From exhilarating adventures, action-packed obstacles courses, outdoor exploring, bucket-list worthy experiences, exciting escapades, games, and challenges, and SO much more, there is no shortage of fun and thrilling things for kids to do, see, discover, and experience in Cape Town.
To ensure your kiddies have an absolute blast in the Mother City – Here are the best things to do in Cape Town with kids.
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1. Go Artjamming!
Time to have some real ‘Paintertainment’ fun!
Going Artjamming is EVERY bit as entertaining, enjoyable, exhilarating, playful, and incredible as it sounds! Whether it’s painting, playing, sponging, or spraying, Artjamming gives you the exciting opportunity to be as wildly and wonderfully creative, bold, and free as you want to be – Unleash your fierce artistic flair onto the blank canvas in front of you and create whatever artistic masterpiece your heart desires.
Going Artjamming is by far one of the best things to do in Cape Town with kids – But who are we kidding? Its GREAT for adults too! In fact, they welcome absolutely EVERYONE – from age 0 to 100 and beyond – ensuring tons of fun for both the young and young at heart!
All Artjammers are provided with different canvas sizes, easels, a choice of non-toxic acrylic paints on tap, paint brushes, as well as an array of cool tools and everything you need to boldly, freely, loudly, and proudly express yourself creatively and artistically.
To make things even better, absolutely NO drawing or painting skills are required to join in on the Artjamming fun and games. But just in case, qualified artists are always available to assist, guide, and lend a helping hand to anyone who needs it.
- Location: Victoria Wharf Shopping Centre | Breakwater Blvd, Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, Cape Town| They also have locations in Willowbridge Shopping Centre and Somerset West
- Operating hours: Monday – Sunday, 9am – 6pm
- Contact details: 021 425 5050 | waterfront@artjamming.co.za | messy@artjamming.co.za
- Click here to visit the Artjamming website or to find out everything you need to know about this fun and thrilling experience
2. Iziko Planetarium and Digital Dome
If your kid / kids are at all obsessed with space and everything cool, magical, and mind-blowing that goes along with it, and even if they’re not, a trip to the infamous Iziko Planetarium and Digital Dome is definitely one of the best things to do in Cape Town with kids. How can you not be completely and utterly mesmerized by the Planetarium’s magnificent projected night sky?
The Iziko Planetarium has since undergone a 21st-century makeover with its remarkable Digital Dome, making it the most advanced planetarium on the African continent. Boasting a 360-degree screen, it makes virtual voyages of the entire universe possible – if that’s not deemed a beyond remarkable, over-the-moon exciting, one-of-a-kind, bucket-list worthy experience, we’re not sure what is! The Iziko Planetarium and Digital Dome also provides both multi-sensory edutainment and cutting-edge scientific research facilities.
The planetarium offers four shows, two of them specifically geared towards children. For example, this year they can join Tycho the space dog on his trip to the moon.
- Location: Iziko Planetarium and Digital Dome | 25 Queen Victoria Street, Cape Town City Centre, Cape Town
- Contact details: 021 481 3800 | info@iziko.org.za
- Operating hours: Tuesday – Saturday, 9am – 5pm | School holidays: Tuesday – Sunday, 10:30am – 1:30pm
- Cost: Adults (18 years+): R60 | R30 (17 years & younger, students & pensioners)
- **Extra Bonus: The Iziko SA Museum is right next door – filled with interesting exhibits ranging from fossils and dinosaurs to giant squids and enormous whale skeletons.
- Click here for more information on the Iziko Planetarium and Digital Dome
3. Learn to surf at Muizenberg Surfer’s Corner
Calling all ocean-loving kiddos keen for an awesome surfing adventure! Are you ready to learn to surf the cool Cape Town waves like a real pro?
Cape Town is the ultimate surfing, kitesurfing, and kiteboarding mecca for locals, travelers, and world-renowned surfing legends alike. Home to some of the most beautiful beaches in the world, coolest waves, and a stunning year-round mild Mediterranean climate, Cape Town has fast become the MOST sought-after surfing destination for surfers from around the world. Whether you’re an avid surfing pro looking for your next big wave or a surfing first timer, Cape Town has the perfect spot for you.
To bring it full circle – Cape Town, specifically Muizenberg’s Surfer’s Corner, is one of the absolute BEST surfing spots in Cape Town (and among the top 10 in the world) to learn how to surf! Making it ideal for kids and young surfing pros in the making!
Known for its perfect ‘smooth ride’ and gentle rolling waves, sandy bottom, and clean lines, Muizenberg’s waves can be surfed almost all year-round. The warmer ocean water also increases the likelihood that the kiddos / young surfers will stay in the ocean for longer – which is certainly a win in itself!
The fact that Muizenberg fully embodies the ‘lekka’ laid-back sea-side town culture and cool surf’s up way of life means that you can easily find a variety of places / surf spots & shops / legit surfing schools to take up / arrange surfing lessons for your kid / kids. Surf boards and wetsuits are generally provided by the surf shop / surf school. There are also several places where you can rent wetsuits, and surf boards.
Parents, listen up – We definitely haven’t forgotten about you! Adults and people of all ages are MORE than welcome to join their kids in their exhilarating adventure of learning how to surf. Amazing family / group surfing sessions / lessons are available if you’re looking to enjoy an exciting and fun-filled family ocean adventure you can tick off your bucket-list!
**Extra bonus: In addition to being one of the coolest surfing beaches and best surfing spot to learn how to surf, Muizenberg Beach is also one of Cape Town’s best blue flag swimming beaches. This makes it the perfect place to enjoy a fun beach day out with the whole family.
- Location: Muizenberg Surfers Corner, 70 Beach Road, Muizenberg, Cape Town
- Click here for more information about Muizenberg Surfer’s Corner
4. Visit the Two Ocean’s Aquarium
A visit to the iconic Two Ocean’s Aquarium at the V&A Waterfront is without a doubt one of the best things to do in Cape Town with kids. Hands down!
Home to several (if not all) of the Western Cape’s magnificent marine life species, incredible exhibits, and a vast array of bucket-list worthy kid-friendly experiences, activities, and adventures, there is no doubt that a fun-filled family-friendly excursion to the Two Ocean’s Aquarium will be thoroughly enjoyed by both the young and young at heart.
Some of the Two Ocean’s Aquarium exhibits you can look forward to include:
- The Penguin Exhibit
- Kelp Forest Exhibit
- I&J Ocean Exhibit
- Save Our Seas Foundation Shark Exhibit (experience up-close encounters with some of the most misunderstood species in South Africa’s oceans, such as ragged-tooth sharks, giant yellowtail, and yellowbelly rockcod)
- The Diversity Gallery (the Diversity Gallery aims to showcase the incredible diversity of marine life found in the Indian and Atlantic Oceans)
- The Touch Pool & Microscope Exhibits (this remarkable exhibit gives you the opportunity to look through a microscope and see marine life species like you never have before).
The best part? That’s merely scratching the surface of what the wonderful Two Ocean’s Aquarium has to offer. Plus, it can all be experienced right throughout the year!
Click here to get your Two Oceans Aquarium ticket / tickets or to find out more about their exciting experiences, activities, and thrilling adventures.
Two Ocean’s Aquarium Information & Details:
- Location: Two Oceans Aquarium, Dock Road, V&A Waterfront, Cape Town
- Opening hours: Monday to Sunday from 09:30 to 18:00
- Contact details: 021 418 3823 | 021 418 3952 | aquarium@aquarium.co.za
- Website: www.aquarium.co.za
5. Have fun at the Scratch Patch & Mineral World
Did you know that almost half of the world’s gemstones can be found in South Africa? The amazing Scratch Patch & Mineral World gives you the incredible and wildly exciting opportunity to search and scratch for these remarkable gems yourself right here in Cape Town.
With two thriving locations in the V&A Waterfront and Simonstown in False Bay, Scratch Patch & Mineral World is a unique and down-right thrilling activity / experience that will be thoroughly enjoyed by the whole family on a chilly day in Cape Town – Not to mention any other day of the year too!
What exactly can you expect? When visiting the Scratch Patch & Mineral World (at either location), you will be welcomed by a vast and varied assortment of beautiful gems and stones that quite literally cover the entire floor. Once you’ve scratched, searched, and selected your favorite gems and stones, it’s time for you to visit the gem exhibitions and shops.
Scratch Patch & Mineral World | V&A Waterfront
- Location: V&A Waterfront, Dock Road (near the Aquarium), Cape Town
- Opening hours: Monday – Sunday + holidays: 9am – 4:30pm
- Contact details: 021 786 2020 | tumbled@topstones.co.za
- Website: Click here to visit the Scratch Patch & Mineral World website or to find out everything you need to know about this incredible experience
- Price: You can purchase one of three sizes of plastic bags or a cup to fill it with your favorite gemstones:
- Small bag: R30 (contains approximately 140 grams)
- Medium bag: R45 (contains approximately 300 grams)
- Large bag: R140 (contains approximately 1200 grams)
- Cup: R90 (contains approximately 630 grams)
Scratch Patch & Mineral World | Simonstown | False Bay
- Location: Scratch Patch & Mineral World | Dido Valley Road, Simonstown, Cape Town
- Opening hours: Monday – Friday: 8:30am – 4:45pm | Saturday – Sunday: 9am – 4:30 | Holidays: 9am – 4:30
- Contact details: 021 786 2020 | tumbled@topstones.co.za
- Website: Click here to visit the Scratch Patch & Mineral World website or to find out everything you need to know about this incredible experience
- Price: You can purchase one of three sizes of plastic bags or a cup to fill it with your favorite gemstones:
- Small bag: R30 (contains approximately 140 grams)
- Medium bag: R45 (contains approximately 300 grams)
- Large bag: R140 (contains approximately 1200 grams)
- Cup: R90 (contains approximately 630 grams)
6. Rush Indoor Trampoline Park
The Rush Indoor Trampoline Park is the ultimate, super-spacious indoor playground, perfect for energetic kiddos with tons of zest, vigor, and curiosity who, quite frankly, never stop moving and grooving around.
In addition to being one of the most entertaining things to do with kids in Cape Town, Rush Indoor Trampoline Park offers all kiddos a vast and exciting variety of fun and thrilling activities and things to do.
Epic foam pits, multiple wall-to-wall trampolines, battle beams, dodgeball, trampoline fitness classes, basketball, and emulating some of their favorite action heroes and video-game characters are just a few of the cool and action-packed experiences and activities kids can expect to enjoy at Rush Indoor Trampoline Park.
Trained staff are always available and on-hand to provide help, guidance, support, supervision, and instruction wherever and whenever needed. So you can rest assured that your kid / kids are in great hands while you enjoy a delicious cup of coffee at the on-site coffee shop.
- Location: Rush Indoor Trampoline Park | 5th Floor (Access to Rush from Parade Area), 109 on Main, Main Road, Claremont, Cape Town
- Contact details: 021 683 3841 | 021 671 1489 | 087 094 0178 | infoct@rushsa.co.za
- Operating hours: Monday – Thursday, 9am – 7pm | Friday – Saturday, 9am – 8pm | Sunday, 9am – 6pm
- Cost: 1 hour all access ticket: R150 | Parent + Toddler (anytime): R200 | Additional Hour: R100 | Click here for any pricing updates or special offers
- **Exciting Note: *Cosmic Rush* – a black-light experience with music and disco lights – takes place every Friday between 6pm and 7pm
7. 3D Glow-in-the-dark Mini Golf
Simply mentioning the words ‘3D Glow-in-the-dark Mini Golf’ will have your kiddos jumping up and down with pure excitement – Undoubtedly making playing 3D glow-in-the-dark mini golf one of the most thrilling things to do with kids in Cape Town.
This uniquely epic luminous 3D mini golf course features 3D murals, UV AND disco lights for a fun and down-right exhilarating 18 holes of 3D glow-in-the-dark mini golf. You even get to play with special imported 3D glasses! How amazing is that?
Besides it being one of the coolest and most entertaining things to do in Cape Town with kids, it’s an unforgettable bucket-list worthy family-friendly experience that’s unlike anything you’ve done before.
- Location: Shop 16 – The Gallery, Corner Koeberg Road and Turf Club Drive, Milnerton, Cape Town | Entrance on ground floor next to FNB
- Opening hours: Monday: Closed |Tuesday – Friday: Closed (except for confirmed paid event room bookings of 10 or more OR minimum 20 confirmed paid players between 10am – 7pm) | Saturday: 10am – 8pm | Sunday: 10am – 4pm | Holidays: Open from Tuesday – Sunday – Be sure to check the website to confirm times
- Cost: R110 per player | Non-player Fee: R70 | Pensioner Fee: R70 | Pensioner Non-player Fee: R50
- Contact details: 021 551 2244 | info@glowingrooms.co.za
- No booking required
- For exclusive usage of the entire premises contact booking@glowingrooms.co.za
- Click here to visit the Glowing Rooms website or to find out everything you need to know about this fun and thrilling experience
8. Go Ice Skating @ The Ice Station at GrandWest Casino & Entertainment World
While some may say ice skating is solely reserved for winter – you couldn’t be further from the truth! Open right throughout the year, ice skating at The Ice Station at GrandWest Casino & Entertainment World is one of the most popular, exciting, and fun-filled year-round activities enjoyed by kids and adults alike.
Reminiscent of a winter wonderland, The Ice Station at GrandWest Casino & Entertainment Worldis one of the best places to go ice skating in Cape Town for both the young and young at heart.
Home to the only indoor ice-skating rink in the Western Cape, The Ice Station at GrandWest invites first-timers, amateurs, mid-level, and professional ice skaters to hone their skating skills, as well as show off their unbelievably cool and beyond astounding (AKA jaw-dropping) ice skating moves, tricks, and twirls, all while having TONS of skating fun on an Olympic-sized rink.
**Bonus: If that’s not enough, The Ice Station at GrandWest offers free-style open-air ice-skating for individuals and groups. It is also a great and incredibly fun way to celebrate a kid’s birthday party, especially if you’re looking for something unique and exciting to do. To put the cherry on top of an already fantastic ice-skating cake – GrandWest ice rink offers special rates for groups.
- Location: GrandWest Casino & Entertainment World | Grand West Casino, 1 Jakes Gerwel Drive, Acacia Park, Cape Town
- Contact details: 021 535 2260 | bookings@icerink.co.za | 021 535 2263
- Website: Visit the GrandWest Casino & Entertainment World website for more information | Click here to find out everything you need to know
- Operating hours: The trading hours are adjusted on a regular basis in terms of business requirements. Please contact the outlet directly to confirm their current trading hours | Typical operating hours are: Monday – Thursday: 10am – 7:30pm / Friday – Saturday: 10am – 11pm / Sunday: 10am – 8:30pm
Cost | 1 HOUR SESSION
- Individual: R65 per person
- Group of Ten: R55 per person
- Own Skates: R50 per person
Cost | 2 HOURS SESSION (LAST)
- Individual: R75 per person
- Own Skates: R55 per person
9. Go Sandboarding at the Atlantis Dunes
Located approximately 40-minutes from the city center, the Atlantis Dunes is the ultimate sandboarding mecca. It is also one of only a handful of sandboarding locations in the world, undoubtedly making it one of the most thrilling bucket-list worthy experiences and best things to do in Cape Town with kids.
Besides the obvious, this is one of the best things about going sandboarding at the Atlantis Dunes – People of all ages and experience levels are invited to join in on the sandboarding fun and games! Even if you’ve never sand boarded a day in your life, the experienced guides will be right there to help you out along the way.
- Atlantis Dunes Location: 0 Dassenberg Drive, Atlantis, Cape Town
10. Enjoy a game of HintHunt
HintHunt is the original live escape game! It is fun, thrilling, and interactive and has taken Cape Town by storm with everyone eager to get in on the action. HintHunt is a game played in groups of three to five people where you get an hour to work out puzzles and mysteries to escape / release yourselves from a room.
If you’re up for something truly exhilarating, a little different, and super interactive that gets your mind working in all the right ways, a game of HintHunt is the perfect choice!
HintHunt offers visitors and eager thrill seekers an amazing variety of experiences to choose from, including:
- Live Escape Games
- Online Escape Games
- Outdoor Escape Games
- Amazing Race Experiences
- Mobile Escape Games
With such an exciting range of thrilling activities and experiences to choose from, the only thing you’ll have trouble with is deciding which HintHunt adventure to tick off your bucket list first. Here’s the best part – HintHunt has made it their mission to ensure there is something for absolutely EVERYONE to enjoy!
- Location: HintHunt | JH02 The Watershed, 17 Dock Road, Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, Cape Town
- Operating hours: Monday – Thursday: 10am – 7pm | Friday – Saturday: 10am – 10pm | Sunday: 10am – 5:30pm
- Contact details: 076 187 2764 | 021 001 4215 | capetown@hinthunt.co.za | www.hinthunt.co.za
- Click here for more information or to view HintHunt’s current COVID-19 regulations, protocols, and guidelines