Heritage Day, on the 24th of September, is celebrated in South Africa as a time for family, friends, and cultural traditions. Whether you mark the occasion with a traditional braai or choose another way to celebrate Heritage Day, Cape Town offers countless opportunities to enjoy the day. Spend your public holiday exploring the Mother City on board the iconic City Sightseeing red bus. Take the whole family from the bustling V&A Waterfront to sunny Camps Bay, and top it off with a tour of Cape Town’s historic working harbour on one of our popular red harbour cruises. Also, join the City Sightseeing canal cruise, which departs from the CTICC or from outside the One&Only Hotel.
Image source: City Sightseeing
Looking for a better way to celebrate Heritage Day in Cape Town? Hop on the iconic City Sightseeing red bus and discover the Mother City’s rich cultural heritage. Your classic ticket gives you access to four scenic routes, each showcasing part of South Africa’s history, cultural traditions, and natural heritage.
Choose from:
Travel from the V&A Waterfront to Table Mountain and take in breathtaking views of this UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature.
Explore Hout Bay and the Cape’s rugged coastline.
Visit the Constantia Wine Valley, home to the oldest wine estate in South Africa.
Whether you’re enjoying the day with family, friends, or visitors from abroad, this is a Proudly South African way to celebrate Heritage Day and experience the best the Western Cape has to offer.
Video source: City Sightseeing
We recommend starting your Heritage Day adventure at the V&A Waterfront, where the main City Sightseeing bus stop is located. Added bonus? Many of the best attractions are just a stone's throw away from this hub of popular Cape Town activity.
Your first port of call should be a harbour cruise at the jetty behind the Two Oceans Aquarium. Climb aboard with the whole family to travel through the Victoria and Alfred basins, rich in nautical history. Be sure to bring your camera, the resident Cape fur seals love to show off!
Image source: City Sightseeing
Take the opportunity to commemorate our triumph over Apartheid by visiting Nobel Square. These imposing bronze statues depict the likeness of the South African Nobel Peace Prize Laureates who fought to overcome Apartheid. This includes President Nelson Mandela, the father of freedom and democracy. Don’t miss a chance to pose with these famous statues.
Image source: City Sightseeing
No trip to the Waterfront is complete without visiting the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa, located in the historic grain silo at Zeitz MOCAA, is the largest of its kind in the world, showcasing art from Africa and celebrating the continent’s diverse cultures.
Explore 6,000 sqm of exhibits that showcase their cultural stories through contemporary works, artefacts, and installations. You can get your museum passes here and immerse yourself in a cultural experience that’s a perfect way to celebrate Heritage Day in South Africa.
You can purchase your museum passes here.
Image source: Inside Guide
If you are into the flavours of our uniquely Capetonian heritage, you will be delighted to know that wine has played an integral part in the Cape’s history. Hop on the purple route bus at Constantia Nek to take a tour of the vineyards, and ultimately arrive at Groot Constantia Wine Estate.
Take a guided tour of the oldest working wine cellar in South Africa, enjoying some exquisite wine tasting before exploring the old manor house and the modern cellar on a self-guided audio tour. Groot Constantia wines are a taste of South African winemaking history, taking you back to when winemaking was first born as an industry in the Cape. Like the royalty that sought them before you, be sure to buy a bottle of your favourite wine before you leave.
You can purchase your Groot Constantia tour tickets here.
Image source: City Sightseeing
Heritage Day, also known as National Braai Day or Shaka Day, is celebrated in South Africa as a public holiday dedicated to the country’s cultural diversity and rich heritage. Use your classic ticket to explore any of the four bus routes and experience the best that Cape Town and the Western Cape have to offer. Highlights include the colourful streets of Bo-Kaap, the Nelson Mandela Gateway, a possible trip to Robben Island, and the abundance of natural beauty at Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens – a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Celebrate Heritage Day in Cape Town by immersing yourself in the city’s history, cultural traditions, and natural heritage. From world-class museums to historic landmarks, Cape Town is a tapestry of cultures worth exploring and preserving for future generations.
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