The key addresses in Kapstadt — verified and regularly updated. Clicking takes you straight to the location page.
In Cape Town, the Bolus Herbarium is dedicated to the flora of southern Africa and preserves dried plant specimens for research, identification and teaching. The collection is one of the most important of its kind in South Africa and includes many historical and taxonomically important specimens. The atmosphere is quiet and academic. Less a classic attraction than a place of knowledge, it conveys the importance of Cape Flora.
The 2021 fire disaster on Table Mountain marks a serious turning point in Cape Town's urban and natural environment. The area around Table Mountain National Park is otherwise known for wide views and hiking trails; historic buildings, parts of the university campus and valuable cultural assets were affected. Today, the place is above all a quiet destination for all those interested in nature and city history.
At the University of Cape Town, the Jagger Library was once the library's main reading room and offers a quiet, academic environment. It is best known for its extensive collection of African history and culture. Visitors can explore the historic rooms; in addition, the library serves as a place for cultural events and exhibitions.
The Robben Island Maximum Security Prison off Cape Town is an authentic place of remembrance whose history is closely linked to political persecution, imprisonment and resistance. Guided tours explain the everyday life of the prisoners and the structure of the prison. The simple architecture of the cells and the contrast between the open island environment and the insulating function of the building are characteristic. The mood is calm and thoughtful.
Gay sights in Cape Town lead deep into the history of the city, because queer life has long roots here. As early as the 1950s, the District Six district was a place where drag balls and parties took place. The queer icon of the district is the hairdresser and performer Kewpie, whose life is documented in an extensive photo archive. With the Group Areas Act of apartheid, tens of thousands of residents were forcibly resettled from 1966 onwards; the District Six Museum tells this story today and also makes its queer sides visible.
Today, the centre of the scene is De Waterkant in Green Point, which is easy to explore on foot and offers a wide view over the city from neighbouring Signal Hill. On the Atlantic coast behind Llandudno is Sandy Bay, a secluded beach that has been a popular gay hangout and South Africa's best-known nudist beach since the 1970s; the way there is on foot via a short path. The highlight of the annual calendar is Cape Town Pride: in 2026, the parade will move through the city on February 28, embedded in several festival weeks. If you want to get to know Cape Town away from the classic postcard motifs, you will find your own approach to the city's queer history. The following locations will take you to the most important stations.