Last Updated on November 10, 2025 by Hannah Stephenson
The Victoria and Alfred Waterfront is one of the best parts of Cape Town to hang out in. It’s home to beautiful views, excellent shopping, great restaurants, and resident seals!
There’s a ton to do around here and I always really enjoy the laid back but convivial atmosphere at the Waterfront.
Since this area is both large and popular, I felt that it was only right to create a guide containing all of the best things to do at the V&A Waterfront. You don’t want to miss out on this part of Cape Town!
- 1. Visit the Oranjezicht Market
- 2. Go Shopping at the Victoria Wharf Mall
- 3. Enjoy a Marine Safari
- 4. Go SUPping
- 5. Ride the Cape Wheel
- 6. Do a Sunset Cruise
- 7. Go Gin or Whiskey Tasting
- 8. Go Kayaking
- 9. Spot Seals
- 10. Grab Cocktails at Cause & Effect
- 11. Have Drinks at the Silo
- 12. Visit the Two Oceans Aquarium
- 13. Visit the Zeitz MOCAA
- 14. Watershed Market
- 15. be.UP Pop Up Play Park
- FAQs about the Waterfront
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1. Visit the Oranjezicht Market
Visiting the Oranjezicht Market is my favourite thing to do at the V&A Waterfront, and I’m definitely not alone in that. It’s super popular among locals and tourists alike!
The market is located in Granger Bay and it’s perched right on the water’s edge. You’ll find a ton of tasty food stalls from local restaurants here, but the star of the show is Vadas Bakery and their pastéis de nata, which are famous around here.
There are also lots of artisan goods on offer, from locally made gins and jams to fresh produce, clothing, and leather goods. And of course, there’s plenty of beer and wine on the menu!
The market is open from 8:15 am until 2 pm on Saturday and 9 am until 2 pm on Sunday. However, it gets busy during the summer so I suggest arriving early! Lots of stalls sell out of food by the end.
There’s also a Wednesday night market from 4 pm – 9 pm during the summer months. I recommend getting there early, though, as it can take a while to find a seat and if you turn up after 6 pm you might have to queue to get in.
2. Go Shopping at the Victoria Wharf Mall
The Victoria Wharf is a huge shopping mall where you can find a huge range of international stores. You can find pretty much anything here, from H&M to Chanel and everything in between.
There are also some nice restaurants in Victoria Wharf, most notably Willoughby & Co. It’s a seriously popular sushi spot. I’ve never been, but it’s always really busy. And I mean always. I’ve seen queues here at 3 pm on weekday afternoons!
Given that it doesn’t look like much and a lot of the seating is right in the middle of the mall corridor, I can only take this to mean that the sushi is really something special.
3. Enjoy a Marine Safari
Cape Town is home to some amazing marine life, but this Big 5 Marine Safari still WAY exceeded my expectations. I mean, we saw four whales, a pod of dolphins, African penguins, and tons of seals. Who wouldn’t want to do that?
I did this cruise during the summer so I wasn’t expecting to see whales, as winter is the prime time for that. So imagine my surprise when one surfaced so close to our boat that I could have reached out and touched it!
You can read my full review of the marine safari here, but the long and short of it is that I highly recommend it. Plus, it’s also just 1.5 hours long so it’s really easy to fit into your Cape Town itinerary. We left at 10:30 am and were back in time for lunch!
Book your marine safari here with FREE cancellation!
4. Go SUPping
Stand up paddleboarding (aka SUPping) is a really fun way to explore the waterfront.
We booked our board rental online, which costs around R300 per person. It was so much fun to paddle the 3-kilometre loop through the canals, and I enjoyed admiring the luxury hotels and swanky apartments on the way around. There’s also a mischievous resident otter who may or may not try to climb on your board!
The loop takes about an hour to complete. The water here is super calm – way calmer than the ocean! – so it’s really an ideal spot to go SUPping.
You can book your board rental anytime between 9 am and 4 pm. However, I think that it’s best to go in the morning as the wind tends to pick up during the afternoon.
Book your Waterfront SUP board experience here with FREE cancellation!
5. Ride the Cape Wheel
Riding The Cape Wheel is a quick and fun thing to do at the V&A Waterfront. It offers unobstructed views of the area and it’s great place to catch the sunset in this area.
The wheel is really easy to find because it’s right outside of the Victoria Wharf Mall. The ride only lasts for around 15 minutes and you go around 4 or 5 times. You can book tickets advance online, which offers slightly cheaper prices for tourists, but we just turned up and grabbed ours on the day.
Tickets cost:
- R275 for internationals
- R180 for South Africans
- R95 for kids
The Cape Wheel runs from 10 am until 10 pm during the summer months. Between May and August, it usually ceases operation an hour earlier – you can double check the hours here.
6. Do a Sunset Cruise
A sunset cruise is a beautiful way to end a day in Cape Town, and they depart right here at the V&A Waterfront!
I did one with my friends on my third summer in the city, and I couldn’t believe that I had waited so long. It was a blast! You can read my full review of the experience here, but I’ll share the most relevant info now.
On this cruise, we got a bottle of sparkling wine between two people, and there was a well-stocked bar on board for those who wanted to buy extra drinks. I’ll be real with you – it’s J.C. Le Roux that you get which isn’t the best bubbly going, but I didn’t really mind that.
Our cruise departed at 7 pm, although this does change with sunset times throughout the year. We sailed from the waterfront to the Mouille Point lighthouse and back, and enjoyed a really beautiful sunset along the way.
There was music on board and good vibes all around. The cruise lasts for about 90 minutes, and I think it’s a great way to spend an evening in Cape Town.
You can book this sunset champagne cruise here!
7. Go Gin or Whiskey Tasting
Gin tasting is always good fun! So if you want to sample some proudly local spirits, head to Pienaar & Son, inside the Cruise Terminal building.
We had to book our gin tasting, and it’s easy to do this via their website. They’ve currently got 3 tastings on offer:
- 3 gins for R80
- 3 whiskeys for R80
- 4 gins and 1 vodka for R110
We did the latter option and we had a great time. The staff were super welcoming and I really liked the industrial-chic vibe of the tasting room. I would definitely go back and do this again!
8. Go Kayaking
Kayaking in Cape Town is fun, sure, but more importantly it’s a fantastic opportunity to spot dolphins! In fact, when I went I got to see seals and penguins as well as a pod of dolphins playing in the waves. And if you’re really lucky, you might even get to spot whales.
This small group kayaking tour departs from the V&A Waterfront, and takes you on a 2-hour adventure to spot marine life with passionate local guides.
The kayaks have rudders which makes the navigation a LOT easier. I have basically no upper body strength and I was absolutely fine.
The staff will give you a thorough safety briefing before the tour and keep you going throughout with their humour and enthusiasm. There are hundreds of 5-star reviews that attest to how great they are, so you don’t just have to take my word for it.
You can book this exciting kayak tour here, before it sells out!
9. Spot Seals
One of my favourite things about the V&A Waterfront is that you can see the resident seals swimming around the harbour!
On pretty much any given day, you can catch them sunning themselves on the pontoon right outside the Aquarium Bootleggers.
But perhaps the best way to get up close to these cuties is on this short and sweet harbour cruise! It’s 30 minutes long and it takes you for a quick spin around the harbour to spot seals and learn a little bit of Capetonian history. I think it’s especially ideal for families!
10. Grab Cocktails at Cause & Effect
Cause & Effect is definitely one of the best bars in Cape Town and it’s known for its novelty concoctions. It’s really more about the production value than the drink itself here!
Some of the best cocktails on the menu include the Table Mountain cocktail, which comes in a glass shaped like the famous peak, with a Cape Fynbos flower on top for that extra touch of authenticity.
I could keep going, but you get the point. Pretty much every cocktail on the menu at Cause & Effect is an elaborate affair.
You’ll find Cause & Effect near the harbour, next to the big Scottish and Irish taverns. They also do bottomless mimosas from 10 am until 11:30 am daily.
11. Have Drinks at the Silo
The Silo is one of Cape Town’s most luxurious hotels, and while a stay here is a little out of my price range, I love coming to the rooftop for drinks!
I had lunch here recently for a friend’s birthday and it was wonderful. We enjoyed great views of the Waterfront, lovely cocktails, and the most delicious poke bowl I’ve ever had.
This place is probably best enjoyed at sunset, but Sophie’s birthday is on Valentine’s Day, so we weren’t able to get an evening reservation. Oh, on that note, you’ll need to make a reservation to come here, and pay a R150 per person deposit. It’s worth it!
12. Visit the Two Oceans Aquarium
The Two Oceans Aquarium is home to over 8,000 different types of marine creatures, and there are lots of display galleries designed to educate visitors of all ages (although of course, kids particularly love aquariums). The Jelly Hall is especially amazing!
The aquarium is open every day of the year from 9:30 am until 6 pm, or from 9 am on Saturday and Sunday. Tickets cost:
- R265 for adults
- R195 for 14 – 17 year olds and students
- R120 for kids aged 3 – 13
13. Visit the Zeitz MOCAA
The Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa (aka the Zeitz Mocaa) is a true cultural gem. It’s housed inside an old grain silo complex, only now it stores masterpieces instead.
It’s a truly huge museum – in fact, it’s the largest of its kind in the whole of Africa. You’ll find art here that spans a whole range of mediums, from painting and sculpture to insane video installations.
The art here is all about celebrating the diversity of contemporary African art because, spoiler alert, Africa is NOT a country.
The Zeitz MOCAA has played a big role in putting African art and culture on the global map, so I definitely recommend going to check it out while you explore the Waterfront.
It’s open from 10 am until 6 pm every day except Sunday, and if you’re an African citizen you can visit for free until 1 pm on Fridays. Otherwise, it costs R250 per adult.
Skip the queues book fast track tickets for the Zeitz MOCAA here!
14. Watershed Market
The Watershed Market is a covered market where you’ll find crafts, fashion, and jewellery from talented local designers. It’s all about supporting small scale local businesses and independent artists, and there’s always a good atmosphere around here. Plus, it’s a fantastic place to pick up thoughtful gifts or simply discover your new favourite artist.
15. be.UP Pop Up Play Park
If you’re a parent and want to take your kids somewhere they’ll really love, head to be.UP play park – formerly Playdate Superpark. With a giant indoor maze, a massive multi-court, an aerial obstacle course, a zipline, AND toddler soft play, this place is basically every kid’s dream come true.
Honestly, I’m kind of bummed that they don’t have an adults area. I’d be there in a heartbeat.
This place is the ideal spot to help kids burn off some energy, and there are actually even “drop and go” options so adults can go and enjoy some quiet time while the kids have fun. You can even book a dedicated crew member to look after 4 kids at once, and then go off and enjoy some me-time knowing they’re in good hands.
There are lots of different packages available and opening hours vary slightly between school and term time. You can find all the info you need and book tickets here!
FAQs about the Waterfront
Is there parking at the V&A Waterfront?
Yes, there are over a dozen different paid parking lots in the area.
Parking starts from R10 an hour although the hourly rate can vary slightly depending on how long you’re there for. You can check out the different car parks’ rates here.
I usually park in Victoria Wharf or the Granger Bay lot if I’m heading to the market, but they’re all within walking distance of one another.
Can you walk to the V&A Waterfront?
Yes, you can easily walk to the Waterfront from Green Point, Sea Point, or De Waterkant. It’s perfectly safe to do this during the day, but I recommend taking an Uber after dark.