PlanoPlanoCape Town is framed by one of the most dramatic natural settings of any city on Earth, with Table Mountain rising above a coastline that stretches from boulder-strewn penguin beaches to kelp forests. Things to do in Cape Town range from world-class wine tasting and whale watching to township cultural tours and a restaurant scene that has earned it a place among the great food cities of the Southern Hemisphere.
Read the full Cape Town travel guide →5 days
October, November, December
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District Six Museum
The museum in a former church documents the forced removal of 60,000 people from District Six during apartheid, told through personal testimonies and floor maps.
Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa
Thomas Heatherwick's carved-grain-silo museum at the V&A Waterfront holds the continent's largest collection of contemporary African art across 100 galleries.
Iziko South African Museum
The Company's Garden museum covers natural history and indigenous cultures, with a whale well displaying full skeletons and a San rock art gallery.
Braai at Mzoli's in Gugulethu
The legendary open-air butchery and braai (barbecue) in Gugulethu township serves meat by weight grilled over wood fire, with live kwaito music on weekends.
Lion's Head full-moon hike
The 2-hour summit hike on the peak adjacent to Table Mountain is traditionally done on the full moon, with 360-degree views of the city, ocean, and mountain lit by moonlight.
Woodstock neighbourhood
The inner-city suburb has the Old Biscuit Mill Saturday market, the Woodstock Exchange creative hub, and a growing number of galleries and craft breweries.
Observatory neighbourhood
The bohemian suburb near the university has Lower Main Road's vintage shops, pan-African restaurants, and the live music venues that anchor Cape Town's indie scene.
Hermanus whale watching day trip
The coastal town 120 km east of Cape Town is one of the best land-based whale watching locations in the world, with southern right whales visible from the cliffs between June and December.
Neighbourgoods Market at Old Biscuit Mill
The Saturday morning market in Woodstock has over 100 traders selling Cape Malay rotis, artisan bread, ethically sourced coffee, and locally designed clothing.
The Crypt jazz bar
A jazz club in the basement of St George's Cathedral on Wale Street that hosts Cape Jazz performances on Wednesdays, honouring the genre pioneered by Abdullah Ibrahim.
The best months to enjoy things to do in Cape Town are October, November, December, January, February, March. Plan around these months for the best weather and fewer crowds.
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