Last Updated on September 19, 2024 by Hannah Stephenson
Beautiful views abound in Cape Town. One of my favourite things about living here is that I can see either the ocean or a mountain pretty much everywhere I go – and often both!
So if you’re looking for the most stunning spots in the city to snap photos or just soak in its natural beauty, I’ve got you covered. In this blog, I’ll show you exactly where to find the best views in Cape Town. Some require hiking, but others you can walk or drive to, and some of the best spots are actually restaurants and wine farms.
Let’s dive in!
1. Kloof Corner
Price: free
Effort required: 3/10
Kloof Corner will always be my favourite viewpoint in Cape Town. It’s a rocky ridge on the edge of Table Mountain, and it offers sweeping views of the city.
From here, you’ve got a first-class view of the Twelve Apostles, Lion’s Head, Signal Hill, the city bowl, and the ocean beyond. I always think that it really showcases just how varied and dramatic Cape Town’s landscape is.
Personally, I usually come up to Kloof Corner at sunset. I’ve got a full guide to the Kloof Corner hike here, but basically, it’s a pretty straightforward 20-minute hike up from the trailhead. Just make sure to bring a torch for coming back down again afterwards!
2. Table Mountain
Price: free – R490
Effort required: 1/10 if you take the cable car!
Ah, you knew that this was coming sooner or later, didn’t you?
Table Mountain is Cape Town’s most iconic landmark and the views from the top are pretty spectacular. What I love about coming up here is that you can see the city from every angle at the area around the upper cable car station. Not just the city centre, either, but the suburbs, too, and for miles down along the Cape Peninsula!
Return tickets for the cable car cost between R370 and R490. It costs R280 for a one-way ticket if you want to hike up and ride down. There’s more info about pricing (and everything else you need to know) in my complete guide to visiting Table Mountain.
There are a few different routes to take if you want to hike up Table Mountain. Platteklip Gorge is the most popular because it ends right near the cable car station, but Kasteelspoort is my personal favourite because it delivers more beautiful views on the way up.
There are also plenty of fantastic guided hikes available if you’d prefer to go with a group.
3. Lion’s Head
Price: free
Effort required: 7/10
Lion’s Head is Cape Town’s other iconic peak, and hiking to the summit is one of the most popular things to do here.
I love this hike because you get to see the entire city as the trail winds around the mountain. Then, the 360° views are absolutely epic!
It takes about 3 hours to get up and down Lion’s Head, and it’s a moderate hike, but generally easier than climbing up Table Mountain. The trail is really easy to follow, so there’s no chance you’ll get lost.
There’s also some scrambling over rocks on the second half of the ascent, but as long as you’re reasonably fit and mobile, you shouldn’t have any issues. I’ve got a full guide to doing the Lion’s Head hike here!
Hiking Lion’s Head at sunrise or sunset is also a really amazing thing to do. However, I would strongly recommend doing this as part of a guided tour. Hiking this trail in the dark can be dangerous on your own, so it’s definitely worth going with a trained guide who can keep you safe. Plus, it includes hotel pickup, head torches, and snacks, so you don’t need to worry about organising transport or equipment, either!
Click here to find out more about the Lion’s Head sunrise hike and read over 400 5-star reviews!
4. Victoria Road
Price: free
Effort required: 1/10
Victoria Road is a gorgeous coastal road that runs from Sea Point right through to Hout Bay, for a total of 15.7 kilometres (9.7 miles). And let me tell you, the views from this road are absolutely stunning!
I regularly walk along this road, starting in Sea Point and finishing somewhere around Clifton, to enjoy the amazing views of the Twelve Apostles and the ocean.
My favourite spot to stop and take photos is in Bantry Bay, and the photos below should be sufficient to explain why!
However, the road continues on through Camps Bay and along the beachfront, then through the quieter area of Bakoven and along the winding coast until you reach Hout Bay. I usually drive rather than walk this section of the road, but it’s all ocean and mountains, so what’s not to love?
Victoria Road can often be used as the scenic route to reach some fun Cape Town activities, like seal snorkelling, horse riding in Noordhoek, and visiting the penguins at Boulders Beach. My advice would be to take advantage of it!
5. Chapman’s Peak Scenic Drive
Price: R61
Effort required: 1/10
If you couldn’t guess from the name, Chapman’s Peak Scenic Drive is probably the single most beautiful road in Cape Town! It’s definitely worth the R61 toll fee, if you ask me.
It starts in Hout Bay and hugs the coastline for about 9 kilometres (5.6 miles) all the way to Noordhoek. That may not sound very long, but it takes about 25 minutes to drive the entire thing because there are over 100 bends in the road, so you’ll need to take it slow.
Those are the basics, but I’ve got a full guide to Chapman’s Peak Drive here if you need more info!
Not that you’d want to rush this drive anyway. From the epic views of Hout Bay to the bright blue sea and deep red cliffs, everything about Chapman’s Peak Drive is stunning. There are plenty of places to pull over and take photos – as you can see, I took full advantage of this!
6. Newlands Ravine
Price: free
Effort required: 8/10
The Newlands Ravine hike is one of my favourites, because it’s not that well-known by tourists, and so it tends to be quieter than the Table Mountain and Lion’s Head trails. However, the views from the top are just as stunning.
What’s great about reaching the summit is that you can see the city bowl on one side, and all the way down to Kalk Bay on the other!
The hike starts in the Newlands Forest, and Sarah and I even stopped a few times to fill our water bottles with natural spring water! Once the ascent begins, it’s a pretty straightforward hike, technically speaking. It is pretty steep, though, and I definitely needed a nap afterwards.
7. The Leopard Bar at the Twelve Apostles Hotel
Price: R105 +
Effort required: 1/10
On the 3rd floor of the 12 Apostles Hotel and Spa in Bakoven, you’ll find the Leopard Bar, which offers stunning views of Lion’s Head and the winding coastline from out on the balcony. This is one of my favourite Cape Town hidden gems.
While the cocktails here are good, I really come for the epic sunsets from out on the balcony. The Twelve Apostles Hotel is just far enough removed from the hustle and bustle of Camps Bay to offer peace and serenity. I always feel like I’m out in the middle of nowhere, even though it’s only 10 minutes up the road from the Camps Bay strip!
8. Bossa Woodbridge Island
Price: R85 +
Effort required: 2/10
Bossa Goodtimes is an affordable, family-friendly restaurant chain, and their Woodbridge Island location offers the most amazing views! It’s out in Milnerton, about a 15-minute drive from the city centre.
I promise you that the drive is totally worth it. The restaurant’s outdoor deck looks right out onto the beach, and you get a fantastic view of Table Mountain across Table Bay.
I came here for dinner at sunset not long after arriving in Cape Town. Now, I’ll be honest, the food and service were fine, but nothing to write home about. However, the sunset was one of the best ones I have ever seen in my entire life. For views, I give Bossa Woodbridge Island a 10/10!
9. Beta Beach
Price: free
Effort required: 2/10
Beta Beach is one of Cape Town’s best secret beaches. It’s teeny tiny, and it’s actually a tidal beach so make sure that you come at the right time or there won’t be anywhere to sit!
However, I love coming here at low tide because the views of Lion’s Head across the water are so beautiful. It’s also just nice to get away from the crowds at the Clifton and Camps Bay beaches sometimes!
Beta Beach is a 5-minute drive from Camps Bay, or 20 minutes from the CBD. If you drive, I recommend parking along Beta Close or by the playground. I’ve taken Ubers here many times, too. It does sometimes take a while to get picked up on the way home but I always manage in the end.
10. Den Anker
Price: R85 +
Effort required: 1/10
Den Anker is a popular and affordable restaurant at the V&A Waterfront. It serves up yummy Belgian cuisine like waffles, fries, and beer, so it’s a winner in my book!
The food here is great, but what really draws visitors in is the views. Den Anker has an outdoor area and huge floor-to-ceiling windows, which offer gorgeous views of Table Mountain and Signal Hill across the harbour.
In fact, I think the views at Den Anker are way better than those from the Cape Wheel! It’s a super affordable spot for a drink with a view. I highly recommend coming here on a sunny day to eat, drink, and be merry as you take in the view of Table Mountain.
11. Oudekraal Nature Reserve
Price: R160
Effort required: 1/10
Just 10 minutes south of Camps Bay, Oudekraal is a peaceful nature reserve with a beach and braai area, so it’s the perfect place to spend a summer’s day. And with the gorgeous views of Table Mountain and Lion’s Head across the deep blue water, you’ll never want to leave!
Plus, Oudekraal is a fantastic swimming spot, as the water here is protected by rocks so the waves are much calmer. It’s the ideal place to escape the crowds! The only thing to note is that there are no facilities here, so I recommend packing up a cooler box and coming for the whole day.
12. Beau Constantia
Price: R160
Effort required: 1/10
Last, but CERTAINLY not least, we have Beau Constantia – aka Cape Town’s most beautiful wine farm.
It’s out in Constantia, which is around 25-35 minutes from central Cape Town, depending on where you’re staying. I actually like to visit on the Constantia wine bus, which you can read more about here!
But no matter how you get to Beau Constantia, I promise that you’ll fall in love with it as soon as you arrive. It offers gorgeous views over the lush green hills and vineyards of Constantia, and you can truly see for miles.
It doesn’t matter whether you sit inside the glass tasting room or out on the terrace, you’ll be able to see for miles from here as you sip Beau’s experimental wines, and maybe snack on one of their divine cheese boards.
Even the toilets have a view! This winery’s “loo with a view” is actually pretty famous in Cape Town. But don’t worry, it’s one-way glass, so no-one will be able to see in as you’re doing your business.
Walk-ins are accepted here, but I always make a booking. This place is very popular – and with good reason!