7 Days in Cape Town — A Realistic Itinerary

Seven days in Cape Town is enough to see the major sights, add a day trip to the Winelands, and still have a morning or two without an agenda. This itinerary is structured for first-time visitors but avoids the common mistake of trying to squeeze too much into each day.

Quick links: Cape Town city guide | Where to stay in Cape Town | Table Mountain guide | Cape Point and Peninsula | Winelands guide | Budget reference

7-Day Overview

Day	Focus	Key costs
Day 1	Arrive, V&A Waterfront	Uber from airport R200–350
Day 2	Table Mountain, Bo-Kaap	Cableway R430
Day 3	Cape Peninsula full day	Car hire + park entry R353 + Boulders R220
Day 4	Robben Island + Zeitz MOCAA	R650 + R200
Day 5	Stellenbosch Winelands	Car hire + tastings R500–600
Day 6	Kirstenbosch + Camps Bay	R220 entry
Day 7	Markets, optional Lion’s Head	Variable

Base: Accommodation in the City Bowl (Gardens, De Waterkant) or the V&A Waterfront puts you within 20–30 minutes of almost everything. The Atlantic Seaboard works equally well for those who prioritise the beach. See specific hotel options with rates in the Cape Town accommodation guide.

Day 1: Arrive and Orient

Arriving into Cape Town International Airport (CPT), an Uber or MyCiTi Airport Service to your accommodation takes 20–35 minutes and costs R200–350 by Uber.

If you arrive in the morning, head to the V&A Waterfront. Walk the harbour, have lunch at one of the restaurants on the quayside (Fish on the Rocks in Hout Bay is better, but if you’re at the Waterfront, try Den Anker or The Kitchen). Recover from the flight. Book your Table Mountain cableway ticket online for tomorrow if you haven’t already — the morning slot sells quickly.

In the evening: Long Street for dinner and a drink. The area around Kloof Street (Kloof Street House, the Duchess of Wisbeach, Bocca) has the best restaurants in the city bowl. Budget dinner R200–350 per head.

Day 2: Table Mountain

Go early. The first cableway runs at 08:00 in summer (seasonal — check the website). Arrive at the lower cable station by 07:30 to catch an early gondola before the queues build.

Table Mountain Cableway: R430 adult return. The rotating gondola takes 5 minutes. Allow 1.5–2 hours on the summit — walk the paths to the eastern and western viewpoints, have a coffee at the café, and take your time. Clear days are extraordinary; the whole Cape Peninsula is visible.

Descend by cableway. By 11:00 you’ll be back at the base. Head to the Bo-Kaap (15-minute walk from the cable station area — actually from Kloof Nek Rd take any transport to De Waal Drive then walk down). The cobbled streets and brightly coloured houses are best photographed in the morning light. Walk Wale Street and Rose Street, visit the Bo-Kaap Museum (R50).

Afternoon: Rest or head to the Company’s Garden in the city centre — the park at the heart of the old Dutch colonial settlement, flanked by the South African Museum and the National Gallery (both worth a brief look).

Evening: The Waterfront — the Nobel Square promenade is pleasant at dusk, and the restaurants around Ferryman’s and the open-air areas are animated at night.

Day 3: Cape Peninsula Drive

Full day. Hire a car or book an organised tour (tours from R700 per person via GetYourGuide).

Route: City → Hout Bay → Chapman’s Peak Drive → Noordhoek → Cape of Good Hope National Park → Boulders Beach → Kalk Bay → City.

• Hout Bay harbour (1 hour): boat trip to Duiker Island seal colony R150 if you want it. Fresh fish from the boat market.
• Chapman’s Peak (30 minutes): toll R45 per car. Slow down at viewpoints.
• Cape Point (2 hours): entry R353 per adult. Funicular or walk to the lighthouse. The tip of the peninsula.
• Boulders Beach (1.5 hours): entry R220. African penguins. Go to the main beach, not just the boardwalk.
• Kalk Bay (30 minutes): fishing harbour, antiques, the Brass Bell pub for a beer on the rocks at sunset.

Back in Cape Town by 19:00. The drive covers 150 km.

Day 4: Robben Island + Waterfront

Robben Island: The ferry leaves from the V&A Waterfront Clock Tower Precinct. Morning departures at 09:00 and 11:00 (check current schedule). Cost R650 adult including the island tour. Book well in advance — it sells out. Total time: 3.5–4 hours including the ferry crossing (30 minutes each way) and guided island tour.

The island tour includes a walk through the prison where Nelson Mandela spent 18 of his 27 years in prison. Former political prisoners often serve as guides.

Afternoon back at the Waterfront — visit Zeitz MOCAA (Museum of Contemporary Art Africa, R200) in the old grain silo, the best contemporary African art collection in existence.

Evening: dinner in Sea Point (Sotano, La Mouette, Posticino) or in the Waterfront itself.

Day 5: Cape Winelands — Stellenbosch

Day trip. Hire a car or book a wine tour (from R600 per person, transport included).

Stellenbosch is 45 minutes from Cape Town on the N1. Park on Dorp Street.

Plan 2–3 estate visits:

• Spier — accessible, easy to walk in, good restaurant on site. Tasting R150.
• Tokara — excellent wines, mountain views. Tasting R200.
• Jordan — reliable quality across the range. Restaurant worth booking for lunch.

Wine tastings at 3 estates: R500–600 per person. Add lunch at a restaurant.

If you don’t want to drive: Wine tour operators handle transport. Or go to Franschhoek instead and use the Wine Tram — no driving required.

Return to Cape Town by early evening.

Day 6: Kirstenbosch + Atlantic Seaboard

Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden (R220) — the eastern slopes of Table Mountain, beautifully maintained, with a canopy walkway through the forest. Allow 2–3 hours. Café on site.

After Kirstenbosch, drive to Camps Bay for the afternoon. The promenade runs along a white sand beach; the restaurants (Chinchilla, Café Caprice, The Codfather for fish) are on the road above. The water is cold (Atlantic, Benguela current, 13–17°C) but the beach scene is beautiful and you’re looking at the Twelve Apostles mountain range.

Evening: Sunset from Signal Hill if the timing works (spectacular, free), then dinner back in the City Bowl or Sea Point (La Bohème on Main Road, Sea Point, is excellent value).

Day 7: Markets, Neighbourhoods, and Departure

Depending on your flight time:

Saturday: The Oranjezicht City Farm Market at Granger Bay (V&A area) is one of the best food markets in the country — open Saturdays from 09:00–14:00. Local produce, coffee, artisan food, and excellent people-watching.

Sunday: The Old Biscuit Mill Neighbourgoods Market in Woodstock (09:00–14:00 Saturday actually) is the classic Cape Town market — seasonal food, craft, and a great atmosphere. It’s in an old factory; park on Albert Road.

Wander. Lion’s Head walk if you have the energy (2-hour circular, moderately demanding, sunset views over the city). Or head back to Camps Bay for a last beach afternoon.

Budget Summary

Per person (mid-range, not including international flights):

Category	Estimated Cost
Accommodation (6 nights mid-range guesthouse)	R12,000–18,000
Food and drink (7 days)	R5,000–8,000
Table Mountain cableway	R430
Cape Peninsula (hire car/tour + fuel + park entry + Boulders)	R1,200–1,600
Robben Island	R650
Winelands (tour or hire car + tastings)	R1,500–2,500
Kirstenbosch	R220
Zeitz MOCAA	R200
Ubers within Cape Town (7 days)	R2,000–3,500
Total approximate	R23,200–35,000 (per person)

At R23–24 to £1 GBP, this is approximately £966–1,458 per person for the full week on the ground excluding flights.