Perfect 2-Day Itinerary in Cape Town

Only have 2 days in Cape Town? Check out my 2 day itinerary of how I made the most of my time in Cape Town with iconic sights, hidden cultural gems, and local flavors.

Intro

Cape Town is a city that has natural beauty, a rich history, and a vibrant culture. If you only have 2 days to explore, you can still get a good taste of what makes Cape Town so special. This 2-day itinerary includes breathtaking mountains, cultural encounters, and explores the cape peninsula.

Note that this itinerary is jam-packed with activities to see as much as you can in a short amount of time. So of course, feel free to tailor this itinerary to fit your own interests, pace, and/or schedule.

Where to Stay in Cape Town

I stayed at Protea Hotel by Marriott Cape Town Waterfront Breakwater Lodge which is centrally located. It’s only a short 5-minute walk to the lively Victoria and Alfred Waterfront, with a plethora of shops, restaurants, and bars. Book your stay by clicking here, or check availability for your dates below and click “Search”:

Recommended Cape Town Tours & Activities

Book unforgettable experiences and check out the below recommended Cape Town tours, activities and attractions that are mentioned throughout this post:

• Authentic African Cuisine Cooking Experience

CAPE TOWN 2-DAY ITINERARY

The above map shows all the points of interest mentioned in this 2-day Cape Town itinerary. The points are color-coordinated as:

• Day 1 Points of Interest → PURPLE
• Day 2 Points of Interest → DARK BLUE

HOW TO USE THE ABOVE CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA MAP:

Day 1: Culture, Views & Flavors

On the first day of your 1-day itinerary in Cape Town, check out Table Mountain, make a couple cultural stops in a colorful neighborhood and an arts and cultural center, then test your cooking skills with a Cooking Class!

8:30 AM – Start at Table Mountain

Start your day by visiting one of Cape Town’s most iconic landmarks: Table Mountain! Take the cable car up to the top and awe at the panoramic views of the city and surrounding beaches and landscapes. You can easily spend 1.5-2 hours here.

Before heading to Table Mountain, be sure to check weather conditions since it’s possible the cable cars may not be operating in bad weather. During a visit last September, I was unable to ascend due to strong winds and rains that deemed heading up too unsafe. You can check the status on the Table Mountain website (here), where you’re also able to purchase cable car tickets in advance. 

When purchasing tickets, you can specify if you’d like a roundtrip ticket that includes going up and back down, or a single one-way ticket each way. The site also provides current cable car wait times heading either way.

10:30 AM – Wander Through Bo-Kaap Neighborhood

Next, head to the Bo-Kaap neighborhood. Bo-Kaap is a Cape Malay neighborhood located on the slopes of Signal Hill where its cultural richness, vibrant colors, and historical significance make it a must-visit in Cape Town. The most distinctive feature of the neighborhood are the vibrant-colored houses you’re sure to want to take photos of. While here, try some traditional Cape Malay cuisine in the area too. We ate some delicious sweet pastries from a nearby café.

The neighborhood’s origins trace back to the 17th century when this area housed Muslim slaves from Southeast Asia (from India to Malaysia and Indonesia) by Dutch colonizers. If you can, stop by the Bo-Kaap Museum to learn more about the traditions, lifestyle, and history of the Cape Malay people and the community.

11:30 AM – Cultural Stop at Guga S’Thebe Arts & Cultural Centre

Then head to the Langa Township, which is one of the oldest townships in Cape Town. Here, visit the S’Thebe Arts & Cultural Centre which is dedicated for the community’s art, music and crafts. There is a shop here where you can purchase the local arts and craft, and I actually bought my favorite South African craft here: a vinyl disk where a wildlife scene was crafted with a wood-burner.

Additionally, Local guides often lead insightful tours here which gives you a chance to learn more about township life, history, and resilience. 

Guga S’Thebe Arts & Cultural Centre • photos by Jeanie A

1:00 PM – Lunch at Makers Landing

Head back toward the city and stop at Makers Landing, located at the V&A Waterfront. This food market celebrates South African flavors with local food stalls. From Cape Malay dishes to braai-inspired bites, it’s the perfect place to enjoy a casual lunch and taste a mix of the country’s culinary heritage.

Makers Landing • photos by Jeanie A

2:30 PM – Explore the V&A Waterfront

After lunch, explore the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, a bustling hub with a vibrant atmosphere. You can enjoy shopping, dining at diverse restaurants, visiting the Two Oceans Aquarium, and watch street performances.

If you’re looking to shop at the V&A Waterfront, definitely check out the Watershed. The Watershed has a seemingly endless amount of shops, so we spent some time looking through the shops and kiosks, and bought some souvenirs!

Looking to see some wildlife? Head over to the harbor right next to the Two Oceans Aquarium, where there’s a platform floating atop the water where you’ll likely find seals sleeping and sunbathing. We saw heaps of them here resting and calling out to each other. So cute!

If you’re interested in getting an awesome picture of a framed Table Mountain, there is a large yellow frame perfectly positioned to center Table Mountain off in the distance. To find the frame, you can search for the “Den Anker restaurant” in the Google Maps app as it’s right next to this restaurant.

Spend about 2 hours here enjoying the mix of shopping, strolling, and people-watching.

Exploring V&A Waterfront • photos by Jeanie A

5:00 PM – Relax & Refresh

Before your evening activity, take some downtime either back at your hotel to freshen up, or with a drink at one of the many harborfront cafés.

6:00 PM – Evening Cooking Class Tour

End your day on a delicious note with a Cape Town cooking class. Many local tours focus on Cape Malay cuisine, where you’ll learn to prepare dishes like samosas, curry, or rotis while guided by local chefs. This was such a fun experience where you not only get to cook a local dish but you get to learn about South African culture and traditions. By the end of the evening, you’ll enjoy a hearty, homemade meal that you helped create.

Cooking Class • photos by Jeanie A

Day 2: Cape Views, Penguins & Wines

On the 2nd day of your 2-day itinerary in Cape Town, you’ll head to the Cape Peninsula. Here, you’ll explore around the Cape Peninsula to witness amazing cape views, visit the adorable African penguins, and relax at a beautiful vineyard estate.

8:45 AM – Depart Cape Town, South Africa

Start your day early to beat the crowds and enjoy the drive at a leisurely pace. 

9:30 AM – Brief Scenic Stop at Witsand Beach

Your first stop is Witsand Beach, a long stretch of white sand and rolling dunes. It’s worth pulling over for a brief stop to take in the sweeping Atlantic views and take some photos.

10:00 AM – Pass the Cape Point Ostrich Farm

Continue your drive south and pass by the Cape Point Ostrich Farm. When passing by, you’re likely to see these humongous ostrich birds grazing the lands. If you’d like, make a short stop (20–30 minutes) to see these fascinating birds up close and learn about their role in South Africa’s farming history.

Passing Ostrich Farm • photos by Jeanie A

Cape of Good Hope Sign

Once you pass the National Park gates, you’ll head for the Cape of Good Hope sign for an iconic photo. The sign lists the coordinates of the cape, which is the southernmost tip of the African continent! If this wasn’t already on your bucket list, it is now.

Cape of Good Hope Sign • photos by Jeanie A

Cape Point Lighthouse

Not far from the sign is the Cape Point Lighthouse. Here you can either take a funicular car for a small fee, or hike about 15 minutes uphill to the lighthouse for breathtaking coastal and scenic views. At the base, there’s also a gift shop as well as a small café, Two Oceans restaurant, if you’re hungry or in need of a snack.

During my visit, I was lazy and decided to take the funicular up which cost only a small fee. At the top were beautiful views of the waters, and I searched for whales and dolphins who can be seen breaching the waters here! If you want to try and spot them too, then bring your binoculars.

I was actually able to spot some whales but only after having come back down to the base of the hill, and they were leisurely passing through!

Cape of Good Hope Lighthouse • photos by Jeanie A

12:00 PM – Head to Simon’s Town

Around noon, head to Simon’s Town. On the way, you’ll drive along the coast and get some amazing ocean views. During our drive, there was a family of baboons crossing the street. This was a nice surprise and a reminder that wild animals roam these lands freely.

Coastal Views and Baboons crossing • photos by Jeanie A

12:30 PM – Lunch in Simon’s Town

Once in Simon’s Town, you’ll find plenty of cafés and seafood restaurants for a casual lunch before your next stop. Try the Seaforth Restaurant, a seaside spot known for its fresh seafood with views overlooking the water.

1:45 PM – Boulders Beach Penguin Colony

A short walk from Simon’s Town is the Boulders Beach Penguin Colony. Here, you’ll see wild free-roaming African penguins in their natural habitat! Walk along the boardwalks through their nesting areas where you can see them relaxing, sleeping and sunbathing out on the beach or in the shaded bushes.

You can also get on the beach and swim within reach of the Penguins at Middle Beach. but remember to not provoke, feed nor touch them! The penguins are so adorable so plan to spend 1 to 2 hours here.

Boulders Beach Penguin Colony • photos by Jeanie A

4:00 PM – Wine Tasting at Cape Point Vineyard

From Simon’s Town, drive over to Cape Point Vineyard near Noordhoek. You can do a wine tasting, or relax on the terrace with a glass of wine and a view. This is a great place to end your visit to the Cape Peninsula so allow 1.5 hours here to fully enjoy the stop.

Cape Point Vineyard • photos by Jeanie A

5:30 PM – Head Back to Cape Town

Wrap up your day with one of the world’s most beautiful coastal drives: Chapman’s Peak Drive. The winding road hugs the cliffs and offers spectacular photo stops. From Cape Point VIneyard, it’s about a 35 to 45-minute drive back to Cape Town, depending on traffic.

6:30 PM – Dinner & Drinks in V&A Waterfront

If you still have some energy, head to V&A Waterfront and grab dinner and some drinks to bring your 2-day itinerary in Cape Town to an end.

For a more rooftop bar vibe, check out the Silo Rooftop Bar (requires reservation), or the Red Roof Bar (no reservation needed). These two bars are near each other so you can definitely check at least one of them out. At both, you will get awesome views of the surrounding waterfront along with Table Mountain.

We decided to visit the Red Roof Bar (since I didn’t make a reservation for the other one) and the bar wasn’t too busy so we had so much space to ourselves! We went up as the sun was setting and the views were amazing!!

Heading to Red Roof Bar • photos by Jeanie A

For a more pub feel, check out Mitchell’s Scottish Ale House and/or Ferryman’s Irish Tavern which are right next door to each other. We decided to end our night bar hopping between the two.

Pubs • photos by Jeanie A

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Final Words

In just 2 days, you can experience the best of Cape Town. You can get panoramic views, soak in history, try local flavors, visit adorable penguins, and explore a vibrant waterfront. I hope this 2 day itinerary in Cape Town has helped you plan your South African adventure.

Did you visit Cape Town too?
Let me know what stood out most during your trip in the comments below!