Cape Town Travel Guide

By Virgin Atlantic | 21 October 2025 | 3 minute read

A couple cycling in Cape Town with the mountains in the background

Framed by mountain peaks and rolling seas, Cape Town is a city that dazzles at every turn. It’s where adventure meets elegance — and where locals swap hiking boots for surfboards before the day’s even begun

 

Bestowing Cape Town with its sublime beauty is the proximity of its built environments to such vast swaths of natural wilderness. Plus, there’s a pristine ocean curling around craggy headlands and boulder-strewn beaches. One of the must-do day-trips out of the city is a drive around the Cape Peninsula, taking in Cape Point as well as several quaint seaside villages, each imbued with its own special charm. Simon’s Town is Cape Town’s navy enclave, full of Victorian houses now converted into quaint boutiques and lively cafés. But perhaps the biggest draw here is the African penguin colony at Boulders, a pretty rock-fringed beach at the edge of the town.

A cableway view from Table Mountain in Cape Town

Start at the Top: Table Mountain and Beyond

No visit begins without looking up. Take the Table Mountain cableway or hike the trails for panoramic views of the Atlantic and the city below. For sunrise, Lion’s Head is the locals’ favourite, a gentler climb with unforgettable light.

 

Then, wind your way down the Cape Peninsula for one of the world’s most scenic drives. Stop at Chapman’s Peak, where every bend reveals another jaw-dropping view, and end the day watching waves crash at the Cape of Good Hope.

Coastal Magic: Beaches and Penguins

Boulders Beach is believed to be the only place in the world where you can effortlessly swim among penguins and possibly find them flopping onto your beach towel.

Penguin colony

From two lovebirds to thousands in tuxedos

The penguin colony, although now a major attraction of around 2,000 birds, started out as recently as 1983, when a lone pair was spotted on Boulders’ Foxy Beach. Two years later, they laid their first eggs, and by 1997, the colony had grown to 2,350 adults — many having immigrated from Dyer Island.

The population peaked in 2005 at nearly 3,900 birds before beginning to decline, mirroring global trends for African penguins. Today, Boulders remains one of the best places in the world to see these endearing creatures up close.

Penguins on Boulders Beach

Boulders Beach: A Wild Encounter

Boulders is the largest mainland penguin colony in South Africa — and the easiest to experience. Boardwalks and viewing platforms offer incredible photo opportunities while keeping the penguins protected, and special nesting stations help safeguard their eggs.

There’s a small fee for entry to the boardwalk and visitor centre, but the public beaches on either side are free and open for swimming. The water is bracingly cold, but if you’re lucky, you might find yourself sharing a dip with a penguin or two. Remember: these are wild animals — look, don’t touch, and let them come to you.

Simon's town

If you’re looking for post-penguin activities in Simon’s Town, it’s a good little town for exploring on foot. If maritime history intrigues you, visit the South African Naval Museum, which now includes a submarine stationed in the Naval Dockyard. And at the Simon’s Town Museum, you can learn about Just Nuisance, a famous and beloved beer-drinking great dane that was adopted by the Royal Navy during the Second World War (he’s even memorialised with a statue at the harbour). You can also catch a boat to watch whales.

Simon’s Town is just 40km from Cape Town central, and is accessible from the city by train.

Virgin Atlantic operates direct flights to South Africa from London Heathrow.

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