Cape TownTravel Guide

The One&Only is a premier hotel tucked into the V&A Waterfront, your springboard to the many things to do in Cape Town and at the waterfront itself. A stylish urban retreat overlooking the

 

Five-star luxury plus the vibrant culture of the Bo-Kaap equals The Hyatt Regency Cape Town. You’ll be within walking distance of all that the Bo-Kaap offers, as well as the gastronomic adventures that await on Kloof and Bree streets.

How about a boutique guest house all to yourself? Redcliffe House in the upmarket suburb of Gardens offers just that. A gorgeous heritage house combined with a boutique hotel within walking distance of Kloof Street – where everything happens.

The Hollywood Mansion & Spa (need we say more?) is in Camps Bay (where else?). Your villa-away-from-home with a maid and butler service, home cinema and business centre.
 

Cape Town is steeped in culture and history; a melting pot of influences have shaped the ‘Mother City’ as she is affectionately known.

Visit the Bo-Kaap to see the colourful painted houses in bright red, green, pink and blue, some dating back to the 17^th century. This vibrant suburb is a former Malay Quarter. Pop in at the
Bo-Kaap Museum to learn more about its backstory.

Ferry to Robben Island. This remote location used to be a leper colony back in the day (from 1846 to 1931), and it’s where Nelson Mandela spent 18 years of his 27-year jail term. See the cell that was his home at the maximum-security prison.

Go wine-tasting in the Winelands. Best enjoyed as a day trip by bus, a hop-on, hop-off tram or you can even bike it. A must-visit is the gorgeous Groot Constantia wine estate, the first and oldest in South Africa, established in 1685.
 

Stop by Cape Town’s premier tourist destination, the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront. You’ll find it in Table Bay, South Africa’s oldest harbour, which is a world-class development with shopping, dining, entertainment, hotels, heritage sites and marine spaces all in one place.

Cape Town has a wonderful outdoor lifestyle, join in!

Hitch a ride in a cable car up Table Mountain to enjoy panoramic views of Cape Town some 700m (2300 ft) below.

Feeling fit? Hike up Table Mountain instead to earn bragging rights. Hiking is huge in Cape Town with many trails to choose from and for every level of experience. There are glamping opportunities galore, too.

Have a picnic: All you have to do is choose your setting. We recommend the Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden, one of the grandest in the world with rolling lawns and streams or
a sundowner picnic on Lion’s Head – another famous mountainous landmark.

Hang out with penguins:  Boulders Beach in Simons Town is an African penguin haven, where these comical aquatic birds waddle their way into visitors’ hearts. You’ll also be doing your bit to help conservation efforts when you pop in to see them.

Looking for a restaurant in Cape Town that offers fine dining? The Camp’s Bay strip has an array of high-end eateries with award-winners like Azure at the Twelve Apostles Hotel and Spa, with its wine-pairing menus, and the sophisticated boundary-pushing Salsify. The upmarket suburb of Constantia also boasts some world-class dining at the French-Asian La Colombe and the Conservatory with its eclectic local bent.
 

The Western Cape wine farms are famed for their restaurants too, with Franschhoek bearing the honour of the ‘French Corner of the Cape’.

Bree Street, its trendier cousin by some accounts, focuses on Italian and Spanish and cheese (yes, there’s a dedicated cheese eatery). Both streets are dotted with pubs and bars that serve up their special brand of light meals.
 

Street food is also plentiful in Cape Town, dished up from a variety of colourful food trucks, like the Lotus Food Truck, with its lip-smacking ramen dishes. And then there’s the Eastern Food Bazaar, a one-stop-street-food shop with Chinese, Turkish, and Indian classics.

Hit the winding streets of the CBD where Kloof and Bree streets (formerly mentioned for their fab eateries) are also a shopper’s delight, dotted with boutiques, jewellery stores and galleries.

Among the popular malls are Canal Walk in Century City (the third biggest in Africa) and the Gardens Shopping Centre conveniently positioned in the heart of the city.

Greenmarket Square, between Long Street and St George’s Mall is a historic, cobbled public space showcasing fresh produce and flowers, curios, crafts and clothing. From the humble beginnings of a small flea market, it’s now pretty much iconic.

For The Earth Fair Food in Constantia. Think artisanal pies, breads and cheeses, charcuterie, organic produce fresh from the farm and craft beer
 

For lovers of luxury brands and goods, as well as international designers, the V&A Waterfont is a retail Mecca. The award-winning Cavendish Square in Claremont is another precinct that boasts around 200 high-end shops and boutiques, showcasing local and international designers

A former fishing village, but these days a playground of the rich and famous, as well as us regular folk. This scenic bay is encircled by mountains and features a boat and yacht marina.

Often called the Cape’s Riviera, this is the place to be seen in the summer months. Stroll along the promenade, take a dip in the natural rock pool and ‘live the vida loca’ with trendy clubs and top restaurants all around.

Famous for its row of colourful beach huts, the best surfing in Cape Town and warm water. Fun fact: The beach huts are a nod to Victorian-era bathing boxes, which young ladies used as changerooms. Drawn by horses into the water, the modest damsels would then emerge in their top-to-toe swimming costumes to frolic in the sea.

Imagine a pristine white sand beach that’s more than 8km long, where horses, pooches and people have space to play. (Horse riding is a common pastime here). An interesting feature is a tidal lagoon that can disappear from one day to the next.

Cape Town has many other beaches, so whether you want to hang out with the happening crowd or find a romantic corner to while away the hours with your significant other, you’re bound to find your match.

The Cape Point Nature Reserve is situated on a wild and treacherous landmass of cliffs and rock, the site of many shipwrecks. Wildlife like the Cape Mountain zebra roam the reserve. Not to be missed when visiting here is a ride on the Flying Dutchman Funicular up train tracks to the lighthouse for breath-taking views.

A former refreshment station and fresh produce garden for traders of the Dutch East India company sailing around the tip of Africa. Today, the Company’s Garden continues the tradition of refreshing body and soul with its restaurant and beautiful park setting. Children, families and garden enthusiasts are welcome at this safe and peaceful city oasis.

The Green Point Urban Park is popular with families, dog owners and fitness enthusiasts who enjoy the safe space with its cycle paths, outdoor gym, expansive lawns and children’s playgrounds. A drawcard during school vacations, friendly security personnel look after everyone and make sure no little ones get lost. 

Want a game reserve experience when you visit Cape Town? Just two hours’ drive out of the city, the Aquila Private Game Reserve and its guides offer just that. Choose from a half day, full day or overnight safari. Short on time? How about a two-hour guided safari