24 hours in the Mother City – Cape Town
Respectfully, 24 hours in Cape Town is not enough time. I know, I know, PTO is tight and you’re just trying to see as much as you can, but there are 1001 incredible ways to spend a day in the city and with only one, you surely won’t be able to experience all that makes the Mother City so dynamic! But hey, one day in Cape Town is still waaaaay better than no days in Cape Town!
Aside from hoping for good weather, There are two qualifying things I would like to establish as truths for your brief but wonderful trip to the Mother City.
No. 1 – You have a second day available for a Cape of Good Hope / Cape Peninsula visit.
No. 2 – You’ve arranged it so that your one day in Cape Town is on a weekend.
If you want to know more about what the other great things I’ve left out of this one day in Cape Town itinerary, then check out my Best Things To Do In Cape Town guide.
Here is how and what I would see with only one day in Cape Town…
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One day in Cape Town Itinerary
Start your day bright and early and get caffeinated – ideally at a cafe that is near your hotel. Some of my favourites in the Mother City include Rosetta Roasters, Jason Bakery, TRUTH Coffee Roaster, or Origin.
Yes, this is the first thing on the list because I can’t start any day without a coffee, but this is more than just a caffeine hit. Cape Town has a wealth of trendy, hip coffee shops and restaurants and so no trip to the Mother City is complete without drinking in the cool vibes at one of the many, many cafes in town.
Next, make your way to Table Mountain with the Cableway tickets you purchased online the night before. I recommend aiming to get in line before or as close to the first cable car, which goes up at 8AM. I told you it was an early morning, but this is to maximize your 24 hours in Cape Town. The lines to ride the cable car up Table Mountain can get really long, really quickly, and so your best bet is to be among the first to line up.
Once you are at the top, enjoy your morning in nature and take in the incredible 360º views of the city. You can follow the Kingfisher route for a nice, easy circuit.
With only one day in Cape Town, I would suggest keeping your exploring to the main circuit around the Cableway, and not adding the additional few hours it would require to hike to the ‘summit’ of Table Mountain, Maclear’s Beacon. Although finding the highest point on this flat top mountain is fun, you will have ample opportunity to get great views and onto the rugged terrain.
Now that you’ve worked up a bit of an appetite, ride the Cableway back down and call an Uber to take you to your next destination, the Old Biscuit Mill.
The Old Biscuit Mill is a unique industrial hot spot for design and dining, and the weekend is when it really pops off! Every weekend is when the Neighbourgoods Market opens and it is truly vibe, a celebration, and a destination.
With rows and rows of food stalls, two bars, and an all day DJ to bring the jams, you cannot have a day in Cape Town and not spend some time at the ol’ Mill.
Pick up some lunch from one of the many delicious stands serving things like jollof rice, lobster rolls, falafel wraps, and sweet cakes. Enjoy your lunch while taking in the lively atmosphere of the good people and good music around you.
Be sure to also spend a bit of time wandering through the artisan boutiques and the pop up market before heading out.
- Reminder, the Neighbourgoods Market happens rain or shine, but only on weekends. If your 24 hours in Cape Town are on a weekday, skip this and grab lunch at one of the great restaurants in the city.
Walking the Prom
V&A Waterfront
When you’re ready, call an Uber and head to the far end of Sea Point, down by Saunders Rock Beach. Enjoy the ocean breeze as you walk along the Promenade or wander down the main street to check out a cool urban neighbourhood.
Make your way towards the V&A Waterfront, either on foot through the Green Point and De Waterkant neighbhourhoods or by Uber.
Enjoy the afternoon atmosphere in the district, and take some time to explore the busy harbour area. You can stop at one of the lush restaurants along the water’s edge for a fresh juice or afternoon cocktail.
Unfortunately, this jam packed one day itinerary doesn’t include an excursion to Robben Island. If a visit to this important and historic museum is a priority for you, then maybe head straight to the V&A Waterfront after lunch to make the 3:00PM tour. The tour is 3.5–4 hours long so you will catch the sunset from Table Bay.
For sunset, there is no better spot to be than on top of Signal Hill. This is the iconic, classic spot to watch the sun dip below the horizon. Take an Uber up to the paragliding launch site to join hundreds of locals and visitors taking in the view as the day turns to night.
Once the beautiful pinks and oranges fade to dark make your way to the trendy restaurant row down Kloof Street to enjoy a nice supper at one of the city’s many fantastic restaurants.
I truly could not get enough of the quality Indian curries at Vadivelu (shamelessly, I went 3 times). Zuney does delectable wagyu beef burger, let me repeat that, WAGYU beef burgers made with beef raised on their family farm. Another Kloof St. classic is the Kloof Street House, where you dine in the eclectic sittings rooms of a magnificent Victorian house. Cap off your one big day in Cape Town with a bit of nightlife at a cool bar before heading back to your hotel.
If you follow this itinerary you will have seen some of the most iconic attractions, dined deliciously around the city, and visited a few of the most popular neighbourhoods with only one day in Cape Town. I’d call that a pretty good day!
Happy trip planning!
From one traveller to another, I hope this provided you with helpful information to use as you plan your big day in Cape Town!
If you want to know more about what the other great things I’ve left out of this one day in Cape Town itinerary, then check out my Best Things To Do In Cape Town guide.
If you read through everything and still have questions about the best things to do in Cape Town, or how to add a trip to the Cape of Good Hope… fear not because I can help you out! I have a personalized trip advice service available to all Everywhere Travel Club readers. I’d be happy to chat for an hour with you and help answer any questions you’re thinking about to help you bring your big trip into reality! For more info about the one-on-one call for advice check out the details of my Personalized Travel Planning Sesh.
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