1, 2 & 3 Day Cape Town Itineraries

1

Day 1: Table Mountain & the V&A Waterfront

Morning (08:30 - 09:00)

Table Mountain Aerial Cableway, Tafelberg Road, Cape Town, South Africa

Start early with a rotating cable car ride to the summit of Table Mountain, one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature, for panoramic views over the City Bowl, Table Bay, and the Atlantic seaboard before the cloud rolls in.

Tickets: Book a timed ticket online in advance where possible — it's cheaper than the ticket office. The Cableway operates weather-permitting and can close at short notice for wind or cloud, so check the live operating status the same morning.

Duration: ~60 - 90 min (round trip)

Afternoon (13:00 - 14:00)

Two Oceans Aquarium, Dock Road, V&A Waterfront, Cape Town, South Africa

Head down to the V&A Waterfront for an afternoon among more than 8,000 sea creatures from the Indian and Atlantic Oceans, including the multi-storey Kelp Forest exhibit.

Tickets: No advance booking required; day tickets are sold online or at the door and grant all-day access.

Duration: ~1.5 - 2.5 h

Travel: ~10 - 15 min by car from the Cableway's Lower Station

Route Map — Day 1

📍 Pinned landmarks on map:

1. Table Mountain Aerial Cableway 2. Two Oceans Aquarium

💡 Practical Tips & Recommendations

• Buy the Cableway ticket online before you go — it's cheaper than the ticket office and lets you skip the queue.
• If the Cableway is closed for weather, online tickets are valid for 7 days and can be rebooked or refunded.
• Both stops are confirmed free with the Cape Town City Pass, alongside 70+ other attractions and the Hop-On Hop-Off bus.

2

Day 2: Robben Island & the Castle of Good Hope

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Morning (08:45 for a 09:00 departure)

Nelson Mandela Gateway, V&A Waterfront, Cape Town, South Africa

Take the return ferry to Robben Island for a guided bus tour of the island and a guided walk through the former maximum-security prison, ending at Nelson Mandela's cell.

Tickets: Not strictly mandatory, but book well in advance online — tours run only four times a day and frequently sell out weeks ahead in peak season (September-April). Not included on the Cape Town City Pass; book and pay separately.

Duration: ~3.5 h (including the ferry crossing)

Afternoon (14:00 - 14:30)

Castle of Good Hope, Castle Street, Cape Town, South Africa

After the ferry returns, spend the afternoon at South Africa's oldest surviving colonial building — a 17th-century Dutch East India Company fortress with a military museum, ceremonial ramparts, and the ornate De Kat Balcony.

Tickets: No advance booking required; tickets sold on-site daily 09:00-16:00 (last sale 15:45). Confirmed free with the Cape Town City Pass.

Duration: ~1 - 2 h

Travel: ~15 - 20 min by car from the V&A Waterfront

Route Map — Day 2

📍 Pinned landmarks on map:

1. Nelson Mandela Gateway 2. Castle of Good Hope

💡 Practical Tips & Recommendations

• Robben Island is not covered by any Cape Town city pass — budget for the ferry and tour ticket separately regardless of which pass you buy.
• Bring photo ID for the Robben Island booking, and arrive at the Gateway at least 15 minutes before departure.
• The Castle of Good Hope's R50 adult entry fee is confirmed free with the Cape Town City Pass if you're carrying one from Day 1.

3

Day 3: Kirstenbosch Gardens & the Atlantic Seaboard

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Morning (09:00 - 09:30)

Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden, Rhodes Drive, Newlands, Cape Town, South Africa

Spend the morning at one of the world's great botanical gardens, cultivating only indigenous South African flora on the eastern slopes of Table Mountain — don't miss the elevated Tree Canopy ("Boomslang") Walkway.

Tickets: No advance booking required; tickets sold online via Webtickets or at the gate (cash not accepted). Not included on the Cape Town City Pass; book and pay separately.

Duration: ~1.5 - 3 h

Afternoon (14:00 onward)

Camps Bay Beach, Victoria Road, Camps Bay, Cape Town, South Africa

Wind down on the Atlantic Seaboard with a walk or swim at Camps Bay's white-sand beach, backed by the dramatic Twelve Apostles mountain range — a free, no-ticket-needed close to the trip.

Tickets: Free, no ticket needed at any time; the Atlantic water is cold year-round regardless of air temperature.

Duration: ~2 - 3 h (or longer)

Travel: ~20 - 25 min by car from Kirstenbosch

Route Map — Day 3

📍 Pinned landmarks on map:

1. Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden 2. Camps Bay Beach

💡 Practical Tips & Recommendations

• Kirstenbosch is not covered by any Cape Town city pass — its R270 standard adult fee (R110 for South African/SADC residents) is paid directly to SANBI.
• South African residents aged 60+ enter Kirstenbosch free on Tuesdays (excluding public holidays) with valid ID.
• This day works well as a lighter, less ticket-heavy close to a Cape Town trip after the paid sights on Days 1 and 2.

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1, 2 & 3 Day Cape Town Itineraries

Day 1: Table Mountain & the V&A Waterfront

Table Mountain Aerial Cableway, Tafelberg Road, Cape Town, South Africa

Two Oceans Aquarium, Dock Road, V&A Waterfront, Cape Town, South Africa

💡 Practical Tips & Recommendations

Day 2: Robben Island & the Castle of Good Hope

Nelson Mandela Gateway, V&A Waterfront, Cape Town, South Africa

Castle of Good Hope, Castle Street, Cape Town, South Africa

💡 Practical Tips & Recommendations

Day 3: Kirstenbosch Gardens & the Atlantic Seaboard

Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden, Rhodes Drive, Newlands, Cape Town, South Africa

Camps Bay Beach, Victoria Road, Camps Bay, Cape Town, South Africa

💡 Practical Tips & Recommendations

Things to do in Cape Town

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