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Cape Town Sights

Victoria & Alfred Waterfront

2 reviews | Write a review

Good for: people watching, dining, boating, Gifts and souvenirs, relaxing

Not good for: Extensive shopping, Partying

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Lonely Planet review for Victoria & Alfred Waterfront

The Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, always just called the Waterfront is likely to be one of the first places you head to. It’s a great example of how to best redevelop a declining dock area into a tourist hot spot. The atmosphere is always buzzing and there’s plenty to do, including making a trip out to Robben Island, the infamous prison island that is now a fascinating museum.

The Alfred and Victoria Basins date from 1860 and are named after Queen Victoria and her son Alfred. Although these wharves are too small for modern container vessels and tankers, the Victoria Basin is still used by tugs, harbour vessels of various kinds and fishing boats. In the Alfred Basin you’ll see ships under repair, and seals splashing around and lazing on the giant tyres that line the docks.

The outcrop of largely open land west of the Waterfront is Green Point, where you’ll find the new Green Point Stadium, a golf course and a soon-to-be-created municipal park. As well as being the name of the actual point, Green Point is also the name of the surrounding suburb, which includes rocky Mouille Point, right on the Atlantic coast and an atmospheric place for a seaside stroll.

For all the upmarket development going on around here, note Green Point’s Main Rd is also where you’ll find some of Cape Town’s prostitutes plying their trade.

 

Traveller reviews for Victoria & Alfred Waterfront (2)

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    Good restaurants and boat watching.

    hazell21 recommends this,

    Terrific restaurant here, I go there everytime I go to SA- Belthazor (Steak restaurant) on the waterfront.
    There is often live music in the ampitheatre, which is nice and is good to wonder around.
    As someone from the UK the shops are a bit old fashioned and very expensive.
    Lovely to look at all the expensive yachts though!

    Good for: people watching, dining, boating, Gifts and souvenirs

    Not good for: Extensive shopping

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    Good for a quick drink and snack

    barcelona83 recommends this,

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    The V&A area is nice but don't plan on spending too much time there, you can easily see everything in an hour or so. There are some cute eateries along the waterfront and it's a nice place for a meal and a relaxed drink, but head to Long St if you really want to party! My highlight was actually the seals that call the waterfront their own, but don't get too close as apparently they can be a bit vicious.

    Good for: food, wildlife, relaxing, Drink

    Not good for: Partying

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