How to go about telling you what it’s like travelling around Cape Town and poking into all its little nooks and crannies in a city that is so vibrant you can actually feel its pulse! There is no city in the world that has as long and endless a list of things to do than Cape Town, and whether you live here or are planning a visit, these are just a few of the endless list of possibilities that I have visited, but it will never come close to the entire list of things you absolutely have to do in Cape Town that makes this the most beautiful, adventurous and exciting city in the world.
Like every other Capetonian, I love everything about moving around this city, from our beloved Table Mountain and Signal Hill to the sea surrounding it and everything in-between, and as equally passionate about sharing some of the top things to do at this magical tip of Africa.
Table Mountain and the view from the top is a no-brainer, whether you climb it, which is great, especially going from the Constantia side of it, or take the cableway, standing on top of this mountain that has seen it all, from the birth of Cape Town to present day, this is breathtaking, a view that nothing else in Cape Town can ever beat, unless of course you get to take one of those really cool helicopter trips around the peninsula! You can definitely add that to your list of things to do here!
Another treat I love, and I am not the only one, is taking a trip around Cape Town on one of Explore Sideways city tours, it gives you a just a taste of seeing all the different forms of attractions that make up the whole of our Mother City. Stop off at the Company Gardens just behind Parliament, it is a magical world to stroll through and stopping off for lunch at the restaurant hidden in the centre of this greenery is a real treat!
Naturally, just two streets away from the Company Gardens is the longest, most vibrant street in Cape Town aptly named Long Street, if you find your favourite coffee shop or restaurant during the daylight hours you will be there every day to drink in the atmosphere and meet some of the most amazing people who make this city their home, and if its nightlife you want, you really cannot get better! A must see is the Pan African Market in Long Street, the energy and art alone is worth time spent!
You have to take tea at the Mount Nelson, it is an experience never to be forgotten, old Nellie still does it the old fashioned way in typically English and stylish surroundings, any Capetonian will tell you this is definitely a must do in Cape Town! A visit to the Old Biscuit Mill, a definite ‘place to be’ for all of us, contains a world of markets, restaurants, arts & crafts and a whole lot more.
I have to add the visit to Boulders Beach and a walk with the Penguins, spending time at Muizenberg Beach, home to surfers from everywhere in the world, a ride to Simonstown along the seaside, a visit to Mzuli’s in Gugulethu, Gugs as I know it, with the tastiest flame grilled meat in an energy that buzzes with great music is a never to be forgotten experience!
I am starting to run out of space here with all the things I’d love to tell you about the ‘have to’s’ in Cape Town, but you have to visit brightly coloured Bo-Kaap, once having been the ‘Malay Quarter’, with the colours, spicy aromas and sounds that still linger. Caprice in Camps Bay is another must, lunch at the seaside cannot get any more vibrant than this or head for one of the famous Kloof Street restaurants, if you can decide on which, never easy but talk to the Explore Sideways Team as we are always willing to help you get them most out of your tour with us!
The V&A Waterfront is impossible to pass by on your way to the famous Robben Island, which to me still carries the spirit of our beloved Madiba and his courage!
The Cape Town I would love you to see is one that is a complete mixture of the old and new, a part of this country that has somehow managed to retain an energy of open arms welcoming and encompassing us all, ready to open up and share all the treasures, which are endless, with all who live and visit this beautiful shore.
Oh good grief, I didn’t mention the Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, you have to spend a day there, take a picnic basket along, but give yourself plenty of time to explore, and I also forgot to mention the exhilaration of shark cage diving in Gansbaai! Now you can truly understand how difficult these choices really are! For that reason, we have curated the best tours for you to experience in Cape Town. Welcome to Explore Sideways.