Cape Town remains a natural choice for those who appreciate the finer things in life, with the Cape Town Big 6 offering the discerning traveller new ways to enjoy the city’s most popular attractions in enhanced style.
Cape Town’s Favourite Attractions Reimagined For The Luxury Traveller
2025 – Cape Town remains a natural choice for those who appreciate the finer things in life, with the Cape Town Big 6 offering the discerning traveller new ways to enjoy the city’s most popular attractions in enhanced style. With some pre-planning, these favourite places become stages for making once-in-a-lifetime memories; think fly-in lunches, chef-prepared picnics, fast-tracked access, and expertly led private tours. Here are a few ways to add a touch of luxury to your visit.
Cape Point
At the rugged tip of the peninsula, Cape Point remains a place of myth and maritime legend. Allow a private guide to bring these stories to life as you walk the shipwreck trails and visit the lighthouses that have borne witness to passing ships for over a century. This can be followed by a gourmet picnic prepared by a local chef and enjoyed at one of the reserve’s vantage points. For a still more spectacular perspective, walk from the lighthouse to Diaz Beach, one of the most beautiful and secluded in the Cape.
Robben Island Museum
Robben Island’s story of resilience and freedom is world-renowned. Experiencing it on a private tour with a dedicated guide will lend a deeper resonance. Travel by chartered vessel to the island, stepping ashore for a tour guided by a specialist historian. Away from the crowds, gain insight into the restored buildings, maximum security prison, lime quarry and the people who have found themselves here over the decades. For something exceptional, book the tour with Christo Brand, ex-warder and friend to Nelson Mandela, who will share his stories of “Doing Life with Mandela – My Prisoner, My Friend” as recorded in his book. This can be followed by lunch at one of the V&A Waterfront restaurants.
Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden
Set on the eastern slopes of Table Mountain, Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden is a living ode to the Cape Floral Kingdom. As much as exploring it at leisure is a dream, booking a stroll through it in the company of a leading botanist will unveil rare fynbos and medicinal plants, succulents and cycads too often overlooked. Pause to taste edible flora in the medicinal garden, marvel at the Mandela Gold strelitzia and linger in the Shona statue. A setting that rivals the best, it is ideal for celebrations, private events and corporate gatherings. You imagine it, and the team at Kirstenbosch will action it.
Table Mountain Cableway
Iconic for a reason and a must-see on any visit to Cape Town, queuing for Table Mountain Cableway tickets may seem unavoidable in peak season. Opting for the Cableway’s fast-track option means you head straight to the front of the line, VIP style! On special occasions, for a family or group of friends, you can even book a private cable car by arrangement. Don’t forget to linger for sundowners, a meal, or a guided walk to take in the city from all the best vantage points, or greet the day with sunrise yoga on a secluded ledge before the mountain opens to the public. All of which can be curated to match your specific interest.
V&A Waterfront
The V&A Waterfront blends contemporary glamour with marine heritage. Book a walk led by a local historian to bring it to life, slip into a curated gallery for a new collectable, or consider investing in a piece of high-end jewellery after visiting the Diamond Museum. Artisan and designer stores offer indulgent shopping opportunities before boarding a luxury catamaran for a sunset sail – complete with an oyster and Cap Classique pairing. Home to numerous acclaimed restaurants, a luxurious dinner will complete your refined experience. Best of all, you don’t have to leave, stay the night – or many, at one of the city’s top hotels that call the V&A Waterfront home.
Groot Constantia
Groot Constantia has for centuries held the heart of fine South African wine. Stroll through the Manor House Museum, visit the centuries-old Cloete Cellar (where the famous Grand Constance was born), and book a private tour and tasting in the modern Production Cellar. A specialist wine historian can talk you through the varietals that are grown, matured and bottled on the farm today. For absolute spoiling, arrive by helicopter to lunch at Simon’s Restaurant, and don’t forget a stop at the Wine & Gift shop, which is a triumph of contemporary products by some of SA’s most loved designers, all unique to Groot Constantia.
Whichever you choose, seamless, elevated experiences can be orchestrated across the Big 6, with chauffeured transfers, private dining and bespoke hampers among the touches that transform Cape Town’s most celebrated sites into truly luxurious moments.
Discover more about Cape Town’s Big 6 at www.capetownbig6.co.za and follow @CapeTownBig6 to keep up to date.
Get to know the author, Dawn Jorgensen
Credentials: Promoter of Ethical & Sustainable Journeys, Travel Writer, Marketing Strategist with a focus on ecotourism, and founder of the award-winning blog The Incidental Tourist. She has extensive experience in tour operating, digital content management, social media curation, and magazine travel journalism.
A Personal Touch: A self-proclaimed earth advocate and beauty seeker, Dawn is deeply passionate about Africa, its people, and the environment. Through her writing, she inspires mindful, ethical travel choices that celebrate nature and culture without compromise.
Share your top Cape Town Big 6 moments with us!
Connect with us via our Cape Town Big 6 Facebook or Twitter page. Better yet, tag us on Instagram of your favourite outdoor moment and tag @CapeTownBig6 #CapeTownBig6
ONE DESTINATION, SIX UNFORGETTABLE EXPERIENCES
There is no one way to explore all of the Cape Town Big 6, and much of what makes each of them so special is the variety of things to see and do at each. So if possible, take your time to explore each of the city’s most visited tourist attractions in as much depth as possible – as any local will tell you, you can spend a lifetime at each of the Big 6 and still not tire of them. Find the 3 and 4 day itineraries and tips here.