Sun, sea, sand… Summer! When looking for the perfect summer holiday destination, Cape Town should be at the top of your list. With mountains to conquer, oceans to explore and the African bush on its doorstep, there is no shortage of summer activities in Cape Town for the whole family. Many of which are either free or discounted with our City Sightseeing Hop On-Hop Off Tours or My City Pass packages!

Photo: City Sightseeing

Cape Town Summer Holiday

For a full day of summer entertainment, and a great way to get around the peninsula is with the hop-on-hop-off bus, or alternatively with a fully guided tour. Head South down the coast with our Cape Point & Penguin Explorer Tour to visit the southern-most tip of Africa, visit some historical sites and view the endangered African penguins up-close-and-personal.

If its culture you’re looking for, you can try our La Gu Gu Township Tour, or spend your day wining and dining with the Franschhoek Wine Tram.

Photo: Winelands Tram

On the scenic side of things, no visit to Cape Town is complete without making your way up Table Mountain with the famed Cableway (Stop 7), and even better - at this time of year they run their annual Summer Sunset Special for locals. On the topic of sunsets, our Sunset Bus will take you around for some of the city’s most spectacular sunset view-points. Also, a romantic plus if you’re travelling with your partner.

Need more excuses to see the city? Try a helicopter or Sidecar tour, visit the vistas of the Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens (Stop 20), or stroll through the Company’s Gardens in town (between Stop 13 and 14).

Cape Town is unique in the way that it offers drastically varied terrains, and you even get the opportunity to experience the untamed African bush and Big 5 just a short drive from the city. Do yourself a favour and check out the the well-known Aquila Private Game Reserve.

Speaking of terrain, we’ve already mentioned the mountain and the bushveld, but the city also comes with beaches galore! Along your City Sightseeing tour alone you can stop in and visit Camps Bay, Hout Bay and Boulders beaches just to name a few.

Photo: Clifton Beach

Surrounded on three sides by ocean, the peninsula offers a wondrous amount of sea-bound activities. From cruises to Shark Cage Diving, a Big 5 Ocean Safari or Seal Snorkeling - there is something for everyone. Prefer to explore the ocean from the dry ground? Try out the Two Oceans Aquarium (Stop 1) for a comprehensive example of our ocean’s ecosystem.

Summer is definitely the perfect time to explore Cape Town and its activities. Voted the most active city in South Africa, the options are endless. Combine some gentle exercise with sightseeing on a guided bike tour for foodies or art fundies, or rent your own bike and go for a wander. There are also options for walking tours, SUP rental, hiking trails, and the ever-active Sea Point Promenade (Stop 10).

Photo: Bike Hire in Sea Point

If you prefer something with a little more adrenaline - but on your big-boy-pants and try abseiling off Table Mountain, or even leave everyone else on the ground to go paragliding.

For activities that include the whole family, there are quite a few great options to keep your kids entertained while on school holidays. Taking advantage of the sun, the heat and the outdoors - you’ll find water slides at both Muizenberg and Strand, or a whole bunch of rides at the Wiesenhof Adventure Park. For older kids (and adults), Blue Rock in Somerset West offers cable skiing, wakeboarding, and even paintball, scuba diving and a 400-metre long zipline.

Photo: Wiesenhof

With so much to do here, it seems obvious why Cape Town should be your number one summer holiday destination. Come and visit!