Planning to visit Cape Town, South Africa but you only have a short time available? Here’s what to do on a weekend in Cape Town. This perfect Cape Town 2-day itinerary will allow you to make the most of your trip here!
As there are plenty of things to do in Cape Town (read our detailed guide for the city), it’s best to plan everything in advance, thus the need to have a 2-day Cape Town itinerary to follow.
This two-day Cape Town itinerary will simplify things for you as it’ll show you the best Cape Town activities to include on your trip. As you’ll see, there are plenty of outdoor attractions in Cape Town included in this itinerary. Perfect spots to enjoy a great Cape Town sunset with amazing views, famous Cape Town landmarks, parks, and more are featured.
Use this Cape Town itinerary when you’re creating your Cape Town bucket list. If it’s your first time in Cape Town, then follow this itinerary to make the most of your visit and to see the best of the city!
These recommendations on things to do in Cape Town in 2 days come from Alya from Stingy Nomads and allow you to spend two amazing days in the legislative capital of South Africa.
The best Cape Town 2-day itinerary by a local
Cape Town is an amazing city with a lot to do and to see. This 2-day Cape Town itinerary includes the main city attractions and activities.
The suggested itinerary is suitable for any travelers, be it a family with children, a backpacker, or a honeymoon couple. All attractions in the itinerary are open year-round and can be visited any season.
This Cape Town 2 days itinerary includes the following:
Day 1 of the Cape Town itinerary
- Bo Kaap
- Table Mountain
- Camps Bay
- Hout Bay
- Chapman’s Peak Drive
- Cape Point National Park
- Boulders Beach
- Muizenberg
- Sunset at V&A Waterfront
Day 2 of the Cape Town itinerary
- The Castle of Good Hope
- The Old Biscuit Market
- Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden
- Constantia Wine Route
- The City Bowl
- Sunset at Lion’s Head
Day 1 of the two days in Cape Town itinerary
Morning
Start your first day in Cape Town with a delicious breakfast at one of the cafes in the City Bowl.
New York Bagels, a small place with great coffee and delicious freshly baked bagels or The Truth Coffee, with amazing coffee, and diverse breakfast and brunch menu are great options.
Bo Kaap
The Bo Kaap is the most colorful neighborhood in Cape Town. The narrow streets with small bright houses make a perfect spot for photos.
Bo Kaap is one of the oldest city neighborhoods. Its history dates back to 1760. The first residents of the Bo Kaap were slaves brought to South Africa mainly from Malaysia and Indonesia.
The second name of the neighborhood is the Malay Quarter. Originally all houses were painted in white color. After the Abolition of the Slave Trade Act signed in 1807 Bo Kaap residents decided to paint their houses in different colors as a symbol of freedom and individuality.
Nowadays colors reign here. Houses painted in red, green, blue, yellow, purple and orange made the Bo Kaap one of the most popular tourist spots in Cape Town.
There are many restaurants and eateries in the area that offer traditional Cape Malay dishes such as Malay curry, bobotie, bredie (stew), samosas, etc. Some restaurants offer cooking classes where tourists can learn cooking Malay dishes.
Table Mountain
- Cable car working hours – summer from 8 am to 8 pm, winter from 8 am to 6 pm
- Price of a ride – US$18 adults, US$9 children
Table Mountain is the most recognizable attraction in Cape Town. The 360° panoramic views from the top of it are truly spectacular.
You can see pretty much the entire city, the coastline, Robben Island, Lion’s Head, Camps Bay, and the city surrounding area.
There are two ways of getting to the top; using a cable car or walking up following different hiking trails. The Cable Car is the fastest and easiest way. The ride takes only 10 minutes.
The views from the funicular are amazing. The cable car is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Cape Town, over 1 million people use it every year.
For those who enjoy hiking, walking up following one of the trails is a great alternative. Morning is the best time for hiking up Table Mountain; it’s not too hot and there are usually quite a few people on the trails.
The Platteklip Gorge is the most popular route up the mountain. It starts 500m past the Lower Cable Car Station. The route is quite strenuous.
It takes between 1 hour and 1 hour 30 minutes to get to the top. Make sure to carry enough water, wear a hat or a cap, and put sunscreen on.
It’s possible to combine two ways; take the cable car up and walk down or another way round.
On top of Table Mountain, there are several walking trails and a couple of stunning view-points. At the Upper Cable Car station, there is a restaurant and a souvenir shop.
Afternoon
Camps Bay
From Table Mountain, head to Camps Bay. The fanciest neighborhood in Cape Town is a great photo stop – yes one of the best instagrammable places in Cape Town. The best views of Camps Bay are from Maiden’s Cover parking lot.
The scenery is fantastic; white-sand beaches, massive boulders, stunning mansions, and the beautiful mountain range. The water in Camps Bay like everywhere in Cape Town is freezing.
Local perfect beaches are not for swimming but rather for showing off a new bikini. There are many restaurants along the beach with great sea views where you can stop for a cocktail or lunch.
Hout Bay
From Camps Bay continue driving along the coast to Hout Bay during your two days in Cape Town. Hout Bay is a small fisherman town and a great spot for watching Cape Fur seals.
It’s possible to see them at the harbor. If you want to observe these playful animals from closeby and even interact with them, do a snorkeling tour. Seals are very curious animals once they see people in the water they immediately approach them.
Chapman’s Peak Drive
It’s the most beautiful drive in Cape Town and one of the most scenic drives in the country. The drive starts in Hout Bay and goes along the coast for 9km. The road winds along the rugged cliffs offering breathtaking views of the coast.
The drive has over 100 curves! There are a couple of lookouts where tourists can stop for photos. Chapman’s Peak Drive is a toll road, the price is US$3 per car.
Cape Point National Park
- Working hours – daily from 7 am to 5 pm
- Entrance fee – US$17 adults, US$8 children
The park is one of the most beautiful places in the city, it’s a must-include in your Cape Town itinerary. Cape Point is the best place in the city for hiking.
There are many walking trails that take visitors to the most spectacular corners of the park. The scenery here is truly breathtaking; dramatic cliffs, rocky pools, pristine beaches, and rugged coastline.
The highlights of the Cape Point
- Dias Beach, a beautiful white-sand beach surrounded by the rocky walls
- Cape Of Good Hope, one of the southern points of Africa
- Cape Point, a beautiful cliff with great views
- The Old Lighthouse
- The Flying Dutch Funicular
- The Tidal Pool
- Kanonkop viewpoint
Boulders Beach
- Working hours – daily from 8 am to 5 pm
- Entrance fee – US$8 adults, US$4 children
This beautiful white-sand beach surrounded by the massive boulders is one of the tourists’ favorite attractions in Cape Town. Cute African penguins are the main reason why people come here.
You can see penguins everywhere here; resting on boulders, swimming, and walking around on the beach. Boulders Beach is a must-visit place for travelers with children.
Kids will love watching these small creatures walking around them.
Muizenberg
It’s famous as one of the best surfing spots in Cape Town. Many people come here to learn surfing. There are a couple of surf schools and hostels close to the beach.
Besides nice beaches and good waves, Muizenberg boasts another not-to-miss Cape Town attraction, colorful beach cabins.
A long row of wooden cabins painted in blue, red, green, and yellow makes an amazing contrast with white sand and blue water. The Muizenberg cabins are a great spot for Insta photos.
From Muizenberg head back to Cape Town for the sunset.
Evening
Sunset at V&A Waterfront
Cape Town is famous for its stunning sunsets. The Waterfront is one of the top spots in the city to watch the sundown. You can sit at the table at one of the restaurants with the harbor view and enjoy the sunset while having dinner.
Another option is to join a sunset Champagne cruise from the V&A Waterfront. You can see Table Mountain, the Waterfront, and the City Bowl with the sunset light. Some companies offer Champagne and dinner cruises.
Day 2 of the Cape Town itinerary
Morning
The Castle of Good Hope
- Working hours – daily from 9 am to 7 pm
- Entrance fee – US$3 adults, US$2 children
The bastion fort was built by the Dutch East India Company between 1666 and 1679. It is the oldest existing building in South Africa and one of the best forts of its kind in the world which makes it the perfect place to start the second day of your Cape Town itinerary.
The fortress was built to serve as a replenishment station for Dutch ships on their way from the Netherlands to the Dutch East Indies (modern Indonesia).
The population of the fort grew so did the fortress. From a temporary stopover place, it turned to a permanent settlement with a church, bakery, workshops, houses, and shops.
Nowadays it’s a museum complex with several permanent exhibitions, restaurants, and souvenir shops.
Morning is the best time for visiting the Castle to see the Key Ceremony (at 10 am and 12 pm) and the Cannon Firing (at 10 am, 11 am, 12 pm).
The Old Biscuit Market
- Working hours – Sat from 9 am
As a weekend alternative instead of the Castle, you can spend the morning visiting the Neighbourhood Market at the Old Biscuit Mill in Woodstock.
Woodstock used to be a dodgy neighborhood of Cape Town. In the last 10 years, it’s become a popular hipster district. The Market is open every Saturday from 9 am. Make sure to come hungry there is so much to try and taste here!
The place is vibrant; funky music, many food stalls, handcraft, local designer clothes, long tables, and benches in the middle of the pavilions. Capetonians love coming here on Saturdays to catch up with friends and family.
Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden
- Working hours – daily from 8 am to 6 pm
- Entrance fee – US$4 adults, US$1 children.
It’s the locals’ favorite place to come for a weekend picnic. The Garden is a real green paradise within the city. It’s located on the slopes of Table Mountain and it’s one of the best things to see in Cape Town.
The Garden has a special microclimate; it’s more humid and cooler in Kirstenbosch than in the other parts of Cape Town. Kirstenbosch is a great place to spend a morning.
There are many walking trails that take visitors to different parts of the garden. The estate occupies 528 hectares of land, only 6% of the land is cultivated.
The rest is a protected area with natural forest, fynbos, and indigenous plants. The garden is home to a great number of birds and some mammals so it’s no surprise that I’m recommending it as a top place to visit in 2 days in Cape Town, Sout Africa.
Animals such as genets, Cape foxes, porcupines, and even otters can be spotted here. The best views of the garden and the surrounding area visitors can get from the Tree Canopy Walkway.
For its winding shape, the canopy is named The Boomslang which is a kind of snake, directly translated it means a ‘tree snake’. There are many great picnic spots in the shade of the trees inside the Kirstenbosch.
You don’t have to bring food and snacks. Local restaurants have a great variety of picnic baskets with diverse menus.
Afternoon
Constantia Wine Route
- Wine tasting – daily, between 10 am and 5 pm
- Cost of tasting – US$5-8 per person
Constantia is part of the Cape Winelands region and is renowned for its great wines. Wine tasting is a must-include in your Cape Town itinerary.
There are 10 wine estates in the Constantia area all have tasting rooms and are open for visitors. It’s better to choose 2 or 3 farms in order to have enough time to enjoy the tasting and learn about local wines.
Groot Constantia is one of the oldest wine farms in the Southern Hemisphere, it was founded in 1685. It is a beautiful farm surrounded by the vineyards at the foothills of the mountain range.
Groot Constantia is a great place to start the tasting. You can combine the tasting with a cellar tour, a visit to the wine museum, or lunch at the local restaurant.
Klein Constantia, Constantia Glen, and Beau Constantia are amazing wine estates to visit on the Constantia Wine Route.
The City Bowl
Spend some time strolling through the city center along Bree Street and Long Street. Visit the Company’s Garden, look for souvenirs at The Green Market Square, have a cup of coffee at one of the local cafes.
If you have time you can visit the District Six Museum and learn about South African recent past.
Make sure you start heading to Lion’s Head in time not to miss the sunset.
Evening
Sunset at Lion’s Head
Another Cape Town iconic city mountain, Lion’s Head is one of the most popular places in Cape Town to watch the sunset. It is not as high as Table Mountain but it takes some time to get to the top.
There is no cable car walking is the only way of getting there. The last part of the ascent is a bit tricky and involves some climbing.
It’s recommended to arrive at Lion’s Head at least 1 hour before the sunset to have enough time to find a parking spot and to make it to the top.
From the peak, you can see Table Mountain, Robben Island, V&A Waterfront, Camps Bay, City Bowl, and the endless Atlantic Ocean.
If climbing up Lion’s Head sounds like too much of a mission you can watch the sunset from Signal Hill instead. It’s a neighboring hill that is easy to access by car.
The road goes all the way to the view-point. The views from Signal Hill are as spectacular as from Lion’s Head.
For adventure lovers paragliding from Lion’s Head or Signal Hill with landing on the beach at Sea Point is a great way to end the last day of the 2-day Cape Town itinerary.
Recommended places to stay in Cape Town
The best areas to stay to have easy access to the main attractions, restaurants, bars, and City Sightseeing Bus stops are City Bowl, V&A Waterfront, and Sea Point.
Budget | Never@home Cape Town | Atlantic Point Backpackers |
Middle price range | The Odyssey 407 in Green Point | The One 8 Hotel |
High end | Victoria & Alfred Hotel | The Table Bay Hotel |
About the authors:
Campbell & Alya/Stingy Nomads
An adventurous travel couple from Cape Town where they spend 3-4 months every year. Hiking and outdoor lovers, road trips, and camping enthusiasts. When not traveling they explore Cape Town and its surroundings, discovering new places, and sharing travel tips with their readers. Follow them on Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram too.
