Cape Town – Penguins, Wine, Mountains and plenty of sunshine

Cape Town is one of those places where you can be sitting drinking a glass of wine in a beautiful vineyard one moment, looking at penguins waddling along a beach the next, and then be standing on top of a mountain looking out over the Atlantic.

It’s a pretty spectacular combination.

We spent a few days in Cape Town before heading on to Eswatini, and although you could easily spend much longer here, we managed to fit quite a lot in. From Table Mountain and Kirstenbosch gardens, to the penguins at Boulders Beach, and a lovely day drinking great wine in Stellenbosch – there was a lot to like.

And yes, there was quite a lot of wine!

Table Mountain

You can hardly come to Cape Town without seeing Table Mountain. It dominates the city and, depending on the weather, seems to appear from behind the clouds one minute and disappear completely the next.

We decided to take the famous cable car rather than hike up, and it was definitely the right decision for us.

The cable car itself is quite fun because the floor rotates as you travel, giving everyone a chance to see the views from all directions. Once you reach the top, there is plenty of space to walk around and take in the views across Cape Town, the coastline and the surrounding mountains.

There is a cafe and even a bar up there, so you can enjoy the trip at your leisure whichever way suits you best.

The key thing to remember is that the weather matters. The cable car only operates when conditions allow, and strong winds or poor weather can cause it to close. Even when the cable car is running, clouds can completely change the view from the top.

So, if you have several days in Cape Town, don’t necessarily leave Table Mountain until your last day. Keep an eye on the forecast and pick the clearest day you can.

And be prepared for queues – though you can buy your tickets in advance online. I would recommend doing so, weather pending. Note tickets are refundable if not used due to bad weather or you choose not to use your ticket. Just be sure to make the request within the 7 day window.

There is also a Fast Track option if you really don’t want to spend your precious holiday time standing in a queue. Current prices are considerably higher for Fast Track, so whether it’s worth it will probably depend on how busy the day is and how pushed you are for time. (Table Mountain Aerial Cableway)

My tip: check the official Table Mountain website on the morning you plan to go. It gives live information about whether the cableway is operating and the current conditions.

Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens

If you like gardens, plants or just a beautiful setting to wander around for a few hours, put Kirstenbosch on your list.

It’s set against the eastern slopes of Table Mountain. There are beautiful landscaped areas, indigenous plants, sculptures, enormous trees and some lovely views.

One of the highlights is the Boomslang Canopy Trail, a raised walkway through the trees. It’s a great place for photos and gives you a completely different perspective of the gardens.

We spent a few hours here and it was a lovely contrast to the busier sightseeing spots.

There’s also a restaurant, so it’s easy to make a proper half-day of it rather than rushing around.

Boulders Beach – and the beautiful and playful Penguins!

This was one of my favourite parts of Cape Town.

Boulders Beach, near Simon’s Town, is home to a colony of African penguins and it’s one of those places that feels slightly surreal. You’re standing on a beautiful beach looking at hundreds of penguins waddling around, lying on the sand, climbing over the rocks and heading into the sea.

The penguins are protected, so there are boardwalks around the viewing areas rather than allowing visitors to wander amongst them. And although they look very cute, don’t be tempted to get too close or try to touch them – their beaks are apparently rather more formidable than their appearance suggests! (SANParks)

We got there relatively early, which I’d definitely recommend. Boulders opens at 8am and by later in the morning the area can get much busier, particularly when coach groups start arriving.

There is an entrance fee – it was around £11 for international visitors when we went. The current SANParks tariff is R245 for international adults for visits up to 31 October 2026. (SANParks)

There are a couple of boardwalks, and you get some lovely views of the penguins from them. Amazing to stand and watch them, taking it all in with their waddling, swimming and interacting.

And keep your eyes open on the way down – we also spotted Rock Hyraxes!

Simon’s Town

Once you’ve finished enjoying the penguins, there’s a couple of other things to see nearby or on your way back.

Simon’s Town is only about a 20-minute walk from Boulders and is a nice place to have a walk around. It’s a historic naval town with a harbour, shops, cafés and plenty of character.

It’s a good place to stop for lunch or a coffee before carrying on.

Kalk Bay

A little further back towards Cape Town is Kalk Bay, which is another lovely stop.

It’s particularly good if you’re hungry, with plenty of places offering seafood and fish & chips. The harbour and colourful buildings make it a pleasant place to wander around too.

So, if you’re doing Boulders Beach, an option is to allow enough time to make a proper day or half day this side of the peninsula.

Stellenbosch – wine tasting Heaven

If you like wine, you really can’t come to Cape Town without considering a trip to Stellenbosch.

It’s a beautiful wine-growing region with vineyard after vineyard, dramatic mountain scenery and some seriously good food.

We were lucky enough to have a local friend drive us around, which made the day even better as we didn’t have to worry about driving after the wine tasting. Though the wine tram has been recommended to me by more than one person and fully supports your tour around some lovely wine farms!

Spier Wine Farm

One of our stops was Spier, where we did a red wine and chocolate pairing.

The chocolates had been specifically developed to complement the flavours of the different wines.

And our wine expert, Ryna, really made the experience. She was knowledgeable but also incredibly friendly and bubbly, which made the whole tasting feel pleasant and relaxed.

I have to say I really enjoyed some of my favourite wine here and will always look out for its wine on any menus in future!

Le Pommier

We stopped at Le Pommier for lunch with delicious food and friendly staff.

It’s a lovely setting and has a good selection of lunch options, making it an easy place to combine with a day of wine tasting.

Delaire Graff

Delaire Graff was probably the most spectacular setting of the day. It was a little cloudy when we were there so I don’t have any stunning photos that do the backdrop justice. Still an enjoyable setting nonetheless.

Even before you get to the wine, the views are incredible. The whole estate is beautifully positioned amongst the vineyards and mountains, and it’s the sort of place where you keep looking around thinking, this is a pretty good place to have lunch.

The red wine was served in enormous glasses – around 800ml – allowing plenty of room for the wine to breathe and bring out the flavours.

The rosé was particularly good too.

The lunch options were excellent and the setting was stunning. There’s also some interesting artworks. It’s definitely more of a special-occasion stop, but if your budget allows, it’s worth considering.

A little bit of Cape Town’s history

Cape Town isn’t all beaches, wine and pretty scenery. Some of the city’s history is difficult and upsetting, and it feel important to make time for that too.

District Six Museum

The District Six Museum was one of the places that really stayed with me.

The museum tells the story of District Six and the forced removals that took place during apartheid. It’s not a particularly cheerful visit, but it’s an important one and gives you a much better understanding of Cape Town and South Africa’s recent history.

Allow yourself some time here rather than trying to squeeze it in between other attractions.

St George’s Cathedral

St George’s Cathedral is another interesting stop in the city centre.

The stained-glass windows are beautiful, but one of the things I particularly liked was the labyrinth outside at the back of the cathedral. It’s a peaceful little escape from the city.

Castle of Good Hope

The Castle of Good Hope is another piece of Cape Town’s history and is worth visiting if you’re interested in the city’s colonial past and military history.

It’s very different from the natural attractions around the city and helps give a bit more context to Cape Town’s development.

Bo-Kaap

You can’t really look at photos of Cape Town without eventually seeing the colourful houses of Bo-Kaap.

The neighbourhood is famous for its brightly painted buildings and cobbled streets, and it’s a lovely area to explore on foot.

Not just a colourful backdrop for Instagram it also has a rich Cape Malay history.

The Waterfront

A pleasant place to look around with some nice views and shops. It’s also a relatively safe area to walk about too. Though for me it felt like it could have been anywhere with lots of ‘chain’ shops and restaurants. So personally not somewhere I was keen to spend too much time. Though Cape Town has so much else to offer you’re still spoilt for choice!

Where to stay in Cape Town

We stayed at the Pepperclub Hotel, which is a beautiful hotel and a good base for exploring the city.

Another option we looked at was Long Street Boutique Hotel. It’s cheaper and has a central location, with lots of restaurants and bars nearby. The downside is that being on Long Street means it can be noisy, so if you’re a light sleeper, it’s something to bear in mind.

Where you stay will make quite a difference to your experience. Cape Town is spread out, so consider this and what your priorities are for sightseeing when choosing.

Getting around Cape Town

We used Uber a lot, and found it very easy and inexpensive.

There are plenty of Ubers around, which makes it particularly useful if you’re somewhere where you don’t really want to be walking around looking for transport.

There is also the MyCiTi bus network and the City Sightseeing hop-on hop-off buses, so you don’t necessarily need to hire a car for your time in the city. Cape Town Tourism also recommends these options, alongside Uber and metered taxis. (Cape Town Tourism)

For a trip involving Stellenbosch, Cape Point or lots of stops outside the city, having a driver or joining an organised tour is an option; though Uber was so cheap and readily available this is an easy way to get around.

Is Cape Town safe?

This is probably one of the questions people ask most before visiting, particularly if travelling independently.

We felt comfortable during our trip, but Cape Town is a big city and you do need to be careful and be mindful of your surroundings. As with most big cities, don’t display valuables unnecessarily, and take local advice about which areas are best to visit at different times. (Cape Town Tourism)

It’s not a reason not to visit – just be mindful of your surroundings.

There is also the MyCiTi bus network and the City Sightseeing hop-on hop-off buses, which some of the locals recommend as a great way to see the city and experience sunset with a view if you get the timings right!

How long do you need in Cape Town?

I’d say four or five days would be a good minimum if you want to see the main sights without feeling as though you’re constantly rushing.

Obviously, you can mix and match depending on the weather.

And that’s one of the things I’d definitely recommend – don’t plan every day too rigidly. Cape Town’s weather can change quickly, particularly around Table Mountain, so having a little flexibility can make a big difference.

If the mountain is covered in cloud, go somewhere else. If the sun is shining and the mountain is clear, grab the opportunity.

A few things that are helpful to know before going:

Book Table Mountain when the weather looks good. The views are the highlight, and the cableway is weather dependent. (Table Mountain Aerial Cableway)

Get to Boulders Beach early. It gets much busier later in the morning and parking is limited during busy periods. (SANParks)

Don’t underestimate the distances. Cape Town looks compact on a map, but traffic and the geography can make journeys take longer than you expect.

Uber is your friend. We found it cheap and convenient and used it regularly.

Take a jacket everywhere. Even on a sunny day, conditions around Table Mountain can change quickly. If you’re hiking, Cape Town Tourism specifically recommends carrying something warm, along with water and sun protection. (Cape Town Tourism)

Give yourself time for wine tasting. Stellenbosch isn’t somewhere I’d squeeze into a couple of hours. There are so many beautiful estates that it’s worth making a proper day of it.

Don’t just do the obvious sights. The penguins and Table Mountain are must-dos, but places like District Six and St George’s Cathedral give you a completely different perspective on the city.

Cape Town offers something to suit all tastes – incredible scenery, good food, wine, wildlife, history and plenty of places to explore independently.

One minute you’re looking at the Atlantic from the top of a mountain, the next you’re watching penguins on a beach or sitting amongst vineyards with a glass of South African red wine.

And that’s probably what I liked most about Cape Town.

It’s not just one type of holiday.

You can make it as active, relaxing, foodie, cultural or outdoorsy as you want.

For us, it was the perfect few days before heading off to the very different experience of Eswatini – and I could quite happily have stayed a little longer.