Cape Town has so many interesting and multifaceted things to offer, that it can be very difficult to come up with a plan for your limited holiday time. Questions like “What to do first”, “What’s a Must-See with kids”, “How to travel around”, “How much time do we need to plan for certain activities” will most likely occur to many visitors from abroad and it would be nice to have a pre-determined travel plan at hand.
To make life easier for you, we have prepared a unique 3 Day Travel Itinerary for Cape Town and its surroundings. Of course, you can change around the days and mix activities, but it can be a great start for your perfect holiday planning. Enjoy your trip to Cape Town!
What to do in 3 days in Cape Town
If you’ve got limited time at hand before you move on with your journey, we have prepared an itinerary that can easily fill a 7 day stay in Cape Town.
Day 1: Explore the City Center & Table Mountain
On your day of arrival in Cape Town, you will obviously need some time to check into your hotel/AirBnB and familiarise yourself with all amenities. Once the suitcases are unpacked, it’s time to explore the city!
You could take a stroll through the city center and explore its historical sites, such as the Company’s Garden and the Castle of Good Hope or colourful Bo Kaap. You will also come across some local souvenirs at Green Market Square and get a first impression of the African culture.
For lunch, you could check out a local eatery where you can try some traditional South African dishes such as Bunny Chow, Cape Malay Curry or Game (Springbok, Kudu, Crocodile, etc). There are quite a few African restaurants in town that offer unique dining experiences and delicious food. Mama Africa, Marco’s African Place and Mzansi Restaurant are just to name a few of them…
In the afternoon, drive up to the Table Mountain Station and take the cable car up to the mountain top for stunning views of the Mother City. This will be great fun for families with smaller kids. If you’re sporty and travel with older kids, you could also combine this experience with a hike up to Table Mountain. It takes around 90 minutes to reach the top and you can take breathtaking pictures along the way. Find out more about Table Mountain Aerial Cable Way.
Alternatively, you can get equally amazing views from Lion’s Head. It’s a relatively easy hike to the top and you can do it with kids of all ages! It’s a fun hike for the entire family and a great experience once you’ve made it to the top!
In the evening, you can take a scenic drive to Hout Bay to enjoy dinner and a sundowner at Dunes Restaurant. You’ll sit close to the beach, feet in the sand and kids can enjoy a fabulous outdoor playground right in the middle of the restaurant.
Day 2: Visit the Cape Peninsula
On the second day of your visit, you could take a full day tour to the Cape of Good Hope with many interesting and beautiful places along the way.
You could start the day with a drive to Boulders Beach in Simon’s Town where you can visit the cutest Penguin colony in Cape Town. You can easily spot them along the boardwalks or directly at the beach where they walk around freely and might take a swim right next to you.
Afterwards, you can move on to the Cape Point Nature Reserve where you’ll find the famous Cape of Good Hope sign. It’s a beautiful Nature Reserve with plenty of wild animals (including baboons, zebras, ostriches,…), white sandy beaches, a lighthouse and a fun Funicular. This is certainly a highlight for younger children and a great way to spare yourself some steps all the way up to the lighthouse. The funicular leaves from the lower station every three minutes, and comfortably accommodates 40 passengers per car.
On your way back, make sure to plan in a stop at a very magical place called “The Scone Shack”. It’s not far from Cape Point and a beautiful place to enjoy a coffee and cake with the kids. The farm comes with free roaming pigs, chickens and ducks who all try to steal your food from the table. You can also cruise around the pond with a rowing boat or take a swing at the massive tree swing. Simply a magical place and you will feel it when you get there.
On your way back, you drive along the famous Chapman’s Peak Drive with breathtaking views of the ocean and mountains. If you’re still keen for some adventure, you can easily take another stop at Llundudno Beach (surely one of the most beautiful beaches in Cape Town) or head down to Camps Bay with loads of restaurants at the promenade and the beach only a stone-throw away.
Day 3: Explore the Winelands and the V&A Waterfront
The Winelands are definitely a Must-See on your Cape Town trip, so we recommend to take a full day trip to the Cape Winelands where you can sample some of South Africa’s best wines and enjoy mouthwatering food in the many family friendly and award-winning estates in the area. Visit the picturesque towns of Stellenbosch and Franschhoek and take in the stunning scenery of the vineyards and mountains.
The number of kid-friendly places seems almost endless, so you can check out our personal favourites and pick your preferred stop-over. Find an overview of family-friendly wine estates here: WINE FARMS
To throw in some great entertainment for the kids, you have equally many choices. There are quite a few animal encounters such as Giraffe House, Exotic Animal World, Vredenheim Animal Park, Drakenstein Lion Park, Le Bonheur Reptiles, or The Alpaca Loom. Alternatively, you can visit the Wineland Light Railway where the kids can enjoy unlimited miniature train rides across a beautiful park.
In the afternoon, you can explore the V&A Waterfront and go on a lovely harbour cruise with one of the many yachts, boats and catamarans. If you’re lucky, you can spot seals and dolphins.
When you’re back from your boat cruise, check out the amazing 40 metre high Cape Wheel to get the best views of the Mother City. You can enjoy a 15 minute ride in one of the gondolas and take in Table Mountain, Signal Hill, Cape Town and the Atlantic Ocean all in one go with a 360 degree view of the best city in the world.
