7 Best Tours in Cape Town

Welcome to Cape Town, where diversity and excitement intertwine to offer the best things to do and see in Cape Town.

Explore the marine life of Cape Town's coastline, tour the city on foot or from the air with unforgettable helicopter city tours, and cycle through its colorful scene. From thrilling boat rides to adrenaline-filled flyovers, learn about the prices, advantages, and disadvantages of the best tours in Cape Town and reserve a spot in your itinerary for these activities.

Fly over Maclean's Beacon, South Africa's natural landmark better known as Table Mountain. Enjoy panoramic views of the city and the white beaches of Table Bay on the Atlantic Ocean. Cross over to the Indian Ocean, look down on the orcas and great white sharks in False Bay, and admire Signal Hill, Camps Bay, and Clifton. This tour is a visual delight.

Gaze at the luxurious residences and marvel at the imposing Twelve Apostles mountain range and the iconic Robben Island, where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for almost 30 years. By the way, did you know that when you fly over this island, you will have a World Heritage Site at your feet? The 360° view allows you to enjoy this spectacle, as well as Cape Town Stadium, the venue for the 2010 World Cup, and the beaches of Muizenberg.

This type of helicopter flight in Cape Town is an exciting 12-25 minute trip that gives you the opportunity to see the city from one end to the other. At the end, you can decide to explore some of the sites you saw in more detail, perhaps taking the cable car up Table Mountain and then the Cape Town tourist bus.

Details of interest

• Price: from €227 per person.
• Duration: the flight lasts approximately 12-25 minutes, depending on the option you choose, however, the entire activity often lasts 60-90 minutes.
• What you need to know: the activity is often offered on a shared basis, meaning that up to 12 people will be flying over the city in the helicopter. Not recommended for pregnant women.
• What the tour may include: Round-trip transportation to your accommodation. Helicopter ride over Cape Town. Professional pilot service with live commentary. Tour guide service.

One of the best excursions in Cape Town is the tour of the heart of the city. Follow the Atlantic Coast route in South Africa, stroll through sanctuaries, ports, legendary mountains such as Table Mountain National Park, and lose yourself in its architectural fusion of art deco and neoclassicism. This is the
African Finisterre. And, if you're wondering how you can take the tour, you have several options:

2.1 Tourist bus tour

Hop aboard the City Sightseeing bus in Cape Town to explore the city in 24 or 48 hours.

This is one of the best bus tours from Cape Town thanks to its flexibility and more than 20 strategic stops, from the bohemian charm of Long Street to the imposing Table Mountain, every corner becomes an opportunity for discovery.

Enjoy multilingual commentary—including Spanish—as you tour the city in a double-decker open-top bus. Visit places such as the exclusive Camps Bay area, stroll around the Clock Tower, and buy your tickets for The World of Birds & Money Jungle sanctuary. Discover Cape Town in comfort and style on this unmissable tour.

Details of interest

• Price: from €16 per person.
• Duration: 24-48 hours depending on the ticket you choose.
• What you need to know: On board the bus, you can listen to commentary in several languages, including English, Afrikaans, Chinese, French, German, Japanese, Portuguese, Spanish, and Italian. If you are traveling with children, there is also a special audio guide for kids.
• What the tour may include: One- or two-day Hop On Hop Off transport service. Headphones. A short walking tour of Cape Town.

2.2 Walking tour of Cape Town

Another way to get to know the city in a more intimate and personalized way is on foot or by bike tour of Cape Town. The Waterfront Promenade and Table Mountain are classic sights to see in Cape Town, but to really get to know the essentials of Cape Town, you have to venture into the heart of this capital city.

Visit places such as the seat of the Anglican Archbishop of Cape Town, St. George's Cathedral; Company's Gardens, the area where the Parliament, City Hall, National Library, and art gallery are located; the entrance to the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary African Art, or visiting the neighborhoods of Woodstock and Bo Kaap (also known as the Muslim or Malay neighborhood ) are just some of the stops. The tour of these points of interest is part of a good guided tour of Cape Town, and can be done on foot or by bicycle.

Details of interest

• Price: starting at €40 per person.
• Duration: 3 hours or more.
• What you need to know: these types of tours are flexible, and destinations can often be adapted. The tour can also be done on foot or by bicycle. Another important point is that when the activity is listed among things to do in Cape Town at night, wine tastings and food tastings are often included.
• What the tour may include: professional guide service. Bike and helmet. Bottled water. Food tasting. Wine tasting. Transportation service to the hotel.

Sail along the idyllic South African coast by choosing a boat trip around the Waterfront, Cape Town's main harbor. This type of tour starts in front of the entrance to the Two Oceans Aquarium and from there you will pass by notable historical landmarks such as the Tilting Bridge, Table Mountain, Nelson Mandela Gate, and the iconic Clock Tower.

Immerse yourself in Cape Town's rich history as you explore the Chavonnes Battery Museum, admire the Milnerton Lighthouse, or Clifton Beach. And much more. This type of tour can be done throughout the day, but sunset cruises in Cape Town are recommended, when glasses of local wine are served with a backdrop of dolphins and other cetaceans.

Details of interest

• Price: from €30 per person.
• Duration: 30 minutes or more.
• What you need to know: with this type of tour, you can see the city's main landmarks from the sea, as well as discover others that are only accessible by sea.
• What the tour may include: boat or catamaran captain service. One glass of wine per person. Live commentary.

Feel the thrill of soaring through the skies with a tandem paragliding tour in Cape Town. Depending on the wind direction, the activity will start at Signal Hill or Lions Head. You will enjoy a unique view of Table Mountain, as well as Cape Town's Miami Beach, Camp's Bay beaches, or the extensive white sand beaches of Clifton.

Before takeoff, meet your expert instructors, who will give you a brief briefing on the flight. With your safety equipment securely fastened, let the two-seater tandem soar, while unforgettable 360° views unfold before your eyes. During the approximately 25-minute flight, your instructor will be at your side pointing out points of interest or answering any questions you may have live.

Details of interest

• Price: starting at €76 per person.
• Duration: approximately one hour.
• What you need to know: you can enjoy the activity throughout the day, depending on weather conditions.
• What the tour may include: rental of all flight equipment, including helmet and safety harness. Flight briefing. Professional instructor service. Round-trip transportation to and from the hotel.

Hop on a quad bike and navigate slopes and descents as you race across the white sand dunes located in the Atlantis Nature Reserve, the star of the Witzands Aquifer Nature Reserve.

Enjoy an hour of adrenaline and fun as you cover around 32 km² on a quad bike tour of the Atlantis sand dunes in Cape Town. Marvel at the panoramic views of the desert landscape and the iconic Table Mountain silhouetted on the horizon.

Accompanied by an experienced instructor, you will learn the techniques for climbing and descending these dunes, which are up to 50 meters high. Capture unforgettable moments with your camera as you ride along the crest of the dunes and admire the rich native flora and fauna. Get ready for an hour full of excitement as you immerse yourself in this thrilling tour of the Cape Town dunes. Adventure awaits!

Details of interest

• Price: from €55 per person.
• Duration: from 2 hours onwards.
• What you need to know: this type of tour is one of the favorite things to do in Cape Town with children, especially if you combine it with sandboarding. Hurtling down the dunes at your leisure is priceless, with nothing but smiles as your reward.
• What the tour may include: professional guide service. Bottled water. Quad rental. Safety equipment.

Explore the seabed with a snorkeling experience in South Africa. There are at least a couple of interesting tour options.

On the one hand, the team of marine biologists from the Great African Marine Forest, incidentally the location of the award-winning series My Octopus Teacher, take you to explore hidden places where sea urchins wear cute "natural hats," and sharks come to hunt octopuses and other species, all while you remain safe in a shark cage boat in Cape Town with this day-long activity.

On the other hand, you have the opportunity to sign up for a snorkeling experience with sea lions in Hout Bay in Cape Town. The activity lasts approximately two hours, during which you are taken to the beautiful Duiker Island to swim among its 0.4 hectares of land filled with sea lions. Pay attention, as you may even see a sea elephant, an endangered species that sometimes appears on the island to greet visitors.

Details of interest

• Price: from €53 per person.
• Duration: approximately one hour.
• What you need to know: the experience is enriching; South African marine life is home to a wealth of marine fauna and, to protect the environment, the presence of marine biologists is required. You will be surrounded by experts.
• What the tour may include: professional guide service. Bottled water. Refreshments. Snorkel rental. Round-trip transportation to your accommodation. Informational meeting. Cruise. Cage diving with sharks.