View of Cape Town and Table Mountain
- Write a '48 hours in Cape Town'? Impossible.
- Well, you have to do it. You'll fix it.
- And we could not do a 72 hours?
- Nope
- And a 65 hours or a 60...?
- No no and no. The article has to be '48 hours in Cape Town', period.
- Okay, but you know that they will have to run, that whoever dares to follow him will sweat the fat drop because I, I am not going to leave anything.
I said, in this wonderful place 48 hours are not enough, but we are going to try to show you the most picturesque corners of the city, discover the trail of Nelson Mandela , take you to the best wineries so you can taste the delicious South African broths , show you the best shops… Are you ready?
First day
- 9.00 am (I warned you, this was going to be hard). We begin by visiting Robben Island, an islet barely half an hour from Cape Town by ferry where one of the most ignominious prisons in the history of Apartheid is located. Here Nelson Mandela , leader of the Anti-apartheid movement and Nobel Peace Prize , he spent 18 of the 27 years he was confined until his release in 1990.
Visit the cells, not just the one in Mandela , but also that of other political prisoners, is an imaginary journey in the struggle for political equality of the black population in South Africa and the restoration of their dignity as free men. The guides are former prisoners who tell first-hand about their vicissitudes in this high-security prison. On the walls of some of the meager cells some prisoners left overwhelming testimonies about their confinement.
Ferries leave from Nelson Mandela Gateway , in the area called V&A Waterfront, being the first at 9 in the morning (perfect to make the most of the day). It is recommended buy tickets in advance.
Royale Eaterie, for lovers of gourmet burgers
12.00 pm, Lunch. After Robben Island, a walk through the City Bowl (the center of the city) where we will find remnants of a very interesting architectural legacy, but first, a technical stop to regain strength at the Royale Eaterie restaurant (273 Long Street) with a repertoire of 50 gourmet burgers (each one more delicious) . One of the veteran restaurants in the city and one of the favorites not only of the locals but also of celebrities like the city itself. Oprah Winfrey.
1:00 p.m. It's time to stroll down the most famous street in Cape Town, the Long Street , dotted with Victorian buildings, restaurants, bars and ultra-chic hotels where design is taken to the extreme. Long Street It is also the temple of shopping where craft shops and independent designers abound. We recommend the following:
-Imagenius: a beautiful Victorian building houses this flagship store where you will find from stylish bags with appliqués of Ostrich skin (why didn't I buy one?), ceramics, jewelry made by local designers. A true cave of treasures.
-Tribal Trends (72-74 Long Street) : my favorite. Two floors entirely devoted to African handicrafts. The owner, Eugène Kramer , tirelessly travels the African continent to bring to his store the most wonderful objects you can imagine: armchairs upholstered with beads from Cameroon, mali masks , zebra skin rugs…
-Meiga (92 Long Street) : beautiful traditional dresses Mali and South Africa. If you want to be the 'star' at the next wedding you're invited to, this is the place.
-Panafrican market (78 Long Street) : Less exclusive but interesting African crafts. You have to haggle. Don't miss out on its friendly café overlooking Long Street.
After the purchases we continue until the City Hall , a building of great symbolism from which Mandela addressed the nation just after his release in 1990, after 27 years in prison, and later in 1994, when his party, the ANC , won the elections. Nelson Mandela he would thus become the first democratically elected president of the Rainbow Nation.
If you still have time, don't miss the District Six Museum , essential to understand a little more the brutal system which ruled South Africa until 1994. This museum recreates the life of the so-called District 6 , a neighborhood with a heterogeneous population, mostly black, that was dismantled in the 70s when the area was classified as exclusively for the white population. Its strategic position between the port and the city center made it a highly coveted area for the builders of luxurious buildings for the whites. Its residents, some 60,000 They were expelled and 'relocated' in the so-called townships, true ghettos for blacks.
Nelson Mandela revisiting his cell on Robben Island
6:00 p.m. Watch the sunset from the emblematic Table Mountain . This table-shaped mountain, a true icon of the city, has been declared one of the 7 wonders of nature. Go up in the cable car to enjoy a magical sunset in colors ocher and saffron . Don't forget the bottle of wine. And to 'loop the loop' order a picnic basket from the Cafe on the top.
9:00 p.m. Dinner time. We give you two options:
To experience the strong and spicy flavors from the African continent, try The Africa Café (in the city center), a veritable feast of 15 hearty dishes from different regions of Africa. The place is a bit touristy but it's a lot of fun and the food is delicious. If after the busy day, you feel like something calmer , we recommend Codfather (in the Campsbay area), an unsophisticated place but where you will find the best fish in the city. Make your selection and the chef will cook it for you to your liking.
Tokara, vineyards with views
Second Day: exploring the vineyards
In the morning
South Africa is the ninth largest wine producer in the world, being the Cape Peninsula the wine region par excellence. Stellenbosch , 40 minutes from Cape Town, is considered the country's wine capital and the perfect place to start your wine immersion.
More than a hundred wineries dot the spectacular vineyard scenery . There are some for all tastes, with a minimalist design like the Tokara one, more traditional like Thelema but with an equally impeccable decoration, or with Panoramic views like that of Boschendal, one of the oldest. Today we are left with Tokara , a family winery where GT and Anne-Marie Ferreira They produce wines of the highest level with great care and dedication. We have 'coupled' at the viewpoint with a view of scandal and there we have spent the morning tasting wines and more wines.
Note: to get to the vineyards it is best to rent a car. Cape Town It has one of the best road infrastructures in the country.
1:00 p.m. Lunch time at one of the best restaurants in the area. La Petite Ferme (Pass Road, Franschhoek) , in the middle of the vineyards. The owners Mark and Josephine Dendy They will not hesitate to explain in detail the culinary delights of the day and the best wines to accompany them. Reserve a table next to the garden and simply enjoy.
4:00 p.m. -7:00 p.m. Back in Cape Town, take a detour to the road that runs along the coast on the eastern side of the Cape, to see the St James's multi-coloured bathing cottages and take a walk through Kal Bay , a charming fishing village full of little shops of local artisans. Do not forget to have some fish tapas accompanied by a good white wine at Harbor House, (another of my favorites) a restaurant embedded in the same ocean where you will see the sun die over the deep blue waters of the Atlantic.
9:00 p.m. It's your last day, so why not treat yourself to a gastronomic tribute at the Azure Restaurant at the Los Doce Apóstoles hotel, in Camp's Bay ? a restaurant where fish and shellfish rise to the category of art. the terrace with views over the ocean and mountains It's a bit windy for dinner, but order an aperitif there and you'll have the ideal farewell to one of the most beautiful cities in the world.
And in the end, I knew it, I have missed visits as interesting as the colorful neighborhood Bo Kaap majority Muslim, the colony of 3,000 African penguins with which you can bathe (if you are not afraid of strong smells, of course), or the wild and remote beach that fascinated me on my first trip to South Africa, Northhoek …Definitely 48 hours is not enough.
Colorful Boo-Kap neighborhood
Where to stay
For those looking to enjoy a relaxed environment, the ideal option is to stay in the area of Camp's Bay (just 10 minutes by car from the center) with panoramic views over the coast. The options here are multiple but we recommend the Boutique hotel POD, magnificent design and even better views, which has already been mentioned by the prestigious Tatler as one of the most boutique hotels most interesting in the world. For the most urbanites, there is no shortage of alternatives in the center, especially along Long St.
We propose two options:
The Gran Daddy Hotel , whose attic offers the unique experience of sleeping in authentic american caravans . Each of them has been customized by a different artist. A fun concept especially recommended for groups of friends.
Sleeping in a caravan at The Grand Daddy Hotel
And put to experiment, the Daddy Long Legs is the perfect option for "independent and creative travelers who are looking for something more than staying in another standard room in a standard hotel". 'Art Hotel' as they call themselves, has a collection of 13 rooms each designed by a different artist: a photographer, a poet, a musician...
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Cape Town: too many things at once