Last Updated on December 30, 2025 by Hannah Stephenson
Cape Town has a TON of adventure activities on offer, and I’m here to help you make the most of them with this 3-day itinerary! So if you’re all about adrenaline and outdoor escapades, you’ll definitely want to keep on reading.
I’ve lived in Cape Town since 2021 so you’d better believe that I’ve had a ton of amazing adventures during that time! But if you’ve only got a couple of days here, never fear because it’s possible to pack the most exciting experiences into a short amount of time.
This itinerary also has all of the need-to-know details about timings, reservations, and how to get around. All you need to do is follow along and enjoy yourself – so let’s get into it!
How to Get Around Cape Town
In order to get the most out of this itinerary, I highly recommend renting a car. Cape Town is very much a driving city and public transport is quite limited. Uber is reliable but some of the adventurous activities we’ll be enjoying are located a little further out, so renting a car is both cheaper and easier. Plus, nothing beats the freedom of having your own wheels!
I use Discover Cars whenever I need a rental vehicle in Cape Town! They make it so easy to compare different rental options to find the best details. You can check reviews and filter your search according to what you’re looking for, whether that’s extra seats, unlimited mileage, or an automatic transmission.
For more on driving in Cape Town, be sure to check out this guide!
Cape Town Adventure Itinerary Overview
Day 1: Start your trip off with a bang by going paragliding, then enjoy a relaxed lunch and a boat ride. End the day with a breathtaking sunset hike up the iconic Lion’s Head mountain.
Day 2: Enjoy a ziplining adventure over the Constantia Valley, then visit the famous penguins at Boulders Beach and see the Cape of Good Hope before a stunning sunset dinner.
Day 3: Tackle the most exciting (and scenic) route up Table Mountain on a guided hike, then enjoy a heart-racing abseiling adventure! Then, enjoy some down time at the beach before a final dinner and drinks at one of the city’s prettiest spots.
Day 1
Morning – Paragliding
Paragliding is probably Cape Town’s most iconic adventure activity, so it’s the only way to kick off your trip! On any given day, you can see dozens of paragliders flying over Sea Point and landing on the prom. In fact, when I lived in Sea Point I would always hear them whooping and hollering as they went over my garden.
I also recommend booking your paragliding flight for your first day because it is quite a weather dependent activity. If the wind is too strong, you may need to reschedule, so it’s best to have a few days left in town as a buffer so that you don’t miss out!
I recommend booking your paragliding flight for 10 am. Then, the day before you go the company will contact you with an exact time between 10 and 11 am. For example, I booked for 10 am and then launched at 10:45 am.
Paragliding is a short and sweet experience but boy oh boy, you just can’t beat it! I’m pretty sure I was smiling the entire time. The crew made me feel really safe and the feeling of flying is quite surreal. You can read my full review of the experience here, but this is a must-do Cape Town experience for sure – especially if you love adventure.
The launch point is usually Signal Hill, and there’s free parking here. After you’ve landed, the flight includes a free shuttle back to your car, so no worries on that front.
Read 400+ 5-star reviews and book this top-rated paragliding experience here!
Lunch – V&A Waterfront
After your paragliding adventure, it’s time for lunch! Now, it will be a little on the early side today. You’ll probably get here at 12 pm at the very latest but that actually works well, as our next activity is at 1:30 pm.
Head over to the vibrant V&A Waterfront area to enjoy a yummy meal at one of its many excellent restaurants and just soak in the upbeat vacation vibes. This is also where our boat ride leaves from this afternoon!
As for where to eat, I always recommend The Life Grand Cafe. It sits right on the harbour, is well-priced, and they’ve got a bit of everything on the menu. Personally, I always go for the sushi or the seafood pasta, but you really can’t go wrong here and I’ve never needed a reservation, either.
Den Anker is another popular choice. It’s a Belgian spot so it’s a great choice for beer lovers, and it offers excellent views of the harbour and Table Mountain.
Tiger’s Milk is a local chain that does “dude food” (their words, not mine) and has lovely views if you can snag a table out on the terrace. Or if you like a bit of spice, Mozambik is a great choice.
Afternoon – Boat Ride
Cape Town is a coastal city, so it would be a real shame not to get out on the water while you’re here! That’s why I recommend booking this 1-hour boat cruise this afternoon. It’s an exciting way to admire the city’s skyline from a different perspective, and you might even spot some wildlife along the way. I saw seals, dolphins, a penguin, and a sunfish when I went on this boat ride!
Book this cruise for 1:30 pm. As I said, lunch was pretty early today so you should have plenty of time to eat before boarding.
And once you’re on board, all you need to do is sit back and relax as you leave the Waterfront behind and enjoy the city’s beauty from a whole new angle. Keep your eyes peeled for marine life, and you can always grab a beer or a glass of wine from the on board bar. I actually thought the prices were super reasonable when I did this cruise!
You’ll get back to the harbour at around 2:30 pm. You can either take a little time to explore the Waterfront, or head back to your hotel for a rest before this evening’s hiking adventure. Either way, I definitely recommend grabbing a few snacks as dinner will be a little late tonight.
You can book this catamaran cruise here, with free cancellation!
Evening – Lion’s Head Sunset Hike
Lion’s Head is one of Cape Town’s prettiest hikes, but doing it at sunset takes it to a whole new level! But going at sunset is a lot safer with a guide, because you’ll be coming back down in the dark, which is why I strongly recommend booking this tour.
Not only will you be with a professional guide who knows the mountain like the back of their hand, the tour also includes torches and headlamps, so you don’t need to worry about bringing your own. There’s also safety in numbers when hiking on the mountain after dark!
During the summer months, the tour begins at 5 pm to ensure that you can get to the summit in plenty of time. If you’re renting a car, choose the option without transport included. There’s free parking at the summit, which makes life super easy.
The route up to Lion’s Head winds around the mountain roughly 2.5 times, so you’ll see the whole city as you climb. The latter half involves some climbing over boulders, which is why I think it’s best to be with a guide when you’re climbing down in the dark.
But trust me, it will be so worth it because watching the sunset up here is a truly breathtaking experience. And you don’t just have to take my word for it – you can read over 1,300 5-star reviews here!
Book this epic hiking tour here and experience Lion’s Head to the fullest!
Dinner – Rick’s Americain
You should finish your sunset hike at around 8:30 pm, so head to Rick’s Americain straight from there. It’s on Kloof Street and they’re usually open until 2 am and I’ve been here after several sunset hikes. It’s a Casablanca-themed restaurant and bar with super friendly service and really yummy food. And if you want to treat yourself to one of their cocktails after that hike, hey, I won’t judge you!
I really love their Middle Eastern salad and the Moroccan spiced fish is a winner in my eyes. They’ve also got classics like burgers and jalapeno poppers, so you can’t go wrong here.
Day 2
Below is the route we’ll be following today!
Morning – Ziplining in the Table Mountain Reserve
This zipline tour is actually Cape Town’s top-rated adventure experience, and there’s definitely a good reason for that! It offers a big adrenaline rush AND amazing views of Table Mountain so really, what’s not to love?
I recommend booking this tour for 9:30 am, although it starts out in Constantia. I’d recommend allowing at least 30 minutes for the drive out at this time of the morning, as you may hit a little rush hour traffic. You could always choose the 11:30 am time slot but it might make the afternoon feel a little rushed.
Anyway, once you get to the Silvermist wine estate you’ll jump into a 4×4 vehicle for a short but scenic drive to the foot out the mountain. Then, your zipline adventure begins!
What I like about this tour is that some of the ziplines are fast and exciting while others are a bit slower so that you can take in the scenery properly. The lines have a combined length of 2.3 kilometers (1.4 miles) long, and the highest one hangs about 155 meters (508 feet) above the canyon floor. Not bad!
The experience lasts for around 2 hours in total, so you’ll definitely get your fill of speed, views, and adrenaline during that time. And between zooming along the ziplines, you’ll also be able to see lots of fynbos and flowers from the viewing platforms. No wonder this tour has over 4,000 glowing reviews!
Book this exciting zipline tour here, before it sells out!
Midday – Boulders Beach
The zipline tour should wrap up at around 9:30 am, and now it’s time to drive out to Boulders Beach! I’ve got a full guide to visiting here but basically, it’s a gorgeous beach where you can view African penguins from the boardwalks. It’s one of Cape Town’s most famous attractions and a real must-see.
It should take about 40 minutes to drive from Silvermist to Boulders Beach, and there’s free parking here. The admission fee is R215 for international visitors, and you’ll probably want to spend 30 – 45 minutes wandering along the boardwalk and admiring these adorable birds. I love watching them waddle out of the waves as one big penguin squad!
You can also grab lunch at Boulders Beach. I recommend the Seaforth Restaurant, because I had really yummy fish and chips here. They serve big portions at reasonable prices and you get pretty ocean views, so I’m definitely a fan.
Afternoon – Cape Point and Cape of Good Hope
After lunch at Boulders Beach, it’s time to continue south to one of Cape Town’s most famous (and dramatic) areas: Cape Point and the Cape of Good Hope. From Boulders Beach, it’s about a 20 to 25 minute drive to the main entrance of Table Mountain National Park.
There’s a conservation fee of R515 for international visitors and you have to pay with a card as they no longer accept cash here. Once you’re inside the conservation area, your first stop should be Cape Point.
You can park up here and then head to the top of the old lighthouse to get the full view of the area! You can hike up if you’re feeling energetic, or take the Flying Dutchman funicular if you’d rather save your legs. The views from the top are pretty incredible – the weather was pretty bad when I went, and I was still impressed. I can only imagine how amazing it would all look on a clear day!
After that, make your way to the Cape of Good Hope. Despite what many people think, this isn’t the southernmost point of Africa, but it’s still super scenic and very historic, so it’s well worth a visit. Of course, you’ll want to snap the obligatory photo at the sign but there are also a couple of short walking trails to check out. You might also see a few baboons around and if so, keep a safe distance and definitely don’t feed them!
I suggest allowing around 2 hours to explore both Cape Point and the Cape of Good Hope. Then, head back to Cape Town via the insanely scenic Chapman’s Peak Drive. Trust me, you are in for a treat with this one!
Late Afternoon – Chapman’s Peak Scenic Drive
Chapman’s Peak Scenic Drive is truly epic, so you can’t miss it while you’re in Cape Town. If you plug our dinner spot (The Lawns in Camps Bay) into your GPS, it should take you back to the city via this route anyway, but I’ve included a map below just in case.
From this side, the entrance to Chapman’s Peak starts in Noordhoek. There’s a toll fee of R66 per vehicle, which you can pay using either cash or a card. Oh, and I do recommend checking the status of the road before you go as it does sometimes close during bad weather.
Once you’re on the road, you’ll see why it’s so celebrated. You’ve got the ocean on one side and red rocky cliffs on the other. It’s absolutely stunning – like something out of a road trip movie. And as you get closer to Hout Bay, you’ll also have gorgeous views of the lush green mountains on the other side of the water.
The official Chapman’s Peak Scenic Drive is only 9 km (5.6 miles) long but there are over 114 bends in this narrow stretch of road, so you’ll definitely want to take it slow. There are plenty of spots where you can pull over for pictures and just enjoy the views, so take your time and don’t rush.
And the views don’t actually end there because after Chapman’s Peak Scenic Drive, you’ll continue on Victoria Road towards Camps Bay, which is another of my favourite Cape Town drives!
Dinner – The Lawns
For dinner tonight, we’re heading to one of Cape Town’s most beautiful sunset spots: the Lawns! This is a totally al fresco restaurant spread across three grassy terraces, and the upper levels boast views of the oceans and the Twelve Apostles. Bliss!
I do like the food here but the views and the atmosphere is truly what makes it. It’s the perfect place to be on a warm evening, although you might want to bring a light layer as it can get chilly pretty quickly after sunset sometimes.
I definitely recommend making a booking for the Lawns, which you can do here. I suggest booking for 6 pm so that you have plenty of time to get here without feeling rushed – and if you arrive a little early, they’re usually pretty accommodating.
You will be asked for your seating preference when booking. I recommend booking Lawn 1 if it’s available, as that’s the top lawn with the best views. If not, you’ll also be able to watch the sunset over the ocean from Lawn 2. And if you’re visiting during December or January, I suggest booking a week or more in advance if possible.
Then, I suggest heading back to your hotel for a fairly early night tonight. We have an early hike tomorrow, so tonight is probably not the night to go out partying!
Day 3
Morning – India Venster Hike
Of course you have to go up Table Mountain while you’re in Cape Town, and the India Venster trail is hands down the most exciting route up to the top! It begins and ends near the cable car, so you only need to hike one way, and you get to enjoy some truly amazing views along the way. Oh, and you get serious bragging rights if you’ve completed this hike!
Now, the India Venster route does involve some scrambling, which is why I booked this guided tour when I did it. It proved to be an amazing decision. I definitely would have gotten stuck for hours without Patrick, but with him to show me where to put my hands and feet, I discovered that scrambling is actually a TON of fun.
Plus, Patrick taught us a lot about the history of the mountain and even the antics of local hiking groups! I wasn’t expecting to learn so much along the way, so this was a really nice surprise for me. You can read my full review of the experience here.
The route goes past the India Window, which is a super scenic spot, and you get great views of Lion’s Head and the city bowl as you climb. Then, closer to the top the route wraps around to the side so you get to admire Camps Bay and the Twelve Apostles. I didn’t want the hike to end!
This tour starts at 7:30 am. The hike took us about 3.5 hours, so you’ll be up at the summit by 11 am, with time to use the loo and grab a quick coffee before our abseiling adventure begins.
Book your small group India Venster hike here, with free cancellation!
Late Morning – Abseiling at the Top of Table Mountain
This morning has already been pretty adventurous so far, but now we’re cranking up the adrenaline even further with this abseiling adventure at the top of Table Mountain! I recommend booking this activity for 11:30 am so that you have plenty of time to enjoy the hike before meeting your instructor near the upper cableway – which, fortuitously, is right where the India Venster hike ends.
This is also an incredible, slightly lesser-known thing to do up Table Mountain. This natural landmark gets hundreds (if not thousands) of visitors every single day but very few can say they’ve rappelled down the side of it! How cool is that?
Of course, all of your safety gear is included and the guides are absolute pros. They’ll walk you through the entire experience so complete beginners are welcome! And there’s really no bigger adrenaline rush than dangling off of a mountain over 1,000 meters above sea level. This one is not for the faint of heart!
Book this heart-pounding abseiling tour here, with free cancellation!
Lunch – Kloof Street House
Your abseiling adventure should wrap up at around 12:30 pm, so when you’re ready, you can ride the cable car down the mountain ready for lunch! Well, actually, you might want to head back to your hotel to freshen up after hiking, but Kloof Street House runs their lunch special between 12 – 4 pm so there’s really no rush. And we’re going to the beach after this, so it’s a good opportunity to pick up your swimmers and towel!
When you are ready to dine, you’re in for a treat. Kloof Street House is set in a Victorian mansion and it feels sophisticated in a charming, old-world kind of way. Plus, it’s just a short drive from Table Mountain!
The food here is amazing, and at lunch time you can get two courses for R250 or three for R295. The menu is seasonal but if they have it, I cannot recommend the ostrich fillet open sandwich enough. It’s so yummy, and ostrich is a super popular meat in South Africa that I definitely recommend trying while you’re here.
The only thing to note is that the lunch special doesn’t run on Sundays, and the restaurant does tend to get booked up then. So if your final day in Cape Town falls on a Sunday, you could always head to a nearby spot like ëlgr or Blondie instead.
Afternoon – Beach Time
It has been a busy few days to say the least, so after a very adventurous morning I think it’s time to decompress down at one of the Clifton Beaches! These are four white-sand beaches that sit between Sea Point and Camps Bay, and there’s no better place to relax and unwind.
Clifton 4th beach is the best for swimming, and has the fewest steps down to the sand. This beach also has its own parking lot, although there’s more parking opposite Clifton 3rd. Failing that, I can usually get a spot up along Lower Kloof Road and then walk down the steps from there.
Whichever beach you end up on, I recommend staying until around 5 pm and then heading back to your hotel to get ready for dinner.
Dinner – Cousins Trattoria
Your final night in Cape Town deserves a nice dinner, so make a reservation at Cousins Trattoria tonight. I definitely recommend doing this a few days in advance! Go for 7 pm so that you’re not too rushed but still have time for drinks at The Nines.
This restaurant is fairly small and from the outside, it doesn’t look like much. It’s down a fairly shabby-looking side street in the CBD, but it’s actually one of Cape Town’s best restaurants! They do hearty, authentic Italian food and they even went viral for their cheese wheel pasta. Of course, I had to order this the first time that I went and I can confirm that it lives up to the hype!
They have a nice wine list here too, and the beignets make a great dessert. Well, you did do a big hike this morning!
Where to Stay in Cape Town
Now that you have the perfect adventurous itinerary sorted, you just need a great place to stay! To make following this itinerary as easy as possible, I recommend staying in either Green Point or Gardens, as these are super central areas that are close to everything. I’ve got my top hotel picks in these areas below!
The Mount Nelson – $$$
The Mount Nelson is the grand dame of Cape Town. This iconic pink property is located just off of Kloof Street so it’s in an amazing location, and it delivers a very elegant stay. It’s super historic, and the service is truly world class. This is where all the celebs stay – seriously, even Queen Elizabeth II has been a guest here!
Rates start from R22,000 per night. Read the amazing reviews and book your stay here!
Kensington Palace – $$
Palace is right! Kensington Palace is a refined boutique hotel tucked beneath Table Mountain. Even though you’re in the city, you’ll be surrounded by greenery, whether you’re enjoying the view from your balcony or chilling by the pool. There’s also a cosy lobby area with a fireplace, which is lovely on cooler evenings, and the service is impeccable. No wonder it’s got a 9.5 rating on Booking.com!
Rooms start at R5,000 per night. See all options and book your stay here!
Dysart Boutique Hotel – $
Dysart is a stunning solar-powered hotel in an unbeatable location. It’s in the heart of Green Point, putting you within walking distance of vibey Sea Point, the famous V&A Waterfront, and the pastel-coloured enclave of De Waterkant.
But a great location isn’t all that Dysart has going for it. It also boasts two pools, stylish decor, and a yummy breakfast spread each morning. You’ll never want to check out!
Rooms start from R2,400 per night. Find out more and snag your stay here!
Thanks so much for reading this blog post! I hope you have an amazing adventure in Cape Town. For more resources on exploring the city (and beyond!) be sure to check out the following: