Western Cape, South Africa

Cape Town

Cape Town's centre runs from the Company's Garden to the V&A Waterfront, with the colourful houses of Bo-Kaap on the slopes of Signal Hill.

Cape Town: Bo-Kaap: Walk with a local
Featured walk: Bo-Kaap: Walk with a local · Photo supplied by Viator

The city on foot

Cape Town grew from a supply station set up by the Dutch East India Company in 1652. Its history, including colonialism and apartheid, is told in its museums and walking tours.

Table Mountain rises straight behind the city. The centre, Bo-Kaap and the waterfront are close together and best explored on guided or daytime walks.

What makes Cape Town distinctive

  • Table Mountain
  • The colourful houses of Bo-Kaap
  • The V&A Waterfront
  • Robben Island, where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned

Walking tours in Cape Town

Hand-picked guided walks in Cape Town, each rated highly by travellers. Ratings and photos are from Viator; select a tour to see dates, prices and full details, and to book.

Advertising disclosure: tour links go to Viator. If you book through one, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. It does not affect the price you pay or which tours we choose.

Prices are Viator's lowest "from" price per person, converted to pounds and checked on 29 October 2026. The booking page shows the current price in your currency.

By theme: Food tours in Cape Town

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More walking tours on GetYourGuide

GetYourGuide sells many of the same walks and some that Viator doesn't. Their list for Cape Town is chosen and ranked by GetYourGuide, not by us.

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Main sights

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Neighbourhoods worth wandering

  • City Bowl

    The centre between the mountain and the harbour.

  • Bo-Kaap

    The Cape Malay quarter.

  • Sea Point

    A seaside promenade popular with walkers.

Free self-guided walk

Company's Garden to Bo-Kaap

A free self-guided walk in central Cape Town, from the Company's Garden past Greenmarket Square to the colourful houses of Bo-Kaap.

1.7 km · 5 stops · map and directions

See the walk

Best areas to explore on foot

  1. Company's Garden

    From Parliament to the museums.

  2. Bo-Kaap

    Wale Street and the streets around it.

  3. Sea Point Promenade

    A flat path along the ocean.

Practical walking notes

  • Terrain

    Hilly in Bo-Kaap; flat by the sea.

  • Safety

    Walk in busy areas by day and avoid walking alone at night.

  • Wind

    The south-easterly wind can be strong in summer.

When to visit

  • Summer (November to March)

    Hot, dry and windy.

  • Autumn

    Warm and calm.

  • Winter (June to August)

    Cool and rainy.

Getting there and getting around

Arriving

  • By air

    Cape Town International Airport is about 20 km from the centre.

Local transport

  • MyCiTi buses

    Link the airport, the centre and the coast.

  • Ride-hailing

    Uber and Bolt are widely used.

Questions travellers ask about Cape Town

How do I get up Table Mountain?

By the cable car, or by hiking up Platteklip Gorge in about two hours.

Can I visit Robben Island?

Yes, by ferry from the V&A Waterfront; book ahead.

Is it safe to walk in Cape Town?

Central areas are busy by day; take advice locally and avoid walking alone after dark.

Cape Town: Bo-Kaap: Walk with a local
Country overview

South Africa

A city under Table Mountain

Explore destinations

Sources and review date

This guide was last updated on 2026-10-28. Opening hours, fares and services change; please confirm details with official sources before travelling.