Visitors to Cape Town, South Africa often forget that the sun does not shine 365 days a year. So you won’t always be able to spend your time tanning to perfection on one of the city’s many idyllic beaches. Here are 5 things to do in Cape Town on a rainy day.
one. Visit the monument to Rhodes – the restaurant behind this well-known landmark on the slopes of Table Mountain has a cheery fireplace and decent light fare. After coffee and dessert, take a break between showers to wander around the monument, stroke a giant lion sculpture, and enjoy views of Cape Town’s southern suburbs and beyond, if it’s not too foggy.
2. Ignite your culture. The National Gallery and South African Museum are located in the historic Company Gardens. Immerse yourself in local art with a bit of ancient history to pass the time, then sip a delicious cappuccino or latte at one of the city’s many coffee shops (Vida e Caffé on Kloof Street or Greenmarket Square are popular and vibrant).
3. Don’t complain about time – rather enjoy an excellent local wine. Take a one-hour drive out of the city and explore the lush Cape Winelands. Stellenbosch and Franschhoek are good choices, and the beautifully restored historic Cape Dutch wine estates are the perfect backdrop for a romantic day snuggling up with delicious South African wine.
4. Bundle up and head to Kalk Bay – an artsy False Bay fishing village with a quaint harbour, lots of exciting fishing shops and a wide selection of places to eat and drink. The Brass Bell is a Cape Town institution, with excellent food served right on the water’s edge. In fact, when the tide comes in, you have to duck to watch out for the waves! If it’s too cold, Polana on the harbor is the best place in Cape Town for a late afternoon drink or listen to Afro-jazz music on a Sunday night – the log fires make it cozy as the waves crash on the rocks beyond the floor to ceiling windows.
5. Walk the malls. Granted, it’s not something unique to Cape Town, but this city has some great shopping centers and when is it better to visit them than when it’s wet outside? Top 3 shopping malls in Cape Town: Canal Walk, Cavendish Square and De Waterkant. Or, of course, there’s the V&A Waterfront, a world of shopping, entertainment and dining, all set in an international port.