Cape Town, known for its stunning beaches, vibrant culture, and natural beauty, is a great stop during any visit to South Africa. Four days in Cape Town allows you to see all of the main sites and explore some of the surrounding area. From the views of Table Mountain to wine tasting, there is plenty to enjoy during your visit.
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History of Cape Town
The Khosian people were some of the first people to live on the Cape Peninsula where Cape Town is now situated. In 1652, the Dutch East India Company established a station on the Cape to supply ships traveling between Europe and Asia. This settlement grew into an outpost and shaped the city’s early economic and cultural foundations.
Later, the control of the Cape shifted from the Dutch to the British. In the 1900s, Cape Town became the central stage for South Africa’s struggle with apartheid. IN 1948, the city saw the forced removal and destruction of places such as District Six. Robben Island became a political prision. Today, Cape Town reflects these various histories and has become of South Africa’s culturally vibrant and significant cities.
When to Spend Four Days in Cape Town
Any time of the year is a great time to spend four days in Cape Town; it just depends on what type of experience you want. December to March is the summer season, so that is when you will want to visit to partake in summer activities like surfing and beaches.
June to August is the winter season in Cape Town. During this time, you will experience a lot of rainfall and colder weather, but there will be fewer crowds. We opted to visit in the wintertime since that is when I had summer break.
How to Get to Cape Town
Cape Town has one international airport: Cape Town International Airport. You can catch flights to Cape Town from all over the world. In the United States, you can fly direct from Atlanta, Washington, DC, and New York. Skyscanner is my favorite way to search for flights.
Transportation in Cape Town
To get around Cape Town and the surrounding area, I recommend renting a car. It is easier to get around if you have a car. Also, Uber is widely available, so you can use it to get around the main areas of the city. I recommend renting a car through Economy Bookings as it will search all rental car companies for you.
Where to Stay in Cape Town
TripAdvisor is a great place to start your hotel search. Check out the best hotels in Cape Town here! You can always try searching Priceline Express Deals for a better price or try to price match a hotel. We opted to stay at the Hyatt Regency Cape Town. This was a fantastic location and very reasonably priced.
Other good options for Cape Town hotels include:
- Protea Hotel Cape Town Waterfront
- The Westin Cape Town
- AC Hotel Cape Town Waterfront
- Victoria & Alfred hotel
- Cape Grace
- Canopy by Hilton Cape Town
What to do During Four Days in Cape Town
There are many amazing things to do during four days in Cape Town. If it is your first visit, you may want to use the Hop On Hop Off Bus to get around the city and buy a Cape Town City Pass. A helicopter tour will also give you a good introduction to the city.
Day 1
Table Mountain
Cost: $26
Hours: 8am-8pm
Table Mountain will be one of the highlights when spending four days in Cape Town. This mountain offers a stunning view of the city, coastline, and surrounding mountains. Visitors can either hike to the top or take the cable car. Once at the top, there are also some trails to hike around. You will want to book tickets in advance as they will be cheaper and often sell out. Plan to spend several hours at Table Mountain.
Bo-Kaap
Bo-Kaap is a vibrant and historic neighborhood known for its brightly colored houses. It is a popular photo spot. Visitors can also stop in at the Iziko Bo-Kaap museum to learn about the history of the area. It is located inside one of the colorful houses and gives a good insight into the history, culture, and traditions of the Cape Malay community. You may want to take a Bo-Kaap walking tour and cooking class as an introduction to the area.
District Six Museum
Cost: $3.50
Hours: 9am-4pm
The District Six Museum is the perfect stop for history lovers during four days in Cape Town. It covers the story of the once-thriving neighborhood that was destroyed during apartheid. The museum has photographs, personal stories, and artifacts to tell the history of this area and community.
Iziko South African Museum
Cost: $3.50
Hours: Mon-Fri: 9am-5pm, Sat-Sun: 8:30pm-4pm
The Iziko South African Museum is one of the largest natural history museums in South Africa. Its exhibits include fossils, ancient rocks, and biodiversity displays to offer insight into South Africa’s natural and cultural heritage.
Dinner at Upper Union
Cost: $$
Hours: 12pm-4pm, 6pm-9pm
Upper Union is one of the best restaurants you will eat at during your four days in Cape Town, and the perfect option to conclude your first day. This restaurant, located on Kloof Street, is popular for its modern menus of small plates and is a great place for brunch or dinner. We liked it so much, we ended up eating here twice.
The Gin Bar
Cost: $
Hours: 5pm-1am
After dinner, grab a drink at the Gin Bar. This bar has a large assortment of gin from all over the world, and many from South Africa. Any gin lover will not want to miss the delicious variations of gin and tonics they have here.
Day 2: The Cape of Good Hope
A Cape of Good Hope day trip is a must when spending four days in Cape Town. You can either embark on a group tour or drive yourself. I recommend driving yourself so you can go at your own pace. The following is the itinerary of stops we took on our Cape of Good Hope Road Trip.
Muizenberg Beach
Cost: Free
The first stop of your Cape of Good Hope road trip is Muizenberg Beach. There is a ton of free parking in the area, but it may take some time to drive around and find a spot. This beach is known for its colorful beach huts. During the summertime, this beach is very popular for surfing and a favorite for families to visit. In the wintertime, you will want to take some time to walk around the beach and take pictures of the colorful huts.
Boulders Beach
Cost: $11
Hours: 8am-5pm (can vary by season)
Boulders Beach is known for its colony of African penguins that live among the boulders on the beach. Visitors can observe some of the penguins from the walking path, but I suggest paying the money to walk along the boardwalks and the beach to view the penguins up close. In the summer months, you may even be able to grab some up-close pictures with the penguins.
Parking wise, you can either pay to park in the parking lot, or park on the street a few blocks away. There is parking at both ends of the boardwalk. Then, you can head to the visitor’s center to buy your admission tickets. This map and park brochure gives you a great map to follow.
There are two beaches you will want to visit. The first one, Foxy beach is more of a view point as you cannot step off the boardwalks. To go down onto the actual beach, you can walk around the Boulders beach where you can walk along the sand, get in the water, and crawl through the boulders to look for the penguins.
Please remember penguins are wild animals and you should not be approaching them or touching them. Give them their space and respect their habitat! Overall, you may spend about an hour here if you are just viewing the penguins.
Cape of Good Hope and Cape Point
Cost: $32/person
Hours: October-March: 6am-6pm, April-September: 7pm-5pm
On this next stop during your four days in Cape Town, head to the Cape of Good Hope and Cape Point. These stops sit within Table Mountain National Park. It showcases on of the most framatic coastal landscapes in South Africa. It is home to the southermost tip of Africa.
At the point you can see Cape Point’s historic lighthouse and walk along some scenic trails. The point offers gorgeous views of the area. During the summer season, you can take the funicular up to the top of the Cape Point. However, during the wintertime (like when we visited) it was closed for maintenance, so we had to hike up to the top.
If you get hungry, you can stop at the Two Oceans Restaurant or Aegir Project Brewery for a bit to eat.
Chapman’s Peak Drive
On your way back to Cape Town, take Chapman’s Peak Drive to take in some scenic views of the coast. This coastal road winds between Houry Bay and Noordhoek and you will not be sorry taking a slightly longer route back to take in these views.
Blondie Bar
Cost: $
Hours: 12pm-12am
Tonight, after spending the day on the Cape, grab dinner at Blondie bar. This trendy cocktail bar in Cape Town is known for its creative drinks and light bar eats. It is a great place for a relaxing dinner to kick off your four days in Cape Town.
Day 3
For wine lovers, you will not want to miss a day trip to Stellenbosch during your four days in Cape Town. You can ope to take the wine tram or a wine tour, but I recommend driving yourself out to the region for the day as it adds in more flexibility. If you choose to drive yourself, you can embark on the following itinerary.
Thelema Mountain Vineyards
Cost: $18
Hours: 9am-5pm
Start your day with a stop at Thelema Mountain Vineyards. This family-owned estate has been producing wines since 1983. They produce many Bordeaux-style blends and cool-climate wines. You can opt for a standard or more premium tasting flight depending on your preferences.
Postcard Cafe
Cost: $$
Hours: Wed-Sun: 9:30am-4pm
Next, head to lunch at Stark-Conde Vineyard’s Postcard Cafe. This lakeside eatery offers seasonal and locally inspired dishes that pair with estate wines. You can also opt for a wine tasting here, which will run around $18. This cafe can get pretty popular, so make sure to make a reservation, especially during peak season.
Beyerskloof
Cost: $7
Hours: Mon-Sat: 9am-4:30pm, Sun: 10am-4:30pm
Next, head to Beyerskloof to get a sample of Pinotages. Founded in 1988, Beyerskloof is credited with popularizing South Africa’s signature grape, Pinotage. They focus on various fruit-driven Pinotage and Cape blends.
L’Avenir Wine Estate
Cost: $5
Hours: Mon-Sat: 9am-5pm, Sun: 10am-4pm
End your day of tasting in the Stellenbosch region with a visit to L’Avenier. This boutique winery is located just outside of Stellenbosch and specializes in Pinotage and Chenin Blanc. It has a history dating back to the 1600s and combines French winemaking with South African influences.
Chefs Warehouse
Cost: $$
Hours: Mon-Sat: 12pm-9:30pm, Closed Sundays
Chefs Warehouse in Cape Town is a go-to spot for an elevated dining experience. It is known for its small plates with bold flavors and seasonal ingredients. Make sure to order a variety of things to try!
Day 4
Robbins Island
Cost: $36
Hours: Varies
To start off your last of four days in Cape Town, you will want to visit Robbins Island. Robben Island is a UNESCO World Heritage Site known as the prison where Nelson Mandela was held for 18 years. To get here, you will need to take a ferry. Then, you can tour this island and learn about South Africa’s history and struggle against apartheid.
Time Out Market Cape Town
Cost: $$
Hours: Sun-Wed: 11am-10pm, Thurs-Sat: 11am-11pm
The Time Out Market Cape Town is the perfect stop for lunch after spending the morning on Robbins Island. This food hall showcases some of the city’s best chefs and restaurants. It is a great place to sample a wide variety of food and wine.
Bascule Bar
Cost: $
Hours: 12pm-11:30pm
This bar is located inside the Cape Grace Hotel. It is known for its speakeasy-style bibe and impressive whisky collection. A lot of the creative cocktails are inspired by local flavors and it offers stunning views over the water. It is a great place to grab a snack and a drink before continuing to explore the area.
V&A Waterfront
The V&A Waterfront is a bustling harbor area filled with shops, restaurants, and entertainment options. It is a great place to walk around and take in the scenic harbor views. The Robbins Island ferry is located here, so make sure to spend a little time walking around.
Zeitz MOCAA
Cost: $15
Hours: 10am-5pm, Closed Mondays
Art lovers will not want to miss the Zeitz MOCAA during their four days in Cape Town. This contemporary art museum is housed in a converted grain silo near the V&A Waterfront. It showcases African and diasporic art and is one of South Africa’s largest museums.
Two Oceans Aquarium
Cost: $14
Hours: 10am-5:30pm
The Two Oceans Aquarium highlights marine life in the Atlantic and Indian Oceans, including sharks, penguins, and turtles. Ocean lovers will not want to miss wandering through here for a couple of hours.
Open Wine
Cost: $
Hours: 12pm-11pm
This wine bar is on you will not want to miss in Cape Town’s CBD. Here you can sample a wide range of South African wines by the glass or bottle in a relaxed setting. You can also enjoy some small plates that pair well with the wine. It is the perfect place to unwind after spending the day exploring Cape Town.
Carne
Cost: $$
Hours: Mon-Thurs: 6pm-10pm, Fri-Sat: 12pm-3pm, 6pm-10pm, Closed Sundays
Wrap up your four days in Cape Town with a dinner at Carne. This popular steakhouse is known for its high-quality meats, including some of South Africa’s animals. You cannot go wrong with anything you order!
More Than Four Days in Cape Town
If you have more than four days in Cape Town, you may also want to check out the following things. Since we visited in the wintertime, we opted to do more indoor activities than outdoor activities. The following are some other fun activities you may want to do.
- Lion’s Head hike: hike the infamous Lion’s Head for a spectacular view of Cape Town.
- Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens: These gardens showcase South Africa’s indigenous plants. Don’t miss the Boomslang canopy walkway.
- Castle of Good Hope: This is the oldest surviving colonial building in South Africa, built by the Dutch East India Company.
- Cape Wheel ticket: This observation wheel offers panoramic views of the area.
- Harbor cruise: Go on a cruise around the harbor to check out Cape Town from the water.
Final Tips for Four Days in Cape Town
Four days in Cape Town is the perfect addition to any South Africa trip. If you have more time, pair it with some time in Johannesburg or a safari in Kruger. We opted to head to Victoria Falls and the Seychelles after spending time in Cape Town.
