7 Days in Cape Town

Arrive at Cape Town International (CPT). Taxi/Uber to the V&A Waterfront area ($15, 20 min). Check into Radisson Blu Hotel Waterfront (4★, $150/night) with ocean and Table Mountain views.

Explore the V&A Waterfront: the working harbor, Zeitz MOCAA ($12/person) — Africa's largest contemporary art museum in a converted grain silo — and the Watershed craft market.

Sunset catamaran cruise from the Waterfront ($25/person, 90 min). Sip sparkling wine while watching the sun set behind Table Mountain from the water.

Dinner at Willoughby & Co. ($25/person) — legendary sushi and seafood at the Waterfront. The 4x4 roll and fish and chips are iconic.

Table Mountain Aerial Cableway ($25/person round-trip, pre-booked first slot). The rotating cable car gives 360° views as you ascend. At the top: walk the 3km plateau trail, spot dassies (rock hyrax), and see Cape Point on clear days.

Lunch at Kloof Street House ($18/person) — a magical Victorian house turned restaurant in Gardens. Eat in the courtyard under fairy lights.

Bo-Kaap: the rainbow-colored houses of Cape Town's Cape Malay quarter. Walk Wale Street and Rose Street for photos. Visit the Bo-Kaap Museum ($3/person).

Company's Garden (free) — the oldest garden in South Africa (1652). Feed the squirrels, visit the aviary, and see the oldest cultivated pear tree in the country.

Dinner at Gold Restaurant ($40/person) — 14-dish African tasting menu with live drumming and Mali puppets. A full sensory experience.

Rent a car or book a Peninsula tour ($50/person guided). Drive Chapman's Peak Drive — one of the world's most scenic coastal roads. Stop at every viewpoint.

Cape of Good Hope & Cape Point ($20/person entry). Take the funicular to the lighthouse (or hike 20 min). Stand at the southwesternmost point of Africa. Spot ostriches, baboons, and antelope along the way.

Lunch at Two Oceans Restaurant ($25/person) at Cape Point — seafood with spectacular views of False Bay.

Boulders Beach ($10/person) — the famous penguin colony. Walk the boardwalks to see hundreds of African penguins nesting on the beach. Swim with them at the adjacent beach (yes, they swim right past you).

Return via Simon's Town and Muizenberg. Stop at the colorful Victorian bathing boxes on Muizenberg Beach for a photo.

Dinner at Harbour House ($35/person) in Kalk Bay — seafood right on the harbor wall. Waves crash against the windows at high tide.

Drive to Stellenbosch (45 min). Explore the historic university town: oak-lined streets, Cape Dutch architecture, and Oom Samie se Winkel (an old trading store since 1904).

Wine tasting at Waterford Estate ($15/person, 3 wines + chocolate pairing). The Cabernet Sauvignon and chocolate pairing in the courtyard is world-class.

Lunch at Tokara ($30/person) — the restaurant with the best view in the Winelands. Floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking vineyards and mountains. The olive oil tasting plate is a must.

Drive to Franschhoek (20 min). Wine tasting at Haute Cabrière ($12/person) — underground cellar with panoramic valley views. The Pierre Jourdan sparkling wines are exceptional.

Wine tram hop-on-hop-off ($30/person) if you want to visit more estates without driving. The Franschhoek line visits 8 estates.

Dinner at Foliage ($40/person) in Franschhoek — foraged ingredients and nose-to-tail cooking by chef Chris Erasmus. One of South Africa's most exciting restaurants.

Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden ($12/person) — one of the world's most beautiful gardens on the eastern slopes of Table Mountain. The Boomslang canopy walkway snakes through the trees.

Lunch at the Kirstenbosch Tea Room ($15/person) — scones with cream and jam in the garden setting.

Constantia Wine Route: Groot Constantia ($8/person tasting) — South Africa's oldest wine estate (1685). Try the Grand Constance, a dessert wine that was Napoleon's favorite.

Kalk Bay exploration: browse antique shops, art galleries, and the working fishing harbor. Ice cream at Ice Café ($3) on the pier.

Dinner at The Pot Luck Club ($35/person) — Luke Dale-Roberts' tapas-style restaurant in the Old Biscuit Mill. Small plates with big flavors in a glass box with panoramic city views.

Guided tour of Langa township ($35/person, half-day) — Cape Town's oldest Black township. Visit community centers, local artists, and a shebeen (tavern). Book through a community-run operator like Siviwe Tours for an authentic, respectful experience.

Lunch at Mzansi Restaurant ($12/person) in Langa — authentic African home cooking. Try umngqusho (samp and beans), chakalaka, and pap.

District Six Museum ($5/person) — powerful museum documenting the forced removals of 60,000 residents during apartheid. The floor map where former residents wrote their addresses is unforgettable.

Signal Hill sunset — drive up for panoramic views of the city, Table Mountain, Lion's Head, and the ocean. Join locals firing the Noon Gun (ok, maybe just watch).

Farewell dinner at The Test Kitchen (from $80/tasting menu) — consistently ranked one of the world's best restaurants. Luke Dale-Roberts' dark, theatrical fine dining experience.

Lion's Head sunrise hike (free, 2-3 hours round trip). Moderate trail with chains and ladders near the top. The 360° sunrise view is the best farewell to Cape Town.

Post-hike breakfast at The Bungalow ($15/person) in Clifton — directly on the beach with perfect views of the Twelve Apostles and Lion's Head.

Last-minute shopping at Greenmarket Square — African crafts, beadwork, and art. Haggle with a smile.

Depart for CPT Airport (20 min, $15 Uber). Arrive 2.5 hours before international flights. Pick up biltong and rooibos tea at duty-free.