Top Attractions at Cape Town’s V&A Waterfront
The Victoria & Alfred Waterfront is one of the top attractions in Cape Town, welcoming some 24 million visitors per year. With its pirate-themed boat rides, curio-filled shops, and swanky hotels, it is dismissed by some as a tourist trap. However, the Waterfront covers an area equivalent to 180 rugby fields, offering plenty to see and do beyond souvenir shopping or enjoying ice cream on the promenade.
1. Historical Walking Tour
Many people think of the V&A as primarily a beautiful open-air mall, but its development has a rich history dating back to the 17th-century arrival of the Dutch. Walking tours lasting 90 minutes depart from the Chavonnes Battery museum at 11 am and 2 pm. These tours detail the construction of the breakwater in the 19th century and visit key historical sites like the Clock Tower and the 130-year-old Robinson Dry Dock, still in use today.
2. Stand-Up Paddle Boarding
While many visitors admire the water from the V&A’s walkways, you don’t have to stay dry to explore. SUP Cape Town offers stand-up paddle board rentals from the Waterfront’s Canal District. You can paddle towards the city’s convention center or head into the Waterfront and hop out at the Cape Grace Hotel’s Bascule bar for a mid-SUP sipping session. Lessons are also available for beginners.
3. Lindt Chocolate Studio
At the Lindt Chocolate Studio in the revamped Silo District, you can stock up on virtually any variety of Lindt chocolate. Additionally, join a cooking class that includes macaron-making and chocolate truffle workshops, leading to the creation of the most decadent chocolate cake you may ever taste. Kids’ classes are also available; advance booking is essential for all activities.
4. Zeitz MOCAA
The transformation of a decommissioned grain silo into a world-class art museum is as remarkable as the exhibitions housed within the Zeitz MOCAA (Museum of Contemporary Art Africa). This museum features an outstanding collection of art from across the continent, much from the private collection of businessman Jochen Zeitz. The upper floors host the luxury Silo Hotel — great for afternoon tea or cocktails on the roof after shopping.
5. GPS Walking Tour
If you wish to learn more about the Waterfront in a more informal way, visit the tourist information office and download the Voicemaps walking tour. They offer headphones, allowing you to wander along the route while listening to stories about the V&A’s development over the years. The tour covers all the main sights, starting at the information office and concluding in the Silo District.
6. Battery Park
The latest addition to the Waterfront is Battery Park, designed to reconnect the V&A to the city. The highlight is the skate park, which is lively in the afternoons with teens enjoying half pipes after school. Furthermore, there’s a basketball court, jungle gym, picnic areas, and relics from the Amsterdam Battery—one of the city’s oldest structures.
7. Open-Air Art
The Silo District serves as the creative heart of the Waterfront and is home to numerous temporary art exhibitions. Enjoy strolling through the car-free precinct while keeping an eye out for current installations, some of which are interactive. Notably, Es Devlin’s massive Zoetrope, featuring twelve videos shot in various Cape Town neighborhoods, will be showcased until the end of November 2019.
8. Outdoor Yoga and Dance
Throughout the year, free yoga classes are offered at various locations around the Waterfront — check with the tourist information office for the latest schedules. In the summer, you’ll also discover open-air dance sessions in the Silo District. Engage in a salsa class or simply relax on the steps and watch tango dancers in action.
9. Dine on the Water
Numerous boat trips leave the harbor, but few provide such an upscale experience as dining at The Alba. This floating restaurant offers passengers brunch, lunch, sundowner cocktails, or a two-hour dinner cruise that tours Table Bay, offering stunning views of the city. It’s advisable to make reservations in advance.
10. OZCF Market
Cape Town has a vibrant food market scene, and the OZCF is among the very best. Taking place on Saturdays and Sundays at Granger Bay, it’s an ideal spot to gather organic fruits and vegetables, freshly baked breads, or to sit down for lunch. The market is associated with the Oranjezicht City Farm, a non-profit organization supporting small-scale farming within the city limits.
