The Perfect 1 Day Cape Town Itinerary

Cape Town itinerary route map from Camps Bay through Table Mountain National Park to Cape Point, held up in front of Kalk Bay harbour — The map of our route, with Kalk Bay in the background

Cape Town, South Africa is one of the most beautiful cities on the planet. We’ve visited multiple times and spent more than two months exploring the city, but if you’re short on time, this is our perfect 1 day Cape Town itinerary. It’s a jam-packed day, but it covers all the highlights.

Before You Go: Rent a Car

First things first: you absolutely need a rental car for this loop. Relying on rideshares will cost you a fortune and can leave you stranded between stops. Renting a car in Cape Town is affordable. Just remember that they drive on the left side of the road!

Here are some rental car options in Cape Town

Your 1 Day Cape Town Itinerary

Here’s exactly how to map out the day, in the order we recommend driving it:

Couple laughing on the porch of a colorful Victorian beach hut at Muizenberg beach — The beautiful Muizenberg beach huts

A. Muizenberg

Start your morning at the iconic colorful beach huts and watch the surfers catch their first waves. Our favorite coffee spots in the area are Harvest Café, Joon, and Knead Bakery. If you want to spend more time here, Muizenberg has great beginner waves and you can take a surf lesson. Book a surf lesson here if you have the time!

Couple taking a selfie and pointing at African penguins between granite boulders at Boulders Beach — So wild to see penguins on the beach

B. Boulders Beach

Seeing the penguins is an absolute must for anyone visiting Cape Town. How often do you get to see penguins on a beach? This is part of the national park system, so you’ll have to pay an entrance fee of $12 per person. Instead of only viewing them from the platform at Foxy Beach, head to the Boulders Beach entrance around the corner. There you can actually swim with the penguins, and it’s a much cooler experience! If you want to prebook your tickets, book here!

Couple posing at the Cape of Good Hope sign marking the most south-western point of the African continent — Be prepared for the wind!

C. Cape of Good Hope

Getting into the park and back out takes some time, but the views are worth it. It is part of the national park system so you’ll have to pay a $30 entrance fee. per person. It’s an iconic spot with a lot of history, and you can read about it at the lighthouse. It gets very windy near the Cape of Good Hope sign, so hang on to hats and anything else that could blow away! There’s also lots of wildlife in the area, like baboons and ostriches, so drive carefully on the way down.

Turquoise waves crashing along the rocky Cape Peninsula coastline beneath a rugged mountain — The view from Chapman’s Peak drive, so beautiful!

D. Chapman’s Peak Drive

This is one of the most beautiful drives we’ve ever taken! Heads up that it is a toll road, so you’ll have to pay $4 to drive it. There are plenty of pull-offs along the way, so get out of the car, admire the ocean and cliffs, and take lots of pictures. If you’re feeling really adventurous, you cane take an e-bike tour of the drive here!

Camps Bay collage with Lion's Head over the palm-lined main strip, a golden sunset over the beach, a blue-tiled seaside bar, and a palm tree at dusk — Sunset views from camps bay are magical

E. Camps Bay

End your day in Camps Bay with a cocktail and dinner. The area is packed with bars and restaurants, so you’ll have plenty of options. Our favorite restaurant on the main strip is a steakhouse called Bo-Vine.

Where to Stay in Cape Town

You can stay in Camps Bay or elsewhere in the city and still complete this loop in one day. It is a long day, though. If you’d like a more relaxed pace, you can stretch this Cape Town travel itinerary over 2 or 3 days and add some other sights around the city.

Use the map below to compare stays in Camps Bay and around the city. Zoom out to see the itinerary stops marked with stars.

Heading on Safari Next?

Interested in going on safari in South Africa? Check out our guide on whether Sabi Sands or Kruger National Park is right for you!

Before You Go: Rent a Car