Where to Find the Best Views in Cape Town (8 Epic Spots!)
Cape Town is famous for its natural beauty, from epic mountain peaks to stunning white sand beaches, so seeking out the city’s best view points is an absolute must while you’re here.
Whether you want to earn your vistas with a hike, take a scenic drive, or admire the city with a drink in hand at a wine farm, there are a ton of fantastic places to enjoy epic views in Cape Town.
If you’re wondering where to find the very best views in Cape Town, look no further because this guide will let you in on all the best spots. Some are famous while others are only known to locals, but they all promise spectacular views of one of the most beautiful cities on Earth.
This post contains affiliate links.
1. Table Mountain
Starting with the obvious choice, Table Mountain is Cape Town’s most iconic natural attraction. This flat-topped peak dominates the city skyline and it’s hard to imagine what Cape Town would be without it.
Table Mountain offers 360 degree views of Cape Town. As you explore at the top, you can admire the city center, the beaches, the suburbs, and see for miles down the Cape Peninsula. These are the most panoramic views in Cape Town – unless you take a helicopter, anyway!
You can either take the cable car to the top of Table Mountain or hike up. If you choose to hike, the most popular route with tourists is Platteklip Gorge, which starts near the cable car station. Conveniently, it ends near the upper cableway, so you can buy a ticket up there and ride back down if you want to.
Insider tip: Between 15 December and 31 January the last cable car down the mountain is at 9 pm, so you can catch an epic Cape Town sunset up there!
Meanwhile, the Kasteelspoort Hike begins in Camps Bay offers prettier views as you go, but you have to be prepared to hike both up and down the mountain.
If you’re visiting Cape Town by one of the many African cruises, be sure to save some time to visit Table Mountain while you’re in port!
2. Chapman’s Peak Scenic Drive
Chapman’s Peak Scenic Drive is ridiculously beautiful. As you drive along the side of the mountain, you follow the winding road past rugged cliffs, deep blue ocean, and gorgeous bays. It really does show you just how diverse Cape Town’s landscape is.
The best way to drive Chapman’s Peak is to drive along Victoria Road through and past Camps Bay. This road also has beautiful views, but things get even better as you approach Hout Bay Harbour where the scenic drive truly begins.
You will need to pay R57 ($3.10 USD) to drive along Chapman’s Peak and it closes when the weather is bad due to the risk of falling rocks. Fortunately, Cape Town is pretty blessed in the weather department so it’s easy to fit this drive into your trip.
Chapman’s Peak Drive is only 9 kilometres/5.6 miles long, but there are over 100 curves in the road so you’ll need to take it slow. It’s not a race with this drive; it’s all about the journey!
3. Kloof Corner
Ask any Capetonian and they’ll probably name Kloof Corner as their favorite sunset spot. It’s a short hike that leads you to an epic viewpoint on the side of Table Mountain. It only takes about 20 minutes to get there, and the views are definitely worth the effort.
Once you reach the top, you’ll have incredible views stretching from Table Mountain on the right. You can see Table Bay, the City Bowl, Signal Hill, Lion’s Head, Camps Bay and the Twelve Apostles, as well as miles and miles of ocean. It really is a view to be savored.
The Kloof Corner trail starts along Tafelberg Road and is clearly marked by a green gate. There are steps leading right to the top and the trail is very easy to follow, although it does get a little steep towards the top. However, anyone with a basic level of fitness will be fine.
4. Lion’s Head
Lion’s Head is Cape Town’s second most famous peak, after Table Mountain.
It’s a really popular hike because it’s achievable for most people, and you have amazing views from start to finish. Even the views from the parking lot are beautiful; in fact, you often see tourists pulling out their phones to snap photos the second they get out of the car.
Another advantage of hiking Lion’s Head is that you also get great views of Table Mountain itself!
The trail is clearly marked and easy to follow, and it takes around 2 hours for most people to get to the top. There’s not much shade, so during the summer it’s best to go early in the morning or later in the afternoon. You should try to go on a weekday, if you can, because the locals love to get out and tackle this hike on the weekends, too.
5. De Grendel Wine Farm
The suburb of Durbanville is home to some excellent wine farms, but De Grendel stands out because it boasts some of the best views in Cape Town. From here, you can admire Table Mountain’s distinctive silhouette as you work your way through a wine tasting.
The wine estate is open from 9 am until 5 pm daily, except for Sundays when it opens at 10 am and closes at 4 pm. Bookings aren’t necessary, so you can just rock up and enjoy the view.
6. Victoria Road
Some of the best views in Cape Town can be enjoyed by simply taking a walk.
Victoria Road runs along the edge of the Atlantic Ocean from Sea Point all the way to Hout Bay, for a total of around 15.5 kilometers/9.6 miles. That’s admittedly a pretty long walk, but you don’t have to do the entire thing.
For a nice, 5 kilometre/3 mile walk, start in Bantry Bay and enjoy beautiful views of the ocean and the Twelve Apostles. As you reach Clifton, you’ll also have excellent views of the beaches from above. Then, when you get to Camps Bay, you can choose to go and relax on Cape Town’s most popular beach or reward yourself with a cocktail at one of the many swanky bars along the strip.
Not only is this walk gorgeous, it’s also flat the whole way so almost anyone can do it. If you’re visiting Cape Town during the summer, it’s best to go in the morning or the late afternoon to beat the heat.
7. The Newlands Ravine
Hikes like Table Mountain and Lion’s Head are very well known, but only locals know about the Newlands Ravine. It offers some of the best views in Cape Town, and yet tourists hardly ever even hear about it!
The Newlands Forest is in the southern suburbs of Cape Town. These suburbs are pretty safe, and lots of Capetonians move here once they start families, but most tourists don’t venture here. This is a good thing, because the Newlands Ravine hike never gets crowded and you feel like you’ve got the whole forest to yourself.
The hike takes you through the forest for most of the way, so you don’t get amazing views from the start like you do with Lion’s Head. However, the forest scenery is still pretty and you can drink the fresh spring water that flows here.
The final section of the hike is when the climb – and the view – really starts. The trail leads you to the saddle of Table Mountain, and on the way up you can see over the suburbs and to the water beyond. When you reach the top, you can also see down the other side of the mountain over the City Bowl and all the way to Robben Island.
It takes around 45 minutes to walk from the parking lot through the forest to the ravine climb, and then another 30-40 minutes to reach the top. In total, you should allow about 3 hours for this hike, so bring some snacks!
8. Cape Point Lighthouse
The Cape Point Nature Reserve is a must-do day trip in Cape Town. It’s about 65 kilometers/40 miles from the city center, and is home to some amazing wildlife. You’re likely to spot baboons, ostriches, and dassies while you’re here.
The best place to take in the beauty of the Cape Point is from the top of the lighthouse. The lighthouse is perched on a rocky promontory and you can either ride the funicular up, or walk. The funicular can be fun for kids, but the walk to the top is quick and has better views, although it is a little steep.
When you reach the top, you’ll have panoramic views of the vast ocean, dramatic cliffs, and rugged landscapes that make Cape Point Nature Reserve so captivating. See if you can spot the trees which have grown almost parallel to the ground as a result of the constant strong winds in the area!
About the Author
Hannah Stephenson is a travel writer and the author of The Cape Town Blog. She moved to Cape Town in 2021, intending to stay for 3 months and never left. When she’s not writing, she can often be found laying on the beach, wine tasting, or pretending to enjoy hiking.
Related Posts
- 13 Must-Pack Items to Bring on Safari
- An Unbelievable Morning with Cheetahs (You Need to Experience!)
- Mafigeni Safaris Review: 9 Days in South Africa
- What to Pack in a DIY Travel Medical Kit
- How to Travel with Only a Carry On
- 20 Travel Items Under $20 (that are actually useful!)
Pin it for later!
