There is definitely plenty to see in Cape Town, from the beaches to historical sites, from spectacular mountains to art galleries and from wildlife to island hopping. Cape Town has the top five national attractions in South Africa, all of which should appear on every visitor’s itinerary all year round. These include a visit up Table Mountain, either by cable car or manually climbing up routes of varying degrees of difficulty; and the Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, internationally acclaimed as one of the great botanical gardens of the world. If you are avid animal lovers then a visit to the Two Oceans Aquarium and Seal Island will certainly be a worthwhile experience.

Looking further offshore, visitors can also take a boat ride to Robben Island, the former home of Nelson Mandela and several other political prisoners who fought against the apartheid government. Visitors to the island are taken on a tour of the old prison complex, as well as to a museum on the island.

A trip into the Cape Winelands is a must for any visitor to Cape Town. Either visit the various wine estates that form the Constantia winelands region close to Cape Town, or travel towards Stellenbosch, Paarl,Wellington or Franschhoek. South Africans are proud of their wines and Cape wines in particular are famous worldwide - the winelands tour is an exceptional experience you should not miss.

And for those who love shopping, rest assured that in Cape Town you can shop till you drop at Cavendish, Canal Walk or the Waterfront. The malls are a hive of activity offering live music, art exhibitions, museums, plays and even opera, ballet or symphony concerts on all year round. The V&A Waterfront is Cape Town's most visited attraction, and for good reason. Set against the scenic backdrop of Table Mountain, this working harbour complex is home to a multitude of shops, restaurants, world-class hotels and non-stop live entertainment.

Beaches

The absolutely beautiful beaches surrounding Cape Town are a contributing factor to the Mother City’s worldwide acclaim. From the trendy shores of Clifton and Camps Bay to the warmer swimming waters of False Bay – if you love surf and sand, Cape Town is sure to have a beach just right for you. Hang out on Clifton if you want to spot an A-list celebrity, go to Muizenberg if you want to learn to surf, see the penguins on Boulders Beach, or rub shoulders with the local bronzed wrinklies at Fish Hoek – possibly the most perfect of South Africa’s beaches.

While the fashionable Cape Town beaches - particularly Camps Bay, Clifton and Llandudno - are overrun in summer, visitors can still find sandy solitude. Noordhoek's Long Beach is a serene sweep of sand over two kilometres long, backed by beautiful fynbos-covered mountains.

Entertainment in Cape Town

The host city of Cape Town is renowned for its phenomenal nightlife that takes place all year round. There are several entertainment districts in the city. Long Street in the city centre is alive with restaurants, live music clubs, bars and coffee shops, while the V&A Waterfront is awash with restaurants and entertainment.

For something a bit more upmarket, head to Camps Bay. The cosmopolitan beachfront is vibrant throughout the year and a perfect location to enjoy a sundowner.