South Africa · best-of list
12 Top Things to Do in South Africa
All 12 things to do our route editors picked in South Africa, across 3 destinations, gathered in one list. 10 come with an insider tip, and 3 cost nothing to visit.
Our curated picks
12 things to do in South Africa, grouped by destination. Destinations with the most picks come first; this is not a ranking.
Cape Town 5 picks
Bo-Kaap
Cape Town · On our Cape Town, Winelands & Garden Route
Hillside quarter of bright houses and mosques, the historic heart of the Cape Malay community.
Tip: The Bo-Kaap Museum on Wale Street explains the area's history.
Photo: SkyPixels · CC BY-SA 4.0
Chapman's Peak Drive
Cape Town · On our Cape Town, Winelands & Garden Route
Toll road cut into cliffs between Hout Bay and Noordhoek, with pullouts over the Atlantic.
Tip: Drive it south to north in late afternoon for the best light.
Photo: Matthew Passmore · Google
Robben Island Museum
Cape Town · On our Cape Town, Winelands & Garden Route
Ferry to the island prison where Nelson Mandela was held, with tours led by former political prisoners.
Tip: Book ahead; ferries leave from the Nelson Mandela Gateway at the V&A Waterfront.
Photo: De'Von Walker · Google
Table Mountain Aerial Cableway
Cape Town · On our Cape Town, Winelands & Garden Route
Rotating cable car to the flat summit, with trails and views over the city, Robben Island and the Twelve Apostles.
Tip: Go early on a clear, still day; the wind closes the cableway often.
Photo: Fazielah Williams · CC BY-SA 4.0
Zeitz MOCAA
Cape Town · On our Cape Town, Winelands & Garden Route
Contemporary African art inside a converted grain silo, with a striking carved atrium.
Photo: Tobi S. · Google
Stellenbosch & Franschhoek 4 picks
Dorp Street
Stellenbosch & Franschhoek · On our Cape Town, Winelands & Garden Route
Oak-shaded street of Cape Dutch and Georgian houses in Stellenbosch's historic center.
Tip: Stop at Oom Samie se Winkel, a general store open since the early 1900s.
Photo: Nicola Matthee · Google
Franschhoek Wine Tram
Stellenbosch & Franschhoek · On our Cape Town, Winelands & Garden Route
Hop-on, hop-off tram and bus lines linking wine estates in the Franschhoek Valley.
Tip: Pick one line and limit to four stops to avoid rushing tastings.
Photo: Franschhoek Wine Tram Info Kiosk · Google
Huguenot Monument
Stellenbosch & Franschhoek · On our Cape Town, Winelands & Garden Route
Monument and museum honoring the French Huguenots who settled the Franschhoek valley in 1688.
Photo: Georges Younes · Google
Spier Wine Farm
Stellenbosch & Franschhoek · On our Cape Town, Winelands & Garden Route
One of the oldest farms in the Cape, with tastings, picnics, Segway tours and Creative Block art.
Tip: Good for families; picnics can be booked on arrival.
Photo: Spier Wine Farm · Google
Knysna & Plettenberg Bay 3 picks
Featherbed Nature Reserve
Knysna & Plettenberg Bay · On our Cape Town, Winelands & Garden Route
Ferry across the lagoon to the western head, then a guided walk down through the private reserve.
Tip: Book the morning ferry and wear grippy shoes.
Photo: Jaco · Google
Knysna Heads
Knysna & Plettenberg Bay · On our Cape Town, Winelands & Garden Route
Twin sandstone cliffs at the narrow mouth of the Knysna Lagoon, with lookouts on the eastern head.
Tip: Drive to the top of the eastern head for the view, then walk down to the beach.
Photo: Keenan De Koker · Google
Monkeyland
Knysna & Plettenberg Bay · On our Cape Town, Winelands & Garden Route
Free-roaming primate sanctuary in The Crags with guided forest walks and a 128 m suspension bridge.
Tip: Combine with Birds of Eden next door on one ticket.
Photo: Monkeyland · Google
How we picked these
Every entry is a stop on at least one of TripsCircle's hand-curated routes, chosen by our route editors, who wrote the reason to go shown with each place. These are our curated picks, not a scored ranking: we haven't rated or reviewed them against each other. The list is grouped by destination, and within each destination places that appear on more routes come first.
Prices ($ to $$$$) and visit lengths are rough guides from our route notes, not quotes. Check opening hours before you go.
About this list
How did you choose the things to do in South Africa?
Each one is a stop on a TripsCircle route that our editors built by hand, and each comes with a written reason to go. This page shows all 12 of them. They are curated picks, not a ranked score.
Which part of South Africa has the most things to do on this list?
Cape Town has the most (5 of 12), followed by Stellenbosch & Franschhoek (4) and Knysna & Plettenberg Bay (3).
Are any of these free?
3 picks on this list are marked free in our route notes: Bo-Kaap, Dorp Street and Knysna Heads. Check ahead, since parking or special exhibits can cost extra.
More lists for South Africa
Top things to do nearby
Destinations on this list
- Cape Town 5 on this list
- Stellenbosch & Franschhoek 4 on this list
- Knysna & Plettenberg Bay 3 on this list
Turn this list into a plan
Open a curated route in TripsCircle, add the spots your crew wants, vote with polls and keep everyone on one shared itinerary.