The V&A Waterfront in Cape Town is situated in a working harbour with the local fishing industry occupying 60% of the site.
It provides visitors with a vibrant and ever-changing backdrop of ferries, fishing vessels, charter boats and marine life.
The harbour, originating from 1860, today caters for a wide range of vessels from working boats to yachts and provides berthing to passenger boats, super yachts and a multitude of upmarket cruise liners.
With panoramic views of the ocean, city bowl and Table Mountain, the V&A Waterfront is located in close proximity to some of Cape Towns most iconic tourist attractions:
- 1 km from the Cape Town Stadium
- 8 km from Table Mountain National Park
- 11 km from Robben Island
- 8.5 km from Camps Bay beach
With 22 official landmarks on-site, the V&A Waterfront forms an integral part of South Africas historical legacy. Some of these include:
- Chavonnes Battery established in the 1800s
- Dock House 1870, previously the Harbour Masters residence
- Houses at Portswood Ridge from 1870
- Patent Slipway 1879
- Ulundi Parking Garage 1889, previously the home of the Chief Resident Engineer
- Time Ball Tower 1894, previously repeater station for harbour signals
- NSRI boathouse where the first port lifeboat was housed in 1898
- Harbour caf, originally a harbour tea-room from 1902
- Breakwater Prison 1902 which now houses UCTs Graduate School of Business
- Old Port Captains Building - 1904
- Victoria basin 1905
- Union Castle Building built in 1919 for Union Castle Mail Steamship Company
- Silo Grain Building 1924
- V&A Hotel which was formerly a warehouse from the 1930s
The V&A Waterfront has over 450 retailers. Retail shopping hours are from 9am to 9pm, 364 days of the year with Christmas trading being optional for tenants.
The V&A Waterfront has expanded over the past two decades and currently boasts more than 80 eateries, including restaurants, coffee shops and fast food outlets. It has more than 7500 parking bays.
The V&A Waterfront plays host to ten hotels with 1,495 rooms available in total.
What to Do
Harbour cruises
Two Oceans Aquarium
Scenic helicopter flights
Travel by water taxi
Discover your own precious gem at the Scratch Patch
Cave Golf
Explore the Waterfront Craft Market & Wellness Centre
Have an eclectic experience at the Red Shed Craft Workshop.
Pamper yourself at the Waterfront Craft Market & Wellness Centre
Have your palm read at the Waterfront Craft Market & Wellness Centre
Seals galore!
Pay tribute to South Africa Nobel Peace Prize Laureates
Shop
Have food on the go
Experience a 90 minute Marine-Eco Tour
Be more adventurous and enjoy a stand up paddle experience
See Cape Town from a different angle from the City Sightseeing Side Cards
Explore Cape Town on the City Sightseeing Hop-on Hop-off Bus
Visit the Cape Town Diamond Museum and learn more about diamonds and its origin
Visit the V&A Market on the Wharf for fresh food and produce
V&A Waterfront Historical Walking Tour
At night:
Dinner at variety of over 80 eateries
Late night shopping!
Watch a movie at one the Waterfronts movie houses
Live entertainment at the Waterfront Amphitheatre every Saturday and Sunday from 17:00 18:00
Live music at Quay 4 Brasserie every weekend (Friday, Saturday & Sunday)
Various street performers visible across the precinct until late
The Waterfront provides a variety of entertainment for the whole family. And the V&A is just minutes away from museums, art galleries, the Castle of Good Hope and the delightful old "Bo-Kaap" buildings.
Where to Stay
V A Waterfront Accommodation options are numerous; with a large variety of different types.
