12 Cool and Unusual Things to Do in Cape Town - Atlas Obscura

Unusual Attractions in Cape Town

Cape Town, South Africa

Boulders Beach Penguin Sanctuary

This African beach is home to thousands of rare mainland penguins that are known for their annoying voice.

Cape Town, South Africa

Bo Kaap

Formerly known as the Malay Quarter, Bo Kaap is a colorfully-painted suburb located in the “Mother City” of South Africa.

Cape Town, South Africa

South African Astronomical Observatory

This historic observatory was established to keep shipwrecks from littering the Cape of Good Hope.

Cape Town, South Africa

Seal Island

Haven for Cape Fur Seals, until the Ring of Death of jumping Great White Sharks arrives.

Cape Town, South Africa

Tapi Tapi Ice Cream

The frozen treats at this Cape Town parlor are inspired by Africa's food cultures.

Cape Town, South Africa

District Six Museum

A sobering account of the vibrant multicultural neighborhood that was destroyed under apartheid.

Cape Town, South Africa

Chapman's Peak Drive

This road winds through the steep coastal cliffside offering spectacular views for those who brave the drive.

Cape Town, South Africa

Foreshore Freeway Bridge

Despite many attempts to finish this overpass, it has been abandoned since the 1970s.

See All 12 Things to Do in Cape Town See All 12 Places

Want to see fewer ads? Become a Member.

Cool Places to Eat & Drink in Cape Town

Cape Town, South Africa

Tapi Tapi Ice Cream

The frozen treats at this Cape Town parlor are inspired by Africa's food cultures.

In partnership with KAYAK

Plan Your Trip

In partnership with Get Your Guide

Guided Tours Nearby

Explore Cape Town, South Africa

Launch Map

Cape Town Leaderboard

Places Added

Places Edited

Places Visited

Recent Cape Town Activity

ccglea has been to Foreshore Freeway Bridge

paulgloverpeel has been to Chapman's Peak Drive

paulgloverpeel has been to Boulders Beach Penguin Sanctuary

icutyourhair94 wants to go to Bo Kaap

lanashereegreen wants to go to Foreshore Freeway Bridge

Stories About Cape Town

Khan also holds workshops for children to interact, play with, and learn about seeds.

In South Africa, a Seed Librarian Seeks Ancestral Knowledge

Zayaan Khan runs a "Seed Biblioteek" out of her home.

Podcast: Boulders Beach Penguin Sanctuary

Join us for a daily celebration of the world’s most wondrous, unexpected, even strange places.

by The Podcast Team

February 3, 2022

The matemba ice cream flavor mixes salt-cured fish with toffee.

Tapi Tapi Ice Cream Is a Sweet Education on African Liberation

Tapiwa Guzha's desserts stir up conversation about culture, history, and identity.

February 12, 2021

Ducks on the move.

A Parade of 2,000 Ducks Keeps a South African Vineyard Running

For pest control, this South African farm enlisted a fowl army.

by Ulrike Lemmin-Woolfrey

The spectral ship has a curious, centuries-old history.

The World's Most Famous Ghost Ship Is an Enduring Symbol of Empire

The Flying Dutchman's long afterlife began with a British power trip.

by Isaac Schultz

October 24, 2019

Cape Town's unfinished freeway bridge.

A Highway in Cape Town Has Been Left Half-Finished for 40 Years

The spans just stop, mid-air.

by Sarah Laskow

September 19, 2018

Want to see fewer ads? Become a Member.