Experiencing Cape Town’s urban culture on foot is a fantastic way to experience the city. Start off at the Castle of Good Hope (+27 21 464 1264; www.iziko.org.za/castle/index.html) and if you have the time – enjoy a guided tour of the castle. West of the Castle (on the corner of Darling and Buitenkant Streets) you’ll find the Grand Parade – where Nelson Mandela made his first memorable speech after being released after 27 years of imprisonment under apartheid.
Keep walking to the top of Adderley Street where you’ll find the Company’s Gardens. Here, you’ll find Cape Town’s Cultural History Museum originally built as a slave lodge. Today, it’s a fascinating museum – and the reconstructed tombstone of Jan Van Riebeeck can be found in the courtyard. Walk up Government Avenue, this pedestrian walkway is lined with oak trees. Stop over at the South African National Art Gallery (+27 (0)21 467 4660;www.iziko.org.za/sang/) with its displays of over 6 500 works of art by some of South Africa’s best-known artists and their international counterparts. At the top of the Gardens you’ll find the South African Museum – with some of the pieces on display dating back 117 000 years. Next door is the www.mountnelson.co.za).
Once you’ve visited the Nellie, return to the city centre via Long Street where you can enjoy the shops or stop for a light meal – Long Street Café (+27 21 424 2464) offers a varied menu and coffee. If shopping is on your mind then a visit to Greenmarket Square is a must. There are also walks around Table Mountain and daily walks at Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens. To stretch your legs, the Sea Point promenade is a wonderful place for a long walk with the ocean next to you.
