Cape Town, the Winelands and the Whale Coast
Use the waterfront as a base for the city and the peninsula, take a day trip to the Winelands, and finish with a night in Hermanus for whale watching.
A leisurely week: the first two days cover the waterfront, Table Mountain and Bo-Kaap; on day 3, visit Robben Island and then the Atlantic Seaboard beaches; day 4 is the peninsula loop including the seal island off Hout Bay; day 5 is a round trip to the Stellenbosch and Franschhoek wine regions; day 6 follows the coast road to Hermanus for an overnight stay; and day 7 visits the wine estates of the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley before returning to the airport. It suits first-time visitors who want to see the city and its surroundings in one trip.
September–November offers a good balance of whale watching and fine weather; in the December–January peak season, book accommodation and Robben Island tickets well in advance.
Day by day
Day 1 · Arrival at the Waterfront and the Silo District
Cape Town（V&A Waterfront、Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa）
Pick up a rental car or take a taxi from the airport to the Waterfront (about 25 minutes); in the afternoon, explore the Waterfront and the Silo District on foot.
Stay: V&A Waterfront
Day 2 · Table Mountain and Bo-Kaap
Cape Town（Table Mountain、Bo-Kaap、Greenmarket Square、Signal Hill）
In the morning, drive or take a taxi (15 minutes) to the lower cable car station; in the afternoon, walk around Bo-Kaap and Greenmarket Square, then go up Signal Hill for sunset.
If the cable car is closed due to strong wind, swap with one of the city days later in the week.
Stay: V&A Waterfront
Day 3 · Robben Island and the Atlantic Beaches
Cape Town（Robben Island、Clifton Beaches、Camps Bay）
In the morning, take the boat from the harbor to Robben Island and back (about 3.5 hours); in the afternoon, drive 15 minutes along the coast to Clifton and Camps Bay.
Stay: V&A Waterfront
Day 4 · Hout Bay and the Cape Peninsula
Cape Town（Hout Bay、Duiker Island (Seal Island)、Chapman's Peak Lookout、Cape of Good Hope / Cape Point、Boulders Beach Penguin Colony）
Take a boat from Hout Bay to see the seal island (about 1 hour), then follow Chapman's Peak Drive to Cape Point and return to the city via Simon's Town, about 170 km in all.
Seal island boats are cancelled in strong wind; the early departure is more reliable.
Stay: V&A Waterfront
Day 5 · Stellenbosch and the Franschhoek Winelands
Stellenbosch & Franschhoek（Stellenbosch Winelands、Delaire Graff Estate、Franschhoek）
Drive to Stellenbosch (about 45 minutes), continue over Helshoogte Pass to Franschhoek to ride the Wine Tram, and return to the city in the evening (about 1.2 hours).
On wine-tasting days, join a tour or take the tram; the Wine Tram must be booked in advance.
Stay: V&A Waterfront
Day 6 · Coastal Road to Hermanus
Hermanus & Gansbaai（Stony Point Penguin Colony、Harold Porter National Botanical Garden、Hermanus Cliff Path、Old Harbour & Whale Museum）
Head east along the R44 Clarence Drive via Betty's Bay to Hermanus, about 120 km and 2 hours without stops.
From June to November, you can watch southern right whales from shore along the cliff path.
Stay: Hermanus Old Town and Cliff Path
Day 7 · Hemel-en-Aarde Wine Estates and Return
Hermanus & Gansbaai（Hemel-en-Aarde Valley）
Visit the wine estates of the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley in the morning, then take the N2 directly to Cape Town International Airport in the afternoon (about 1.5 hours).