Table Mountain
Take a 10-minute cable car ride and enjoy spectacular 360-degree views of Cape Town from the top of Table Mountain, the city’s most famous icon. It’s a great way to get your bearings, as you can see the Mother City laid out in front of you – not to mention the bird’s-eye view of spectacular Cape Town Stadium.

Table Mountain is known for its rich biodiversity and is home to about 2,000 species of plants (more than the number found in the entire British Isles), most of them fynbos, which forms one of the world’s six plant kingdoms. The cableway is situated within the Table Mountain National Park.

If you’d like to do some hiking, the Hoerikwaggo Trails in Table Mountain National Park take in all the natural attractions of the park – beaches and mountain – as well as some city highlights. Waking up in a tented camp on the mountain is an experience all nature lovers should have.

For those looking for a bit of adventure, why not try abseiling or bungee jumping? There’s something for everyone on the Mother City’s beloved mountain.

Robben Island
Cape Town has a fascinating political history. Once “home” to South Africa’s most famous political prisoners, including Nelson Mandela, Robben Island is one of South Africa’s most visited tourist attractions – and rightly so. If there is one attraction you visit in Cape Town, this should be it – it’s likely to be one of the highlights of your trip.

The island-museum of Robben Island is situated some 9km offshore from Cape Town. Dubbed “Robben” ("the place of seals") by the Dutch settlers, Robben Island was declared a World Heritage Site on December 1, 1997.

You will be guided around the island by a former political prisoner who will relate the story of Robben Island firsthand, ensuring a personal and poignant tour.

Kirstenbosch Gardens
After all the noise and excitement of the 2010 FIFA World Cup matches, the Kirstenbosch Gardens are the ideal place to find some peace and quiet in a spectacular setting.

Kirstenbosch is South Africa’s world-famous national botanical garden, set against the backdrop of Table Mountain and Devil’s Peak, and home to over 22,000 indigenous plants. It was declared a Unesco World Heritage Site in 2004.

Visitors can enjoy rolling lawns, a conservatory, herb gardens, historic ponds and fountains, and a cycad garden that shows off a family of plants that dates back some 200-million years.

Take a packed picnic basket and sit on the rolling lawns sipping Cape wines and reflecting on the excitement of the soccer and fabulous sightseeing that the Mother City has to offer.

V&A Waterfront
The V&A Waterfront is South Africa’s most-visited destination – a combination of shops, restaurants, nightspots, tourist attractions and museums in the city’s historic harbour that attracts millions of visitors a year.

Situated in the heart of the Mother City’s working harbour – within walking distance from Cape Town Stadium – and set against the spectacular backdrop of Table Mountain, “the Waterfront” is a hub of varied activity and a Cape Town must-see.

You might even catch a glimpse of the WAGS (wives and girlfriends) of the soccer stars shopping up a storm.

Cape Point
Cape Point is a spectacular, narrow finger of land, covered in endemic fynbos and home to picturesque bays, beaches, rolling green hills and valleys. It is the most southerly point in the Good Hope section of Table Mountain National Park and one of the richest areas for plants in the world – it is home to nearly 20% of Africa’s flora.

Cape Point is an ideal spot for whale watching, fishing and, if you’d like an adrenalin rush, shark cage diving.

Cape winelands
Take a day off from the soccer mania and escape the crowds by exploring the internationally renowned Cape winelands.

Many respected and well-known vineyards have opened themselves to the public for tours and tastings. You could enjoy an in-depth visit to one establishment – sometimes, if you’re lucky, meeting with the winemaker on a private visit – or spend a day popping into a few with a tour group.

Cape Town’s wine experience includes the Durbanville wine route, Constantia wine route and the Helderberg wine route. Certain places also offer food and wine pairing events that are highlights for foodie tourists and enthusiasts. The surrounding countryside is beautiful and well worth a day trip out of the hustle and bustle of the city.

Nightlife
Cape Town offers an array of entertainment that, given the city’s size, is remarkably varied and plentiful. There are hundreds of clubs in Cape Town, varying from your average disco dance fare to clubs where bouncers assess dress, body piercing and language before deciding whether patrons make the grade.

There are several distinct nightlife districts in the central city. Long Street and Kloof Street in the city centre are alive with restaurants, live music clubs, bars, coffee shops and the odd strip club, while the V&A Waterfront is awash with nightlife venues popular with both tourists and locals. For something a bit swankier, head to Victoria Road, Camps Bay – the place to see and be seen in the Mother City. Visit Observatory for live music and relaxed local bars and restaurants.

If you need a pick-me-up before you head to a soccer match after a night on the town, Cape Town is full of restaurants where you will find “babalas” breakfasts to cure any hangover.

Townships
Experience authentic local culture on one of our popular township tours. There are tours available in Langa, Gugulethu, Khayelitsha, Kayamandi and Lwandle, with a variety of stops and routes to meet your needs. There are bus, bicycle and walking tour options, with tour guides who are residents of the area and have unbeatable local knowledge.

These are not "cultural villages" set up for tourists; they offer a slice of life in the developing world. You’ll meet people and eat and drink in popular local venues, while accessing many sites of historical significance.

Soccer fans shouldn’t miss soccer safaris around the city, which include trips into the townships for a quick game of soccer with local teams.

Chapman’s Peak and Noordhoek
Chapman’s Peak Drive winds its way between Noordhoek and Hout Bay and is touted as one of the most spectacular marine drives in the world. There are viewpoints en route that are perfect for picnics and sundowners and offer the opportunity to take photographs of the sheer cliffs and breathtaking seascapes.

Stop off along the way at Muizenberg, Kalk Bay and Fish Hoek to experience the relaxed seaside vibe of Cape Town.

Blaauwberg Beach and kite-surfing
Blaauwberg Beach is the place to take picture-postcard shots of Cape Town and Table Mountain – and it’s a great place to go kite-surfing.

The beach is known as a surfing and windsurfing hotspot because of the large waves inspired by the Cape’s southeaster winds. The main beach, Big Bay, hosts highly rated surfing contests every year.

You’ll soon see that an active and outdoor lifestyle is part of the Cape Town mindset. Whether you’re on it (water-skiing), in it (surfing, swimming) or under it (scuba diving, shark cage diving), Cape Town’s “blue stuff” offers endless options for water-babies.

If you’d rather watch than participate, Dungeons, just off Hout Bay, is known for its huge waves and makes for some spectacular surfing – but one look at the size of those waves and you’ll be glad that you’re a spectator.

Read also: Why is Cape Town so special?

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