Last Updated on April 9, 2025 by Hannah Stephenson
If you’re looking to get the absolute MOST out of your 3 days in Cape Town, then you’ve come to the right place.
After living here for 3 years, I’ve devised an itinerary that will enable you to see and do as much as possible in just a few days, and get an idea of what the Mother City is all about.
Basically, this is what I would do if I only had 3 days to enjoy this glorious city. I’ve designed this itinerary to ensure that you see the very best attractions and use your time in the most efficient way possible
Let’s get into it!
Is 3 Days Enough Time in Cape Town?
Honestly, no.
Partly because no amount of time in Cape Town is EVER enough for me, and partly because there really is just so much to do here.
However, three days is enough time to enjoy several of the city’s best attractions and get a feel for what Cape Town is all about. I’ve also given two options for what to do on day 3, so you can tailor this itinerary to suit you.
And I guarantee, you will fall so deeply in love with this place that you will DEFINITELY want to come back.
Do I Need to Hire a Car?
No. If you’re only in Cape Town for 3 days, I don’t think that it’s worth hiring a car.
Ubering around the city is super cheap, and so hiring a car will work out a lot more expensive, especially once you factor in petrol and insurance.
Renting a car is only really worth it if you’re here for a few weeks and plan on taking lots of day trips out of the city!
For the sake of this 3-day itinerary, I suggest using Uber to get around the city itself. Then, on day 3 (aka our “day trip day”), you can book a very reasonably priced tour, which will include all of your transport.
Day 1
Breakfast – The Charles
The Charles is a cute little cafe in De Waterkant. Grabbing breakfast here not only means that you get to enjoy the amazing French toast (my favourite), it also means you can sit outside and enjoy the area’s pretty cobbled streets and pastel-coloured houses.
Morning – Table Mountain
Of course, I just had to kick off this 3-day itinerary with a trip up Table Mountain! It’s Cape Town’s most iconic attraction, after all.
You can either hike up Table Mountain, or take the cable car. If you’re short on time, I would personally take the cable car! Return tickets cost R490 if you go up in the morning, or R430 if you book them online.
With that said, hiking up can also be a lot of fun! The Platteklip Gorge route is the most convenient, as it ends right near the Upper Cableway station, so you can always ride back down. A one-way ticket costs R280.
There are also some awesome guided hikes up Table Mountain if you prefer to go with a guide. I think that this is a great idea if you’re not an experienced hiker.
At the top, you can grab a coffee or a beer, wander around and soak in the views, and even hike to Maclear’s Beacon, which is the mountain’s highest point. It’s about a 45-minute walk from the Upper Cableway.
For a full guide to visiting Table Mountain, check out this post!
Lunch – Kloof Street House
Kloof Street House is one of Cape Town’s best loved restaurants. It’s set in a Victorian mansion and oozes old-school glamour. The food here is fantastic, so you can’t miss it while you’re in town!
Oh, and it only takes 10-15 minutes to Uber here from the cable car station.
Better still, Kloof Street House offers a fantastic lunch special. It runs all year round although the menu changes slightly with the season.
Currently, it costs R250 for two courses or R295 for three. When I went, I had the ostrich fillet sandwich and it was absolutely delicious.
They also offer wine pairings for R90 per glass. Well, when in Cape Town…
Bookings aren’t essential at lunchtime but I always make a reservation just in case!
Afternoon – Clifton Beach
Getting in some beach time is a must while you’re in Cape Town, and the Clifton Beaches are my favourite!
They’re a series of 4 gorgeous, white-sand beaches, where locals and tourists alike flock to on a sunny day. There’s no admission fee, although there are sunbeds and umbrellas available to rent if you fancy.
The first three beaches have a lot of steps to get down to the sand, so be prepared for a bit of a trek. Clifton 4th has far fewer steps, and it’s the most popular of the four beaches.
This does mean that it’s always the busiest, but it’s also by far the best for swimming. It’s waters are more sheltered, and thus way less choppy.
Evening – Hike Kloof Corner at Sunset
My personal favourite hike in Cape Town is the one up to Kloof Corner. It’s a stunning viewpoint and sunsets here really are next-level.
You can see the City Bowl, Lion’s Head, the beaches, and the 12 Apostles, so you really get a sense of just how varied and beautiful Cape Town’s landscape is.
It’s also super easy to get up here! The trailhead is well-signposted and it’s just a 20-minute walk up some steps. They do get a little steep towards the end, but I promise, the views are well worth it.
I recommend heading up about an hour before sunset, and maybe bringing some snacks to enjoy. It’s safe to walk back down in the dark, but do make sure you bring a torch.
For a full guide to hiking Kloof Corner, check out this post!
Dinner – Club Kloof
Club Kloof is my new favourite restaurant in Cape Town! It’s so cute and quirky.
This self-proclaimed Italian-ish restaurant does yummy small plates, so it doesn’t matter if you don’t have a huge appetite tonight after a big lunch at Kloof Street House earlier. You can order as few or as many as you’d like.
I came here recently for a friend’s birthday and we had such an amazing meal. The woodfired beat salad was my favourite. Oh, and I LOVED the Ferno cockail.
Day 2
Breakfast – The Blue Cafe
The Blue Cafe is a lovely local cafe in Tamboerskloof, and just a short drive from the trailhead for this morning’s epic hike.
It opens at 7 am on weekdays and 8 am on weekends, so it’s a great place to grab an early breakfast.
This place has been serving the neighbourhood since 1903, so they really know what they’re doing! I love the coffee here and the fresh pastries, but they also offer big breakfasts and yummy stacks of pancakes (or flapjacks as they call them here!)
Morning – Lion’s Head Hike
Table Mountain may be Cape Town’s most iconic peak, but Lion’s Head isn’t far behind! Hiking this famous mountain is a must while you’re in the city.
What I love about this hike is that you get fantastic views the entire time, as the trail wraps around the mountain twice.
I’d call this a moderate hike. As long as you’re mobile and in good health, you should be able to do it no problem. However, it’s still a decent workout!
I’ve got a complete guide to hiking Lion’s Head here, but here are the basics of what you need to know:
- The trail is 5.3 kilometres (3.3 miles)
- It takes about 3 hours to hike up and down
- The trailhead is along Signal Hill Road and it’s free to park here
Any decent pair of walking shoes will be fine for this hike. I do recommend bringing plenty of water with you, though, and setting out fairly early if you’re going during the summer.
Sunrise hike
For something really spectacular, you can even do the Lion’s Head hike at sunrise!
Honestly, this would be such an epic way to start the day in Cape Town.
However, if you want to do this, I strongly recommend booking a guided tour.
Hiking in the dark can be dangerous if you’re not an experienced hiker! However, this tour provides flashlights and headlamps, and you’ll be with a professional local guide who can help you navigate the route and ensure your safety.
Plus, this tour includes hotel pickup and drop-off, so you don’t need to worry about transport to the trailhead. And it already has many happy customers, with over 800 5-star reviews!
You can book your Lion’s Head sunrise hike here, with free cancellation!
OR – Walk Lion’s Head Contour Loop
If you don’t feel up to hiking to the summit, the Lion’s Head Contour Loop is a fantastic alternative. It’s a mostly flat loop around the perimeter of the mountain. It takes about an hour and is really more of a walk than a hike
The trailhead is the same as it is for the regular Lion’s Head hike. However, if you’re hiking to the summit, you go left when facing the mountain. If you want to do the Contour Loop, go right instead.
Lunch – Clarke’s Dining Room
You’ll work up an appetite by hiking up Lion’s Head, so treat yourself to a hearty lunch at Clarke’s Dining Room. This offbeat, minimalist restaurant serves the most incredible, fresh food!
The burgers here are delicious but my go-to is their smoky tomato soup, with comes with a very indulgent cheese toastie. They also have delicious sandwiches and a yummy chickpea salad.
Plus, it’s just a 5-minute walk from the meeting point from this afternoon’s free tour!
Afternoon – Free Walking Tour of Bo Kaap
Bo Kaap is one of Cape Town’s most vibrant and historic areas. In fact, I’m sure you’ve probably seen photos of the neighbourhood’s brightly painted houses on Google or Instagram!
Basically, Bo Kaap was originally built by a Dutch colonist, who leased the houses out to freed slaves. As a result, it has always been a very working-class neighbourhood, and it’s a predominantly Muslim area. That’s actually how it escaped demolition during Apartheid.
No-one really knows why Bo Kaap ended up with so many colourful houses, but there are lots of different origin stories out there.
You can go and check this area out on your own, but I highly recommend taking a free walking tour so that you get a deep-dive into the history.
Free tours leave from Motherland Coffee in the CBD at 2 pm and 4:20 pm. I suggest going at 2 pm so that you have a bit of time to relax before tonight’s sunset cruise!
You don’t even need to sign up in advance – just go into the cafe and look for the guides, who will be sporting luminous green t-shirts.
Of course, free tours are actually tip-based, so do bring some cash to give your guide at the end. I recommend R100!
I did a free walking tour with a friend who came to visit. Even though I had visited Bo Kaap before, I ended up learning a ton about the area and I discovered some yummy new places to eat!
You can check out my guide to visiting Bo Kaap here!
Evening – Champagne Sunset Cruise at the Waterfront
If you’ve only got 3 days in Cape Town, you’ll want to squeeze the most out of every moment. So this evening, sightsee in style with a champagne sunset cruise from the Waterfront!
You can read my full review of the cruise here, but basically, it’s a 90-minute boat cruise that takes you from the Waterfront and up along the Atlantic coast. I loved the views of Cape Town’s dramatic skyline at sunset from out on the water.
We also got a bottle of bubbles to share between two people included in the price. There was music playing on board and it was just a really fun experience – not to mention a fantastic photo opportunity!
The cruise costs R650 and leaves from the harbour. I went in summer and we set sail at 7 pm, but obviously times do change throughout the year to ensure you don’t miss the sunset.
Grab your spot on the sunset champagne cruise here!
Dinner at the Waterfront
After the cruise, you’ll need something to soak up the bubbles. Fortunately, the Waterfront is home to a ton of great restaurants!
If you can’t decide what you want to eat, I recommend heading to the Time Out Market. They have a ton of local favourites there, from Stellenbosch’s famous De Vrije Burger, Ramenhead, and the Yard pizzas.
And if you’re a seafood lover, make a beeline for The Melting Pot stall. I’ve been to the original one in Grabouw, which is about an hour outside of Cape Town, and it was amazing.
Alternatively, the Life Grand Cafe is my go-to dining spot at the Waterfront. It’s perched right on the harbour’s edge and has delicious food, fantastic daiquiris, and really affordable wine. I always bring friends who come to visit!
Day 3 – Day Trip!
Now, for day 3, I’m giving you a choice of two iconic day trips from Cape Town.
Wine tasting is a must while you’re in Cape Town, and the Franschhoek wine tram is iconic. It’s also a ton of fun and truly one of my favourite experiences I’ve ever had in Cape Town!
However, Boulders Beach and the Cape of Good Hope are also considered must-sees.
I have done both of these day trips and they really are both excellent. Personally, I would choose the wine tram because, as I said, it’s my favourite!
If you’re struggling to decide, I’ve got full reviews of both experiences to help you out:
Quick breakfast
Both of today’s tour options leave pretty early, so I suggest having breakfast at your hotel or grabbing some pastries or cereal in advance.
If you’re going on the wine tour you’ll DEFINITELY want to have something in your stomach before the fun begins.
Option 1 – Franschhoek Wine Tram
As I say, the Franschhoek wine tram is hands down my favourite day trip from Cape Town. Sorry not sorry if I’m repeating myself, because it really is that good!
It’s basically a series of trams and tram-buses in the Franschhoek Valley that enable you to hop between wine farms all day long.
Plus, when you book the wine tram on Viator you get return transport from Cape Town, so you don’t need to worry about getting yourself to and from Franschhoek.
The tour also includes tickets for the Navy route, which is my personal favourite!
There are eight wineries on the route and you get to choose which ones you visit. It’s possible to hit up to five, but I prefer to aim for four so I can enjoy a leisurely lunch at one of the wineries.
The last time I did the wine tram, I went to:
- Plaisir
- Vrede en Lust
- Bartinney
- Le Pommier
I enjoyed them all, but I especially recommend Plaisir and Bartinney. They had the best wine, and the balcony at Bartinney had the most stunning views!
The wine tram tour costs R750, and then you’ll need to pay for tastings and food on the day. I think I spent about R1,400 in total.
The wine tram truly does make for an epic day out. And as far as I know, this is the only wine tram in the world, so don’t miss your chance to ride!
Grab your spot on the Franschhoek wine tram here, with free cancellation!
Option 2 – Boulders Beach, Cape Point, and Cape of Good Hope
Boulders Beach, Cape Point, and Cape of Good Hope are on many travellers’ Cape Town bucket lists, so if you’re in that number, don’t miss this Cape Peninsula tour!
I did this tour when my friend, Liam, came to visit, as I didn’t have a car at the time. We ended up having a fantastic day, even though we didn’t get the best weather.
It has over 2,500 5-star reviews, so we’re clearly not the only ones who had a good time!
Boulders Beach offers the chance to see cute little African penguins on a pristine beach – need I say more?
Meanwhile, Cape Point and Cape of Good Hope are rocky headlands, and they’re renowned for their beautiful scenery.
On the tour, we went up to the Cape Point lighthouse to enjoy views of the area, and we had the option to hike from there to Cape of Good Hope.
It was pouring with rain when we went, so we opted for the warmth of the tour bus, but I would love to do this hike on a sunny day!
The tour costs R595, but it doesn’t include any entry fees. They are as follows:
- R215 for Boulders Beach
- R455 for the Cape Point Nature Reserve
This tour is a fantastic way to get an overview of the Cape Peninsula and we really loved our guide, Michael. I would definitely recommend this tour if you’re more into nature than wine!
You can grab your spot on the Cape Point tour here, with free cancellation!
Dinner – Cousins Trattoria
Toast your last night in Cape Town with a special meal at the Cousins Trattoria.
This is an authentic Italian restaurant nestled down a slightly sketchy looking street but it blew up on social media thanks to its epic cheese wheel pasta.
Of course, I had to come and try it for myself and I can confirm it’s worth the hype. And if you fancy dessert, their beignets are absolutely delicious.
This place feels like a hidden gem but it’s actually very popular, so you’ll need to book a table in advance!
I suggest booking for 7 pm, or 8 pm if you’d like some time to freshen up after your tour.
Drinks – The Nines
The Nines is a stunning bar-slash-restaurant in Sea Point. If you’ve still got some energy left, I suggest coming here for a drink to celebrate the end of an epic trip.
It’s popular, so I suggest booking in advance!
I won’t lie, the food here is a bit overpriced, hence why I chose a different spot for dinner but it’s such a beautiful bar! Plus, it’s in the heart of Sea Point, a super cool area that we haven’t had much time to explore so far.
So after you’ve enjoyed a glass of wine (or two) at The Nines, you’re also in a prime spot to head out and explore some of the area’s awesome bars if you feel like it. I like Only Fools and Una Más!
Where to Stay in Cape Town
Okay, now that you’ve got the perfect 3 days in Cape Town planned, you just need to figure out where to stay!
I don’t know about you, but I often find it difficult to try and work out where the best place to stay is when I’m visiting a new city. So, I’ve made it easy for you!
For the sake of this itinerary, I suggest staying in the Tamboerskloof/Gardens area. This part of the city is super central, close to all of the top attractions, and just a 10-15 minute drive from the beaches.
I’ve selected three top hotels in Tamboerskloof and Gardens which should work for a range of budgets. Oh, and there’s a bonus option for solo travellers, too!
Luxury – The Mount Nelson Hotel
The Mount Nelson Hotel is truly the grand dame of Cape Town’s hotels. This historic pink property has sat beneath Table Mountain since 1899, and it has played host to innumerable celebrities, including Winston Churchill and Jon Bon Jovi – how’s that for range?
This hotel is just off of Kloof Street in Gardens, so it’s super central. Having said that, given that it boasts two pools, a tennis court, and an iconic afternoon tea experience, you may never want to leave.
Rooms at The Mount Nelson typically start between R20,000 and R24,000 per night. Check all prices and room categories here!
Mid-range – Derwent House
If you want luxury for less, then Derwent House is the perfect pick! This beautiful boutique hotel is just steps away from Kloof Street, so it really couldn’t be better in terms of location. It also boasts a pool and an outdoor jacuzzi, and it’s solar-powered so you’ll never have to worry about load shedding.
Prices at Derwent House range between R3,400 and R4,700 per night, with breakfast included. Check out all the details and book your stay here!
Budget – Number5 Guesthosue
If you’re looking for a budget stay, then the Number5 Guest House is situated just off of Kloof Street. It offers modern, en-suite rooms that include breakfast – what’s not to love about that? It’s a comfortable and affordable base for exploring the Mother City.
Rooms here start at R1,800 per night. Check availability and book your stay here!
BONUS for solo travelers – Radium Hall Guest House
My oh my! Radium Hall Guest House offers insane value for money. Situated in a modern house in Tamboerskloof, its private, en-suite rooms offer epic views of Table Mountain. With lovely owners and lots of glowing reviews, I really don’t think you can go wrong with staying here!
Solo travelers pay less per night here, so this is an amazing place to stay if you’re traveling by yourself. I often travel solo but that means paying the dreaded “single tax” if you have no-one to share with, so this guest house offers the ideal solution to that problem.
Prices at Radium Hall Guest House start at R1,300 per night for solo travelers. Book your stay here!
Thanks so much for reading this blog post!
I hope it delivers you with a perfect 3 days in Cape Town! I have TONS of resources about what to get up to in the city, so why not check out some more of my posts?