If there is any City that is Instagram worthy, it is Cape Town. Every corner you turn, the Mother City throws you a view that makes you pause mid-sentence, mid-step, mid-sip-of-coffee. Whether you’re a curious local or a first-time visitor, the city’s beauty — from ocean to mountain to city to vineyard — is the kind that begs to be seen, felt, and shared.
Here’s our pick of 10 iconic Cape Town views that’ll make you fall in love all over again — with the city, your travel buddy, or just the moment itself.
The Top 10
1. Table Mountain from Bloubergstrand
The postcard shot — but better.
Locals know: the real way to admire Table Mountain in all her flat-topped glory is from across the bay. Blouberg offers that jaw-dropping panorama where sea, sky, and city line up like a dream. Grab a sunset spot on the sand, watch the kite surfers dance, and snap the ultimate “Yes, I’m in Cape Town” photo.
🧡 Purely Tip: Book a beachfront brunch at Ons Huisie for old-school charm and unbeatable views.
2. Sunrise from Lion’s Head
Golden hour magic, 360 degrees.
A pre-dawn hike up Lion’s Head is a bucket list worthy view. As the sun spills over the city, painting Signal Hill, Camps Bay, and the ocean in liquid gold, you’ll understand why Capetonians are so annoyingly obsessed with early mornings. It’s part workout, part meditation, and 100% pure mountain joy.
🧡 Purely Tip: Go mid-week to dodge the sunrise selfie stampede. Pack coffee in a flask — trust us.
3. The Twelve Apostles from Oudekraal
The city’s best-kept beach view.
Tucked between Camps Bay and Llandudno, Oudekraal is a boulder-strewn, braai-friendly haven that offers the most dramatic angle on the Apostles. Imagine vertical cliffs rising straight from the Atlantic, dappled in afternoon light, while your braaibroodjie sizzles on the fire. Iconic doesn’t even begin to cover it.
🧡 Purely Tip: Bring a snorkel — there’s an old shipwreck just offshore.
4. Chapman’s Peak Drive
Where the mountain kisses the sea.
There are very few drives in the world that can compete with Chapman’s Peak. Ten kilometres of winding cliff-hugging road, every curve opening up to a new cinematic angle. Whether you’re on a Vespa, bicycle, or Uber, it’s the kind of road that makes you forget your destination.
🧡 Purely Tip: Time your trip for golden hour, then stop at the lookout point with snacks and a speaker.
5. Signal Hill at Sunset
City bowl sparkles and sea whispers.
Forget the cable car queues — Signal Hill is the locals’ sunset perch. Park, unpack your sundowner essentials, and let the sky put on a show. The view stretches from Sea Point’s curve to the harbour cranes of the Foreshore, with Devil’s Peak standing guard behind you.
🧡 Purely Tip: It’s perfect for a last-minute picnic. Just keep your windows shut — the local baboons aren’t shy.
6. Bo-Kaap Rooftops
Colours meet culture, with a city view twist.
Wander the cobbled streets of Bo-Kaap and you’ll find more than bright houses and spice-scented air. Head up to a rooftop (ask nicely at Atlas Trading Co., or book a local walking tour), and you’ll be treated to a cultural mosaic framed by Table Mountain herself.
🧡 Purely Tip: Join a Cape Malay cooking class — dinner with a view, straight from the source.
7. The Woodstock Street Art District
Where beauty meets community, history and urban transformation
Take a wander through Woodstock and you’ll discover a gritty, colourful open-air art gallery on every wall. International and local artists have transformed the area into a canvas of activism, storytelling, and bold beauty.
🧡 Purely Tip: Book a guided walking tour with a local initiative like Woodstock Art Walking Tour or Juma Art Tours. These are often led by artists or activists who live in the area, and they’ll decode everything from mural meanings to community struggles, gentrification, and hope.
8. The Flower Seller’s Market in Adderly Street
Cape Town Street Culture at its finest
Bursting with colour and generations of tradition, this tiny flower market has been running since the 1800s. The women behind the stalls are legends in their own right, and their storytelling is as good as their blooms.
🧡 Purely Tip: The market officially opens around 7am, but the real magic happens between 7am and 9am, before the office crowds rush in. That’s when you’ll catch the flower sellers arranging their stalls, trading jokes, and sipping tea — it’s slow, soulful, and full of personality.
9. Cape Point Vineyards (Noordehoek)
Where vineyards tumble toward the sea.
Known for their exceptional Sauvignon Blanc with serious minerality, thanks to that cool sea breeze, Cape Point Vineyards is the perfect place to picnic. The picnic lawns overlook a dam, the vineyards, and the Atlantic, with views that stretch all the way to Kommetjie and Chapman’s Peak. It’s romantic, serene, and never feels overcrowded — even in peak season.
🧡 Purely Tip: Visit on a Thursday evening for their local market
10. Robben Island from Big Bay
A view with weight, wonder, and perspective.
From Big Bay, you can gaze out across the water to Robben Island, a place that shaped the nation. The view is beautiful — yes — but also humbling. It’s a reminder of the stories beneath the scenery, and how deeply history runs through the city’s soul.
🧡 Purely Tip: Combine with a Robben Island tour or reflect with a beach walk at sunset.
So what are you waiting for?
Cape Town’s beauty isn’t just in its views — it’s in the way they make you feel. Inspired, awed, and a little giddy. Whether you’re scaling a peak, clinking glasses at a vineyard, or barefoot on the sand, every view is an invitation to pause and savour.
Now go chase those views. And tag us when you do — we want to see what you see.
