Cape Town Itinerary 7 Days: The BEST of Cape Town!

Planning a trip to Cape Town? You’re in the right spot! If you’ve been searching for the perfect Cape Town itinerary for 7 days, I’m here to help. You can never go wrong with a trip to Cape Town because there is literally SO much to do. It can be overwhelming to try and find the best things to do during a short stay so I’ve laid it out for you in this day to day itinerary to make things easier.

Why Trust Me?

Hey â€“ If you’re new here, I’m Amy! I’m originally from Toronto, Canada but I’ve spend 7+ months living in Cape Town while working remotely. I plan to return to Cape Town year over year because it holds such a special place in my heart!

During the months I lived there, I made many local friends who filled me in on some of the best spots around the city and I love sharing them with you so you can skip the over touristy spots and have an even better trip.

Where to Stay in Cape Town?

Before I jump straight into the Cape Town itinerary for 7 days, let’s talk accommodation!

There are some truly incredible places to stay in this city. Of course, it all comes down to your budget so here are some great options for all budgets:

Low-Budget Stays

Villa Viva Cape Town – Starting at $40 USD/night for a private room, dorms are even less! I spent a lot of time at Villa Viva and it’s more of a guesthouse than a hostel which I liked.
Never @ Home Green Point – Starting at $78 USD/night for a private room, dorms are even less! This is great if you’re after a party vibe.

Mid-Range Stays

Lagoon Beach Hotel & Spa – Rooms start at $155 USD/night. Enjoy incredible views of Table Mountain, Lion’s Head and more from their stunning outdoor pool!
The Residences at Crystal Towers – Rooms start at $84 USD/night. This is the best option if you’re looking for a proper apartment with a full kitchen to use in the heart of Cape Town.

Luxury Stays

POD Camps Bay Boutique Hotel – Rooms start at $494 USD/night. Located in Camps Bay, this hotel has everything you could ever dream of and MORE!
The Twelve Apostles Hotel & Spa – Rooms start at $394 USD/night. Another stunning spot in Camps Bay! Step out onto colourful trails and enjoy a scenic view from your room.

Day 1 in Cape Town – Welcome to Cape Town!

Start your first day off in Cape Town with a visit to some of the iconic beaches in the area.

I’d recommend heading to Camps Bay first because there are plenty of shops to browse through and places to eat when you start getting hungry! My fave beach in the Camps Bay area is actually just slightly to the side of Camps Bay, called Glen Beach. It’s a quieter spot compared to the rest of Camps Bay which I personally like a lot more.

Continue your beach day by heading to one of the Clifton Beaches! There are 4 different Clifton beaches so you’ll have to clarify which one when calling an Uber or Bolt to take you there (it’s not the safest to walk there day or night).

I usually go to Clifton 1st so I’d recommend heading there. You get dropped off above the beach and have to walk down stairs to get there. The views as you walk down are incredible and the beach itself is STUNNING! You can hire an umbrella on hot days to use while you’re there for about R50 which makes such a difference.

You can either stay till sunset and watch it from Clifton or head to ‘The Rock‘ to see the sunset from above Camps Bay and Clifton!

Day 2 in Cape Town: See Penguins at Boulders Beach + a Secret Beach

It’s not a trip to Cape Town without seeing the penguins at Boulders Beach! It’s one of those touristy things that are 10000% worth it BUT let me fill you in on how to do it the right way.

There are a few different ticket options when you get the Boulders Beach (and pricing is different for locals and tourists). At the time of writing this post it’s R45 for South African citizens and residents (adults) and R190 for International citizens (adults).

You can find all the pricing options here (including children).

When I was there last, there were options to go view the penguins from a viewing deck and a completely other area where you could pay to enter the beach where the penguins roam.

Make sure you go to the BEACH entrance! You need to follow a boardwalk that’s to the right side of the main entrance to get down to the beach where you’ll pay your entrance there.

Once you’re on the beach, follow it back towards the direction of the main entrance to avoid the crowds of people. You’ll have to weave around some of the boulders but trust me, it’s worth it!

You’ll start seeing the penguins on the beach and swimming around. Please don’t get close to the penguins, as they will bite you (it happened to my friend)! It’s such a crazy feeling to be THAT close to penguins and if you’re willing to get in the cold water to cool off on a hot summer day, you might even get to swim alongside some of them.

The Secret Beach ..

If you don’t care much about the penguins but still want to enjoy the stunning beaches in the area, this is for you! It’s call Windmill Beach. It’s not entirely a secret, but it’s definitely a local spot where you won’t find many other tourists.

The beach looks almost identical to Boulders Beach but don’t have to pay to enter and you sometimes see penguins there that swim over from Boulders! I saw one when I was there last summer and had no idea that was even a possibility so it was exciting to see.

Day 3 in Cape Town: Hit the Wineries!

The Western Cape of South Africa is known for its wine!

There are some incredible wineries around Stellenbosch and Franschooek. A day at the wineries is a full day so you won’t be able to do both. I’d recommend going to Franschooek and taking the wine tram.

You can get transportation to and from Cape Town to make the day hassle free and explore 3-4 wineries. You can definitely go as a solo traveller but I’d try and round up some new friends (if you’re staying at a hostel/coliving space) and go with a group! If not, you’re bound to meet plenty of people on the tram to chat with.

Want to know more about pricing and logistics? Read my full guide to the Franschooek wine tram here!

Day 4 in Cape Town: Local Markets & a Sunset Cruise

Cape Town has some amazing markets so there’s no better way to spend your morning/early afternoon.

Head to the Oranjezicht Farmer’s Market near the V&A Waterfront or the Neighbourgoods Market! Both are great and have similar food options but I’d say the Neighbourgoods Market has a better vibe on weekends than the Oranjezicht Farmer’s Market.

You’ll find food and drink options from all cultures, as well as some lovely clothing and jewellery vendors at the markets. I found one of my favourite dresses ever at the Oranjezicht Farmer’s Market that was handmade and I still wear it nearly three years later!

When the evening rolls around, I highly recommend a sunset cruise! You get to kick back and relax while cruising around Cape Town’s coastline while sipping on some sparkling wine. The sunsets from the water are fantastic on a summer night!

You can do this activity throughout the year, however, I’d only recommend going in the warmer months, as it can get very cold on the water (bring a sweater with you even in the summer).

I did this 1.5 hr cruise with Champagne and it was one of the most memorable activities I did while in Cape Town.

BOOK your sunset cruise here!

Day 5 in Cape Town: Chapman’s Peak & Cape Point Road Trip

Ready for a road trip?

One of the most scenic drives you can take is along Chapman’s Peak! It’s about 25 km from Cape Town and is known for it’s incredible views of the Atlantic ocean. If you’re driving yourself, bear in mind that it’s a toll route and you can find all toll information here!

After, continue your drive to Cape Point Nature Reserve where you can hike to the iconic lighthouse or wander through the various trails. You’re likely to see some baboons on the way! Stay clear of them because they can be aggressive.

Travelling on your own or don’t want to drive yourself? I highly recommend this day tour to see the best of Cape Point!

If you’re heading back to Cape Town before sunset, make your way to Kloof Corner. It’s a short 20-30 minute hike that has an incredible view at sunset! You’ll see Lion’s Head, the 12 Apostles, all of Camps Bay and Clifton beaches.

Read my full guide to Kloof Corner here!

Day 6 in Cape Town: Bo-Kaap, Thrifting & Lion’s Head Sunset

Start your next day in Cape Town wandering around Bo-Kaap!

It’s a colourful neighbourhood with a lot of history. You can admire the street art, walk into a few art galleries and take in the views. I’d only visit Bo-Kaap during the day and with a group (or at least one other person), as there can be sketchy people around that area.

Next, make your way over to Observatory to explore some of the thrift shops! Grand Funk, Bangbang Vintage and Better Half are a good place to start. The entire street in Observatory (Lower Main Rd) is packed with thrift and vintage stores and you can easily spend a few hours browsing around.

Finally, after a long day of shopping, it’s time to head to Lion’s Head for sunset!

Lion’s Head is probably the most popular hike in Cape Town because it only takes about 45-60 minutes to get to the top where you have panoramic views of the entire city. If you’re staying for sunset, make sure you go down before it gets dark as the trail can be slippery and hard to navigate in the dark!

Day 7 in Cape Town: End Your Time on a High

Of course, your Cape Town itinerary for 7 days wouldn’t be complete without a visit to Table Mountain!

You have a few options based on how you’re feeling after the hike up Lion’s Head. You can either choose a few different hiking trails to hike up to Table Mountain OR you can take the cable car.

I typically hike up (2-3 hrs with stops for photos/breaks), enjoy the views from the top and then take the cable car down.

You can find pricing for the cable car here.

Still have some time left in the day? Take a trip over to Muizenberg for some surfing or just to hangout at the beach and have a coffee!

If you’re into adrenaline activities, why not try paragliding? I had the BEST time paragliding from Signal Hill and would highly recommend it.

Some of My Fave Eats & Drinks in Cape Town

Not sure where to go for food during your trip?

I’ve highlighted a few of my fave cafes, restaurants and bars in Cape Town!

The Best Cafes

Okja Cafe – Camps Bay or Kloof St
The Ladder (Bree St)
Nourish’d Cafe

Best Restaurants

Thali Restaurant
El Burro Taqueria Kloof Nek
La Perla Restaurant

Best Bars/Clubs

BLONDIE
Yours Truly (rooftop)
The House of Machines
The Waiting Room

Want more suggestions?

I have 190+ pins of my favourite places and activities to do in Cape Town to help you plan an insane trip!

Access my interactive Cape Town Maps HERE.

Other Cape Town Blogs You Might Find Helpful

Ready for Cape Town?

I hope you make use of this Cape Town itinerary for 7 days and have the most incredible time! I’m sure no matter what you do, this city will blow you away like it did to me.

I’ll be back shortly with a new blog but in the meantime, you can follow my adventures as a full-time traveller and digital nomad on Instagram, TikTok and YouTube!

Cheers,

Amy xx

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Cape Town Itinerary 7 Days: The BEST of Cape Town!

Why Trust Me?