CAPE TOWN IN 3 DAYS
Cape Town is one of the most aesthetically beautiful cities I've ever been to. The city is a series of awe-inspiring landscapes with contrasting buildings, winding roads, and colorful townships. There is a lot to do, but if you plan diligently, you can see most of the major sights in a limited amount of time. If you're traveling to Sub-Saharan Africa for a safari, you can knock out the best of Cape Town in 3 days.
Day 1
Waterfront, Sea Point, La Colombe
Arrive in Cape Town airport, and take an uber or taxi to your hotel. Take a walk around Victoria & Alfred Waterfront. Grab some traditional fish and chips at the famed Willoughby & Co. in the waterfront shopping center. Take a cab or walk over to Sea Point to watch the sun set just in time to make your way to dinner. Hop in an uber to La Colombe, a Michelin star restaurant at the top of Constantia Valley. It's a 30-45 minute journey, but you won't be disappointed. Set aside 2-3 hours to get the full experience. I lost count of how many courses I had (probably due to the multiple glasses of wine of indulged in), but this is easily the best deal you will ever get for such an upscale restaurant. My friend and I ate like queens, with multiple desserts, glasses of wine, and drinks all for under $50 each. Reservations are a must.
📍Victoria & Alfred Waterfront
📍Lunch: Willoughby & Co.
📍Sunset at Sea Point
📍Dinner: La Colombe
Day 2
Bo-Kaap, Cape Peninsula, Camp's Bay
Hopefully you've overcome your jet lag since today will be your busiest day. You will hire a driver for the day who will take you all around the scenic parts of the Cape. I found my driver, John, online through a travel blog and was incredibly grateful for his knowledge (and photography skills). A driver will cost you about $150 for the day, but it will be worth it, especially if you have a few traveling mates to split the cost. Have your driver will pick you up between 6 AM and 7 AM. Begin your day with a quick tour of Bo-Kaap, the Malay quarter. Snap a few photos of the brightly colored homes, cobble-stone streets, and ancient mosque. From there, begin your journey to Cape Point. Your driver, if experienced and reliable, will know where to stop for views, attractions, and food. Some of the highlights should include:
📍Boulder's Beach to see the penguins.
📍Simon's Town for shopping and traditional fish and chips.
📍Clifton Beach to cool off or snap some quick pictures.
📍Cape of Good Hope and Cape Point for striking views of the western-most point of Africa.
Request that your driver bring you back to your hotel via "Chappie's" or Chapman Road - the most beautiful coastal highway you'll ever witness. Spend the evening in Camp's Bay, dining at a ritzy restaurant with a view of another spectacular sunset. If you're feeling up to it, venture out to Long street for a night of dancing or pub crawling.
📍Boulder's Beach
📍Clifton Beach
📍Lunch: Simon's Town
📍Cape of Good Hope
📍Cape Point
📍Chapman Road
📍Dinner: Camp's Bay
Day 3
Table Mountain Cableway, Hout's Bay, Signal Hill/Lion's Head
Begin your day at the majestic Table Mountain. Take the cableway up the mountain for spectacular 360 degree views of this natural wonder. Make sure to book your cablecar tickets ahead of time to avoid waiting in the line. Once you get to the top, spend some time hiking around the mountain. Take the cablecar back down the mountain and hop in an uber to Hout's Bay. Book the next boat out to see the enormous colony of seals that inhabit this part of the cape. After the boat ride, grab a bottle of wine and end the evening at Signal Hill or Lion's head for your final Cape Town sunset. If time allows, dine at the famed Aubergine or opt for a low-key dinner on Long Street.
Note: If you enjoy scenic views and aren't afraid of heights, opt to go tandem paragliding from Signal Hill or Lion's head.
📍Table Mountain
📍Hout's Bay
📍Lunch: Snoekies
📍Seal Island
📍Signal Hill/Lion's Head (optional paraglide)
📍Dinner: Aubergine
Day 4 (optional)
Vineyards/Shark Diving/Robben Island
Day 4 is ancillary and allows you to complete activities that are not absolutely necessary but would be enjoyable should you have the extra day. There are many winelands in Cape Town that can be visited on a separate day trip. The most notable are Stellenbosch, Helderberg, and Franschoek. I wouldn't call myself a wino, so I opted out but I've heard rave reviews.
Shark Diving is another activity that has gained popularity in recent years. If you enjoy entering a cage and watching sharks attempting (and hopefully failing) to make you dinner, I guess this is for you.
I've read and heard a lot of mixed reviews on Robben Island, the island right off the coast of the Cape Town where Nelson Mandela spent his imprisonment. It's obviously an important landmark, but there's not a whole lot do outside of visiting the prison and his cell. Make sure you book tickets in advance as they sell out quickly.
