Cape Town Visitor Guide 2024: Everything you need to know

Located on the South African coast, Cape Town is one of the most popular tourist destinations in all of Africa. With its stunning scenery dominated by Table Mountain, coupled with a pleasant Mediterranean climate and a fascinating culture, it's not hard to see why. Cape Town is a jewel of South Africa and offers the best of both city and nature to visitors.

Drop off your unneeded bags at a Cape Town luggage storage service, and you'll be able to explore everything the city has to offer. This cultural and economic hub has something to offer just about everyone. You'll never run out of things to do in Cape Town.

8 Best Ways To Experience Cape Town In 2024

When you visit the capital of any country it’s easy to get bogged down with exploring the city and browsing around its museums and art galleries. Do that when you're in Cape Town and you'll miss out on some of the best adventure activities in South Africa. Cape Town is unforgettable, but you can make your stay there even more memorable by going out and about on one or two, if not all, of these eight exciting tours. To make things easier on yourself, you can drop off any bags you don’t need at a Bounce luggage storage in Cape Town.

Best Adventure Tour – Wild Things Outdoor

Discover the wilder side of South Africa with Wild Things Outdoor. This Cape Town company's adventure tours will get your adrenaline flowing. They'll take you hiking through gorges where you can go canyoning, rappelling, ziplining, and abseiling down cliff faces. If that's not enough to get your pulses racing then try some snorkeling with seals or for the truly brave, a shark cage dive.

Plan your adventure by calling Wild Things Outdoor on 27-79-222-5859 or by emailing them at info@wildthingsoutdoor.co.za.  

Best Boat Trip – Ocean Image Boat Rentals

The coastline of Cape Town is another world begging to be explored. Do it by chartering a boat from Ocean Image Boat Rentals. If you don't want to captain the craft yourself, they'll provide a guide to sail you out to Seal Island then around the Hout and Clifton Bays from where there are incredible views of Table Mountain. Swim stops and lunch at a restaurant in Hout Bay harbor are included.

Get ready to up anchor and sail away with Ocean Image Boat Rentals by emailing them at info@oceanimage.co.za or calling 27-63-787-8145.

Best Cycling Tour – AWOL Tours

Forget plodding around Cape Town in the heat on foot and get a breeze blowing through your hair as you whiz around the city on one of AWOL Tours’ guided bike rides. They're so much fun that after you've pedaled down Cape Town's waterfront, around the historic center and the Bo-Kaap district, you'll want to mount up and head out to the countryside for a cycle tour of South Africa's wine-growing region.

Start organizing your cycle rides with AWOL Tours by emailing info@awoltours.co.za or calling them on 27-83-234-6428.  

Best Helicopter Tour – Sport Helicopters

If you're traveling with a generous vacation budget, taking a helicopter ride over Cape Town is a definite must-do. Take off with Sport Helicopters and they’ll take you soaring over the city, around Table Mountain or across Table Bay, and out to Robben Island, the place where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for many years. Flight durations vary depending on the route taken.

Take to the air with Sport Helicopters by calling them on 27 21 419 5907 or emailing them at info@sporthelicopters.co.za for more information on their various flights.

Best Private Tour – Executive Touring

There's a lot to learn about Cape Town that you won't discover by going it alone. Take a private tour with a guide from Executive Touring and they'll impart so many facts about the city and its history that you may well go into information overload. If you want to go into the velds to spot wildlife, Executive Touring will also take you on a privately guided safari.

Arrange your personal guide from Executive Touring by calling 27-83-267-3640 or by emailing them at clive@executivetouring.co.za.

Best Hiking Tour – Ridgway Ramblers

Some peaks are just begging to be conquered and Table Mountain is one of them. Make sure you get to the summit by booking a guided hike with Ridgway Ramblers. There's more than one trail leading to the top of Table Mountain so Ridgway Ramblers will make sure you step out on the one that suits your fitness level by tailoring the hike to match your agility.

Prepare to see Cape Town from the top of Table Mountain by emailing Ridgway Ramblers at binnyridgway@gmail.com or by calling 27 82 522 6056.

Best Wine Tour – Luhambo Tours

The Cape Town region of South Africa is world-renowned for its wine production. See where it comes from and how the wine is made by heading out to the vineyards around Cape Town with Luhambo Tours. You'll visit some of the famous estates on the Cape of Good Hope or near the towns of Stellenbosch and Franschhoek where you'll be invited to lunch and a session of wine tasting.

Discover South African wines with Luhambo Tours by emailing them for more details at bookings@luhambotours.com or by calling 27 21 551 0467.

Best Day Tour – Mile By Mile Tours

It's not always easy to decide where to go and what to do in a city that has so much to offer. Let Mile By Mile Tours plan your exploration of Cape Town for you. It's less stressful and you're guaranteed not to miss out on seeing any of the most interesting and important sights from the Cape Malay Quarter to the Table Mountain cable car.

Sort out your day in Cape Town with Mile By Mile Tours by calling them on 27 82 909 9257 or by emailing info@milebymile.co.za.

A weekend in Cape Town

A weekend in Cape Town gives you an opportunity to see some of the city's top attractions. While a couple of days won't by any means exhaust all there is to do, it will give you a sense of what the city has to offer. So drop off your bags at a Cape Town bag storage and start exploring.

• Table Mountain is an icon of the city. This stunning flat-topped mountain has a cable car that will take you to its summit so you can enjoy incredible views over Cape Town and the coast beyond. It's a must-visit on any Cape Town trip.
• Clifton’s Beaches are some of Cape Town’s most popular. This chain of four beaches is the perfect place to soak up the sun and swim in the ocean. You’ll also find plenty of cafés and restaurants where you can refresh yourself after swimming.
• Hit the road on one of the world's most scenic drives along Chapman's Peak Drive. This winding road hugs the cliffs overlooking the ocean, and offers one incredible view after another. Take your time and enjoy the scenery on this famous coastal route.

Cape Town lockers

Thanks to its natural setting, many of Cape Town's best attractions and activities lie outside the city. But even within Cape Town itself, there's plenty to keep you busy. Make your trip easier on yourself by dropping off your unneeded belongings at a Cape Town luggage storage locker. Knowing your belongings are safely looked after will give you peace of mind as you explore this vibrant city.

Off the beaten path in Cape Town

Cape Town's attractions are well-known to visitors from around the world. But if you're looking to escape the tourist crowds, the city also has several lesser-known gems that are worth visiting. Leave your bags behind at a Cape Town suitcase storage and explore the hidden side of the city.

• Penguins may not be the first animal that comes to mind when you think of African wildlife. But Cape Town's Boulders Beach is one of the best places to see penguins in the wild. You'll see them swimming in the water and burrowing on the beach, and there's a visitor center where you can learn more about these charming animals.
• Learn about the darker side of South African history at Robben Island. The island is home to the prison where Nelson Mandela was held for 18 years, and tours explain the struggle against apartheid that made the country what it is today.
• See the reality of life for many Cape Town residents in the townships. These informal shantytowns are home to some of the city's poorest residents. A guided tour helps you understand these unique communities and their history.

What to do alone in Cape Town

Solo travelers know that big cities are often best explored alone. Visiting Cape Town by yourself can let you navigate the crowds better and see more of what matters to you. Drop off your bags at a Cape Town bag storage and enjoy a solo adventure in South Africa.

• See the vibrant street art of Woodstock. This once poor area has recently become one of the trendiest in Cape Town, and it's home to dozens of works of colorful street art. Enjoy the work of some of the city's best street artists in this fascinating area.
• Visit the Neighbourgoods Market at the Old Biscuit Mill for some of Cape Town's best shopping. Local designers and artisans sell their work here, and it's also a great place to try some of Cape Town's most interesting food.
• Test your nerves diving with Great White sharks. Steel cages let you get up close to one of the ocean's top predators safely, and there's nothing like fear to help you bond with fellow travelers. Head out on a group tour and come face-to-face with these incredible animals.

Best souvenirs in Cape Town

African woodcarvings make a great souvenir of Cape Town. Traditional African masks make for striking ornaments, but you can also pick up quirky carvings of politicians and sports stars. Check out Taung Trading Post for a great selection. 

Another uniquely African item is a decorated ostrich egg. These giant eggs can be turned into lamps, photo frames, and other household items, making them a striking conversation piece in your home. Avoova is a great place to shop for ostrich eggs. Or you could head home with some Rooibos tea grown outside Cape Town. This herbal tea will always remind you of your South African trip, and Bokkeveld Rooibos has a good selection.