Local product owners have made it easy for tour operators selling Cape Town, with many attractions, activities and experiences on offer that can be tailor-made for every need.

Here are a few of Tourism Update’s favourite options:

Adventures Mild (and not so Mild):  With exquisite views of mountains and oceans, Cape Town is a paraglider’s dream destination. Popular paragliding launch sites include Lion’s Head and Signal Hill (there are numerous reputable paragliding operators).

Skydiving is also an option for visitors, as is shark-cage diving (both are outside the Mother City, so allow for travel time of one to two hours – depending on the operator’s location).  Look at the great voluntourism options on offer from White Shark Projects  and

for operators wanting slighter softer adventures there are Segway and scooter tours, and helicopter flips over the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. Tours on Harley-Davidson motorcycles are available, or a combination of helicopters and Harleys could appeal to the luxury market.

Walks and Hikes: Numerous running and hiking trails are available in and around the city, according to Cape Town Tourism.

The Pipe Track Trail running route is one of the best-loved trails, and it is also popular with walkers. There are also trails along the Constantia greenbelt, and the Platteklip Gorge trail is a keen favourite with locals and visitors. Hiking Table Mountain is always an option. The Helderberg Nature Reserve and Jonkershoek Nature Reserve are further out of town, but are good options for visitors to Cape Town. From a safety point of view it’s a good idea  for tour operators to advise travellers not to walk or run alone.

For urban walks, there are some great historical walking tours on offer, including a guided tour around Bo-Kaap.

Food, glorious food

Cape Town is a well-known gourmet destination. An incredible array of options include award-winning restaurants and some of the finest chefs in the country (advance booking at the top restaurants is advised).

Food-related experiences include picnics in a fynbos forest, or for a spot of heritage, include a Cape Malay cooking safari on the itinerary. Introduce travellers to shisa nyama on a township tour; book a decadent high tea at a historic hotel; or send guests foraging for their lunch before it’s expertly cooked by a local chef.

Wine Tours

This is wine country, and no itinerary to Cape Town is complete without a visit to the Winelands for a wine-tasting experience. Groot Constantia in the Constantia Valley, where visitors can stroll along the visitors’ route (self-guided) and learn all about the rich heritage of the estate before or after enjoying a wine-tasting.  

Day trips to the beautiful wine farms of Stellenbosch, Franschhoek and Paarl are an option. If travellers love good food, make sure to include a visit to one of the many incredible restaurants in the Winelands. Many of the wine farms are family-friendly, and as a fun option, Cape Town Tourism recommends a ride on the Franschhoek Wine Tram, which stops at a number of well-known wine estates.

Art lovers

Art aficionados will enjoy a street-art tour of Woodstock, a visit to the stunning Delaire Graff Estate with its exquisite sculptures and artworks and, of course, a visit to the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa (MOCAA) the largest contemporary art museum of its kind in Africa. Numerous art galleries are dotted all over Cape Town, including the Iziko South African National Art Gallery. For clients who love great design, the elegant and much-talked-about Bosjes Estate in the Breede Valley (outside Cape Town) is worth including on the itinerary.

Family fun

The city is a great destination for families, with loads of activities on offer. The Two Oceans Aquarium is always a favourite with families, and Boulders Beach to see the penguins is a popular option. Simon’s Town is great for exploration on foot, and kayaking tours might be a good idea to add to a package. The Table Mountain Cableway is a firm favourite, as is a visit to Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens. Teens and tweens will enjoy Promenade Mondays, where they can skate, rollerblade or ride bikes along the Sea Point Promenade.

These are just a few ideas for your Cape Town itineraries, we look forward to hearing more favourite options from our readers.