Top Cape Town Tips - Your Insider Tips for Cape Town

Also known as the Mother City, Cape Town is one of the most popular destinations in South Africa. A great selection of Cape Town attractions, Cape Town tours, Cape Town activities and more await visitors to this, one of the world’s most scenic cities. We asked you for your top tips for visiting Cape Town over at our Hostelworld.com Facebook page. Here’s what you had to say...

Enjoy all that Table Mountain has to offer

Jason Wickens says:

Walk all the way around the top of table mountain not just the paved area. Less people great views

Cathrin Eszbach says:

Do Not Queue up for the gondola to Table Mountain. You'll have a better Experience when climbing up! Extraordinary Views and it is not that difficult.

Anne Hiukka says:

Hike Table Mountain via Platteklip Gorge. Do take a hat, as sunburned scalp is nothing to boast about.

Hostelworld.com says:

Forming an absolutely stunning backdrop to the city, Table Mountain is one of the top Cape Town attractions. Make your way to the top of the mountain by hiking up one of the many trails or taking a ride in the cable car, and you’ll be afforded with incredible views of the city spread out beneath you. As you wander around the mountain top itself, you’ll see some great examples of local flora and fauna including the ever-present dassies.

Visit the District Six Museum

Linda Jordan says:

When in Cape Town, don't miss the District Six Museum. It commemorates the community that existed here before it was declared a "white area", the non-white residents were forcibly removed and their homes were bulldozed.

Hostelworld.com says:

Established back in 1994, the District Six Museum tells the story of this area of Cape Town. At one time a vibrant community filled with a mixed crowd of inhabitants, the area was drastically changed when forced resettlements began to take place and around 60,000 people were made to leave their homes which were then destroyed after District Six was declared a white area. Today, the museum serves as important reminder of the event and chronicles the lives of the displaced people before and after they lived in District Six.

Opening hours: Mon 9am-2pm, Tues-Sat 9pm-4pm, closed Sundays.
Admission: R20.

Spend some time at Boulders Beach

Jimbeaux Black says:

Swim with penguins at boulder beach... peace

Hostelworld.com says:

Home to a popular colony of African penguins, Boulders Beach which is also known as Boulders Bay is a part of the Table Mountain National Park. Not only is it a good place to observe the penguins in their natural habitat, it’s also a good spot for a swim or, if you don’t fancy going in the water, sunbathing on the white, sandy beach.

Sample some of Cape Town’s exhilarating adventure sports

Denbigh Graham says:

Don't forget that Cape Town is full of adventure sports. Paragliding from Table Mountain would be an experience of a life time and give an awesome view and you can also dive with great whites. Also do not forget to sample some of the Cape’s wines.

Carol D. Anderson says:

Abseiling Table Mountain and an afternoon at Eziko Restaurant in Langa for authentic South African food.

Hostelworld.com says:

If you’re looking for white-knuckle thrills from your holiday, then look no further as this city can provide plenty of unforgettable experiences including abseiling at Table Mountain and diving with Great White Sharks. Many Cape Town tours offer you the chance to be adventurous, such as the Adrenaline Cape Town & Winelands 7 day tour which you can book right here on Hostelworld.com.

Check out Chapman’s Peak Drive

Gerda-Marie Swanepoel says:

rent a car and take a day - road trip from Cape Town around Chapman's Peak... all the way around the coast, from Chapman's Peak you have an AMAZING view... This will give you a view of ALL the small fish towns (including Boulder Beach with its penguins, Simonstad, Houtbay, Vishoek ect) and you can eat some nice fish at Simonstad as well... RECOMMENDED! You can even see Table mountain if you take this coastal route...From Muizenberg you can take the Highway back to CT again...

Hostelworld.com says:

You’ll find Chapman’s Peak Drive stretched out between Hout Bay and Noordhoek. Hiring a car and cruising along this scenic drive is another one of the most popular things to do in Cape Town. Along the route, which covers approximately 9 kilometres and encompasses around 114 bends, you’ll get stunning views of places like Hout Bay as well as parts of the Table Mountain National Park. Keep in mind that you will have to pay a toll charge along the way but it’s only around R30 and definitely worth paying to experience one of the world’s most beautiful drives.

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