Accommodation

I would recommend you stay near the V&A Waterfront - that will have them in the heart of most things. You can easily just Uber everywhere you would want to go as well. (Friends have enjoyed www.thegreenhousect.com or the Protea Hotel)

From the V&A you can go to the Watershed (ideal location for  finding memorable souvenirs), jump on the Red Open Bus Tour and definitely go to the Waterfront Food Market (food stalls from top restaurants on Cape Town - many fun fusion options)

Alternatively, if you didnt want to stay in the downtown area, you could stay at the Protea Hotel in Mowbray, which is a lovely historic hotel that is still pretty central between various activities (just a short drive away), while also being surronded by some beautiful wetlands - it doesnt feel like youre in a city.

Museums

There are incredible museums, here are the “musts” in my option — often they will have events so its worth looking at their website to see if there is any overlap with visiting dates :

  • District Six Museum (Apartheid Museum) — celebrates the once lively multiracial area that was destroyed during apartheid in the 1960’s and 1970’s, its 60,000 inhabitants forcibly removed. We would highly recommend booking with a tour guide (costs R55), as they are all residents of District Six and so their first hand stories are very import to hear

  • Iziko Slave Lodge — South African social history museum covering the history of slavery in South Africa and current human rights awareness

  • Bo-Kaap Museum — a historical centre of Cape Malay culture in Cape town

  • Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa — you can spend hours taking in the important artistic pieces there — highly recommend it

  • If possible, Robben Island (where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned) - bring snacks, it will be a long day

Experiences

  • To study Mandela is to learn from the next generation of South Africans -

  • The history of South African and Palenstine are very wrapped up in each other, learn about this through Palestine SA

  • Many places of beauty that is unique to Cape Town, we would highly recommend :

    • Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens

    • Signal Hill before sunset with some food and drinks to watch the sunset (this is a typical local activity called a “Sundowner”)

There are many, many cultures in South Africa - and the Dutch (Afrikaans), English and French cultures which have been here for centuries are also very prolific, not just to the history of colonization - but in how Cape Town is a culinary capital — so with all international guests, I encourage you to spend your money to support the local economy - and enjoy this beautiful city ! Fine dining, some of the best wine and breathtaking views is everywhere and affordable — so enjoy it and share with your friends so more people come and support the economy ;)

Finally, a few tips -

ITINERARY SUGGESTIONS :