- Hi guys, I'm Max Nomad, I'm a digital nomad,
entrepreneur and photographer from Germany
and I'm on a seven month trip all around
the world at the moment.
Cape Town was the first city on my trip
and it was a great start to my journey,
here are my top 15 things to do in Cape Town, South Africa.
(upbeat music)
Number one, Table Mountain.
Table Mountain is the symbol of Cape Town,
it's a massive plateau overlooking the city below.
Take the cable car up or if you're feeling up to it, hike.
The views of the Cape Town Peninsula
from the top of the mountain are absolutely stunning.
I was in a bit of a hurry,
so I just took the cable car up instead of hiking.
The ticket for the round trip is about $24.
Make sure to bring a jacket
because it can be quite cold and windy at the top.
Number two, make a day trip from Cape Town
to the Cape of Good Hope.
You can either drive yourself to see
all the things I'm about to describe,
or you can book a tour that takes you there.
I booked a tour with STA Travel for about $60
and I was very happy with it.
The link to the tour is in the description below this video.
If you drive yourself,
make sure to take the Chapman's Peak route,
your first stop should be Hout Bay.
There is a lookout point there
when you can see the entire bay.
Then drive across the peninsula to Simon's Town
where you'll find Boulders Beach,
which is number three on my list.
Here you can see wild African penguins
in their natural habitat,
and can get up close by walking over the raised boardwalks
or even head down to the beach itself.
I'd never seen penguins out in the wild before,
so this experience was quite special for me.
From Boulders Beach, the Cape of Good Hope
is only 30 minutes away.
This is where you can stand
on the most southwestern tip of Africa,
it's an iconic spot and a great photo opportunity.
Cape Point is another five minutes away by car,
and there's a short hike from the carpark
out to the end of the point.
This whole area is part of the Table Mountain National Park
and the natural beauty here is breathtaking.
On the tour that I did, we got a chance
to go biking in the park which I really enjoyed.
The sun is really harsh in South Africa,
so it's absolutely essential
that you pack sunscreen for your day trip.
Head back to Cape Town, and you've just completed
one of the best days out you can have.
Number four, Muizenberg Beach.
This beautiful area is just a 45 minute drive away
from Cape Town and the beach is a great place
to take surfing lessons.
It's a perfect spot for beginners
because of the gentle waves there.
Muizenberg is also known for the little colorful houses,
which are usually bathrooms or changing rooms.
Around the beach there are a lot
of restaurants and surf shops
and it's a great place to get delicious fish and chips.
Number five, Camps Bay.
Cape Town is surrounded by beautiful beaches,
one of my favorites was Camps Bay Beach.
It's breathtaking beautiful at sunset time
and it has some really cool bars and restaurants.
Camps Bay is also where I took the first pictures
for my "All The Beauty in the World" project,
for this project I take pictures of beautiful local girls
on the world's most incredible beaches.
Follow me on Instagram @beautyintheworldphoto
if you want to learn more about it.
Number six, have a coffee at Truth Coffee Shop.
If you love coffee, this is a must visit.
It was voted best coffee shop in the world a few years ago,
and for a good reason,
the taste of the coffee is excellent.
It's hand roasted and the latte art is on point,
check out the different animals designs that we got.
The decor and the waiters outfits are all steampunk related
and it's just a really fun place to visit.
A coffee latte at Truth Coffee Shop costs only about $3.
I'll put links to this coffee shop,
and all the other things I mention in this video,
in the description below so you can find them easily.
Number seven, eat crocodile, and more at Mama Africa.
I know it's a place just for tourists,
but I had a lot of fun at Mama Africa
trying different African animals.
The food was really tasty,
I especially recommend the springbok
which tastes more or less like beef, but much more tender.
Mama Africa also usually has live music
by local African bands,
which really adds to the fun atmosphere of the place.
Make sure to get the mixed grill which includes crocodile,
springbok, ostrich, kudu and warthog.
Number eight,
visit the Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden
which is widely regarded as one of
the most beautiful botanical gardens in the world.
It's located on the eastern slopes of Table Mountain.
Walk along the overhead canopy walkway
for the best experience.
I saw many of the plants in the park
for the very first time,
and some of them made me feel
like I was walking around in "Jurassic Park."
If you're in Cape Town between November and April,
make sure to catch one of the outdoor summer sunset concerts
which are held in the park.
Number nine, V&A Waterfront.
This historic harbor area has lots of restaurants,
shops, bars and cinemas.
It offers beautiful views
with Table Mountain in the background
and it's a very romantic spot at night.
The coolest thing I found at the V&A Waterfront
was the two story food market
which offers baked goods, juices, wine, ice-cream and more.
If you're looking for a special way
to get to know this part of the city, book a harbor cruise,
preferably at sunset.
Number 10, the Old Biscuit Mill.
The Old Biscuit Mill is a former biscuit factory
that has an amazing collection of arts, craft,
fashion and design shops, as well as many food stalls
that serve delicious street foot,
they also have great vegetarian options there.
Every Saturday from 09:00 a.m.
the popular neighbor goods market
brings even more local artisans, designers
and foodies to the Old Biscuit Mill.
It is the perfect place to spend
a sunny Saturday morning in Cape Town.
Number 11, wine tasting.
The Cape Town area benefits from a Mediterranean climate
which makes it perfect for cultivating wine.
South Africa even has it's very own Pinotage grape.
Many wineries have been around for centuries
and most offer tastings and guided tours
of their wine cellars and vineyards.
Groot Constantia, for example, is the oldest vineyard
in the Cape Town area and it's just
a 20 minute drive from the city.
It offers a tour and wine tasting for only $8.
Number 12, Bo-Kaap.
Bo-Kaap is a colorful Muslim neighborhood
where every house is painted in a different bright color,
this is a photographers dream.
You can head over here and explore on your own,
or go in one of the free walking tours
where you can learn more
about this neighborhood as you go.
A link to a free walking tour is in the description below.
The most photogenic streets in this neighborhood
are Chapini, Rose and Wale.
Number 13, go up Lion's Head or Signal Hill
and see the sunset over the Atlantic Ocean.
Many people say that the sunset view
from Lion's Head is the best.
To get up to Lion's Head is an easy 45 minute hike
that is very popular with the locals.
Make sure to bring a torch for your way down
and always go with company.
If you prefer a more comfortable sunset option,
you can go to Signal Hill which has a road for cars
that leads all the way up to the summit.
It's a great spot for a sunset picnic.
Number 14, Hop-On, Hop-Off Bus Tour.
An easy way to see a lot of sights in Cape Town
is jumping on a hop-on, hop-off bus tour.
There are two main routes, a red route called Red City Tour
and a blue route called Mini Peninsula Tour.
Both tours have a whole bunch of different stuffs
in Cape Town and include many of the sights
I have mentioned already, like the botanical garden,
Camps Bay and the V&A Waterfront.
The Bus Company also offers a wider tour
that includes Groot Constantia and a summer sunset tour
that stops at Signal Hill.
Number 15, Robben Island.
To learn about the history of apartheid
and the fight to overcome it, visit Robben Island,
where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned from 1964 until 1982.
The tour includes a ferry ride to the island,
a bus tour and guided walk through the old prison
led by a former inmate.
You'll be able to get an idea of what life was like
for the prisoners and see Nelson Mandela's tiny prison cell.
At peak times, tickets for the tour
can sell out weeks in advance so make sure
to book well ahead via the official website.
So those are my recommendations for Cape Town,
what are yours?
If you're from there or if you've been there before,
please make sure to leave your tips and advice
in the comment box below this video.
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I'm Max Nomad, and I will talk to you soon.