Cape Town in 6 Days

We landed in the early evening at Cape Town International Airport. After a short drive, we arrived at The Last Word Constantia, a quiet and luxurious 9-suite retreat nestled in the heart of the Constantia Valley, the oldest wine region in South Africa. This boutique hotel is known for its personalized service and serene outdoor gardens and pool area and is a 25-minute drive from the Cape Town Waterfront.

Last Word’s staff was warm and welcoming, suggesting a late dinner at Peddler’s Pub, serving fresh seafood, pasta, burgers and sandwiches, just a stroll through the garden gate. It was the perfect, cozy spot to unwind after a long day of travel.

After a wonderful breakfast in the garden room at Last Word, we headed to Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden. This is one of the world’s great botanical gardens with views of Table Mountain behind. Even if you're not an avid gardener, it is definitely worth a visit! We joined a free tour, offered Mondays through Fridays at 10 am, 11 am and 2 pm. The agave, the protea and birds of paradise were in full bloom, and the suspended bridge walk in the canopy was stunning.

In the afternoon, we took an Uber (readily available in Cape Town) to Groot Constantia. It is South Africa’s oldest wine estate, founded in 1685 by French Huguenots. The estate’s history is as rich as its wines, and the tasting session was a delightful way to immerse ourselves in the region’s vinous heritage. The wines have been enjoyed by many, including Napolean Bonaparte, Charles Dickens and Jane Austen.

Dinner that night was at La Colombe, a culinary institution, nestled among the vineyards. The multi-course tasting menu and wine pairing was an event, each dish better than the last, and the service was choreographed theater. We added the wine cellar course, which was a treat. La Columbe was awarded The Top 50 Restaurant in the World in 2024, as well as Best Restaurant in Africa.

Tip: I highly recommend making advance reservations and adding it to the must-do dining on your Cape Town itinerary.

After a leisurely breakfast at Last Word Constantia, it was time to move to Clarendon Bantry Bay. This is a boutique hotel with views of the Atlantic Ocean from our pool front room on the first floor. The room was quiet, spacious and comfortable.

The soothing sound of waves crashing against the rocks became a constant companion. The manager, Shirley, was incredibly welcoming and friendly. She insisted on driving us to the start of the waterfront walk — she made us feel like we were family. The hotel is a quick cab or Uber ride to the waterfront, Table Mountain and downtown areas.

We had a leisurely day, walking along the Beach Road waterfront, viewing the sculpture gardens and to the bustling and touristy Victoria and Alfred Waterfront for shopping and lunch.

Our dinner that night was at the Belly of the Beast, a unique 30-seat restaurant and dining experience in the downtown area. There are no menu options or set amount of courses. All you do is show up and trust the staff to satisfy you with seasonal offerings from locally sourced, sustainable producers and use every part of the animal. Some dishes may test your boundaries, but the menu is balanced and we thoroughly enjoyed it, even though we did push our boundaries on a few dishes!

A visit to the colorful Bo-Kaap neighborhood offered a glimpse into the city’s cultural diversity. Originally founded in the 1760s, slaves and political exiles from Dutch colonies of Indonesia’s Batavia, Sumatra, Java and East Africa, who spoke Malay, became known as the “Cape Malay” community. The community was allowed to paint houses vibrant colors as an expression of freedom. Mainly a Muslim community now, the oldest mosque in South Africa is here and houses a museum of Bo-Kaap’s rich history.

A highlight of the day was the express cable car ride to the top of Table Mountain, where the panoramic views of the city, ocean and distant mountains were simply breathtaking. We hiked two miles around the top of Table Mountain on Maclear's Beacon Trail. Leaving the congested tourist area with tourists snapping Selfie and Insta pictures, we felt like we had the mountain to ourselves. It was peaceful and quiet, with the landscape full of blooming succulents and protea, and wild birds and frogs calling. Book your cable car ride in advance and early in your stay, go on the first clear day. The cable car closes in high winds and bad weather.

We regretted not getting tickets to Robben Island in advance during our visit. Definitely book in advance of your stay! We would have loved to have seen the place of Nelson Mandela's imprisonment and learned more about apartheid history.

This was one of my favorite days of our Cape Town stay and was all about the natural wonders of the Cape Peninsula.

We drove to a coastal town to watch the fisherman dry their fish and locals shop. It was interesting to see the "Shark Watchers" huts along the coast, looking for great white sharks. It's possible to cage dive in the area, if that's a close encounter you'd enjoy...but not us!

Our drive led to Boulders Beach, home to a colony of African penguins. From the boardwalk, we thoroughly enjoyed these endearing creatures waddle along the beach, launch from the rocks for swims, have bird fights, nurture babies and pair off. Plan to spend at least an hour or more to take it all in. It was hard to stop watching their antics!

Next, it was off to the Cape of Good Hope, the southwesternmost point of Africa. The rugged cliffs and dramatic seascapes made for some stunning photos, including wild ostriches roadside. While we didn’t carve out time to hike, there are some wonderful trails in the park (beware of the baboons, they can be aggressive, especially if you have food).

The return journey included a drive over Chapman’s Peak, one of the world’s most scenic coastal roads. You will see sheer drops to the ocean on one side and towering cliffs on the other.

Our final day began with an educational drive outside the city through the Townships, racially segregated neighborhoods, forcing nonwhites out of the city. Our guide, Tony, had spent his teen years living with his grandmother in there, and offered personal insights into the complex socio-economic fabric of South Africa.

We then drove to the Cape Winelands regions of Stellenbosch and Franschhoek. We visited Boschendal Wine Estate and Mullineaux wineries. The area is simply gorgeous with mountains, rolling hills, gardens and vineyards. We stopped briefly in Franschhoek to admire the Cape Dutch architecture and to shop for souvenirs. Winemaking was influenced by the French Huguenots fleeing religious persecution in France in the late 1600s. We tasted many exceptional wines in beautiful settings.

Our 3-course lunch was at Le Petite Ferme and was another favorite, seated alfresco with stunning vineyard views and delicious farm-to-table cuisine.

I would highly recommend staying a few nights in the area. If we were to do our trip again, I would have cut a few nights in Cape Town for a stay at Le Petite Ferme or the Leeu family of three hotels in the Winelands. I also recommend booking a bicycle tour of the area.