V&A Waterfront
Photograph: Courtesy CC/Flickr/South African Tourism
Photograph: Courtesy CC/Flickr/South African Tourism

The 18 best ways to enjoy the V&A

With hundreds of shops, restaurants and attractions, the V&A Waterfront is a must-see on any trip to Cape Town. 24 million visitors a year can't be wrong, right?

Matthew Sterne
Contributor: Richard Holmes
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When the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront – or just 'The V&A', as locals call it – was created back in 1991, few could have predicted how it would transform Cape Town’s social scene.

Named after Queen Victoria and her son, Prince Alfred, and with a maritime legacy dating back more than 350 years, the charm of the V&A Waterfront is that it remains a working harbour where tugs and fishing boats bustle about amid sightseeing boats and cruise ships.

Its reinvention as a quayside leisure hub – with 10 distinct districts, each with its own character and charm, spread over 300 acres – has also made it the most visited destination in all of South Africa, drawing up to 24 million visitors a year.

A hub of energy, activity and creativity, it’s easy to see why locals and visitors alike flock to the V&A Waterfront. With 500 shops, 100 places to eat and a bucketload of family-friendly activities, the V&A offers everything from sunset cruises to trendy shops and live entertainment – all with the icon that is Table Mountain as your backdrop. And, of course, it's also home to the first Time Out Market in Africa..

Ready to dive in (not literally)? Here are the very best things to do on your visit to this lively, historic harbour precinct.

Matthew Sterne is a writer and tour guide based in Cape Town. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines and check out our latest travel guides written by local experts.

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Time Out Market Cape Town
  • Time Out Market

With 13 of the city's best chefs under one roof, the Time Out Market Cape Town brings you the best of the Mother City's culinary adventures to the heart of the ever-popular V&A Waterfront.

Art, adventure and more... what to do at the V&A Waterfront

1. Explore African art at Zeitz MOCAA

The transformation of a decommissioned grain silo, which lay empty for more than a decade, into a world-class art museum and hotel has been widely lauded (and awarded). Indeed, the building is as striking as the exhibitions found within. The Zeitz MOCAA (Museum of Contemporary Art Africa) houses an outstanding collection of art from across the continent – in fact, it’s the world’s largest museum of contemporary art from Africa and its diaspora. The top floors of the building are occupied by the Silo Hotel – highly recommended for an afternoon tea or post-museum cocktails, even if you’re not checking in. And remember that African citizens enjoy free entry to Zeitz MOCAA on Wednesdays, between 10am and 1pm, on presentation of a valid ID/Passport.

2. Ride the Cape Wheel

Since it opened in 2008 the Cape Wheel has become one of the most popular attractions in the V&A Waterfront. It recently moved to the V&A’s Breakwater Boulevard, and from your capsule 40 metres in the air you’ll enjoy views to Granger Bay, Robben Island Table Mountain and the city. For an upgraded experience book the VIP Gondola, which boasts leather seats, a glass floor, music and a complimentary bottle of sparkling wine.

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3. Take a boat trip to Robben Island

A prison for over 300 years, Robben Island is Cape Town’s version of Alcatraz: except it's 50 times bigger and has also served as a leper colony, a mental hospital and a military base. Nowadays it’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site that has been preserved as a memorial to those who were incarcerated here.

The ferry trip to Robben Island leaves from the Waterfront's Clock Tower precinct, and once you’re on the island tours include a walk through the old prison (with the obligatory peek into Nelson Mandela’s tiny cell) and a 45-minute bus ride around the island with commentary on the various places of note.

You’ll see the lime quarry where Mandela did hard labour for years; the house where Robert Sobukwe, leader of the Pan-Africanist Congress, was held in solitary confinement for six years; and a church from the island’s days as a leper colony. This is the place to face up to Cape Town’s chequered history and gain a greater appreciation of the strides the city, and nation, have made since Mandela was freed.

4. Visit the Two Oceans Aquarium

With over 3000 creatures – from rays and penguins to yellowfin tuna and sharks – the Two Oceans Aquarium lets you delve below the surface of the oceans that surround the South African coastline. Be sure to check the schedule of animal feeding times, and don’t skip the predator exhibit, the astonishing kelp forest and the penguin area. There are jellyfish, eels, seahorses and even crabs – these enormous tanks contain them all. The Touch Pool is great for kids, as is the 10-metre-long tunnel that allows you to get up close with subtropical species.

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5. Find a culinary adventure

From quick bites and pubs with a view to some of the city’s best fine dining, the V&A Waterfront has something for every palate. There are over 100 restaurants and food stalls to choose from, including exceptional sushi and fresh fish from Willoughby’s, Harbour House and The Cape Town Fish Market. The centre has more casual steak and fusion restaurants, plus plenty of spots for a light bit and a cup of coffee while you’re taking a break from shopping. And don't forget the Time Out Market Cape Town, which brings 13 of the city's top chefs under one roof.

6. The Waterfront Duck Co.

Africa’s first amphibious bus-and-boat tour has set sail in Cape Town, with the launch in August 2024 of The Waterfront Duck Co. Based in the Silo District of the V&A Waterfront, The Waterfront Duck Co. offers nine tours per day, each lasting an hour. While the land portion will vary according to traffic, expect a rumbling meander around the Atlantic Seaboard while the on-board con-duck-tor shares the city's history through notable landmarks and stories. The Duck then returns to the Waterfront and down the slipway at the Cape Grace Hotel for a 30-minute watery ‘drive’ around the harbours and basins of the Waterfront. 

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7. Enjoy a little retail therapy

As the locals like to say when discussing where to shop, ‘the Waterfront probably has it’. Selling everything from fashion, homeware and curios to jewellery, leather goods and tech, the V&A Waterfront is Cape Town’s most popular shopping destination for a reason. The best bit is being able to step outside the mall for a quick break and a breath of ocean air.

8. Wander around the Watershed

Cape Town has plenty of powerful design stories to tell – and  the Watershed is where over 150 makers bring them to life. Stocking more than 300 local brands, this large market – separate to the main shopping centre – is a craft and design space bursting with fresh fashion, art and flavour. It’s a relaxed area that offers the best in local art, ceramics, jewellery, clothing and more, all with a strong sense of local flair.

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9. Go on a sunset cruise

One of the best ways to end the day in Cape Town is on a yacht in the bay with a glass of bubbly in hand. There are a range of operators to choose from, but most offer something similar – namely a 90-minute cruise at sunset. Whichever you go with, it should include fantastic views of Table Mountain, the cityscape and Sea Point; fresh ocean breezes; waves lapping against the boat; a glass of sparkling wine and the sense that life simply doesn’t get much better than this.

10. Take a harbour/canal cruise

Love the water but don’t want to head out on the open sea? Hop on the Red Bus Canal Cruise to meander along the canals between the Convention Centre and the heart of the V&A Waterfront.

You could also opt for the Waterfront Harbour Cruise, which departs from the jetty outside the Two Oceans Aquarium. On this 30-minute excursion you’ll get up close to the ships and trawlers in the harbour, learn about the city’s maritime history and be delighted by the antics of the harbour’s resident Cape Fur Seals. 

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11. Saddle up and explore!

Hire a bike from Up Cycles and set off to explore. Up Cycles is the city’s only drop-and-go bicycle rental company, offering cruiser-style Dutch bicycle (helmets and locks included) for all ages and sizes. rentals start from as short as an hour, to a full day. Explore the Waterfront, the Sea Point Promenade, the Green Point Park and Stadium Precinct, or the city itself.

12. Lace up for a scenic run

Need to work up an appetite for the Time Out Market Cape Town? The V&A Waterfront offers a pair of scenic running routes that dish up memorable views of the ocean and city.

A 2.2km route is marked in yellow, while the 5km run is marked in red, and both are signposted making it easy for runners to track their distance. Free maps of the route are available from the Tourist Information Centre.

Both routes start at the Waterfront Information Centre and take in many well-known V&A Waterfront landmarks en route to the historic Harbour Breakwater and its scenic Boardwalk Path. From here various lookout points offer the opportunity to soak up the sea and city views, and perhaps even spot the resient pod of dolphins. The route then heads to Granger Bay and the Cape Town Stadium, before looping back to the Information Centre.

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13. See the city from the air

Turn the adrenaline dial right up on a scenic flight around the peninsula, taking in scenic panoramas and ocean vistas from above. Chopper tours take off regularly from the V&A Waterfront, soaring through the air for a dash to Camps Bay and back. Various helicopter companies boast a range of tours – some just dash to Camps Bay and back, with longer trips flying all the way out over landmarks such as Hout Bay, Simon’s Town and the Twelve Apostles rocks.

14. Chill out in Battery Park

Set apart from the commercial bustle of the Waterfront’s malls and quayside restaurant, Battery Park offers a refreshing change of tack; a public space where locals and tourists can kick back, or kick off, free of charge. Connecting the CBD to the Waterfront, the heart of this dynamic public space is the world-class skate and bike park, designed by US-based California Skateparks with input from local talent Marc Baker at CA Skateparks Africa. The games court alongside can be used for mini-soccer or basketball games, with height-adjustable hoops making it accessible for younger players.

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15. Go market shopping at OZCF

Easily the city’s finest fresh produce market, the Oranjezicht City Farm Market (known locally as OZCFM) is set right on the seafront at Granger Bay, a short stroll from the V&A Waterfront. Look forward to a vibrant farmers’ market experience, with locals stocking the pantry and tucking in at the varied food stalls.

Grab a wicker basket and wander the tables piled high with fruit, vegetables, dairy products and meat from the carefully curated roster of growers and producers. If you work up an appetite, hit the food stalls in the rear section, dishing up everything from pho to pastéis de nata. The OZCF is open Saturdays (8.15am-2pm) and Sundays (9am-2pm), and gets busy quickly. 

16. SUP through the Canal District

SUP Cape Town offers stand-up paddleboard rentals from the Waterfront’s Canal District. You can paddle as far as the city’s convention centre or head towards the Waterfront itself. You don’t need to be an expert – the canals are protected from the wind, ensuring the water is often flat and easier to navigate – but lessons are also available if you’re not quite ready to go it alone.

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17. Explore the tastes of Makers Landing

Makers Landing is an emporium filled with the most exciting food entrepreneurs in Cape Town, a place where you can sample a huge variety of cuisines and drinks. Think African dishes, Indian street food, specialised chocolate and brewed-in-front-of-your-eyes beer. The Landing’s mission is to create a space where local food businesses can access state-of-the-art shared kitchen spaces and equipment, learning, support services and networking opportunities.

18. Check out the Cape Town Diamond Museum

Located near the Nelson Mandela Gateway to Robben Island, the Cape Town Diamond Museum is for anyone interested in the history of Africa’s diamonds. It has replicas of the world’s most famous diamonds and displays on how rough diamonds are transformed into creations of ‘fire and light’ – plus you can learn about how diamonds are set into jewellery such as engagement rings, earrings and pendants.

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