I’m dangling 1,000 feet above Cape Town, strapped to a stranger named Earl, when he casually asks if I like roller coasters. “Yeah, sure,” I say, not really thinking about why he’s asking. Suddenly we’re looping through the sky, spinning and diving while I’m somewhere between laughing and screaming. But then he levels us out, and something unexpected happens. Everything goes quiet. That’s Cape Town for you. It promises you everything and then delivers something you didn’t even know you needed.

The Atlantic is Lying to You (It’s Freezing)

Let me start with a warning: the water here looks gorgeous and inviting. Don’t trust it.

We discovered this at Maiden’s Cove, tucked between Camps Bay and Clifton, about 10 minutes by Uber from Sea Point. It’s this perfect little spot with tidal pools, braai facilities, and the Twelve Apostles looming behind like ancient sentinels. Locals come here to escape the tourist crowds at the main beaches.

We set up our braai, cracked open cold drinks, and I confidently strode into the tidal pool. The shock knocked the breath out of my lungs. “Refreshing” is the polite South African way of saying “borderline hypothermic.” I lasted maybe three minutes before retreating to the warm rocks, while my brother and his family spent hours jumping off the rocks, diving into the pools, and swimming like the water was actually pleasant. Kids have no fear and apparently no nerve endings.

The sunset walk back to Sea Point made up for my frozen toes though, the kind of golden hour light that makes everything look like it’s been dipped in honey.

Table Mountain: Worth Every Tourist Cliché

The next morning, nursing our braai hangovers with strong coffee, we hopped the Red Bus to Table Mountain. Yes, it’s touristy. Yes, every single person who visits Cape Town goes there. And yes, it’s absolutely worth it.

Our City Pass let us skip the ticket queue (highly recommend getting one), and we went straight to the cable car. The rotating floor as you ascend is genius, everyone gets their Instagram shot without the usual elbowing for position.

At the top, the city sprawls below like a map, the Atlantic crashes endlessly against the coast, and on clear days you can spot Robben Island floating in the distance. We wandered the flat summit trails through fynbos (those strange, beautiful plants that look like they belong on another planet.) A rare hummingbird perched on the fynbos, sitting perfectly still long enough for us to actually get our cameras out and capture it. Those little moments of luck feel like gifts.

Pro tip: The café up there does decent coffee and local wine. Sitting at over 1,000 meters with a glass of Chenin Blanc, watching clouds roll in from the sea, is the kind of moment that makes you understand why people move here and never leave.

Champagne, Seals, and That Dolphin Moment

That evening, we joined a sunset cruise from the V&A Waterfront (also included with the City Pass—seriously, get one). I’m not usually one for “sunset experiences,” but this one converted me.

The sky turned molten… deep oranges bleeding into pinks and golds, all of it reflecting on the water. It was a bit windy but bearable, the kind of breeze that reminds you you’re on the Atlantic. Table Mountain glowed amber in the dying light. A heard of lazy seal lounged on a buoy, completely unbothered by our boat full of camera-wielding tourists.

They handed out blankets as the temperature dropped, and I’m glad they did because that Atlantic wind cuts right through you. I was halfway through my (second glass) of champagne, thinking this was already worth it, when someone shouted and pointed.

Dolphins. A whole pod of them, arcing through the water alongside the boat, their bodies sleek and impossibly graceful. They played in our wake against the backdrop of the city skyline, and for once, everyone just watched instead of filming. Some moments demand that.

Wine History You Can Taste

The next day, slightly worse for wear from the champagne, we headed to Groot Constantia in the Constantia Valley. Our City Pass covered this one, a genuine bonus since it includes a guided tasting of five wines plus a crystal Spiegelau wine glass to take home. Not a cheap souvenir glass either; the real deal.

This isn’t just a wine estate, it’s the wine estate, founded in 1685 by Simon van der Stel. Napoleon allegedly had their wine shipped to him in exile, which tells you something about the quality (or Napoleon’s taste, take your pick).

The estate feels timeless: white Cape Dutch buildings, oak trees older than most countries, and that particular quiet you only find in wine valleys. The tasting took us through crisp whites that tasted like sunshine and bold reds that warmed from the inside out.

The guide told stories about the estate’s history between pours, and honestly, I retained about 40% of it because good wine has that effect. But walking those grounds, you feel the weight of over 300 years of winemaking, and it’s worth the visit even if you’re not usually a wine person. Plus, you leave with a proper wine glass. A nice touch that makes the experience feel even more special.

Paragliding: Trust Issues at 1,000 Feet

I have a fear of heights. Not crippling, but enough that I need to talk myself into things like paragliding. We convinced ourselves to book with The Tandem Flight Company, launching from Signal Hill. We’d upgraded to the Unlimited Premium Pass with our City Pass, which included this experience and I’m both grateful and mildly resentful about it.

Earl, my tandem pilot, made it look effortless. We ran down the slope together, the canopy filled with air, and suddenly we were floating. He asked if I liked roller coasters. I said yes. What followed was a series of loops and spins that had me laughing and yelping in equal measure (pure adrenaline), exactly what I’d signed up for.

But then he leveled us out, and everything changed.

I expected thrills. I got something closer to meditation. We glided over the Atlantic toward Sea Point, the ocean glittering below, the city stretched along the coastline. No engine noise. Just wind and silence and this overwhelming sense of peace I wasn’t remotely prepared for.

It sounds dramatic, but something lifted. Like a weight I’d been carrying without realising it suddenly wasn’t there anymore. I felt my throat tighten, tears pricking at my eyes, not from fear, but from this unexpected lightness. Floating above everything, problems feeling small and manageable, the world looking vast and beautiful instead of overwhelming.

Earl pointed out landmarks occasionally, his voice calm and easy, but mostly he just let me be. Fifteen minutes of accidental therapy at 1,000 feet.

They captured photos and videos, which is good because I was too busy processing whatever emotional release was happening to think about documentation. By the time we landed on the beach, I felt different. Lighter. Like I’d left something up there in the sky and didn’t need to go back for it.

Pirates, Colour, and Culture

The Jolly Roger Pirate Ship at the V&A Waterfront is pure fun. Cape Town’s only pirate-themed cruise, included with the City Pass (though you’ll need to book ahead). It’s cheesy in the best way, perfect if you’re traveling with kids or just want something lighthearted. We saw more dolphins (they’re everywhere!), enjoyed the coastal views, and successfully avoided walking any planks.

Bo-Kaap is harder to describe. The neighbourhood is famous for its brightly coloured houses; pinks, blues, greens, yellows, all in a row like a box of crayons exploded. But it’s so much more than an Instagram backdrop.

This is the heart of Cape Malay heritage in Cape Town. Here’s where I need to be honest: we made the mistake of going alone. We got a bit lost, and while we were there, we witnessed someone having their phone stolen. It shook us, and we left without really experiencing what makes Bo-Kaap special.

Learn from our mistake; take the guided tour. It’s included with the City Pass, lasts about 90 minutes, and you can catch it via the City Red Bus at the Long Street stop. A guide keeps you safe, shows you the right places, and shares the stories about the community’s history, the significance of the colours, the struggles and triumphs that make this neighbourhood what it is.

Don’t just show up for photos. Do the tour. The colours are beautiful, but without context and safety, you’re missing the point entirely.

Coffee, Coastline, and Small Plates

Our mornings developed a rhythm: Naked Coffee in Sea Point for their Naked Toddy; warm, spicy, exactly what you need to face the day. Then a walk along the Sea Point Promenade, watching joggers and dog walkers and the occasional brave soul swimming in those frigid pools.

Camps Bay Beach became our lunch spot, specifically Cause Effect with its ocean views and people-watching opportunities. We fell into a pattern of ordering too much: Ferrari mussels swimming in garlic butter, grilled halloumi with pomegranate, salt-and-pepper calamari that disappeared in minutes, and Springbok Caprese (yes, springbok; tender and surprisingly delicious).

A bottle of Chenin Blanc, street performers providing the soundtrack, the City Bus making transport easy. Some days you don’t need adventure; you need good food and a view.

Evenings often ended at Mojo Market for cocktails and live music. Our City Pass bar vouchers helped justify the extra drinks, though let’s be honest, we would’ve gone anyway.

Saunders Rocks: For the Truly Brave

Saunders Rocks Beach has calmer, more sheltered tidal pools than Maiden’s Cove, which locals swear makes them warmer. (Spoiler: they’re still freezing.) But something about an early morning swim there; maybe the endorphins, maybe the sunrise, maybe just the satisfaction of conquering the cold, sets the day up right.

Vagabond Café became our post-swim recovery spot. Avo toast with a ginger shot to shock the system awake, green juices that taste like virtue, Thai Crunch wraps packed with flavour. Fresh, healthy, and exactly what your body craves after you’ve dunked it in the Atlantic at dawn.

City Streets with Character

Bree Street pulses with life. We started mornings at Max Bagels (get there early), browsed local markets, and ended up at Hacienda for dinner. Their tempura lobster tacos are ridiculous in the best way; crispy, indulgent, completely worth any calorie guilt. The totopos (Mexican tostadas) packed bold, unapologetic flavours.

Kloof Street House is a hidden gem, literally tucked away with a garden courtyard that feels secret and special. Perfect for cocktails at sunset or a lingering dinner. The kind of place locals take you when they want to impress you.

Winelands: A Day Well Spent

You can’t visit Cape Town without a day in the Winelands. We hit three estates: Blaauwklippen in Stellenbosch for a sabrage demonstration (watching someone slice the top off a champagne bottle with a sword never gets old), Franschhoek Cellar for a long lunch paired with local wines, and Rhebokskloof in Paarl for five wines matched with Belgian chocolate.

But the Winelands aren’t really about the wine (or they’re not only about the wine). It’s the pace that slows your heartbeat, the mountains that frame every view, the way conversation flows easily when you’re surrounded by beauty and good company.

The Thing About Cape Town

From Table Mountain to Lion’s Head, the Twelve Apostles to those ridiculously cold but gorgeous beaches, the city streets alive with culture and creativity to the valleys where wine flows freely. Cape Town delivers on every promise.

It’s the kind of place that gets under your skin. Weeks later, I still think about those dolphins in the wake of the sunset cruise, the way the city looked from 1,000 feet up, the warmth of strangers who became fast friends over braais and bottles of wine.

The Mother City, they call it. And like all good mothers, she takes care of you, pushes you out of your comfort zone, and sends you home changed.