September 2025
We live in a city with such colourful and beautiful cultures, and on Heritage Day on 24 September, we can get together to celebrate our diversity.
Spend the full day onboard with City Sightseeing and explore one of the many options below to celebrate the public holiday with us.
Red Bus
Originating as Shaka Day in the KwaZulu-Natal province, this commemorative date honoured King Shaka Zulu. After apartheid, it became Heritage Day—a recognition of every South African's unique cultural legacy and contribution to the nation. It’s a time to celebrate our diverse languages, creative traditions, and the spirit of a united South Africa.
Kick off your city adventure at Stop 1: V&A Waterfront, the pulse of Cape Town’s heritage celebrations. Each year, the Waterfront hosts a Heritage Day showcase with live performances by Cape Town’s young talent, dance troupes, and choirs reflecting our city’s cultural tapestry—often featuring Cape Coloured, Khoi, and local musicians. This free, family-friendly event captures the spirit of unity and creative expression. Make time to explore the Castle of Good Hope, South Africa’s oldest colonial building, where the old military ramparts tell stories of our city’s origins and resilience. It’s a living testimony to Cape Town’s layered past.
Once you’ve had a light breakfast or coffee to start the day, jump on board and explore the city with us. With so many attractions to choose from, you’ll be spoilt for choice, especially if you would like to learn about Cape Town’s many cultures and history. But what better way to celebrate Heritage Day than eating local cuisines or even some traditional braai? Especially considering that this holiday has now been dubbed ‘National Braai Day’, there is nothing better than the smell of a braai, the sizzling of meat and fresh air spent with family and friends.
Let somebody else do the braaing.
One of our favourite braai locations is at Oudekraal. This secluded picturesque spot nestled between Camp’s Bay and Llandudno offers cosy caves and white sandy beaches. It has 40 braai areas available and is a perfect way to spend the day with family and friends while frolicking in the ocean. Don’t forget your snorkelling gear and your braai grid.
If you would rather enjoy your fare, pack a picnic, include your samoosa’s, koeksisters or a braai sarmie, and enjoy a lunch in The Green Point Urban Park ( Stop 12). This is a beautiful green space and is a fantastic spot to spend the day with the family, exploring the park, and soaking up the Spring sun. This park offers so much space where the kids can adventure, explore and play. Take a walk through the outdoor labyrinth whilst reading the signboards that explain all the local flora and fauna.
Picnic
Or enjoy your picnic lunch at Kirstenbosch National Garden located at Stop 20. Their luscious lawns are the perfect place to throw down a blanket, enjoy your favourite nibbles and enjoy a leisurely day in the gardens. After lunch, take a walk on the Boomslang bridge.
Boomslang
No Heritage Day is truly complete without reflecting on South Africa’s journey to freedom. Take the ferry from the Waterfront to Robben Island—a UNESCO World Heritage Site and former prison where Nelson Mandela spent 27 years. Guided tours by former political prisoners offer profound insight into the country’s struggle and triumph over apartheid.
Hop off to explore District Six, the heart of Cape Town’s memory of forced removals, vibrant communities, and unwavering spirit. The District Six Museum vividly portrays how apartheid shaped—and could not break—the real fabric of Cape Town’s society. Exhibits on forced removals and personal stories allow visitors to honour those who have shaped our history.
Don’t miss the iconic Bo-Kaap district, famous for its bright houses, cobbled streets, Cape Malay heritage, and the call of mosques. The Bo-Kaap Museum showcases Islamic culture, recipes, and stories of freed slaves and early settlers, while local vendors often share Cape Malay treats like koeksisters and samoosas on Heritage Day.
Whether you’re sampling Cape Malay cuisine in Bo-Kaap, walking in the footsteps of giants on Robben Island, or joining a community braai, Heritage Day in Cape Town is a living expression of our country’s soul. Jump aboard the City Sightseeing bus this 24 September, and celebrate Heritage Day in the Mother City in true South African style—together, and proudly so.
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