Top Things to Do in Cape Town in the Summer • The Blonde Abroad

With its wealth of historical sites, cafes, diverse cuisines, lively nightlife, and little surf suburbs, I am reminded every day why I am so lucky to call Cape Town my home away from home. There’s so much to see and do, from swimming with penguins to wine tasting to scenic helicopter tours.

Summer weather in Cape Town typically runs from November through February!

And during those summer months, Cape Town has some beautiful weather—you’ll never want to stay indoors because there’s so much to see and do!

Here are my top things to do in Cape Town in the summer!

Lion's Head

Hike Up Lion’s Head

Lion’s Head is one of the most popular hikes in Cape Town. From the summit, you’ll get beautiful views of the city bowl, the Twelve Apostles, Table Mountain and the ocean below.

Hike up at sunrise, sunset or during the full moon!

Table Mountain

Go Up Table Mountain

If you don’t feel like making the 4-hour hike up Table Mountain, opt to take the Table Mountain Aerial Cableway. It’s one of the best spots to watch the sunset—plus it’s cheaper to visit in the afternoon instead of the morning. The entrance fee is R290.00 from 8am-1pm, and drops to R275.00 from 1pm-8:30pm.

Pack a picnic and a bottle of bubbly and watch the day go out in style!

Boulder's Beach

Visit Boulder’s Beach

Spend a picture-perfect summer’s day in Cape Town by hanging out with the penguins at Boulder’s Beach. There’s a protected enclave that’s rarely crowded where you can set down your towel, work on your tan and cool off in the calm crystal clear water. The entrance fee is just R152 per adult.

Old Biscuit Mill

Grab Brunch at the Food Markets

Cape Town doesn’t mess around when it comes to food. With a wide variety of weekend markets, you can always find fresh fruit and veggies, organic dairy products, sandwiches, salads, desserts, and more.

My personal favorites are the Old Biscuit Mill and Oranjezicht City Farm Market.

Muizenberg Beach

Spend the Day at Muizenberg Beach

“Muizies” (as the locals call it) is a jam-packed beachfront that’s the perfect place to spend a hot summer’s day in Cape Town. Go swimming in the water, relax on the beach or take surf lessons from one of the many surf schools.

There’s also a row of beautiful Insta-worthy rainbow-colored beach houses!

If you’re interested in taking a photography tour of Cape Town and getting the perfect Instagram shots while you’re visiting, check out my TBA Escapes Tours!

Constantia

Go Wine Tasting

No trip to Cape T own would be complete without a visit to the wine farms around the Cape Winelands. Throughout the surrounding regions, like Stellenbosch and Franschhoek, there are so many beautiful and historical wine farms and wine to be tasted! There are also plenty of tours that can take you around if no one wants to be the designated driver.

Why South Africa May Be the World’s Best Wine Region

Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens

Attend a Kirstenbosch Summer Concert

Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens is located at the foot of the Table Mountain. During Cape Town’s summer months, you can attend sunset concerts featuring some of South Africa’s top local artists.

Before you go, look up the line-up online and see who’s visiting while you’re on vacation!

Cape Town

Scenic Helicopter Tour of Cape Town

There’s no better way to see the Mother City than to do it from the sky! It’s one of my favorite things to do in Cape Town when I host my TBA Escapes Tour.

You’ll get to see the full peninsula, Robben Island and the incredible Table Mountain National Park from a whole new perspective!

Woodstock

Street Art Tour in Woodstock

Woodstock started as a seaside resort and semi-industrial area and has recently seen a change into a hip, creative neighborhood. What was once a crime-ridden area has now become a vibrant community with street art playing a significant role in its transformation.

Go on a tour of the neighborhood and learn about the artists and the meaning behind each artwork.

Bo-Kaap

Visit the Colorful Bo-Kaap

The Bo-Kaap neighborhood dates back to the 1760s when numerous rental houses were built and leased to slaves. When slavery ended, the slaves were allowed to buy the properties, and they painted them bright colors in celebration of their freedom.

Visit the picturesque neighborhood of the Bo-Kaap and learn about the history of the area from locals while sampling the delicious Cape Malay cuisine.

Overall

There is no shortage of things to do in Cape Town in the summer. Whether you’re looking to escape the city and conquer one of the many hiking trails or indulge your inner foodie – there’s something for everyone!

What are some of your top things to do in Cape Town in the summer? Let me know in the comments below!

Instagram

Some places are worth coming back to 🐧

Boulders Beach, Cape Town with Oliver
9 months → 21 months → 3.5 years

I blinked and my baby become a toddler…
and my toddler become a little boy. 😭

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Some places are worth coming back to 🐧

Boulders Beach, Cape Town with Oliver
9 months → 21 months → 3.5 years

I blinked and my baby become a toddler…
and my toddler become a little boy. 😭

January Wrapped 🗓️
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
We landed in Cape Town mid-January and hit the ground running.

Oliver and I packed up our life and moved abroad for a year — chasing a simple question: what’s the best that could happen?

My parents joined us for the first month — which meant extra hands, loving support, and the sweetest way to begin this chapter.

Between toddler sickness (IYKYK) and playing full-time tour guide, we somehow managed to squeeze in so much life.

A long weekend in Paternoster.
Glamping under the stars at Camp Canoe.
Summertime in the city.
Oliver starting at his new preschool.
Adventures through the Cape Winelands.
Slow weekends at the farmer’s market.
Afternoons stretched long at the beach.

It’s been messy and magical.
Exhausting and energizing.

Somewhere between pharmacy runs and beach swims, it started to feel less like a move…

and more like the start of our biggest adventure yet! 🌍
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
#capetown

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January Wrapped 🗓️
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
We landed in Cape Town mid-January and hit the ground running.

Oliver and I packed up our life and moved abroad for a year — chasing a simple question: what’s the best that could happen?

My parents joined us for the first month — which meant extra hands, loving support, and the sweetest way to begin this chapter.

Between toddler sickness (IYKYK) and playing full-time tour guide, we somehow managed to squeeze in so much life.

A long weekend in Paternoster.
Glamping under the stars at Camp Canoe.
Summertime in the city.
Oliver starting at his new preschool.
Adventures through the Cape Winelands.
Slow weekends at the farmer’s market.
Afternoons stretched long at the beach.

It’s been messy and magical.
Exhausting and energizing.

Somewhere between pharmacy runs and beach swims, it started to feel less like a move…

and more like the start of our biggest adventure yet! 🌍
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
#capetown

Sun-drenched mornings, salty air, and the kind of place that makes you instantly exhale @waldorfastoriacostarica ✌️
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Our stay at this brand-new property was truly a dream — sweeping ocean views, elevated design, and more pools than I’ve ever seen at a hotel in my entire life.

From award-winning wellness to coconuts by the pool, every detail felt thoughtful and intentional.

🧖‍♀️ The Spa
Recently named Costa Rica’s Best Resort Spa, this sanctuary blends modern wellness with local healing traditions — volcanic mud rituals, rainforest-inspired therapies, and grounding treatments that leave you floating.

🛎️ Amenities
World-class service, beachfront access, a stunning collection of pools (truly — endless), curated experiences, and those sweet elevated touches everywhere you turn. Newly opened, yet already operating like a seasoned 5-star icon.

💦 Kids’ Club
One of the coolest spaces for littles — crafts, games, toys, and outdoor play areas that made traveling with Oliver feel easy (and fun for him, too).

🥥 The Food & Coffee
Fresh, locally sourced Costa Rican flavors with elevated execution. Oceanfront bites, poolside snacks, handcrafted coffee experiences, and yes… plenty of coconuts.

🌿 Sustainability
Proud holders of the Bandera Azul Ecológica for conservation and environmental efforts — luxury and responsibility beautifully intertwined.

We truly cannot wait to come back. ✨

If you’re looking for a luxury, family-friendly escape in Costa Rica — this is your spot.

A huge thank you to @waldorfastoriacostarica for hosting us on this sunshine-soaked getaway.
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
#costarica #waldorfastoria #luxuryfamilytravel #familytravel

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A little late sharing this — but I needed time to sit with 2025. It was so much more than what made it to Instagram.
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
This was the year I stopped measuring life in miles traveled… and started measuring it in the days we weren’t promised.

Not in passport stamps.
Not in hotel check-ins.
Not in how far we could go.

But in the quiet relief of “clear.”
In small hands squeezing mine tighter.
In birthday candles and quiet camping mornings.
In laughter that came back after fear.

2025 was the plot twist year.

The year I learned strength doesn’t look like control —
it looks like surrender.
It looks like showing up anyway.
It looks like choosing joy even when you know how fragile it is.

And it looks like being surrounded by the people who love us most.

We traveled the world.
But more importantly —
we celebrated what we almost lost.

And at the end of it all?
We packed up our life and chose a new continent. 🇿🇦

2025, you were heavy.
You were also beautiful.
You changed me.

2026 — I’m ready.
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
#2025wrapped

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Open post by theblondeabroad with ID 18380851606081524

A little late sharing this — but I needed time to sit with 2025. It was so much more than what made it to Instagram.
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
This was the year I stopped measuring life in miles traveled… and started measuring it in the days we weren’t promised.

Not in passport stamps.
Not in hotel check-ins.
Not in how far we could go.

But in the quiet relief of “clear.”
In small hands squeezing mine tighter.
In birthday candles and quiet camping mornings.
In laughter that came back after fear.

2025 was the plot twist year.

The year I learned strength doesn’t look like control —
it looks like surrender.
It looks like showing up anyway.
It looks like choosing joy even when you know how fragile it is.

And it looks like being surrounded by the people who love us most.

We traveled the world.
But more importantly —
we celebrated what we almost lost.

And at the end of it all?
We packed up our life and chose a new continent. 🇿🇦

2025, you were heavy.
You were also beautiful.
You changed me.

2026 — I’m ready.
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
#2025wrapped

My favorite smart features of my old home! 🏠
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••⁠
I put a lot of thought and design into my home, so I knew I had to get curated, high-tech window shades to match.

Enter @rollishades — sleek, custom motorized shades that actually elevate the space while solving the very real sunlight problem. From light-filtering to blackout options, everything is tailored to fit perfectly and controlled with the touch of a button (or app). It’s the kind of smart, intentional design that makes a home feel finished. 🪟🤍

I easily installed these in my guest bedroom and let me just say, when guests come over, they’re getting what feels like a hotel experience in my home (minus the room service).
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••⁠
#gifted #homedesign #interiorinspo #smarthome #rollishades

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Open post by theblondeabroad with ID 18083248064243187

My favorite smart features of my old home! 🏠
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••⁠
I put a lot of thought and design into my home, so I knew I had to get curated, high-tech window shades to match.

Enter @rollishades — sleek, custom motorized shades that actually elevate the space while solving the very real sunlight problem. From light-filtering to blackout options, everything is tailored to fit perfectly and controlled with the touch of a button (or app). It’s the kind of smart, intentional design that makes a home feel finished. 🪟🤍

I easily installed these in my guest bedroom and let me just say, when guests come over, they’re getting what feels like a hotel experience in my home (minus the room service).
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••⁠
#gifted #homedesign #interiorinspo #smarthome #rollishades

Cancel reply

Kimberly @ Panali Travels

Incredible photos of beautiful CapeTown. In addition to the beaches and beauty, there is also the deep cultural ties and historical points to explore. Can’t wait to see Cape Town!

January 5, 2019 at 5:51 am · Reply

Kiersten Rich

I’m excited for you to explore my second home 🙂

January 5, 2019 at 11:07 am · Reply

Jenn - The Solivagant Soul

And arent there any specific celebrations during winter involving Christmas or New Year celebrations? I think that it would be the most shocking thing for most of us European… A warm Christmas! Loved all the ideas, although I think I would specially enjoy the helicopter trip! Thanks for sharing!

January 5, 2019 at 7:54 am · Reply

Kiersten Rich

Hey babe! Due to the high diversity of cultures in South Africa, there aren’t really any specific celebrations. During Christmas, you’ll see trees and lights up at malls and outside houses like you would in Europe -but it’s definitely on a much smaller scale 🙂 For New Years, people will either go out to a party at a club, attend a music festival or stay at home and have a house party with their friends.

January 5, 2019 at 11:09 am · Reply

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