Things to Do at the V&A Waterfront Cape Town
When one thinks of Cape Town, they usually envision two things which include Table Mountain and the Victoria & Albert (V&A) Waterfront. The V&A Waterfront combines the rich history of the city with its modern culture, offering up endless activities and attractions for all ages.
The V&A Waterfront presents an extensive array of restaurants, entertainment, and shopping experiences for both locals and tourists to enjoy while in Cape Town. It boasts the majestic Table Mountain as a backdrop and is always alive with crowds of people.
Many travelers say that Cape Town reminds them of California, right down to some coastal drives resembling Coast Highway 1 along California’s Central Coast as well as its real estate akin to the stunning Waterfront homes for sale in California. The V&A Waterfront itself has a wealth of high-end apartments and penthouses.
Some say Cape Town more resembles Los Angeles while other say it reminds them of San Francisco. You can also see a bit of Napa Valley as well since Cape Town is the gateway to South Africa’s wine country.
Come visit Cape Town for yourself to decide what it reminds you of and be sure to start your visit at the V&A Waterfront where you can experience some of these top attractions.
Dive at the Two Oceans Aquarium
If you are into marine life, the Two Oceans Aquarium should be on your list. It’s a popular Cape Town wildlife attraction that’s located a few meters from the V&A Waterfront Center. The Aquarium is home to various marine life including penguins, sea turtles, eels, jellyfish, and sharks. The place is also a marine ecosystem educational center for children who love the interactive touch pool. Visitors will be able to explore the diversity of both the Atlantic and Indian Oceans, hence the aquarium’s name.
The Aquarium is fun-filled with activities like shark dives and penguin sanctuaries where you can book up close and personal encounters. They offer a number of scuba experiences and courses including adventure diving in their large-scale exhibits as well as PADI Discover Scuba Diving in their I&J Ocean Exhibit.
Sample Delicious Food and Drinks
We all love food, and there’s no better way to do it than by visiting the V&A Waterfront. The place has over 100 exquisite dining experiences offering all kinds of local South African cuisine to international flavors through a mix of cafes, delis, bakeries, restaurants, and bars. You’ll find dining options available for all budgets.
At the V&A Food Market alone, you will enjoy over 40 vendors selling sushi, ice cream, fish & chips, craft beer, biltong, Tunisian cuisine, and much more often while listening to live music. Lovers of fresh seafood will want to visit the Cape Town Fish Market to sample tempura prawns, deep-fried spicy crab sushi rolls, grilled kingklip, calamari, and other seafood dishes paired with some of the finest South African wines.
Visit the Scratch Patch
South Africa is often regarded as the gemstone capital of the world being that it is home to roughly half of the gemstones found on this planet. If you love shiny colorful stones then you should head to the Mineral World Scratch Patch
The Scratch Patch is an exciting activity children especially will love. They can sift through mounds of shiny stones that cover the floor in search of quartz crystal, mystical jasper, tiger’s eye, amethyst, agates, and more. You can purchase various sized bags to fill up with stones that catch your eye. There is also an18-hole indoor mini-golf course onsite set in a makeshift cave.
Enjoy the Free Historical Walking Tours
Why not try the Cape Town free walking tours for an hour? Like any other city, you will also find this kind of activity here. Several cultural tours are available at the V&A Waterfront, including guided tours of the area’s history and heritage.
Do you have any unanswered, burning questions about South Africa’s oldest working harbor? Then this is your one chance to get the answers. Your guide will introduce you to the area’s rich history, including landmarks and the Clock Tower, just to name a few.
View Extreme Scenes from a Helicopter
Take a flight via helicopter through one of the charter companies based at the V&A Waterfront. Enjoy a bird’s eye view of the city, peninsula, and of course Table Mountain to really gain an appreciation of the region’s beauty.
NAC Helicopters and Cape Town Helicopters offer 15 to 60-minute tours of different sightseeing flights of the city. Depending on the route you choose and your budget, you may visit wineries or see Lion’s Head, Robben Island, and the Twelve Apostles. Take a flight during whale migration season and you may even witness whales swimming in Hout Bay or False Bay from the air.
Go Shopping
The V&A Waterfront has a wide range of shopping options, from local handicrafts to high-end designer goods. So don’t forget to shop for local art, fashion, and design at the Watershed. The place is light and airy-filled with space for over 450 vendors. It serves exclusively high-quality South African art and crafts, most of which are made locally in the Cape Town area. Although the prices of items are high, you get to own something unique created by a South African designer.
Ensure you take back home special jewelry, art, house décor, and unique fashion from the Watershed. While still there, enjoy exhibitions and entertainment in the exhibition hall as well. You can also find souvenirs and gifts at the many stalls and stores in the area.
Visit the Museums
Discover historical artifacts relating to the discovery of the first South African diamond and the world’s most precious gem at the Cape Town Diamond Museum. You will also understand the modern diamond industry and stones’ transformation into jewelry.
If you are a lover of art, you can also visit the Zeitz MOCAA Museum, the world’s largest museum for contemporary African art where you can view masterpieces created by artists from across the African continent
Take a Ride on the Cape Wheel
Another exciting 15-minute experience for both adults and kids is the giant Cape Town Ferris wheel that rises 50 meters into the air. It provides an amazing view of Robben Island and Table Mountain and remains one of the waterfront’s most sought-after tourist landmarks since it arrived here in 2010 to celebrate the FIFA World Cup.
