Cape Town in 3 days

Mountain, ocean, and wine country, three trips in one city. Best time to visit: November-March (southern hemisphere summer). Average daily budget: $70 to $130 USD.

Day 1, Get oriented

Base: City Bowl, Bo-Kaap, Company's Garden, the historic centre.

Morning: Table Mountain at sunrise. Hike Platteklip Gorge or take the first cable car, clearest air, fewest people.

Afternoon: Explore City Bowl, Bo-Kaap, Company's Garden, the historic centre.

Evening: Sunset at Signal Hill or Lion's Head. The Lion's Head full-moon hike is a Cape Town tradition.

Eat: Bunny chow at Eastern Food Bazaar

Day 2, Go deeper

Base: Sea Point & Green Point, Promenade walks, sunset, the safest base for first-timers.

Morning: Cape Point + Boulders Beach day. The continent's tip, then penguins on a white-sand beach.

Afternoon: Explore Sea Point & Green Point, Promenade walks, sunset, the safest base for first-timers.

Evening: Stellenbosch or Franschhoek wine day. 20 estates within 30 minutes, the wine tram in Franschhoek is the easiest way.

Eat: Braai (BBQ) at Mzoli's in Gugulethu, book a township tour to go safely

Day 3, Hidden side

Base: Camps Bay, White-sand beach under the Twelve Apostles, the postcard.

Morning: Hike or cable up Table Mountain. The flat-topped icon over the city. Take the rotating cable car for the easy way up, or hike Platteklip Gorge if you're fit, check the weather, as cloud (the 'tablecloth') closes it fast.

Afternoon: Explore Camps Bay, White-sand beach under the Twelve Apostles, the postcard.

Evening: Drive to Cape Point and the Cape of Good Hope. A stunning coastal road trip past Boulders Beach penguins to the dramatic southwestern tip of Africa. Make a full day of it with Chapman's Peak Drive and a wine stop in Constantia.

Eat: Seafood at The Codfather in Camps Bay

Hidden gems

Kalk Bay, fishing village, antique shops, the best fish & chips at Kalky's.
Silvermine reservoir, a hidden mountain swim 20 minutes from the city.
The Test Kitchen Fledgelings, the affordable little sister of SA's most famous restaurant.
Babylonstoren gardens, an hour from the city, eat from what they grow.

Getting around

Rent a car, the city is spread out and public transit is limited. Uber is cheap and reliable inside the city. The MyCiTi bus works for Sea Point and the V&A Waterfront.

Safety

Cape Town has real crime, but tourist areas (City Bowl, Sea Point, Camps Bay, V&A) are well-policed. Don't walk between neighbourhoods at night, Uber everywhere. Don't hike Lion's Head or Table Mountain alone in the early morning before the crowds arrive.

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