V&A Waterfront

The V&A Waterfront is South Africa’s most visited destination, attracting millions of visitors every year – and for good reason, given the location’s combination of shops, restaurants, nightspots, tourist attractions and museums in the city’s historic harbour. (Construction for this harbour began as early as 1860, when Prince Alfred tipped the first stones for the breakwater, hence the attraction’s name: V&A after Queen Victoria of England and her youngest son Alfred.)

You might like to visit the family-friendly Two Oceans Aquarium  (+27 (0)21 418 3823), where you can eyeball sharks, penguins and hundreds of species of sea life. There are lots of outdoor activities available too, ranging from helicopter flips to boat charters and relaxed harbour cruises (walk along the water’s edge and pick one – there are several options). Or browse through hundreds of shopping outlets, ranging from larger department stores selling designer labels to boutique jewellery and curio shops.

The V&A Waterfront’s Amphitheatre is a good spot for live entertainment (usually provided to the public for free) – from concerts to creative workshops and puppet shows.

For those in search of local culture and history there are a number of museums and galleries that form part of the precinct – including the Maritime Centre in the Union Castle Building, which features a collection of ship models and objects associated with shipping in Cape Town, in particular the era of mail ships. For something a little more unusual, visit the Chavonnes Battery Museum, which commemorates a massive fortification dating back to 1726.

The V&A Waterfront is also home to the Nelson Mandela Gateway, the embarkation point to Robben Island (+27 (0)21 413 4200). Robben Island served as a prison, a hospital for those with leprosy and the mentally and chronically ill, and a military base between the 17th and 20th centuries, and is now a museum, World Heritage Site and top tourist attraction. Its maximum security prison housed political prisoners such as Nelson Mandela, South Africa’s first democratic president, during the apartheid era.

At the end of your day, enjoy a glass of Cape wine or dinner at one of the V&A Waterfront’s restaurants, some of which rank among the best in the country. You might even choose to stay in one of the many top-class hotels such as the Cape Grace set on a private quay, or the Victoria & Alfred Hotel, located in the historic 1904 North Quay Warehouse.

Visit the V&A Waterfront website for more information.

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