Cape Town is on the impression surprisingly small. The city centre lies between table mountain, signal hill and devils peak. The architecture ranges from the Dutch period to modern high rise buildings in the City centre. All the area is accessible on foot for the fit. For the not so fit there are taxis available.
The following, about six km walk, around the City Bowl will take the best part of a day, some visitors spend up to three day's, depending on their interests. For much more information about some of the museums and places of interest you may link directly to the sites within the descriptions:
The upmarket suburb of Oranjezicht was named after the orange groves that were planted here during the dutch period. Oranjezicht is within walking distance to the city and trendy Kloof Street, with its well known restaurants and cafés.
Set in the foot hills of Table Mountain with breathtaking views of Lion’s Head, Signal Hill, Table Bay and the city centre. Oranjezicht is ideally placed to explore other Cape Town attractions such as Table Mountain cableway, Robben Island, Clifton and Camps Bay beaches.
The quiet suburb of Vredehoek lies near the slopes of Table Mountain and Devils Peak.
Vredehoek has some of the most
beautiful, panoramic views of the city centre, Table Mountain, Signal
Hill, Lion’s Head and Table Bay. The residential suburb is also close to the
Table Mountain Nature Reserve.
Higgovale lies high on the slopes of Table
Mountain. The upmarket suburb is much sought after by locals because of the its easy
access to the City and Kloof Street with its trendy restaurants and cafés. Higgovale is one of the view suburbs that has no wind in summer.
The restaurants in Kloof Street are within walking distance.
Tamboerskloof is on the slopes of Table
Mountain just five minutes from the city centre. This one of the oldest
residential suburbs of Cape Town. Beautiful old Victorian-style houses can be found here. The streets are quiet,
despite being close to Kloof Street, the city’s restaurant mile. Views from here over the city, harbour and
northwards towards Table Bay and Robben Island are superb.
Gardens lies within Cape Town’s city bowl, below
Vredehoek and Oranjezicht and is popular because everything is so close to it. The trendy and upmarket Kloof Street is
just a few minutes away with its restaurants and interesting shops. Close to Gardens are the Company Gardens on Government Avenue, which today it is a
botanically diverse city park with over 8.000 varieties of flora.
De Waterkant is a refurbished suburb close to the city. Interesting sites include museums, a planetarium, an open-air
market at Greenmarket Square, set among stately Georgian and Cape
Baroque influenced buildings and the colourful area of the Bo-Kaap,
with its tumble of narrow lanes, brightly painted flat-roofed houses
and mosques. Gun salutes are fired automatically at noon every day except Sunday
from nearby Signal Hill, used as a signal station from the earliest
days of the Cape Settlement.
Cape Town’s central city area is small and easily explored on foot. From bohemian Long Street through Kloof Street and St Georges Mall to the Cultural History Museum at the entrance to the Company’s Gardens, there is something for everybody in Cape Town’s City Bowl.
Try the Cape Spirit City Walk through the City Bowl’s most interesting streets or the topless bus ride. Sidewalk cafes and markets add colour and flavour and the noon day gun, fired from Signal Hill at 12 pm, has become something of an institution.
Situated between Robben Island and Table Mountain in the heart of Cape Town's working harbour, the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront has become South Africa's most visited destination. Set against a backdrop of magnificent sea and mountain views, exciting shopping and entertainment venues are intermingled with imaginative office locations, world-class hotels and luxury apartments in the residential marina. We invite you to discover the experience... live, work, shop and play at the V&A Waterfront.
For shopping, dining and entertainment the V&A Waterfront is a hotspot for tourists and locals alike. Still a working harbour, the Waterfront is an example of creative architecture and restoration and has become South Africa's most visited tourist attraction.
The Waterfront offers over 250 shops from designer boutiques to craft stalls, a host of restaurants and coffee shops and plenty of other activities, including fun activities for children. Children will love the Two Oceans Aquarium and the Telkom Exploratorium. The SA Maritum Museum has interactive displays, the history of local shipwrecks and more and the new Nelson Mandela Gateway in the Clock Tower precint exhibits historical and educational material relating to Robben Island.
Enjoy a drink at one of the many waterside pubs and restaurants, shop till you drop, or relax and enjoy the variety of live entertainment that is always on offer. There are also a number of harbour cruises and sundowner cruises that depart from the Waterfront.
