Last Updated on September 10, 2024 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.
There’s a lot to do in the city itself, but there are also so many incredible day trips to enjoy in the surrounding areas. So if you’re only here for 3 days, you will have to miss out on some of the iconic activities on offer.
For this reason, I’ve actually given two options for what to get up to on day 3 – but more on that to come.
But with all of that being said, 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.
And I guarantee, you will fall so deeply in love with this place that you will DEFINITELY want to come back.
I mean, that’s my story. I planned to stay for 3 months, but within a week of arriving I decided to stay long-term.
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.
And if you’re visiting Cape Town during the summer, driving in the city can actually be quite stressful. People drive quite aggressively here, so taking an Uber and letting someone else deal with all that is much more relaxing!
Day 1
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 is a great idea if you’re not an experienced hiker.
Whichever way you get up, the views once you reach the top of Table Mountain are absolutely incredible on a clear day. You can see for miles in every direction up here, and if you fancy, you can walk 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!
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!
Day 2
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, and there’s some scrambling involved as you get closer to the summit.
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.
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.
Hiking at sunrise
Now, for something really spectacular, you can 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.
There have also recently been some incidents of muggings on Lion’s Head at sunrise and sunset. I don’t say this to scare you, and in fact many of the worst perpetrators have been caught and arrested now.
But, with that said, I do think that there’s safety in numbers. You’ll be less of a target if you go with a local guide.
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 400 5-star reviews!
You can book your Lion’s Head sunrise hike here, with free cancellation!
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. 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 – it’s 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 say, it’s my favourite!
But if you’re not a wine lover, or are only in Cape Town for a few days because you’re actually going to be staying in the winelands, then choose the penguins and the Cape of Good Hope.
And if you’re struggling to decide, I’ve got full reviews of both experiences to help you out:
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.
Best of all the wine tram explorer tour includes 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 8 wineries on the route and you get to choose which ones you visit. It’s possible to hit up to 5, but I recommend aiming for four instead, so you can enjoy a leisurely lunch at one of the estates rather than rushing around.
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 staff will always let you know when the next tram is coming so that you don’t get stranded, so there’s no need to worry about timings or any of that.
The wine tram tour costs R695, and then you’ll need to pay for tastings and food on the day. I think I spent about R1,300 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!
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.
I had already been to Boulders Beach, but of course I was happy to go again – I mean, it’s penguins on a beach. What’s not to love?
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 R565, but it doesn’t include any entry fees. They are as follows:
- R190 for Boulders Beach
- R400 for the Cape Point Nature Reserve
So you’re looking at R1,115 for the whole day, and then we probably spent another R250 at a restaurant for lunch. It’s a fantastic way to get an overview of the Cape Peninsula and we really loved our guide. 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!
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?