City Hall and Grand Parade

Cape Town's City Hall. Photo courtesy Ramon Arellano

Cape Town’s City Hall was built in 1905 in Italian Renaissance style, and is one of the last Victorian-style sandstone structures in the Mother City. Despite showing its age, Cape Town’s iconic City Hall continues to be sought out by urban explorers.

Upon entering, beautiful mosaic floors lead to a marble staircase, which guides visitors upwards to vintage stained glass and a 3 165-pipe organ. Its classical, Darling Street facade, and an impressive half-size replica of London’s Big Ben, are also a source of fascination to visitors, particularly those who have been to London.

The City Hall is home to the world-renowned Cape Philharmonic Orchestra, which regularly performs concerts here.

Cape Town’s Grand Parade, in front of the City Hall, was the setting for the Cape Town FIFA Fan Fest during the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ in South Africa. As many as 25 000 people were comfortably able to watch live matches on a big screen here during this time. 

Twenty years earlier, it was also on the Grand Parade that more than 250 000 South Africans gathered in 1990 to welcome Nelson Mandela, following his historic release from prison.

The Castle of Good Hope, South Africa’s oldest building, is right across the road from the Grand Parade.

Walking in Cape Town

Many visitors want to explore nature on higher ground as soon as they arrive in Cape Town and with Lion’s Head and Table Mountain beckoning, many do get to experience the local flora and fauna on foot. However, the entire peninsula can be enjoyed by avid walkers. From Blouberg Beach, with its picture perfect views from its sandy shores, to the more adventurous guided Hoerikwaggo Trails along the spine of Table Mountain, visitors have an expanse of ground to cover.

Castle Military Museum

The Castle Military Museum is housed in the oldest building in South Africa, the Castle of Good Hope, which was declared a national monument in 1936.

The Castle Military Museum is a tribute to the brave regiments of the past, providing an insight into the political history of the country and celebrating the rich military history of the Cape. Then Minister of Defence Joe Modise officially opened the Castle Military Museum on August 1, 1995.

South African Rugby Museum

Cape Town sport enthusiasts are lucky enough to live in the city that is home to the South African Rugby Museum. Located just a drop kick away from the Newlands Rugby Stadium in the Southern Suburbs of Cape Town, home of the Stormers, the South African Rugby Museum is a full of tokens, collector’s items, memorabilia and history of one of the country’s most watched sports.

Historic buildings and architecture in Cape Town

As the oldest city in South Africa, Cape Town boasts a number of historical buildings, many of which are still in use today and open to visitors. The city’s architecture is a testament to the many varying influences in South Africa’s unique history.

Art galleries in Cape Town

More than 100 art galleries – as diverse as the colours daubed on an artist’s palette – await discovery in and around Cape Town.

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