Play
in Cape Town
Cape Town gives you many ways to play. The city’s mountain, coastline, beaches, public spaces, sports venues, theatres, markets, coffee shops, galleries, wine estates and neighbourhoods all shape how people spend their time here.
You can play in Cape Town through adventure, ocean activity, cycling, golf, live events, sport, arts, culture, theatre, nightlife, family outings, public spaces and day trips. Some activities are outdoors and weather-dependent. Others take place in venues, neighbourhoods, markets and creative spaces across the city.
Whether you are visiting Cape Town, living here, studying here, working remotely, investing in a local business, attending a conference, or travelling for work or a special event, we’ve listed some great ways to spend time in this beautiful city.
Quick Guide: Explore the Cape Town visitor guide for more.
Can link to brick #3: Visit Cape Town for Work (when it is uploaded)
Wineland Wonders
A Sip of Sophistication on Cape Town’s Doorstep
Ocean Sports in Cape Town
Cycling in Cape Town
Golf in Cape Town
Key takeaways
- Adventure activities in Cape Town include hiking, paragliding, kayaking, kitesurfing, windsurfing, sailing, shark cage diving, scuba diving, snorkelling, abseiling, sandboarding, quad biking, ziplining and mountain biking.
- Ocean sports are a strong part of Cape Town’s identity, such as surfing, kitesurfing, windsurfing, sailing, stand-up paddleboarding, kayaking, scuba diving, snorkelling, shark cage diving and sunset cruises. Enjoy fun activities across Muizenberg, Blouberg, Hout Bay, Simon’s Town, False Bay, the Atlantic Seaboard and the V&A Waterfront.
- Cycling in Cape Town includes scenic road routes, family-friendly paths, mountain biking trails, urban rides, coffee stops, vineyard routes and major events such as the Cape Town Cycle Tour and Absa Cape Epic.
- Golf in Cape Town can be combined with coastal views, wine estates, food, spa experiences, gardens and family outings.
- There are great sport and event spaces such as Cape Town Stadium, Newlands, the CTICC, Athlone Stadium, Grand Parade and major outdoor routes.
- Cape Town’s events calendar includes sport, art, comedy, music, business tourism, pop culture, running, cycling, rugby, golf and creative industry events.
- Family-friendly outings include parks, beaches, markets, gardens, museums, the V&A Waterfront, Battery Park, Green Point Urban Park, Century City and many nature areas.
- Food and culture in Cape Town also includes coffee culture, quaint restaurants and craft markets, theatre, live music, galleries, comedy, public art, wine, craft beer, gin, restaurants and evening entertainment.
Adventures and activities in Cape Town
Cape Town offers exceptional experiences and adventures of a lifetime. Consider the vast amount of 4×4 trails, abseiling, hiking, shark cage diving, deep water fishing, cycling, golfing, watersports, night life, food and music, and more.
Adventure and play in Cape Town feel like an organic extension of the city’s landscape. Visitors and residents use the mountain, coastline, dunes, forests, vineyards and urban routes for active experiences.
Remember, adventure activity should be planned around weather, wind, visibility, operator safety requirements, daylight, route difficulty, sea conditions and fitness level.
Explore safety tips here.
No matter what your taste and preference, the city has something to offer everyone: from book lovers and cozy coffee shops, to outdoor adventures and adrenaline junkies.
Ocean sports in Cape Town
For those seeking fun in the sun, sea, and sand, ocean sports in Cape Town offers you every conceivable ocean sport. Surfing, kitesurfing, windsurfing, sailing, stand-up paddleboarding, kayaking, scuba diving, snorkelling, shark cage diving, marine wildlife tours and sunset cruises; you name it, we’ve got it.
Cape Town’s coastline gives the city a strong ocean sports culture. Muizenberg is closely linked to surfing and beginner surf lessons. Blouberg is known for wind, kitesurfing and views of Table Mountain across the bay. Hout Bay is used for kayaking, harbour activity and coastal routes. Simon’s Town and False Bay are linked to kayaking, penguins, shark experiences, diving, snorkelling and marine life. The V&A Waterfront gives access to harbour activity, boat trips, Battery Park, canal kayaking and sunset cruises.
Remember: Sea conditions can change. Wind, swell, tides, rip currents, visibility, temperature and safety guidance should be checked before spending time on the water.
Cycling in Cape Town
Cape Town is a paradise for all types of cyclists. Cape Town offers cyclists road cycling, mountain biking, urban cycling and family-friendly cycling spaces.
The Cape Point Circuit gives cyclists coastal views, climbs and peninsula scenery. Green Point Urban Park offers easier paths for families and casual rides. Century City has well-maintained paths in an urban setting. Sea Point Promenade and nearby cafés are often used as part of shorter urban rides. Contermanskloof and Jonkershoek are linked to mountain biking, while Stellenbosch and nearby wine routes add vineyard cycling to the wider Cape experience.
Cycling is also part of Cape Town’s events calendar. The Cape Town Cycle Tour and Absa Cape Epic are two of the best-known cycling events connected to the city and region.
As far as safety when cycling in Cape Town, be sure to cycle in groups or with friends. Alternatively, join a local cycling club to maximise safety and enjoyment.
Download the free Cycling in Cape Town brochure here
Cycling in Cape Town
Cape Town is a paradise for all types of cyclists. Cape Town offers cyclists road cycling, mountain biking, urban cycling and family-friendly cycling spaces.
The Cape Point Circuit gives cyclists coastal views, climbs and peninsula scenery. Green Point Urban Park offers easier paths for families and casual rides. Century City has well-maintained paths in an urban setting. Sea Point Promenade and nearby cafés are often used as part of shorter urban rides. Contermanskloof and Jonkershoek are linked to mountain biking, while Stellenbosch and nearby wine routes add vineyard cycling to the wider Cape experience.
Cycling is also part of Cape Town’s events calendar. The Cape Town Cycle Tour and Absa Cape Epic are two of the best-known cycling events connected to the city and region.
As far as safety when cycling in Cape Town, be sure to cycle in groups or with friends. Alternatively, join a local cycling club to maximise safety and enjoyment.
Golf in Cape Town
Golf in Cape Town is the perfect blend of exceptional natural beauty and brilliant golfing experiences. You can choose if you want to play golf at a city, coastal, suburban, estate or wine-area golf course.
Metropolitan Golf Club (or the Met, as locals call it) – one of Cape Town’s premier courses, is close to Green Point Urban Park & Biodiverseity Garden, Cape Town Stadium and the V&A Waterfront. Clovelly Country Club is close to Fish Hoek and the False Bay coast. Steenberg and Erinvale connect golf with wine tastings, delicious food and beautiful estate settings. Milnerton Golf Club and Atlantic Beach Golf Estate give golfers unparalleled views of world wonder Table Mountain. Simon’s Town Country Club is also close to Cape Town’s major attractions, such as Signal Hill and Chapman’s Peak Drive, if you want to explore more than 18 holes.
As you see, golf outings in Cape Town can easily be combined with restaurants, world-class spa experiences, historic tours, beachside relaxation, family-friendly spaces and scenic drives. Cape Town’s golf environment suits different levels of play, from regular club rounds to estate golf, event-linked golf, driving ranges and leisure-focused golf outings.
Sports and major events in Cape Town
Cape Town has a strong sports and events culture. The city hosts running, cycling, rugby, cricket, golf, football, water sports, comedy, art, pop culture, music, business tourism and creative industry events. Major events include the Cape Town Cycle Tour, Cape Town Carnival, Absa Cape Epic, Totalsports Two Oceans Marathon, Investec Cape Town Art Fair, Comic Con Cape Town, Cape Town International Animation Festival, Jive Cape Town Funny Festival, Loeries Creative Week, Sanlam Cape Town Marathon, Red Bull King of the Air and HSBC SVNS Cape Town.
Event venues and locations in Cape Town include Cape Town Stadium, Cape Town City Hall, the Cape Town International Convention Centre, Athlone Stadium and the Grand Parade.
Discover Cape Town’s Top 20 Events
Coffee, markets and food-led play
Coffee, markets and food are part of how people spend time in Cape Town. The city has a strong coffee culture, with independent roasters and cafés across the city centre, Woodstock, Sea Point, Green Point, the Silo District, Observatory, Claremont, Muizenberg and other neighbourhoods. Cape Town coffee spaces are used for meetings, remote work, cycling stops, social catch-ups and neighbourhood visits.
Markets also form part of weekend and family activity. Visitors can explore food, fresh produce, craft, design, gifts, clothing, live entertainment and children’s activities at markets across the metro. Market experiences can be found in areas such as the V&A Waterfront, Muizenberg, Noordhoek, Century City and Khayelitsha.
Food-led play in Cape Town includes seafood along the coast, Cape Malay food in and around the Bo-Kaap, wine estate restaurants, casual cafés, bakeries, township food experiences, food markets, fine dining and neighbourhood restaurants.
Theatre, music, galleries and performance in Cape Town
Cape Town’s play environment is not just about physical adventure and adrenaline. Rather, it comes with a rich and diverse cultural offering. Find everything from formal theatres, independent venues, music spaces, comedy stages, galleries, museums, classical music, jazz, dance, and public art, to thriving community-based performance.
Artscape Theatre stages opera, classical music, musicals, festivals and South African productions. The Baxter has a long history as a multicultural theatre space and continues to stage productions that reflect South African life. Theatre on the Bay, The Masque Theatre, Kalk Bay Theatre, Theatre Arts, The Homecoming Centre and community venues in areas such as Khayelitsha as well as the Langa Cultural Precinct, add to the city’s wider performance environment.
Cape Town also has galleries and creative spaces across the city and coast. The False Bay Coast includes galleries in Muizenberg, Kalk Bay and Noordhoek, while the city centre, Woodstock, the V&A Waterfront and other neighbourhoods offer public art, design spaces, museums and creative events.
Download the free Theatres, Galleries, and Classical Music brochure
Evening activity and nightlife
Evening is when bright, bold, and beautiful things happen in Cape Town. The city is an eclectic mix of European design and an African heartbeat through jazz music. If you love jazz, you will not be disappointed in Cape Town.
Additionally, you have access to a smorgasbord of restaurants, theatre, live music, comedy, rooftop venues, wine bars, night clubs, craft beer, gin, jazz, beachside restaurants, markets, sunset cruises and cultural events.
Popular evening areas include the city centre, V&A Waterfront, Sea Point, Green Point, Camps Bay, Observatory, Woodstock, Kalk Bay, Muizenberg and selected neighbourhoods across the metro. Some evening activities are venue-based. Some are seasonal or linked to festivals, events, markets and theatre programmes.
Visitors should plan evening transport in advance and use reputable transport options. Explore safety tips while traveling in Cape Town here.
Family-friendly play in Cape Town
Cape Town offers families many family-friendly play options. Families can explore the exciting Cape Town Science Centre, or have a picnic on the vast and beautiful rolling lawns of Kirstenbosch Gardens (pictured) or the Company’s Garden. Why not spend time at our pristine beaches and tidal pools, explore SANPARKS and Cape Nature national parks, visit markets and museums, the Two Oceans Aquarium, the V&A Waterfront. Spend a fun day at Battery Park, Green Point Urban Park, Century City, Intaka Island, Newlands Forest, Muizenberg, Fish Hoek, Noordhoek and Blouberg.
Some adventure activities have age, height, swimming ability or fitness requirements. Families should check requirements with operators before booking.
Where to play in Cape Town by area
City Bowl and city centre
The City Bowl gives access to coffee shops, restaurants, galleries, theatres, museums, City Hall, the Grand Parade, public spaces, nightlife and routes to Table Mountain, Signal Hill and the V&A Waterfront.
V&A Waterfront, Green Point and Sea Point
Explore harbour activity, restaurants, shopping, the Two Oceans Aquarium, Battery Park, canal kayaking, boat trips, sunset cruises, Cape Town Stadium, Green Point Urban Park and the Sea Point Promenade.
Atlantic Seaboard
Clifton, Camps Bay, Sea Point, Green Point and Hout Bay offer beaches, coastal restaurants, promenade walks, theatre, kayaking, boat trips, scenic drives and access to Chapman’s Peak Drive.
False Bay
Muizenberg, Kalk Bay, Fish Hoek and Simon’s Town offer surfing, kayaking, tidal pools, harbour areas, penguins, shark experiences, galleries, seafood, coastal walks and Cape Point routes.
Southern Suburbs and Constantia
These areas offer Kirstenbosch, Newlands Forest, Constantia wine estates, restaurants, theatres, gardens, family-friendly spaces and outdoor routes.
Blouberg and the West Coast side
Blouberg and nearby areas are linked to Table Mountain views, beach walks, kitesurfing, water sports, coastal restaurants and access to the northern parts of the metro.
Century City
Century City offers canal kayaking, Intaka Island, urban paths, shopping, food, events, accommodation and family-friendly activity.
Durbanville and the northern suburbs
Durbanville and surrounding northern areas offer wine farms, markets, restaurants, cycling routes, family-friendly spaces and access to the wider northern suburbs.
FAQ’s
about playing in Cape Town
When we say “Play in Cape Town”, we’re referring to the many fun activities, events, sport, culture, entertainment, outdoor spaces, ocean activities, food experiences and neighbourhood outings people can enjoy in the city.
Adventure activities in Cape Town include hiking, paragliding, abseiling, kayaking, kitesurfing, windsurfing, sailing, shark cage diving, scuba diving, snorkelling, sandboarding, quad biking, ziplining and mountain biking.
Yes. Cape Town has golf courses and estate courses in city, coastal, suburban and wine-area settings. Golf can also be combined with food, wine, spa experiences, gardens and family outings.
Cape Town hosts major sport, art, comedy, music, business, creative, running, cycling, golf and rugby events. Examples include the Cape Town Cycle Tour, Cape Town Carnival, Absa Cape Epic, Two Oceans Marathon, Investec Cape Town Art Fair, Comic Con Cape Town, Cape Town Marathon, Red Bull King of the Air and HSBC SVNS Cape Town.
Yes. Cape Town offers scenic road routes, mountain biking trails, urban paths, family-friendly cycling spaces, coffee stops, vineyard routes and major cycling events.
Families can visit beaches, tidal pools, parks, markets, gardens, museums, the Two Oceans Aquarium, V&A Waterfront, Battery Park, Green Point Urban Park, Century City, Intaka Island, Kirstenbosch, Newlands Forest, Muizenberg, Fish Hoek, Noordhoek and Blouberg.
Weather-flexible options include museums, theatres, galleries, coffee shops, restaurants, markets, the V&A Waterfront, Two Oceans Aquarium, wine tastings, food experiences, comedy, live music and creative events.
Yes. Cape Town has formal theatres, independent venues, music spaces, comedy stages, classical music, jazz, dance and community-based performance spaces.
Many people take part in adventure activities safely in Cape Town, but safety should form part of planning. Use reputable operators, check conditions, follow guidance, prepare properly and avoid unnecessary risks.
Start with Play in Cape Town and explore related resources on events, ocean sports, cycling, golf, shark and marine experiences, food, theatre, galleries and classical music.
Study
Cape Town is Africa’s most desirable city for students. Now that you can study virtually from anywhere, why not do it from Cape Town with some of the most picturesque college campuses in South Africa.
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