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Use our Travel forum for recommendations on everything from day trips to the best family-friendly holiday destinations.

19 nights in Cape Town - itinerary suggestions

26 replies

LadyBlackBurd · 10/12/2024 21:06

going to Cape Town late January for 19 nights - any must do's?

Definitely want wine, food and more wine
Beach time
Lovely hotels/guest houses
Couple of games of golf

Want to move around a bit, visit Stellenbosch, Franschhoek, Paarl?

At least 7 nights in vicinity of Camps Bay, but where to stay the other 12 nights?

Don't want to be living out of a suitcase, so the remaining 12 nights to be split equally into two blocks of 6 nights.

Where would you go?

OP posts:
Rowen32 · 10/12/2024 21:51

Gosh, South Africa is so beautiful I wouldn't recommend staying so long around Capetown, could you drive more of the Garden Route? And see more of the country that way. We just stayed in Capetown a few nights but don't feel we kissed anything

Hermanus, Wilderness, Plettenburg, so many fab places although by Plettenburg it would probably be easier to fly home from Port Elizabeth..

Triffid1 · 10/12/2024 22:16

It's quite late to be planning the details although SA schools will be back so it probably won't be too manic.

If you want to stay around Cape Town, a few days in the winelands is obviously a good choice. There are loads of great farms you can stay at. Spier is nice for a mid level cost and is quite lovely - although Spier wine isn't my favourite so use it as a base rather than prioritising wine there! . But there are many and huge variety in cost etc.

If you've got a week in Camps Bay - you can use that as a base to explore the city centre, waterfront (shops, markets, restaurants, aquarium etc) while still enjoying lovely beach time. Take yourself for a drink or dinner at 12 Apostles or even a full day using the spa as well - it is one of the most beautiful spots in the world in my opinion.

Kalk Bay - which is on the other side - is also a great spot to spend a few days. It's more hippie than the Camps Bay side. Lovely beaches though, great restaurants and pubs etc.

I would agree though that going up the coast a bit is a good idea - Pearly Beach way going up the west coast, or Hermanus on the east. Or go further up the garden route to Knysna or Plettenburg bay.

Things to do in cape town outside of the wine, food, shopping:

Go to Kirstenbosch gardens for a day. Depending on when you are there, check out the Sunday sunset concerts as well - a really lovely evening in Cape Town in the summer.

Walk up Table Mountain. I think for tourists there are specific recommendations so check those. We used to walk up the contour path then across and down skeleton gorge, I think, but I'd get advice on this that's more up to date.

Afternoon tea at the Mount Nelson or at the Vineyard Hotel are both lovely.

Surfing at Muizenberg - I think you can access classes on an ad hoc basis which is super fun too.

District six Museum.

If you like cricket, check out if there are any intersting games at Newlands Cricket Ground - it's a fabulous day out!

Are you travelling with children? If so, can't recommend the Scratchpatch highly enough - one in the Waterfront, one in Simonstown. Aquarium is fantastic for kids too. Also Boulders Beach and the penguins. The Waterfront always hahs lots on for the kids and a lovely play area. Along the seafront at Seapoint there are a couple of good play areas - the blue train park is especially great (incuding the train) and the kids love it. My all time favourite picture of DS was taken at the Seapoint Swimming Pool - beautiful salt water pool on the Atlantic and worth a day out.

If you have a bit more info on the kinds of things you want to do, I can make more recommendations.

EffortlesslyInelegant · 10/12/2024 22:17

We will be there at that time too and we've booked an apartment/hotel in Hermanus for 5 nights. I highly recommend Hermanus and it's a great point to do day trips from.
If you don't fancy that then the far west coast is also beautiful. Have a look at Paternoster for an idea.

Triffid1 · 10/12/2024 22:19

EffortlesslyInelegant · 10/12/2024 22:17

We will be there at that time too and we've booked an apartment/hotel in Hermanus for 5 nights. I highly recommend Hermanus and it's a great point to do day trips from.
If you don't fancy that then the far west coast is also beautiful. Have a look at Paternoster for an idea.

Take a day at the Arabella Spa while in Hermanus.... v v beautiful.

Actually, OP, I think Arabella has a good golf course as well if I recall correctly.

EffortlesslyInelegant · 10/12/2024 22:20

Ah - sadly a spa of any kind is my idea of medieval torture! I'm sure it's lovely though if you like that kind of thing!

EffortlesslyInelegant · 10/12/2024 22:22

I also very highly recommend this place - mainly for the interactive experience with the monkeys. We are definitely going back here.

World of Birds – Largest bird park in Africa

World of Birds – Largest bird park in Africa

https://worldofbirds.co.za/

Triffid1 · 10/12/2024 22:23

EffortlesslyInelegant · 10/12/2024 22:20

Ah - sadly a spa of any kind is my idea of medieval torture! I'm sure it's lovely though if you like that kind of thing!

Aah, fair enough. Swimming and walking along the Palmiet river is probably some of my happiest teenage memories so that might be worth checking out if you're in the area if that's more your thing. https://insideguide.co.za/cape-town/dams-rivers/#:~:text=The%20easy%2C%20flat%20Palmiet%20River,a%20picnic%20and%20another%20dip.

EffortlesslyInelegant · 10/12/2024 22:24

We are spending the last four days in Langebaan with friends so we'll do Kalk Bay etc as we drive slowly down that way. It's a strange little place - like they're only up to the 1950s but charming for that, in a way.

Triffid1 · 10/12/2024 22:24

Lots of good memories of World of Birds too - agree, it's a great day out. We didn't get to take DD last time and I think she'd have loved it, so next time it's on our list. I think there's a lovely little pottery painting cafe nearby as well _ i have a vague memory of popping in there after the last time we went. Good for kids.

BuzzieLittleBee · 10/12/2024 22:26

I'd stay in Franshoek for a couple of days (rather than Stellenbosch). You can do the wine train there - it's fab.

Also Hermanus, as PP said.

And I'd head out to Sanbona game reserve for a couple of nights. The tented lodges there were something very special.

Cape Town was great, but I wouldn't stay there too long - so much else to see!

Triffid1 · 10/12/2024 22:27

EffortlesslyInelegant · 10/12/2024 22:24

We are spending the last four days in Langebaan with friends so we'll do Kalk Bay etc as we drive slowly down that way. It's a strange little place - like they're only up to the 1950s but charming for that, in a way.

Grin It's very quaint, isn't it!? Harbour House is one of my favourite restaurants - dinners there in winter are very dramatic and exciting! - but I have lots of love for Brass Bell and Kalky's too! I think SIL buys most of her wardrobe from the little shops along the high street - she stocks up whenever she's in town!

pinkpetunias · 10/12/2024 22:33

There are loads of fantastic restaurants in Cape Town and winelands. My favourite was FYN, but also really loved La Petit Colombe and Test Kitchen Fledglings. The Chef’s Warehouses are well reviewed too but were full when we were there. You’ll need to book restaurants far in advance.

We also enjoyed the gardens, hiking up Table Mountain (didn’t enjoy down so much, the cable car wasn’t running due to high winds), Bo-Kaap.

ManyMaybes · 10/12/2024 22:36

I would definitely go to franschoek and stellenbosch, you have time. I don’t really think the garden route as worth it. Nothing you can’t see in the uk (it’s kind of like the Lake District), with absolutely nothing luxury anywhere in terms of hotels and restaurants. Port Elizabeth is a hole, and the drive from the touristy areas to port Elizabeth is depressing. The drive from Cape Town to the nicer parts takes FOREVER on the most boring never ending road, with maniac drivers overtaking in these weird overtaking sections at an unbelievable speed.

Baital · 10/12/2024 22:39

Triffid1 · 10/12/2024 22:24

Lots of good memories of World of Birds too - agree, it's a great day out. We didn't get to take DD last time and I think she'd have loved it, so next time it's on our list. I think there's a lovely little pottery painting cafe nearby as well _ i have a vague memory of popping in there after the last time we went. Good for kids.

Clay cafe! Do it early in your trip so you can go back and collect what you painted a few days later

LadyBlackBurd · 11/12/2024 00:02

Thank you all so much! I will have a look at Hermanus as quite a few of you have recommended.

Our kids are all grown up now, so just the two of us this time.

OP posts:
MissFritton65 · 11/12/2024 13:56

@LadyBlackBurd we are also there at the same time and are spending 3 days in Franschhoek and then 5 nights in Hout Bay. We've already booked a number of restaurants as there is limited availability in the more "famous" ones!
Definitely have tea at The Mount Nelson, go up Table Mountain, Robben Island and go down to the Cape and visit Boulders Beach for the penguins.
We are also going to a cricket match. I agree with others that Hermanus is worth a trip although the wrong season to see the whales. It's a fantastic place and this is our 3 visit; enjoy!

MissFritton65 · 11/12/2024 13:58

@LadyBlackBurd just noticed the golf - my husband has a round booked at The Steenberg where we are staying after our adult children go home!

BigDahliaFan · 11/12/2024 13:59

Definitely go to Stellenbosch or Franschoek and stay the night or 2 nights. Lovely places to hang out.

iloveeverykindofcat · 15/12/2024 15:37

I just got back from Cape Town on Friday, I go twice a year for work and normally squeeze in a few days of tourism. Table Mountain and Kirstenbosch are already mentioned, they are absolute musts, I'm not the most outdoorsy person but it really is outrageously beautiful in summer. I reccomend a trip to Boulders Beach to see the penguin colony, its 40mins by taxi if traffic is good, and you watn to go early morning because you'll beat the crowds and the penguins will all be on the beach. Later on they go out to fish and come back in the evening. We got there about 8.30am on Thursday and it was perfect. You will also see loads of dassies (rock hyrax) which are very accustomed to humans and come right up on the boardwalk. You can't touch the penguins but you can get pretty close on the viewing platform. At the V and A waterfront, special reccomendation for the Watershed market - slightly posh souveniers which work out really good value to the pound, plus you will be supporting local craftspeople, many of whom are women running their own small businesses. The modern art museum is also worth seeing, the building itself is very interesting as it is a hollowed-out grain silo, with exhibitions on each floor. The UCT campus (where I'm based when I go for work) is very impressive - if colonial - architecture and you get great views from the top.

Cape Town is pretty safe in the built-up tourist areas, but there are things to be aware of. Keep your bag zipped and close to you, use taxis booked by your accomodation where possible. If you do need to get an uber, double-check driver photo and registration number - there have been crimes involving people posing as uber drivers. There are also, undeniably, unsafe areas - and I say this as someone who loves CT so much I may seriously move there one day. Its not safe to just wander around without knowing where you're going - be advised by the people at your accomodation on this. The airport is very manageable, its not massive and there's only one international terminal and one domestic. Above all have a fantastic time, I'm sad when I leave!

EffortlesslyInelegant · 16/12/2024 21:32

Great post @iloveeverykindofcat and you're right about Boulders. It really is quite beautiful and the penguins are just lovely. We also had baboons on the boardwalk just sitting there minding their business.
We've used many Ubers and never had a problem but we do as you say and double check before getting in.
Last time we were in the city DH went wandering off into the Adderley area but realised his mistake pretty much instantly!

iloveeverykindofcat · 17/12/2024 06:09

@EffortlesslyInelegant Yeah I have done Ubers at times, but always check carefully. I prefer to use a local company called City Bowl Cabs when possible, the owner's a great guy who remembers everyone and if its just me he'll either come himself or send a woman driver.

If you want to see some wildlife, Aquila Game reserve is about a 2hr drive from CT and you can do it in a day trip. Its not like Kruger, but with a bit of luck you'll see the Big 5.

Netaporter · 17/12/2024 06:58

Hi @LadyBlackBurd I went to SA for the first time last summer on short notice. Packed loads in based on recommendations by DH’s company. Here are my top picks:

Tintswalo Atlantic at Chapman’s Peak. Stunning location, amazing food.
https://www.tintswalo.com/atlantic

Wine region - The Graff Delaire was closed for staying guests we visited but open for dinner (amazing experience) so we stayed in the property next door which was fab (and significantly cheaper) would also recommend.
https://cloudsestate.com

We had a fab wine tasting/lunch at a neighbouring property called Tokara
tokara.com

Definitely recommend a trip to Hermanus, Boulders Bay and up to Cape Point. Robben Island was also very poignant.

We actually flew up to Hoedspruit and went on safari for a few days (internal flights are reasonably priced) we stayed at Kapama safari lodge. Would also highly recommend.

Have a great trip!

Tintswalo Atlantic | Luxury Sea-Side Hotel on Chapmans Peak

Sitting at the foot of Chapman’s Peak, the Tintswalo Atlantic sea-side hotel is perched on a pebbled beach and enjoys panoramic views of the picturesque Hout Bay harbour, the dramatic Sentinel mountain peak, and the Atlantic Ocean beyond.

https://www.tintswalo.com/atlantic

LadyBlackBurd · 17/12/2024 13:29

Thank you everyone. I’m slowly putting my itinerary together.

day 1-3 v&a - hotel tbc

day 4-10 stellenbosch manor

Side trips for wine experiences to:

Jordan Wine Estate
Ernie Els Wine Estate
franschhoek wine tram

Day 11-19 nothing decided yet

will have a look at some more of your suggestions!!

Has anyone stayed at Hout Bay?

OP posts:
Triffid1 · 17/12/2024 13:33

I've never stayed in Hout Bay but visited a lot! It's lovely so finding a guesthouse or hotel there would be fab for a few days, I'm sure.

EffortlesslyInelegant · 17/12/2024 18:41

I've been to Hout Bay many times but never stayed there. Maybe I'm missing something but I just didn't 'get' it.
This is the place we're staying in Hermanus and then doing day trips from there

Esplanade Hermanus | Luxury Apartments

Esplanade Hermanus | Luxury Apartments

Nestled in the heart of Hermanus, on Marine Drive, our exquisite collection of 25 exclusive apartments offers an unrivaled location.

https://www.esplanadehermanus.com/