Sight Bo-Kaap, Cape Town
Bo-Kaap
A sight in Bo-Kaap, Cape Town, free to visit and worth about an hour. Best time to go: Morning.
Why go
Hillside quarter of bright houses and mosques, the historic heart of the Cape Malay community.
It is one of 10 curated places we feature in Cape Town, alongside 3 sights, 2 places to eat and 2 outdoor spots. The closest of our other picks is Kloof Street House, 0.8 km away as the crow flies.
- Type
- Sight · Culture
- Neighborhood
- Bo-Kaap
- Price
- Free
- Time needed
- 1 hr
- Best time
- Morning
Nearby
The 6 closest curated picks in Cape Town, measured as straight-line distance.
- 1Kloof Street House
Victorian house turned restaurant with a garden terrace and a menu of steaks, seafood and cocktails.
Food · 0.8 km straight-line - 2Truth Coffee Roasting
Steampunk-styled roastery and cafe in the city center, serving house-roasted single origins.
Drinks · 1.0 km straight-line - 3Zeitz MOCAA
Contemporary African art inside a converted grain silo, with a striking carved atrium.
Sight · 1.6 km straight-line - 4Robben Island Museum
Ferry to the island prison where Nelson Mandela was held, with tours led by former political prisoners.
Sight · 1.8 km straight-line - 5Table Mountain Aerial Cableway
Rotating cable car to the flat summit, with trails and views over the city, Robben Island and the Twelve Apostles.
Sight · 3.2 km straight-line - 6Neighbourgoods Market
Saturday food and design market inside the Old Biscuit Mill, with local producers and street food.
Food · 4.0 km straight-line
On these curated routes
Bo-Kaap is a stop on our Cape Town, Winelands & Garden Route. Open it to see the full day-by-day plan.
More to do in Cape Town
Bo-Kaap is our only sight pick in Cape Town; here is what else we recommend there. See the full Cape Town guide.
-
Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden
Gardens of native fynbos on the eastern slope of Table Mountain, with a canopy walkway called the Boomslang.
-
Boulders Beach
Sheltered coves near Simon's Town home to a colony of African penguins, viewed from boardwalks.
-
Chapman's Peak Drive
Toll road cut into cliffs between Hout Bay and Noordhoek, with pullouts over the Atlantic.
When to go
Average daily highs in Cape Town run from 16°C in August to 22°C in February; June is usually the wettest month. For Bo-Kaap itself, we suggest: Morning.
Modelled monthly averages for Cape Town from NASA POWER, not a forecast. Full Cape Town weather by month.
Getting there
Map links open a live search for Bo-Kaap, so hours and directions come straight from the map app.
- Address
- 71 Wale St, Schotsche Kloof, Cape Town, 8001, South Africa
- Coordinates
- -33.92153, 18.41499
- Destination
- Cape Town, South Africa
Bo-Kaap: quick answers
How much time do you need at Bo-Kaap?
Plan on about an hour at Bo-Kaap. That is our curated estimate for a typical visit; groups that linger will want more.
When is the best time to visit Bo-Kaap?
Our pick: Morning. Insider tip: The Bo-Kaap Museum on Wale Street explains the area's history.
Is Bo-Kaap free?
Yes, we list Bo-Kaap as free to visit. Check locally before you go, since special exhibits, parking or tours can carry a fee.
Where is Bo-Kaap?
Bo-Kaap is at 71 Wale St, Schotsche Kloof, Cape Town, 8001, South Africa, in Bo-Kaap. The Google Maps and Apple Maps links on this page open it for directions.
Which TripsCircle routes include Bo-Kaap?
Bo-Kaap appears on Cape Town, Winelands & Garden Route, a curated route you can open on TripsCircle and plan with your group.
Add Bo-Kaap to your crew's plan
Save it to a shared TripsCircle itinerary, settle the timing with a quick poll, and split the costs with everyone going to Cape Town.
Plan Cape Town
- Cape Town travel guide 10 places
- Best time to visit Cape Town weather by month
- Cape Town to Stellenbosch & Franschhoek 40 km straight-line
Lists & regions
Also in Cape Town
- Boulders Beach Outdoors
- Chapman's Peak Drive Activity
Curated recommendation, not live listing data. Confirm hours, prices, bookings and access before you go.