- Cape Town is the only city in the world to house an entire national park, the Table Mountain National Park, within its municipal boundaries.
- The city is home to the world's oldest surviving colonial building in South Africa, the Castle of Good Hope, which was completed in 1679.
- The 'Cape Doctor' is a persistent, strong, dry south-easterly wind that blows during summer and is locally credited with clearing the city's air pollution.
- Cape Town possesses the most diverse floral kingdom on Earth, the Cape Floral Region, which contains more plant species than the entire United Kingdom.
- The city functions as the primary gateway to the South African astronomical observatory network due to its unique geographical positioning.
About Cape Town
Cape Town is defined by the dramatic silhouette of Table Mountain [48801], which acts as a backdrop to the city's unique coastal geography at the intersection of the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. The city serves as the legislative capital of South Africa, boasting a complex history mirrored in sites like the Castle of Good Hope [2294] and the vivid architecture of the Bo-Kaap district housing the Iziko Bo-Kaap Museum [12975]. Visitors explore biodiversity at the Two Oceans Aquarium [1015] or engage with contemporary African creativity at the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa [7336]. Urban development is punctuated by large-scale infrastructure such as the DHL Stadium [2257] and serene green spaces like Green Point Park [5678].
Highlights of Cape Town
The places our editors single out — and why they're worth your time.
Natural attractions
Ascend the iconic flat-topped peak for panoramic views of the entire Cape Peninsula.
Zoos
Observe marine life from two distinct ocean systems at one of Africa's largest aquariums.
Historical places
Explore the star-shaped fortress that stands as the oldest colonial building in South Africa.
Museums
View vast collections of contemporary art housed within the converted historical grain silos of the V&A Waterfront.
Museums
Learn about the heritage of the Cape Malay community through the preserved interior of an 18th-century house.
Parks
Enjoy walking trails and biodiversity gardens located conveniently near the city's main stadium.
Natural attractions
Walk through indigenous Afromontane forest trails located on the lower slopes of the mountain range.
Parks
Visit these historic gardens to see one of the oldest collections of exotic trees in the country.
Top things to do in Cape Town
The 565 highest-rated places in Cape Town, ranked by travellers.
1
Parks
Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden is the first botanic garden in the world to be included within a UNESCO World Her...
2
Zoos
The Two Oceans Aquarium, located at the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town, showcases marine life from the Atlantic and Indian...
3
Venues
DHL Stadium is a multi-purpose facility situated in the Green Point area of Cape Town. Originally constructed as the Cap...
4
Parks
Green Point Park is a managed urban park situated directly adjacent to the Cape Town Stadium in the Green Point suburb....
5
Historical places
The Castle of Good Hope is the oldest surviving colonial building in South Africa, originally constructed by the Dutch E...
6
Venues
The Artscape Theatre Centre serves as Cape Town's primary performing arts facility, housing the main Opera House and a s...
7
Natural attractions
Newlands Forest is a 21-hectare woodland preserve situated on the eastern slopes of Table Mountain within the Table Moun...
8
Museums
The Iziko Bo-Kaap Museum is housed in a 1760s-era home, the oldest existing structure in the historic Bo-Kaap neighborho...
9
Natural attractions
The Table Mountain Aerial Cableway provides rotating cabin transport to the 1,067-meter summit of Table Mountain, a flat...
10
Museums
Zeitz MOCAA is a contemporary art museum housed within the converted Grain Silo complex at the V&A Waterfront in Cape To...
11
Museums
Robben Island Museum serves as a site of historical memory, located on the island where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned fo...
12
Venues
Newlands Rugby Stadium, historically known as the spiritual home of South African rugby, is currently a decommissioned v...
13
Natural attractions
Table Mountain is a flat-topped sandstone mountain forming a prominent landmark overlooking Cape Town, South Africa. It...
14
Natural attractions
Lion's Head is a 669-meter peak offering 360-degree panoramic views of Cape Town, Table Mountain, and the Atlantic coast...
15
Parks
Wynberg Park is a 22-hectare public green space situated on the slopes of Wynberg Hill in Cape Town. The park is charact...
16
Parks
Arderne Gardens is a historic arboretum in Claremont, Cape Town, established in 1845 by Ralph Henry Arderne. The garden...
17
Historical places
Rhodes Memorial is a neoclassical monument situated on the slopes of Devil's Peak in Table Mountain National Park. Desig...
18
Parks
De Waal Park is a Victorian-era municipal park located in the Oranjezicht suburb of Cape Town, serving as a primary urba...
19
Natural attractions
The Alphen Trail is a popular greenbelt walking path located in the Constantia Valley of Cape Town. It follows the Diep...
20
Museums
The District Six Museum serves as a memorial to the 60,000 residents forcibly removed from their homes in District Six b...
21
Parks
Keurboom Park is a large community-managed green space in the Rondebosch suburb of Cape Town, primarily functioning as a...
22
Natural attractions
Platteklip Gorge is the most direct and historically significant hiking route to the summit of Table Mountain. The path...
23
Natural attractions
Lion's Head is a 669-meter-high peak situated between Table Mountain and Signal Hill, forming part of the Table Mountain...
24
Parks
Intaka Island is a 16-hectare award-winning wetland reserve and bird sanctuary situated within the Century City urban de...
25
Parks
Kite Beach is recognized as one of the premier kitesurfing destinations globally due to its consistent thermal winds and...
26
Places of interest
The Green Point Lighthouse, commissioned in 1824, is the oldest operating lighthouse in South Africa. Its distinctive re...
27
Museums
The Cape Town Science Centre is an interactive educational facility featuring over 250 hands-on science and technology e...
28
Museums
The Cape Town Diamond Museum is a non-profit organization located at the V&A Waterfront that details the history of Sout...
29
Temples
Masjidul Quds is a prominent landmark mosque located in the Gatesville suburb of Cape Town, South Africa. It serves as a...
30
Parks
Maynardville Park is a historic 9.7-hectare public space in Wynberg featuring a distinct open-air stage that hosts the a...
Around Cape Town
Worth the short trip out of the city.
Explore by category
Jump straight to what you're into.
Cape Town on the map
Top attractions plotted across the city.
Plan your visit to Cape Town
October to April, as this period offers warm, dry weather perfect for outdoor activities like hiking and visiting the coast.
4-5 days, allowing enough time to balance city-based cultural activities with outdoor excursions to the mountain and surrounding coastal areas.
Visitors typically rely on rental cars, ride-hailing services, or organized tourist shuttles, as the public transport network is limited for tourists.
Stay in the City Bowl for central access to cultural landmarks, or the Atlantic Seaboard neighborhoods like Sea Point and Green Point for proximity to the coast.
Cape Town is generally considered a mid-range destination where the exchange rate often provides high value for international travellers.
Frequently asked
Aventuro lists 565 curated attractions in and around Cape Town, ranked by traveller ratings.
Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden is the highest-rated place to visit in Cape Town right now.
The largest category is temples, with 292 places to explore.
Travellers also explore Johannesburg, Pretoria, Durban.
Explore more of South Africa
Other cities ranked by number of curated places.
