerary
- Family Travel Ideas
- Budget Travel Ideas
- Senior Travel
- When to Go
- Cruises
- Top 5 Must Do's
- Photo Gallery
Sights in Cape Town
Edit ThisCape Town, the second most populated city of South Africa is well-known for its beautiful harbors and outstanding natural beauty. The most-visited Cape Town Sights include the following:
Cape Point and Cape of Good Hope
Cape Point and Cape of Good Hope are 2 of the most popular tourist spots in Cape Town. Both these capes are promontories situated at the Cape Peninsula. However, the peak of Cape Point is higher than that of Cape of Good Hope. There are 2 lighthouses at the peak of Cape Point. The new lighthouse is situated at lower elevation than the old one because the old lighthouse, being covered under clouds or fogs most of the time, caused many shipwrecks. However, the old lighthouse is a good vantage point to view the breathtaking surrounding landscape spread out below. Besides, both these capes are located within the perimeter of Table Mountain National Park where you can see a wide spectrum of animals including Cape lion, leopard, spotted hyena, black-backed jackal, mountain zebra and elephants.
Robben Island
About 11 km off the coast of Cape Town, is Robben Island, originally a penitentiary but now transformed into a museum. Famed for its famous resident Nelson Mandela, Robben Island had many famous people locked away into its darkest chambers for years during the apartheid regime of South Africa. Nelson Mandela himself was imprisoned here for 18 years. Walter Sisulu and Robert Sobukwe were incarcerated here for their strong opposition against apartheid. Now a prison museum, the island is a most-visited place by tourists as you can see the prison cells, the limestone quarry, leper cemetery and the Robert Sobukew house. Plenty of photos will give you a glimpse of the prison life on the island.
Kirstenbosch National Botanic Gardens
Nestled between Table Mountain and Devil’s Peak, Kirstenbosch is a famous botanical garden in Cape Town. Founded in 1913, this garden is home to over 22,000 indigenous plants including a giant baobab tree from different South African regions and others like savanna, fynbos and karoo. Aside from this, there are plants inside this garden dating back millions of years when there was probably one continent in existence. Varieties of medicinal herbs and plants are also displayed. The garden offers different trails that lead up to the mountain slopes and one such popular trail is Skeleton Gorge which will take you to the Peak of Table Mountain.
Victoria and Alfred Waterfront
Wedged between Robben Island and Table Mountain, Victoria and Alfred waterfront is a popular tourist point in Cape Town. Aside from offering a splendid view of the spectacular sea and mountain range, the waterfront has several pubs, restaurants and hotels line along it. The Two Oceans Aquarium situated at this waterfront showcases the marine life of the 2 oceans – Indian Ocean and Atlantic Ocean. The Maritime Museum nearby exhibits a huge collection of model ships from prehistoric times to the present day.
Contributors
March 13, 2010
change
by ashmita
Bloubergstrand
Edit ThisFor the most beautiful view of Table Mountain you must go to the Cape Town suburb Bloubergstrand. Many of the typical picture postcard photo's of Table Mountain are probably taken from the beach at Bloubergstrand. Well worth the 20 minute drive north.
| type: | general |
| World66 rating: |
Kistenbosch Botanical Gardens
Edit ThisKirstenbosch is a must-see for every plant-enthusiastic. It specializes on the indigenous flora of the Cape area. The Gardes consist of a large estate covered in the typical fynbos, a mixture of smaller shrubs and flowering plants, and a cultivated area, with theme gardens. These include:
A water-wise garden, that demonstrates how to create a garden in need of far less water and maintenance than conventional gardens, no luxury during the dry African summer. A fragrance garden, with a selection of specially fragrant plants, and plants with special textures. A medicinal more..
| type: | general |
| World66 rating: | |
| address: | Rhodes Drive, Newlands |
| openinghours: | dayly from 08:00 - 19:00 (September -March) or from 08:00 - 18:00 (April - August) |
Table Mountain
Edit Thiscap
photo by: capt
The first thing that springs to mind when thinking of Cape Town is perhaps Table Mountain. This remarkable lump of rock right in the middle of town is hard to miss. There are several myths connected with Table Mountain. For example, legend tells of an old pirate, Jan van Hunks, who after ritiring spent most of his time smoking his pipe outside his house on Devil's peak. One night a mysterious stranger came up to him and asked for some tobacco. After bragging a bit about their pipe smoking talents, they started a smoking contest thet lasted for four days. Van Hunks eventually more..
| type: | general |
| World66 rating: | |
| address: | Cape Town |
Victoria & Alfred Waterfront
Edit ThisThe Victoria & Alfred Waterfront offers a range of specialty shops, craftmarkets, an Imax theatre, numerous restaurants and bars, an arena where open air performances are presented and various other entertainment options such as sunset boat cruises.
A number of businesses and hotels are also located within its boundaries.
There is a Visitors Centre onsite which serves as the starting point for local sightseeing tours. Maps and further details of the facilities are available at the website.
| type: | Hotspots |
| World66 rating: | [rate it] |
| tel: | +27(21)4087600 |
| url: | www.waterfront.co.za |
| address: | Portswood Ridge, 8002 Cape Town |
Boulder's Beach
Edit ThisThis is a wonderful place to visit penguins. Enjoy it!!
| type: | Landmarks |
| World66 rating: | [rate it] |
