Cape Town & Stellenbosch, South Africa

Things to know:

• MONEY: Rand is the South African currency. Use this tool to convert Rand to US $. At the time of writing this, 100 Rand = $6.75.

  • If you have a credit card with no foreign transaction fees, use it! Almost all location take major credit cards.

  • As always, you should still carry cash for tips or emergencies. Stop at an ATM in the Cape Town airport (don’t go to a foreign exchange booth) and the fee should only be $5.

• SAFETY: Review the updated travel guidelines from the State Department here.

  • Be a cautious traveler! Carry your passport and avoid wearing flashy jewelry.

• TRANSPORTATION: You can do this itinerary solely with Uber. Although, if you choose to rent a car we provide activity recommendations that are not included in the itinerary.

• OTHER: Cape Town is in a drought, be considerate with water.

Day 1: Travel Day!

Morning: Chances are this trip is going to be a long one, maybe the longest you’ve ever taken. If you’re like us and flying from Houston, Texas - be ready for almost 24 hours travel time. IT. IS. WORTH. IT. This trip was our honeymoon and although we’ve been a lot of places since, nothing beats Cape Town & Stellenbosch in our book.

Afternoon: Some will say rule of thumb is get to the airport 1.5 hours before departure for domestic flights, and 3 hours before departure for international flights. We think 3 hours is a little extreme, so get there 2 hours before departure.

Houston > Cape Town Flight information: British Airways 196 Houston to London departing at 9:25pm. British Airways 43 London to Cape Town arriving at 7:45am.

Evening: Sleep, sleep, sleep on the plane. As soon as you board, be aware of what time it is in the location you’re going - and try to begin matching your sleep schedule to that time zone. From Houston to London, I went to sleep as soon as I got on the plane and slept for 6-7 hours. Then I slept on the back half of the flight from London to Cape Town. When we landed it was morning time and I was ready for the day!

Day 2: Arrive

Morning: We recommend using ride-sharing services instead of renting a car to get from the airport to the place you’re staying, so henceforth I’ll refer to Uber as our mode of transportation.

NOTE ON RENTAL CARS: If you are wanting to go to the Cape of Good Hope, the Penguin Peninsula, or other farther away destinations (recommendations at the bottom), you should rent a car.

Ubers are readily available outside of baggage claim at the Cape Town International Airport (CPT), and the ride from the airport to our Airbnb was about 35 minutes and the equivalent of $13. Folks, Cape Town is a beautiful, bustling city and there are many places you can opt to stay, which we’ve noted at the bottom of this itinerary. BUT our Airbnb was a great experience and only $70/night. Hard to beat that. This particular Airbnb is located in a nice neighborhood in the heart of Cape Town.

Evening: Once you’re settled in and showered, Uber down to the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront. This is a great spot to slowly get acclimated, get your legs moving, and take in the culture of Cape Town. With many shops, art galleries, and restaurants to choose from, make sure you support local businesses at the Watershed, open between 10am-6pm. You may also catch some live music while you’re there!

Day 3: Lion’s Head & the Beach

Morning: Up for a moderate hike? Wake up early and take an Uber to the base of Lion’s Head (address: Signal Hill Rd, Signal Hill, Cape Town, 8001, South Africa). This hike is a popular 2.6 mile out and back hike that provides incredible views of the city and ocean. If you opted for a rental car, there is a parking lot close to the trailhead.

OPTIONAL: Paraglide at the top of Lion’s Head. We didn’t do this so I can’t fully endorse it, but there are great reviews for Hi 5 Paragliding if you’re up for the adventure!

NOTE: Take a picture at the top and tag us on Instagram!

Afternoon: After a morning hike, no doubt you’ll be ready for brunch. Cafe Puka ($) is a local favorite, serving both breakfast and lunch options. Get the Potato Rosti! It’s basically a giant hash brown. With a fully stomach, take an Uber back to your place to shower and change in to your swimsuit. It’s time for the beach! Cape Town has beautiful beaches, and each one is a little different (see beach descriptions here). Both Clifton 4 and Camps Bay have restaurants near by to grab a snack or cool off.

Evening: Aubergine is open for dinner Thursday - Saturday. If this falls in line with your schedule, make a reservation here. Aubergine is a fine dining experience with an ever changing menu and sommelier on the spot to pick a wine for you. As you’ll notice with most Cape Town restaurants, even the fancy places are affordable!

If Aubergine is closed or there’s no tables available, try Asoka ($). Asoka is a trendy tapas bar that also happens to serve a three course meal (for only $14 I might add). With a live tree in the middle of the restaurant and live music surrounding you, it’s quite the vibe. For a really stellar night, start with Aubergine and then head to Asoka for an after dinner cocktail.

Day 4: Shark Cage Diving, Massages, or Table Mountain? You choose.

Morning: We have two options for you this morning.

Option 1: If you chose to Paraglide yesterday I bet you’ll be the type to Shark Cage Dive today. This is another activity we personally chose not to do, but I know for my adventure junkies you’ll be looking for this option. Shark Cage Diving Cape Town has the best reviews, despite a slightly sketchy website. This is typically a full day activity, as it requires safety videos and a bit of travel time.

Option 2: Prefer to stay on dry land? Us too. 12 Apostles Spa is included as a place to stay, but since we opted to stay in the heart of the city we wanted the opportunity to see what this place was all about. The 12 Apostles Spa did not disappoint. Open-air massages overlooking the ocean, marble steam rooms, incredible amenities, and pools were worth it. This was one of our favorite parts of the honeymoon.

Note: Bring your swimsuit to take advantage of the spa pools! There are different options available at the spa, but we recommend the Mountain Gazebo couple’s massage, facials, and lunch for $250 total. Spa opens at 8am, so we chose to make this our morning activity and end with lunch.

Afternoon: Maybe you were able to get lunch at 12 Apostles, but if not - you’re in luck. Arnold’s is the solution anytime you’re hungry, seriously. Arnold’s 'In a Bowl Soul Food’ reminded me of Waffle House, in the best way possible. Since we checked out Lion’s Head yesterday, we need to stop at Table Mountain today. If you’re tuckered out from hiking or tight for time, there’s a Table Mountain gondola that will take you straight to the top.

• Note: Gondola is open from 9am - 5pm. Be sure to purchase tickets in advance, especially if you’re going during South Africa’s summer months, and bring a jacket! It’s windy at the top.

Evening: You must, and I mean it, you must go to Belly of the Beast for dinner. Belly of the Beast is open Tuesday - Saturday and does require reservations. The menu can’t be found online, because there isn’t one. The chef makes something different and each time it’s promised to be amazing.

Day 5: Private Wine Tour OR drive from Cape Town to Cape of Good Hope

Morning: One way we avoided booking a rental car for this trip is by scheduling this Private Wine tour in advance. We used Wine Flies Wine Tours and cannot recommend them enough. The driver arrived at our Airbnb promptly at 8:30am, took us to 5 different wineries in the Stellenbosch region, and then dropped us off at our accommodation that night. We were able to bring all our luggage with us in the car.

Note: Highly recommend taking this private tour vs a group tour, as we were able to meet many owners and families and truly get a ‘behind the scenes’ look. It felt very intimate and was a great educational experience.

Afternoon: Lunch is served on the Wine Tour! Following your last winery, the driver will drop you off around 5pm at the place you’re staying.

ALTERNATIVE DAY: If you’re spending the next couple days in Stellenbosch and you’re not much of a wine-o, then this day could be a great opportunity to go venture to the Cape of Good Hope (1.5 hours drive from Cape Town). You can do this by renting a Cobra, yes a Cobra, from Cobra full-day car rental. Stop at Boulder’s Beach to see the penguins!

Note: If you choose to do this, you’ll need to get an Uber from Cape Town to Stellenbosch either this evening. The Uber will be about 45 min-1 hr and should cost you close to $40.

Evening: We stayed at Banhoek Lodge, and I will never forget the breathtaking views from our bedroom.

Oh boy, there are so many beautiful places to dine in Stellenbosch. Check out our recommendations at the bottom of this page. Warning: the options aren’t as affordable as in Cape Town, but the experience is worth the money. If you can’t choose where to begin, let us recommend Delaire Graff. The views from the restaurant at Delaire Graff are phenomenal. If you aren’t able to get reservations on the deck, be sure to get there early and enjoy a cocktail outside.

Day 6 & 7: Stellenbosch

Morning: We’re going to avoid being prescriptive for your days in Stellenbosch. Cape Town is high energy and adventure, Stellenbosch is meant to be slower and more relaxing. Sleep in, take advantage of the complimentary breakfast at your hotel, and enjoy the area.

Afternoon: As mentioned, we list out a few activities at the bottom of the page. If you needed another reason to stay at the Banhoek Lodge, consider an e-bike tour. This Banhoek E-Bike Tour leaves twice daily from the lobby and will take you to three wineries in the area. The wineries on this tour are different than the ones from the private tour we recommended yesterday, so you’ll see a new side of Stellenbosch! If you’re going in to Stellenbosch for the afternoon - consider making a reservation at The Fat Butcher or Hudson’s Burger Joint.

Evening: It’s worth saying twice, if you weren’t able to eat at Delaire Graff, it’s a must do in Stellenbosch. Otherwise, browse the list of restaurants in the section at the bottom of the page and pick what suits your fancy! Many restaurants allow walk-ins, but it’s always wise to make a reservation in advance. Your receptionist at the hotel should be glad to help you with this.

Day 8: Travel day - head home!

Morning: Always a sad day! But it’s time to head home. We seriously talked about just missing our flight, then we got more logical and tried to reschedule, then finally we accepted reality and packed our bags. Cape Town International Airport is about 45 min from Banhoek Lodge. Either work with the receptionist to schedule a private ride, or simply call an Uber. Make sure your ride arrives at least 3 hours before your scheduled flight departure (if your flights leaves at 4pm, schedule a ride to pick you up at 1pm).

Farewell - I’m sure like us, you’ll be back soon!

Checklist Before You Go:

1. Book your roundtrip flight to arrive in Cape Town, South Africa (CPT) on Day 1 and depart Cape Town, South Africa (CPT) on Day 8.

2. Book your place to stay in Cape Town (3 nights)

3. Book your place to stay in Stellenbosch (3 nights). Banhoek Lodge has a small number of rooms, book early!

4. Purchase your Table Mountain Cable Car Tickets in advance

5. Book your Cape Town activities a few months in advance (12 Apostles Spa, Shark Cage Diving, Paragliding, Cobra full-day car rental, or Wine Tour)

6. Make reservations a couple months in advance at suggested restaurants in Cape Town and Stellenbosch.

7. Book your Stellenbosch activities a few months in advance (Banhoek E-Bike Tour, wine tasting at select vineyards)

8. Check the weather and pack accordingly!

Other Considerations:

POINTS, POINTS, POINTS!!!!! All of the hotel recommendations are available on Chase Travel using your Chase Credit Card points. We cannot stress enough how valuable a credit card with a good points system can be. In our experience, Chase Sapphire Reserve is the best credit card for points.

Cost: This itinerary focused on value for your money, without sacrificing quality. Cape Town and Stellenbosch are both beautiful places on their own, don’t feel pressured to spend a ton of money of activities when there’s so much you can do for free in the great outdoors.

Flights: Book in advance.