Cape Town

Castle of Good Hope

Popularly called 'The Castle' by locals, it is the oldest surviving building in South Africa, having been built from 1666 to 1679. The castle displays a vast range of historical military equipment and tools, an art collection and the William Fehr Collection, which includes antique Cape Dutch furniture. Visitors can buy wine and eat at the café or restaurant within the Castle.

09:00-17:00 daily. Tours are offered Mon through Sat at 11:00, 12:00 and 14:00. Horse and carriage rides are offered daily at 10:30, 12:45 and 14:45. Booking is necessary · entrance fee for adults, for children and pensioners · Built 1666

Two Oceans Aquarium

A decent-sized aquarium showcasing the biodiversity within the Indian and Atlantic oceans. Displays include clownfish, seahorses, turtles, sharks and even the local penguins. Features a live kelp forest and microscope exhibit. There is an extensive series of events calendar for each month, and a daily event schedule including live feedings as well. Scuba diving with the sharks is also offered. A walk around the aquarium takes about an hour. There is also a viewing platform available to see the cape fur seals near the V&A Waterfront.

09:30-18:00 · Adults, children (14-17) and children (4-13) · Wheelchair accessible

South African National Gallery

Located in the Gardens area of Cape Town off Government Ave (about a 20-minute walk from downtown). Contains extensive displays of South African art, and information on the history of censorship of art during apartheid.

Daily 10:00-17:00 · Adults; children, students and seniors

Zeitz Museum of Contemporary African Art

MOCAA

Established in 2017 as the largest museum of contemporary African art in the world. Built out of an old grain silo that was decommissioned in 2001.

10.00-18.00 daily, last admission 17.30 · Adults; R 190, Children under 18; free

Bo-Kaap

Malay Quarter

This neighbourhood, on a hilly area southwest of the city centre, is where historically Malay Muslim descendants of slaves had lived. It is a popular location to shoot films, since there are bright and colourful buildings, mosques, quaint streets, stunning views of Cape Town, and delicious street food sold along the side. It is worth exploring the quarter for about an hour, and then visiting the Bo-Kaap Museum, showing how a wealthy Malay family lived during the 19th century. Within the quarter is Atlas Trading, an old-fashioned spice shop. Ask the manager to mix the spices you need for making the meal you want. About 1 km from the Bo-Kaap is the Noon Gun which is a cannon used as a time signal. At 12:00 from Monday to Saturday the cannons are fired, never ceasing to amaze the crowd of people watching. Go and see the brief ceremony that occurs before and during the shooting.

Rhodes Memorial

Built on the lower slopes of Devil's Peak, the memorial was designed in recognition of imperialist politician and business magnate Cecil Rhodes. The wooden bench that Rhodes used is placed under the memorial. This memorial is a wonderful spot to have a picnic. It is a starting point for the bike and hiking trails that head towards Devil's Peak, which have now become very popular. If you are eager to explore the nature and beauty in the area, make sure you are never alone and never carry valuables with you.

District Six Museum

District Six is an area near downtown Cape Town which remained multiracial well into the 1960s against all attempts by the government to declare it a "white only" area. Eventually the residents were all evicted and the buildings were bulldozed. The area remains uninhabited. The museum provides information about the area, the eviction, the Group Areas Act, and the people who used to live there. The director of the museum is a former resident. There is a small bookstore with an excellent selection of books on South Africa's history, District Six and apartheid.

Mon-Sat 09:00-16:00 · , with a guide

Slave Lodge

One of the oldest buildings in Cape Town which houses a social history museum.

Mon-Fri 10:00-17:00 · Adults; children, students and seniors

South African Jewish Museum

The museum about this small community that has made large contributions in South African society and bringing down Apartheid. The museum is about Jews but non-Jews will find it very interesting and informative.

Sun-Thu 10:00-17:00; Fri 10:00-14:00 · adults, students · Wheelchair accessible

Bo-Kaap Museum

Located in a home dating from the 1760s, the museum offers an insight into the cultural life of the Muslim community of the Bo-Kaap area in Cape Town.

Mon-Sat 10:00-17:00 · entrance fee · Built 1763

Mama Africa

African style tourist restaurant offering local and African meals, like Bobotie and Potjiekos, but also springbok, kudu and crocodile steak. Good range of wines at affordable prices. Live marimba music some nights.

Mon to Sat: restaurant is open 19:00 till late, the bar is open 16:30 till late

Marco's African Place

Popular gay bar which serves up specialities such as Ulwimi (steamed ox tongue with mustard sauce) along with live African music.

Tu-Fr 12:00-23:00; Sa-Mo 15:00-23:00

Eastern Food Bazaar

South Asian food court offering high quality meals for a fair price. 100% Halal.

Mo-Th 11:00-22:00; Fr,Sa 11:00-22:30 · -35 (Jan 2013)

The Test Kitchen

Luke Dale-Roberts’ The Test Kitchen, which opened in 2010, has the celebrated chef cooking at his most creative in a distinctive contemporary space. At the prestigious World’s 50 Best Restaurants Awards 2013, The Test Kitchen made an impressive leap to No. 61 on the list, climbing up 13 places from no.74 in 2012. More significantly, The Test Kitchen was singled out as the winner of the “Cacao Barry One To Watch Award” 2013. Book months in advance!

daily 12:30-14:00, 19:00-21:00

Africa Café

Affordable and very good. Maybe the best restaurant in Cape Town for African cuisine. Lower to medium price range. Serves fixed menu, all you can eat of 12-15 different dishes.

Mo-Sa 18:00-23:00

Biesmiellah

One of the oldest restaurants around, known for its Malay kitchen. No alcoholic drinks are available.

Cape Town Science Centre

A world of discovery under one roof! Expect a wide variety of interactive displays and exciting activities for your enjoyment. Build a house in the exclusive 'kids only' Building Site, challenge your mind with Puzzling Things, experience weightlessness similar to that of space with a spin on the Human Gyroscope, play Mindball - the game where you control the ball with your brain waves and see and hear science in the Audio Kinetic Sculpture.

Mon-Sat 09:00-16:30, Sun 10:00-16:30 · for adults and children. Students, pensioners and group discounts

Bobs Bar

A British-owned and -run bar with beer from. and breakfast from.

07:30-04:00

Table Mountain

3 km (all uphill), 1 to 3 hours, Platteklip Gorge to the Upper Cable Station.

Always open, but you might want to start early enough to catch the last cable car down · No fees are charged

95 Keerom

A top class Italian restaurant with modern décor and a trendy atmosphere.

Labia Theatre

Has an African screen showing African-made and African-oriented films all year round.

Lolas

Vegetarian food with local colour and great karma. Good conversation and even better meals. Mingle with dreadlocks, artsy types and brooding poets.

Zanzi-Bar

Run by the Carnival Court Backpackers hostel. Good meeting place for other travelers visiting Cape Town. Live jazz on Sundays, DJ's on Friday & Saturday nights. Free entry most nights.

17:00-02:00

Jolly Roger Pirate Ship

The Jolly Roger is the only authentic pirate ship in South Africa, departs from the V&A Waterfront at popular times. The Jolly Roger is able to sail in most weather conditions, normally at 11:00 (on weekends), 13:00, 15:00, 17:00 and 18:00. Must arrive early for boarding. Bookings to be made online here, or direct on arrival. https://www.webtickets.co.za/v2/EventCategories.aspx?itemid=379132481.

from per child and per adult in winter, to

Long Street Café

Very popular, European kitchen, which serves up tasty drinks.

Mitchells Ale House

Mitchells Brewery

Great location, fun atmosphere, friendly staff and famous craft beers, amazing views of the Cape Town harbour and Table Mountain, and karaoke.

Meloncino

Choose from a variety of homemade pastas, wood-fired pizzas and various other authentic dishes.

Table Mountain Restaurant

Temporarily closed as of August 2022. A 120 seat, self-service restaurant. No booking required. Quality is variable.

08:30 to 18:30, with extended hours during December and January · From for a simple breakfast · Wheelchair accessible

National Library of South Africa (Cape Town Campus)

The National Library of South Africa (NLSA) is the agency of the government of South Africa which maintains a national library of all published materials relating to the country.

Mo-Fr 09:00-17:00; We 10:00-17:00 · Wi-Fi

Cable Car to the top of Table Mountain

Table Mountain Aerial Cableway

One-way and return cable car ticket available. Wheelchair accessible throughout, with a separate lift entrance and friendly staff will help accessibility visitors. Weather conditions at the top of the mountain are not the same as at the bottom so always take something warm to wear when going up the mountain, even if it is a nice toasty 30˚C at the bottom of the mountain. Wear sunblock and carry a water bottle (there is also a free drinking fountain at the top near the cable station). There is a cafe with a limited range of snacks, coffee, beer and wine at the top. Table Mountain is the home of a small animal, the rock rabbit (known locally as the 'Dassie') whose closest relative, DNA-wise, is the elephant, and you can see them running around on the rocks at the top of the mountain. If you want to see the sunset, you can go on the last car up which ranges from 17:00 (winter) and 20:30 (summer).

07:00-22:00 (usually 08:30), last car down varies: 21:30 during high season to 18:00 in mid winter · return ticket (bought online), (bought on site), or for one way; tickets for children return, student special return