Overview
Nestled at the foot of Signal Hill, Bo-Kaap is the historic home of the Cape Malay community — descendants of enslaved people and political exiles brought from Southeast Asia by the Dutch East India Company in the 18th century. Houses painted in pastel pinks, blues, yellows, and greens line the cobbled hillside streets, making it Cape Town's most photogenic neighbourhood. The Bo-Kaap Museum traces the area's cultural history, and the district's traditional curry is considered the most authentic in South Africa. Free to wander (Bo-Kaap Museum ZAR 30). About 15 minutes on foot from the city centre.
Opening Hours
Open 24 hours (Bo-Kaap Museum: Mon-Sat 10:00-17:00)
Travel Tips
Be respectful of residents' privacy when taking photos. Bo-Kaap Kombuis serves authentic Cape Malay curry.
Hotels near Bo-Kaap
Hotels and guesthouses in Cape Town, Bo-Kaap, Cape Town
Other attractions in Cape Town
Table Mountain
Cape Town's iconic flat-topped mountain, reachable by cable car for panoramic city views.
Cape of Good Hope
A cape at the southwestern tip of the African continent, near the meeting point of the Atlantic and Indian Oceans.
Robben Island
The UNESCO World Heritage island prison where Nelson Mandela spent 27 years in custody.
V&A Waterfront
Cape Town's premier waterfront complex combining shopping, dining, and entertainment.
Boulders Beach
A world-famous beach home to a colony of about 3,000 African penguins.
Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden
A world-class botanical garden on the eastern slopes of Table Mountain, famous for its fynbos vegetation.
Chapman's Peak Drive
One of the world's most beautiful coastal drives, with 114 curves carved into the cliffside.