Perfect Day Trip Itinerary to the Cape Peninsula from Cape Town

In Cape Town and want to visit and explore the Cape Peninsula? This itinerary goes over my day trip from Cape Town to and around Cape Peninsula that includes beautiful views, adorable penguins, and delicious wines.

Intro

If you only have one day to explore Cape Peninsula, you can still experience its best highlights. You can see dramatic ocean cliffs, beautiful ocean views, African penguins, and even a stop at a coastal vineyard to try some local wines. This full day trip itinerary will take you from Cape Town down to the Cape of Good Hope and back, with unforgettable stops along the way.

Note that this itinerary is jam-packed with activities to see as much as you can in a short amount of time. So 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”:

Cape Peninsula Day Trip from Cape Town Itinerary

The above map shows all the points of interest mentioned in this Cape Town itinerary.

HOW TO USE THE ABOVE CAPE PENINSULA MAP:

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

10:30 AM – Explore Cape of Good Hope sign & Cape Point Lighthouse

Arrive at the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve inside Table Mountain National Park. Once inside the park, spend 90 min exploring the park with its many trails, or simply spend time at the Cape of Good Hope sign and Cape Point Lighthouse.

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

This Cape Peninsula day trip itinerary from Cape Town is the perfect way to see some of the Cape’s most iconic sights in a single day. I hope this itinerary helps you plan your day trip to this stunning region right outside of Cape Town, South Africa.

Have you visited Cape Peninsula?
What was your experience like – Let me know in the comments below!