I was curious about Cape Town, but it wasn’t on the top of my list. But oh my, did this city supersede my expectations. I loved it so much I could totally see myself living here!
We arrived in Cape Town as the last stop on our Garden Route road trip. Read all about our road trip here.
Funny story: Grant’s first visit to Cape Town deserves a shoutout within itself. When they were in high school Grant, his brother, and their friend entered to win a free night at one of the Leading Hotels of the World and they surprisingly won! Given that their dads both worked for the airlines they flew for free and hopped down to Cape Town from Atlanta for the weekend! There’s no way they could actually afford a night at the Table Bay Hotel so they stayed at a cheap hostel the other nights. They soaked up the life of luxury for one night, swam with great whites, and flew home! (I’m sure other debauchery ensued that I am not privy of knowing!)
Where to Stay in Cape Town
We booked a loft on Airbnb in Waterkant not far from the V&A Waterfront. It was great! We had amazing sunset views from the balcony.
What to Do in Cape Town: A 3 Day Itinerary
Day 1 in Cape Town with a Toddler – Half Day (Travel Day)
First up, grab a coffee at Shift Espresso Bar and walk to the V&A Waterfront. We looked at the boats, went shopping (Marin racked up!), and ate some seafood. It was perfect weather and dining on the water was such a treat! There is also a fun playground for kids.
We also swung by Woolworth’s Grocery and stocked up on some snacks. It reminded me of Whole Foods! This is where my love for Woolworth’s originated. I scouted them out all across Namibia too!
Day 2 in Cape Town with a Toddler
Visit the Iconic Table Mountain
I had the best intentions of hiking to Table Mountain but with our little one in tow it seemed easier to do the tram. (Don’t get me wrong, we don’t always do the easy route, we took the little guy on the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu 3 months prior!)
But the tram was perfect! We had absolutely beautiful weather and avoided the “tablecloth” (cloud coverage on table mountain). We could see rock climbers from the tram which was super cool. Once on top, we walked around the trails and took in the sights of Cape Town from all sides.
Have a Beach Day at Camps Bay
After a nap at our Airbnb we headed to Camps Bay. I loved this beach. It is so beautiful and town is so cute. We had lunch at Tiger’s Milk and then had the best afternoon playing on the beach. We walked over the rocks to Glen Beach and it was more secluded. With better views and less people, it’s the best kept secret in Cape Town! We even saw whales!
Day 3 in Cape Town with a Toddler
Day 3 was the most epic. This is one of my favorite days of my life, seriously. You know I love a good road trip so we decided to do a day trip around the cape and it was full of scenic beauty, nature, and wildlife!
Cape Stop 1: Simon’s Town Penguin Colony
We left Cape Town around and headed straight for Simon’s Town penguin colony. We couldn’t wait to see these furry little guys and it kept getting better. We parked near Water’s Edge beach and saw a few at a distance, but kept walking the boardwalk toward Boulders Beach.
There were penguins everywhere and you could get up close and personal! Not to mention the water was a stunning blue (the boys even jumped in!). It was so magical. Marin loved it.
I recommend walking down to the beach between the boulders if you want the best experience. Otherwise you’ll be stuck on the viewing platform with a lot of other tourists!
Cape Stop 2: Cape of Good Hope
After a quick ice cream break we headed to the Cape of Good Hope. The weather had shifted and it was quite windy when we were there.
We hiked up to the lighthouse and admired the gorgeous coastline. We even encountered some very friendly (and huge!) ostriches.
Cape Stop 3: Kalk Bay
You must eat fish and chips in Kalk Bay. There are a few different spots but we went with the super laid back establishment, Kalkys. It was so delicious and a great vibe. Think picnic tables, greasy fries, and cold beer. Plus their resident sea lion is very friendly (if you don’t get too close!).
Cape Stop 4: Chapman’s Peak
This is more of a route than a stop, but don’t miss Chapman’s Peak (go from Kalk Bay to Hout Bay). This is one of those memorable drives that is worth the long way. Like so much else of South Africa, this drive reminded me of California, particularly the PCH. The coastline is absolutely stunning and perfect for a sunset cruise back to the city.
Day 4 in Cape Town with a Toddler
Funny story: On our last day in South Africa we had to take a mandated COVID test so we could fly to Namibia. I found a spot very close to our Airbnb so we ran over there with only our passports in hand. We left the diaper bag at the Airbnb because we were only going to be gone for a half hour or so. And as luck would have it, that’s when Marin decided to have an epic blowout, leaving him fully (and Grant partially) nude!
Our final day was all about dining and shopping. We started our day with an amazing cup of coffee at Origen. We went to this spot more than once while in Cape Town and it was a dream.
We visited Mojo Food Hall and the V&A Food Market where we tried all manner of delicious drinks and treats. Y’all know I love a good food hall when traveling! Then we went shopping at The Watershed. I loved this indoor market that highlights local and independent small businesses. Marin got a fun shirt and I got a fanny pack!
Cape Town is an amazing city and anyone who tells you otherwise is fooling themselves. We may have missed out on the restaurant and nightlife scene a bit, but we made up for it in family fun with baby Marin!
Keep on Cape Town,
-Ray
Note: We visited South Africa in October 2021.