10 Best Non-Touristy Things To Do In Cape Town, South Africa - Updated 2024

Dulce
Dulce 
Updated
| 4 min read

Cape Town, Africa is the ‘Mother City of Africa’ and the legislative capital of South Africa. It is considered as one of the most-visited tourist destinations in the world because of its mild climate, natural setting, and well-developed infrastructure. We cannot deny the fact that Capetown is home to natural wonders like the Table Mountain National Park with its wildlife and the beautiful sunrise and sunset along the coast of Africa. Some vacationers look for peace and quiet where they can enjoy their holiday in less crowded places. While others prefer to explore off-beat attractions. Here are some of the best non-touristy things to do in Cape Town, South Africa.

1. Game day at the Stadium

Cape Town Stadium
Source: Photo by Flickr user David Stanley used under CC BY 2.0

Catch a game at the Cape Town Stadium, whether it be a rugby match or a soccer game. Enjoy the thrill of watching a live-action game in a world-class stadium in the heart of Cape Town. Cheer yourself hoarse while watching teams play against one another. The Cape Town Stadium was built for the 2010 FIFA World Cup and is a state-of-the-art structure. The stadium also holds many sporting events, music concerts and milestone events.

Cape Town Stadium

Address: Fritz Sonnenberg Rd, Green Point, Cape Town, 8051, South Africa

Website: Cape Town Stadium

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2. Cage diving with the ferocious great white shark (from USD 3.0)

Go shark diving in a cage and enjoy the thrill of observing a great white shark up close. The great white shark is one of the world’s most well-known predators. Travel to Gansbaai, one of the best spots on the planet to watch great whites from close. The tour includes a light breakfast followed by a safety demonstration. After that, you are ready for a three-hour shark cage diving session in the water. This trip is not for the faint-hearted!

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From Cape Town: Shark Cage Diving Private Boat Tour to Gansbaai

Duration: 12 hours

3. Movie time in Cape Town's finest cinemas

non touristy things to do in cape town | movie time in cape town's finest cinemas
Source: instagram

Watch a movie at the Labia Theatre in Cape Town. The Labia Theater is an autonomous motion picture house situated on 68 Orange Street, Gardens, Cape Town, South Africa. It is the first auditorium in the country with four screens. This theatre features both country-produced films and foreign films. Spice up your night and catch your favourite films at the Labia Theatre

Labia Theatre

Address: 68 Orange St, Gardens, Cape Town, 8000, South Africa

Website: Labia Theatre

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4. Experiencing the rich culture and history of Cape Town (from USD 216.0)

Explore Slave Lodge, a historical museum located in Cape Town. The museum displays early Chinese ceramics from the Tang dynasty (618-907 AD). There are also ceramics, silverware and Egyptology collections. The Slave Lodge has a significant place in the history of slavery in South Africa, for it was used to house slaves way back in the 1800s. Come and visit this historical museum to be able to experience the rich culture and heritage of Cape Town, Africa.

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Cape Town: Small-Group City Tour

Duration: 8 hours

Cape Town Tour Guide

Santie Gouws

Santie Gouws

Santie Gouws is a full-time registered and accredited Adventure Guide for Hiking, based in Cape Town, South Africa. A born and bred South African, she is passionate about mountains and the region's magnificent and highly bio-diverse fynbos vegetation, and offers exquisite, tailor-made, professionally guided hiking experiences to private groups, as well as 'open' scheduled group hikes, on Table ... Read more

Tours by Santie

5. Watch thrilling and exciting shows at the Dome


Watch exciting shows at Zip Zap Dome. The Zip Zap Circus is a social initiative to promote art and culture in South Africa. They plan to bring together children from different backgrounds and build a unified community. They are funded by many international corporate houses and charities. Be sure to visit some of the exciting shows held at the Dome and support their wonderful cause.

Zip Zap Dome

Address: 10 Jan Smuts St, Cape Town City Centre, Cape Town, 8000, South Africa

Website: Zip Zap Dome

Opening hours: Mon - Sat: 8:30am - 5:30pm (closed on Sun)

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6. Solve puzzles at HintHunt


Solve puzzles at HintHunt, an escape game located at the Old Biscuit Mill in Cape Town. HintHunt offers first-class quality escape games with breathtaking rooms and a great ambience. The game will surely test your limits with various puzzles. Whether you are new to this activity or you have played the game before, this is one of the newest activities to pass time in Cape Town.

HintHunt Cape Town

Address: A304, The Old Biscuit Mill, 375 Albert Rd, Woodstock, Cape Town, 7925, South Africa

Website: HintHunt Cape Town

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7. Indulging in a shopping spree in Cape Town


Go on a shopping spree at the local markets in Cape Town. The city has become a hotspot for malls, boutiques, markets and speciality stores and attracts tourists from all over the world. What’s more on account of the positive shopping experience, committed customers visit South Africa frequently to snap up designer goods at affordable prices. Be sure to visit Adderley Street for a complete shopping experience when in Cape Town.

Oranjezicht City Farm Market

Address: Granger Bay Blvd, Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, Cape Town, 8051, South Africa

Website: Oranjezicht City Farm Market

Opening hours: Wed: 4pm - 8pm; Sat: 8:15am - 2pm (closed Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri, & Sun)

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8. Sightseeing at the breathtaking Smitswinkel Bay

Smitswinkel Bay, Western Cape
Source: Photo by user South African Tou... used under CC BY 2.0

Enjoy the view at Smitswinkel Bay, with its gorgeous rock formations. Listen to the sound of the waves crashing against the rocks while waiting for one of the most alluring sunsets in Cape Town. The dramatic seascape will leave you spellbound, so be sure to include this activity on your itinerary.

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9. Surfing lessons with the natives (from USD 46.0)

Let natives teach you how to surf the waves of Cape Town’s waters. Learn surfing and prepare to unleash your surfing skills. Join an experienced surfing local in either Muizenberg or Blouberg Beach as you test your surfing abilities on the area’s shoreline breaks. All vital surfing hardware and licenses are incorporated into this activity.

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Surfing Lessons in Cape Town

Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes

10. Indulging in the crystal clear waters of Cape Town (from USD 57.0)

Connect with nature at Steenbras Nature Reserve. Hike along a trail to reach the rock pools also known as the Crystal Pools. Dive into a pool full of invigorating mountain water. These rock jumps are quite high, some even as high as 22 meters (72 feet). A must try for thrill seekers! Marvel at the bounty of nature at Western Cape’s best nature reserves. Don’t miss the opportunity to visit the isolated caves at Kogel Bay.

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Crystal Pools: Hiking & Kloofing Experience

Duration: 6 to 7 hours

Exciting and thrilling Cape Town awaits you

Whether you are travelling in a group, or with your family, Cape Town in South Africa is ‘the’ country to visit. Complete with nature-friendly sceneries down to thrilling and adventurous activities, this place should feature on your bucket list. Book your vacation now and experience what Cape Town has to offer.

Any must-sees we missed? Tell us about them in the comments section or write a post here to help out fellow travelers!
Disclosure: Trip101 selects the listings in our articles independently. Some of the listings in this article contain affiliate links.

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Dulce Tandog is a 29-year-old writer from the beautiful city of Naga.

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