Looking for the best tours in Cape Town? From wine-tasting tours, to free walking tours, to day trips around the Cape Peninsula, definitely add these tours to your Cape Town itinerary!
Cape Town is a vibrant city in South Africa packed with cool attractions, and it quickly became one of our favourite cities in the world (which actually means a lot, because we’re not usually fans of cities).
You could easily spend weeks in Cape Town and still not see it all! From the rolling vineyards of the Cape Winelands, to the colourful streets of Bo Kaap, to the spectacular views of the Cape Of Good Hope, there is so much to do.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed trying to pack in all the best sights and activities for your visit, we’re here to help.
We’ve compiled a list of the best Cape Town tours to help you make the most of your time in this corner of South Africa.
From free walking tours, to guided treks up Table Mountain, to wine-tasting tours through the wine estates of southwest South Africa, there are tours for everyone.
Tours allow you to explore Cape Town with a local guide who knows the area, so you can sightsee and learn about the culture, cuisine, and history all in one go.
Optimize your time in Cape Town with one of these amazing tours!
Find more fun activities with our guide to the best things to do in Cape Town!
Table of Contents
The Best Cape Town Tours
Our list of the best tours in Cape Town is organised into categories so you can easily filter through the options and pick the best tours for you.
There are so many cool ways to immerse yourself in Cape Town’s excitement and cultural richness.
Whether you’re a budget traveller looking for a Cape Town free historical walking tour, or you’re a wine lover looking to dive into the vineyards and wines of the Western Cape, here are the best tours to choose from!
The best way to get around is to rent a car and explore on your own! We recommend Rental Cars, which has the largest range of vehicles for the best value on the market.
Free Walking Tours
For budget travellers or those looking to learn as much as possible while walking around the city, there are some incredible Cape Town free walking tours.
These tours focus on different topics, including history, culture, art, and more. Here are our top picks for Cape Town free walking tours!
Historic City Tour
A free historical walking tour is a fantastic way to learn about the famous “Mother City”.
Stroll through the city centre on this historic city tour as you learn about all the insider knowledge of Cape Town from your guide.
See highlights of Cape Town and significant locations like Green Market Square, Parliament, the Castle of Good Hope, and more.
The history tour departs every day at 11 am or 4:20 pm from Motherland Coffee. Read more about the history walking tour on this website!
This was the very first one we did on our list of tours of Cape Town and it was the perfect introduction to the city.
Apartheid to Freedom Tour
The Apartheid to Freedom Tour is another one of the best walking tours to try while visiting Cape Town, South Africa.
This tour takes you through the Cape Town city centre and points out all the most significant locations and monuments relating to Nelson Mandela and the history of Apartheid.
You’ll see multiple landmarks that were vital to the history of the city, including the place where Mandela made his first speech as a free man.
This walking tour departs daily at 11 am or 2 pm from Motherland Coffee.
Bo Kaap Tour
Bo Kaap is one of the most unique locations in the city. Travellers flock to Bo Kaap to take photos of the vibrantly coloured buildings, but the area has a rich history in addition to aesthetic appeal.
Join a Bo Kaap tour where you can walk through the colourful neighbourhood with a great guide who will teach you about the multicultural influences that shaped the area.
This Bo Kaap tour is one of the best walking tours you can do. You’ll tour the oldest mosque in the city, visit a spice trading centre, and more.
The tour departs daily at 2 pm or 4:20 pm from Motherland Coffee.
Best Day Tours For Exploring Cape Town, South Africa
If you’ve completed a walking tour or two, you’ll surely have a great glimpse into the fabric of the Cape Town city centre and what makes it so special.
But Cape Town is huge, and these day tours extend beyond the classic inner city walking tour.
Jump on any of these guided tours to further explore the interesting history, art, wine, and nature around Cape Town.
READ MORE: And while you’re at it, have a read of our latest guide to the best Cape Town day trips.
Table Mountain City Tour
Table Mountain is an absolute must-see when you visit Cape Town. This majestic, flat-topped mountain stands tall against the backdrop of the city.
You have to make a trip up to the top for the best panoramic views of the city and the Cape Peninsula. Whether you choose to hike or take the cable car is up to you!
For travellers who want to take the cable car, a tour package that includes round-trip cable car tickets plus a guided walking tour and a hop-on-hop-off bus pass is a great idea.
You’ll get a great price on cable car tickets that will whisk you up and down Table Mountain in no time, plus the added bonus of bus passes for traveling around the city and a walking tour.
Cape of Good Hope Tour
A guided tour around the Cape Of Good Hope is a fantastic way to soak in the spectacular views and unique wildlife of the Cape Peninsula.
The journey meanders along the breathtaking coastal roads, where rugged cliffs plunge into the azure expanse of the Atlantic Ocean.
En route to the fabled Cape Point, visitors are treated to awe-inspiring vistas of pristine beaches, charming fishing villages, and diverse wildlife.
You’ll stop by Simons Town and visit the adorable Penguin Colony on Boulders Beach, and you’ll get to cruise along the scenic Chapmans Peak Drive.
There is so much to see and do on the Cape Peninsula, and a guided tour that hits all of the highlights is the perfect way to optimise your time!
Paragliding Tour
Paragliding is one of the best ways to experience Cape Town! Imagine soaring through the air with a great guide who is well-versed in safety and security, admiring the views of Cape Town below you.
Signal Hill is a hotspot for paragliding in Cape Town.
Meet here and join your paragliding tour where you can see the Atlantic Ocean, Camps Bay, Table Mountain, Lions Head, and more as you glide peacefully through the sky!
Whale Watching Tour
The oceans around Cape Town offer incredible conditions for whale watching.
Join a whale-watching tour so you can take to the water and have the amazing chance to see these gentle giants up close!
This day tour takes you from downtown Cape Town to Hermanus, one of the best places in the world for whale watching.
Cruise along the coastline of South Africa and watch Southern Right Whales, Humpbacks, and potentially dolphins or seals as they frolic in the waves.
Animal lovers cannot miss out on an epic whale-watching tour while they are in South Africa!
Woodstock Street Art Tour
Check out one of Cape Town’s most captivating corners on a Woodstock Street Art Tour.
This tour can be either private or with a group, and you can join a 60-minute or 90-minute tour.
Either way, this is one of the most insightful walking tours in Cape Town and it’s definitely worth the 400 or 450 rand fee.
You’ll be exploring the Old Biscuit Mill in the Woodstock neighborhood of the city, which is a hub for artistic expression.
earn about the history and culture behind the art and enjoy opening your mind to a fascinating part of Cape Town.
Robben Island Tour
Embarking on a Robben Island day tour from Cape Town is an immersive journey through South Africa’s complex history and triumphs of resilience.
As the ferry glides across the shimmering waters of the Atlantic, passengers are transported to the island’s poignant past, where the notorious prison once held political prisoners, including Nelson Mandela.
The guided tour offers a sobering yet enlightening experience as visitors explore the bleak cells, interact with former inmates, and gain profound insights into the country’s struggle for freedom and the indomitable human spirit that prevailed.
Against the backdrop of Cape Town’s stunning skyline, the Robben Island day tour becomes a powerful testament to the pursuit of justice and equality.
Robben Island can only be visited with a guided tour, so make sure you make a booking in advance!
Cape Town Wine Tours
A tour of the Cape Winelands is another one of the best things to do in Cape Town.
Surrounded by lush regions filled with wine estates, vineyards, and local businesses where you can taste local wine, cheese, chocolate, spirits, and more, foodies should absolutely add a wine-tasting tour to their itinerary.
There are a few different Cape Town wine-tasting tours to choose from, so here are our top picks!
Cape Winelands Tour
This tour offers travelers the chance to visit 3 wine regions around Cape Town: Paarl, Stellenbosch, and Franschhoek. Visit 3 estates and taste 15 different wines throughout the day!
This tour includes all transport and focuses on wine pairing where you’ll get to taste chocolate and cheese with the various wines.
It’s a roller coaster for the palette, and this tour is great for those who want to see as much of the wine regions as possible.
Stellenbosch Wine Tasting Tour
If you want to slow down and focus on just one wine region, this is a great tour option. Visit 4 different Stellenbosch wineries on this full-day tour from Cape Town.
The tour combines vineyard and cellar door walks with wine tasting so you can learn about winemaking while you sample local cured meat, cheese, chocolate, and more.
The Stellenbosch area is one of the oldest parts of the country, so you will have a blast immersing yourself in the wine culture and history here on this day tour.
This area is great for wine tours
Franschhoek Wine Tour
Another wine-tasting tour option is the Franschhoek Wine Tour. This tour allows you to explore the Franschhoek part of the Cape Winelands by tram, where you can hop on and hop off wherever you choose.
Spend the day cruising through the countryside, taking wines, eating fresh cuisine, and enjoying the best of Cape Town’s wine country.
Tour a historic wine farm, chat with a local winemaker, and just enjoy the scenery.
Between these three different wine-tasting tours, there is sure to be something that suits you!
Wrapping Up
As you can see, there are so many fun tours you can try while visiting Cape Town.
Learn all about the local history on a Cape Town free walking tour, or dive into the culture of the Mother City with a tour to Robben Island.
Tour a wine farm or go wine tasting with a tour to the Cape Winelands, or get up close with some beautiful whales on a whale watch in the Atlantic.
Cape Town has so much to offer, and a tour with a knowledgeable local guide will help you enhance your experience here!
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