South Africa’s capital city has a lot of secret escapes to offer and here is a suggested flight and hotel itinerary for a week in Cape Town. Located south of South Africa, Cape Town faces the Atlantic Ocean which makes it a scenic coastal urban city. New York Times has declared this city as one of the best places to visit and true to its form, Cape Town never fail to amaze the thousands of visitors that grace this unassuming place.
Travellers who wish to unravel the secrets of Cape Town may need to apply for a tourist’s visa to be allowed entry to South Africa. The government of South Africa may have exempted nations from acquiring a visa but it is still safer to check if you are one of those passport holders exempted from applying for a South African Visa. If you are a passport holder from an exempted country, then you will be allowed to stay in South Africa for less than 90 days. However if you are required to secure a Tourist’s Visa to South Africa, you will need to prepare the following documents prior to your visit to their embassy:
- Valid passport
- Completed visa application form
- Certification of Yellow-Fever Vaccination (for those going through the yellow fever area of Africa or South America)
- Written purpose and schedule of your visit
- Couple of passport photos (coloured)
- Proof of travel – flight booking, hotel booking, and itinerary
- Bank documents
- Proof of custody – for travellers accompanying minors
- Visa fee
A Week in Cape Town:
There are many fun and unique sights and activities that can be done in Cape Town. In order to better see this coastal city, a well-thought itinerary is made for those who will spend a week in Cape Town.
Day 1 – Arrival in Cape Town:
It is best to arrive in Cape Town in the morning to maximize your first day in the city. Arrive at Cape Town International Airport and from there proceed straight to your hotel for check-in. If you want a scenic hotel that overlooks the city and the ocean, then it is best to stay in a hotel along Kloff Road.
Have a quick bite and short rest and then head out to see the City Bowl, the commercial business district of Cape Town. This downtown area should be your first destination when spending a week in Cape Town. In City Bowl, tourists can see the daily goings on like locals at work, businesses in operation, and many more. Every tourist who visit this downtown area immediately proceed to a local market tucked in this busy South Africa Area. Look for the Earth Fair, Eastern Food Bazaar, and Hope Street Market for local products like clothing, organic food, and more.
Day 2 – See the Top of the City:
Your first day in Cape Town is just a glimpse introduction of what the city is; however your second day in this capital city will show you its adventurous side. Venture early to the most famous natural icon of the city, Table Mountain. This is a flat limestone mountain that gives Cape Town that scenic backdrop. If you are athletic enough, you may hike up the mountain by following the well-kept trail. However if you are not up to the physical task but still want to see what is awaiting at the flat peak of the mountain, you may opt to take the safe cable car ride and be on top in a few minutes.
If you are even looking for a more heart stopping kind of adventure, book to rappel/abseil down the edge of the Table Mountain. If that is not your cup of tea, you can spend hours on top of the mountain shopping, eating, or just taking pictures of the wonderful view.
Day 3 – Journey Back in Time:
Since the second day challenged your adventurous soul, the 3rd day’s schedule will give you a quick historical lesson of South Africa. After breakfast, proceed to the city’s V&S Waterfront and purchase tickets to the Island of Robben. This island is very iconic because this is where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned and this is where he wrote his famous version of Invictus.
Tickets to Robben Island includes roundtrip ferry tickets, entrance to the prison, and a rolling tour around the island. Keep your eyes open to local penguins that live on the island.
Day 4 – Wine-derful Day:
South Africa is known worldwide for its production of wine especially the Shiraz blend. Spending a week in Cape Town without visiting one of the city’s vineyards is a total sin.
Book a full-day tour to Stellenbosch, a university town off Cape Town filled with plenty vineyards. A full-day tour will bring tourists to at least five different privately owned vineyards with a chance to sample at least one of the local refined wine in each vineyard. Tourists can purchase a bottle of South African wine to bring back home or to consume in the hotel.
Day 5 – From Land to Sea:
What is nice about Cape Town is its close proximity to different land and water forms that add character to the bustling city scape. On your fifth day in the city, book a tour that will bring you to the Cape of Good Hope, Hout Bay, and Boulders Beach.
Hout Bay is a rocky island where a lot of local seals live. Get your cameras ready because these seals look like rocks from afar but up close you will just how packed the island is with these cute creatures.
Boulders Beach is one of the beaches that is habituated by local penguins. From Boulders Beach, tourists can take a 12-km bicycle tour to Cape of Good Hope. The scenic bike ride is made even more fun by sightings of local baboons and ostriches.
Cape of Good Hope is a rocky cape that faces False Bay. Once there, you can opt to climb up to Cape Point Lighthouse to see the fantastic view. It is not an easy climb and is definitely not for the faint-hearted but the view makes it all worth it.
Day 6 – Colour the Day:
Spend your 6th day just outside the center of Cape Town and visit the colourful Bo-Kaap. This unique community is located on the slopes of Signal Hill where a lot of Malays reside. See a different world once you enter Bo-Kaap and see the pastel-coloured houses that paint the slopes of the hill. Inside the community, tourists can walk along the cobblestone roads and visit the Bo-Kaap Museum to learn more about the community’s history.
Day 7 – Closing Time:
Your last day in the city can be spent with light shopping for souvenirs. One of the best markets for local products is the Greenmarket Square.
This historic market was established in the 1700s back when slaves were still sold in markets. Now, this market is a melting point of many African entrepreneurs and artists that sell local products and artworks.
A Week in Cape Town – The Sweet Escape:
Complete the necessary documents to secure a South African visa so you can take the road less travelled to Cape Town. Should you have any questions or need any assistance is getting a visa or getting an itinerary for the visa application, you may contact us through our website or Facebook page.
If you are looking for a new sight to see, spending a week in Cape Town will definitely satisfy that desire.
