Cape Town in 7 Days: a guidebook for getting the most out of your visit

Cape Town is one of the brightest cities in South Africa and its brightness does not come from an artificial source. The city shines because it is full of nature. From vineyards that occupy walking trails, to the Big Five of Africa and the Big Five of the ocean, you'll learn a lot about African biology, history and culture in this majestic place .

Among the best things to do in Cape Town I propose a 7-day itinerary, where you'll get to know the essentials of the city and then delve into its surroundings. You'll visit nature reserves, experience a safari, dive into the ocean to see sharks, learn about the region's wine tradition and much more.

The plan for your first day in the city is to explore the city's iconic destinations, especially those located in the Old Town area. On your tour you'll visit places such as Greenmarket Square, St George's Cathedral, the Town Hall, the District Six Museum, the Bo-Kaap Quarter and the Castle of Good Hope.

Greenmarket Square

Greenmarket Square is one of the oldest urban spaces in the city, dating back to 1696. It's a picturesque area with lots of people and a colourful market. Here you can buy clothes, handicrafts, jewellery, souvenirs and more. You can also pop into one of the nearby restaurants, bars or cafes to sample the local cuisine. For all these reasons, the place is a frequent stop on guided tours of Cape Town.

St George's Cathedral

Just 4 minutes from the above destination, walking along Burg St and Wale St, you will find St George's Cathedral, a neo-Gothic religious building , which is one of the largest churches in South Africa. It was here that Mandela addressed the world for the first time after his release from prison. The structure is notable for its soaring arches and 40-metre tower.

The Town Hall

Now it's time to see the Town Hall. You'll have to walk for 7 minutes along Adderley St and Darling St to reach the city's seat of government, which boasts Edwardian architecture. The façade spans about four blocks and is made of sandstone. The City Hall is situated so that you can see Table Mountain in the background , so take the opportunity to get a good photo.

Castle of Good Hope

Discover the Castle of Good Hope just 4 minutes from the previous destination, walking along Darling St and Castle St. It's a colonial castle that is a must-see destination on Cape Town bike tours. Visit the surrounding dungeons, watch the changing of the guard and, if you wish, enter the Iziko Military Museum.

District Six Museum

Leaving the castle behind and heading towards Buitenkant St, you'll come to the District Six Museum, a place of great spiritual, historical and cultural value, as it brings together the traces of the struggle of black South Africans. It is named after the multi-ethnic District Six neighbourhood, which was demolished during the apartheid period. The museum also houses a memorial to the 60,000 people who lived there.

The Bo-Kaap neighbourhood

1.5 km from the museum you will find a destination that is never missing from any itinerary. It is a space full of colourful houses, with a great prominence for the Muslim culture that lives in the region. The history of this neighbourhood can be discovered in more detail if you enter the Bo-Kaap Museum. At Bo-Kaap you can finish your tour and opt for dinner at one of the many restaurants and cafes in the surrounding area.

I suggest you spend your second day at the V&A Waterfront leisure complex. This is a large area that houses shops, restaurants, museums, the Two Oceans Aquarium and is also a venue for shows, festivals and concerts.

Two Oceans Aquarium

If you're travelling to Cape Town with children, this is a destination they'll love. It is an aquarium with more than 350 species of marine animals such as turtles, fish, rays, sharks and a kelp forest that shows the richness of this plant species. You can also see coral reefs and microscopic living creatures.

The Nelson Mandela Gateway

A 6-minute drive from the previous destination will take you to the Nelson Mandela Gateway, a memorial to this important activist and former president of South Africa. This museum houses permanent exhibits relating to both the history of South Africa and Mandela's life. Take the opportunity to visit the clock tower, located just across the street.

Robben Island

From the museum above, you will be close to the harbour to connect to the ferry that will take you to Robben Island. You will sail for about 30 minutes until you reach your destination, a place of great historical value, as it functioned as a prison for approximately 300 years. The island itself is now a museum and a World Heritage Site. If you wish, you could opt for a guided tour and see the various spaces, especially the cell where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned.

End the day at The Cape Wheel

On your way back from the island you can take the opportunity to ride the observation wheel to end your day. You'll be treated to a night-time view of the city and its surroundings from a height of 50 metres for a ride of approximately 30 minutes. This activity is an excellent choice of things to do in Cape Town at night.

On your third day of travel, it's time to start exploring around the city and one of the first must-see destinations are the towns of Stellenbosch and Franschhoek. These are two towns with a strong winemaking tradition, so you can take a wine tour of Stellenbosch and Franschhoek to see the vineyards, learn about the winemaking process and enjoy the flavours and scenery.

Stellenbosch

Departing from the centre of Cape Town, you will drive for approximately 45 minutes. As you approach your destination, you'll begin to see the plantations that dot the region's terrain.

Once in the town, all you have to do is choose which winery to visit. Most of them have an important family tradition that gives a special touch to their products. For example, you can visit:

• Lanzerac Winery, pioneer in the process of wine production in South Africa, especially a characteristic species of the region: pinotage. Here you can also taste chocolates, cheeses and several varieties of wine.
• Hidden Valley Winery, full of green trails, the possibility of guided tastings and only 26 minutes from the previous destination.

Franschhoek

Continuing with this wine tour, you will drive another 45 minutes to Franschhoek, a region that dates back to 1688. This town is also very beautiful, covered with mountains, covered with forests and vineyards that are painted in different colours according to the season.

A curiosity is that from the town you will have access to about 60 wineries, so you can taste a wide variety of wines. You can go to Chamonix Wine Farm, a popular winery located 12 minutes from the centre, with attractive gastronomic options and a range of selected wines to delight your palate.

On your fourth day, I suggest you head to the south-west of the region for a tour that takes in three important natural environments: Cape Point, Cape of Good Hope and Boulders Beach. You can do this tour on your own or with an excursion. In this case, you will be accompanied by a guide who will give you additional information about each place at the various stops. Depending on your decision, one itinerary you can follow is:

1. Muizenberg Beach

A half-hour drive from the centre of Cape Town will take you to Muizenberg Beach. You can easily identify it because it is lined with small colourful houses. You'll notice its high waves, which have made it ideal for surfing. If you wish, visit Muizenberg town and explore the promenade.

2. Simon's Town

This town is a favourite with tourists for its beauty and rich natural and historical heritage. You will reach it in about 18 minutes if you drive from the previous destination. It is home to an important naval base and some of the region's best known beaches, especially Boulders Beach, our next stop.

3. Boulders Beach

The magic of this beach goes beyond its waters or its sand. This space is home to hundreds of African penguins, which found in this ecosystem an ideal environment for their habitat. This is why it is a must if you want to see penguins.

4. Cape Point Nature Reserve

A 32-minute drive of about 24km will take you from the beach above to the Cape Point Nature Reserve. This protected area was established in 1949 and covers an area of 45km, with a high number of species such as monkeys, zebras, whales, dolphins, rhinos, seals, penguins and more. It is also full of cliffs and is the place for activities such as kayaking, hiking and whale watching.

5. Cape Point Lighthouse

Because of its proximity, you should ideally continue on to the Cape Point Lighthouse, which you can reach by climbing the stairs or by funicular. You'll reach the top and enjoy the spectacular view from a height of about 30 metres. In fact, it's the highest lighthouse in South Africa, so take the opportunity to take pictures of the Atlantic coastline.

6. Cape of Good Hope

The Cape of Good Hope is the final destination for the day. It's a southern point on the continent and will allow you to see the Atlantic in all its splendour. You could go to the Cape of Good Hope nature reserve, hike the cliff trails, etc. As a reminder, you can experience all of these destinations on a Boulders Beach tour from Cape Town.

After completing 5 days in Cape Town I think you can venture out and do something more adventurous: drive into the bush in a four wheel drive car to see the wildlife spectacle that nature has in store for you.

Located just over 2 hours drive from the centre of Cape Town, this nature and lodge complex will give you a unique viewing experience and at the same time give you a taste of what it is like to be a guest at their lodge.

You will depart from the door of your lodge to the reserve. When you arrive at the hotel, they will be waiting for you with a glass of wine and a special breakfast. You can take a tour of the resort facilities and take advantage of some of the benefits of being a guest. This means you can take a dip in the pool or head to the spa for a relaxing session. You can also just lie back and admire the surrounding scenery while you wait for the adventure to pick up.

Africa's Big Five

You'll hop into a four-wheel drive car and head out onto the trails of this reserve. Keep your eyes peeled and your camera ready, because the show is about to begin. You'll see Africa's famous Big Five: lions, buffalo, leopards, rhinos and elephants.

The species will be in their natural habitat and you will be able to observe them doing activities such as simply taking a walk or feeding. Of course, you will also see many other animals, such as monkeys, giraffes and even the exotic bird Aquila Verreauxii. All this in the company of a guide who will tell you about the wild world and what you observe on the excursion.

At the end of this unforgettable moment, you can enjoy some of the local gastronomy to recharge your batteries and start your way back home. This safari tour to Aquila Game Reserve is an adventure like no other.

Your long stay in Cape Town would not be complete without a good contact with the ocean. So, for Day 6 of the itinerary, I invite you to dive into the ocean waters to see none other than the big five of the ocean.

For this experience, you will join a guided tour. You will be picked up at the door of your hotel and set off for the harbour. Once there, you will board the boat to sail the Atlantic for a while. When you arrive at the observation point, it will only take a few minutes for the observation experience to begin.

The big five of the ocean

The idea is that you get to see sea lions, dolphins, whales and the great white shark. While you are observing and taking photographs, pay attention to the information that a marine biologist, a professional who will be present on the tour for educational purposes, will explain to you, so that you can better understand the behaviour of these species in their own habitat.

To complete the group of the big five aquatic species, you will travel by boat to the well-known penguin and seabird sanctuary, an environment full of life with penguins as the main protagonists. There you will learn about penguin care and other aspects of penguin biology.

For all these reasons, this experience is a must on a Cape Town safari tour. Don't worry about safety, as you will be provided with the necessary equipment, such as a life jacket. To recharge your batteries, you can eat some muffins on the boat, as well as water, coffee and tea.

You can end your visit to Cape Town with another amazing day on the ocean. This is an activity that is always included in the day tours from Cape Town. For this guided experience, you'll have to drive a little over two hours to Gansbaai. You will go to the dive centre here to learn a little about diving instructions and best practices.

You will then drive to the observation point. You will board a boat and sail for 20 minutes to Dyer Island. There, you will stop at the strategic location determined by the guides and, shortly after, you will begin your descent into the ocean waters.

With the protection of the barriers of a cage, you will have an adrenaline-filled experience. Activate your sense of vision and keep an eye out for the appearance of some great white sharks. You will be able to see how they move from one side to the other and interact with that metallic object that seems strange to them.

For this excursion, you will always have the support of guides and professionals at every stage of the experience, so you have nothing to fear. Rather, be prepared not to miss a single moment of this hyper-realistic experience of contemplation. If you're wondering about your meals during the day, keep in mind that snacks, drinks and snacks are available on board.

If you want to visit Cape Town in 3 days or less, or want more time to rest between one day and another, a very good option to do so is to opt for the sightseeing bus.

The Cape Town sightseeing bus will allow you to visit dozens of attractive places in the city, including almost all of the above mentioned, in an interval of 1 or 2 days. The routes are divided into 3 routes and spread over 30 or so stops. The best part is that you can hop on and off the bus at your convenience to customise your tour, while still enjoying every corner of the city.