Free self-guided walk · Cape Town

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.

Distance
1.7 km
Walking time
23 min
Allow
About 1.5 hours with stops
Stops
5

Open the route in Google MapsCape Town city guide

About this walk

This walk links the city's oldest garden with its most photographed neighbourhood.

Walk it in daylight and keep valuables out of sight.

  • Terrain: Flat in the centre, then steep streets in Bo-Kaap.
  • Best time: Morning.

Route map

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Route and stop positions © OpenStreetMap contributors. North is up.

The stops

  1. Company's Garden

    Start in the historic garden.

  2. St George's Cathedral

    Archbishop Desmond Tutu's cathedral.

  3. Greenmarket Square

    A cobbled square with a craft market.

  4. Bo-Kaap Museum

    The museum of Cape Malay history.

  5. Wale Street, Bo-Kaap

    Finish among the painted houses.

Tips

  • People live in Bo-Kaap; be respectful when taking photos.
  • Walk in daylight in busy areas.
  • Ride-hailing is easy for the trip back.

Prefer a guide?

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Sources and review date

This walk was last reviewed on 2026-10-28. Distance and walking time come from OpenStreetMap's walking router and don't include time at stops. Opening hours and access change; please check before you go.