Cape Town's old harbour, turned into the city's liveliest quarter. Shops, a food market and craft stalls under Table Mountain, the Two Oceans Aquarium and Zeitz MOCAA, and the jetty where the sunset cruises and the Robben Island ferry set off.
The V&A Waterfront is Cape Town’s old working harbour, and still a working one, reinvented as the city’s busiest meeting place. Tugs and trawlers share the docks with shops, restaurants and museums, and Table Mountain stands over the whole thing.
There’s plenty here without spending much. The harbour, the swing bridge and the markets are free to wander, and there’s usually live music somewhere. When you do pay, the big draws are the Two Oceans Aquarium, good with kids, and Zeitz MOCAA, a museum of contemporary African art carved out of an old grain silo that’s worth seeing for the building alone.
It’s also the city’s departure lounge for the water. Robben Island ferries leave from the Nelson Mandela Gateway here, and a row of operators run sunset cruises out into Table Bay with a glass of something cold. Safe, walkable and lively into the evening, it’s an easy place to end a day in Cape Town.
Wander the harbour for free, then pick a couple of the paid sights and a sunset on the water.
The working docks, the swing bridge and the buskers cost nothing. Browse the Watershed craft market, graze the V&A Food Market, and watch the seals lounge on the jetties, with Table Mountain filling the skyline.
Pay into the highlights clustered here: the Two Oceans Aquarium, good with kids, the Zeitz MOCAA museum of contemporary African art in a sculpted grain silo, and the Cape Wheel for the view over the bay.
Golden light on Table Mountain, sunset cruises leaving the harbour and dinner by the water make the late afternoon the best time to arrive.
Robben Island ferries and the most popular sunset cruises leave from here and sell out. Reserve before you come.
Even if museums aren't your thing, the building, a grain silo carved into a vaulted atrium, is worth the ticket on its own.
The V&A Food Market gathers Cape dishes, craft beer and local wine under one roof, an easy and affordable lunch or early dinner.
This is one of the safest, most walkable parts of the city at night, so it's a relaxed place for an evening meal or a drink.
The aquarium, MOCAA and the malls are all undercover, which makes the Waterfront the obvious plan when the weather turns.
Book a cruise or a sight at the Waterfront through our trusted partners — the same price as booking direct.
Sail out of the harbour for golden hour with Table Mountain behind and a glass of sparkling wine in hand. Cruises leave from the Waterfront.
Book on GetYourGuide →The ferry to Robben Island leaves from the Nelson Mandela Gateway here at the Waterfront, for the prison and Mandela's cell.
See ferry tickets →A guided city tour that rides the Cape Wheel at the Waterfront and takes in Bo-Kaap and the District Six Museum.
See city tours →Hotels right on the Waterfront and in the City Bowl, safe and walkable in the evening.
Find a stay →We may earn a commission when you book through our partner links — at no extra cost to you.
The Waterfront is the easy heart of Cape Town. See everything else the Mother City has nearby.
