#Cape Town doesn’t need an introduction. It is one of the most popular city hashtags in South Africa, tagged in over 3 111 645 photos (#Johannesburg is tagged in only 560 590 photos).
Comparatively #Cape Town is understandably not as popular as somewhere like #London (53 434 729 photos), or #NewYork (32 937 931 photos)but it easily beats hashtags like #Perth (2 800 824), and #Auckland (1 155 287), and even comes in ahead of #Iceland (2 320 325),and just behind trendy cities like #Copenhagen (3 227 166) and #Buenos Aires (3 134 220).
But how do the Mother City’s major tourist attractions fare on Instagram? Which attraction hashtags are used the most? We set out to uncover the top 15 most instagrammed attractions in Cape Town …
#tablemountain (368 113 photos)
As one would expect, at the top of the list is Table Mountain, other than Mandela one of the country’s biggest icons. The flat-topped mountain overlooking Cape Town’s city bowl is not only on Cape Town’s flag and other local government insignia, it’s also one of the world’s new seven wonders of nature.
A climb to the top, or a trip up the cableway, is something almost every visitor does even if in the city for a couple of hours.
#lionshead (144 567 photos)
Lion’s Head mountain is also up there at the top of the list of most popular places to visit in the Mother City.
Considering the contagious effect of the moonlit evening walks to the top, this is none too surprising – it’s one of the more hip tourist attractions of the city.
#campsbay (132 107 photos)
Camps Bay draws a huge crowd of foreign visitors. It’s a trendy spot, the place to be seen catching a tan, even if the water on the Atlantic side of the peninsula is only a little above freezing.
It’s also one of few beaches where you can hire sun loungers, umbrellas and buy iced drinks.
#signalhill (103 454 photos)
Yet another of Cape Town’s iconic mountains makes it to the top of the list.
The Lion’s Rump lies next to both Lion’s Head and Table Mountain, and a sunset drive up the hill, which connects Kloof Nek to Lion’s Head, to the top is obligatory.
#houtbay (68 868 photos)
Still on the Atlantic side of the peninsula, Hout Bay is one of the prettiest bays in the city – ringed by mountains.
Not as glamorous, perhaps, as Camps Bay, it is, however, synonymous with fish and chips at the harbour, a paddle across the bay, and encounters with sealions (watch Joseph feed them fish from his mouth on the jetty).
#twelveapostles (52 129 photos)
This range of mountain peaks is beautifully visible along Victoria Road that runs between Sea Point and Hout Bay, one of the most beautiful coastal drives in the country.
Aside from the fact that there are 18 buttresses, not 12, these sandstone cliffs make picture perfect photo moments and dominate the skyline for a good portion of the drive.
#capepoint (49 084 photos)
Cape Point, as its name suggests, is the tip of the Cape Peninsula on which much of Cape Town lies.
It’s also a nature reserve and a World Heritage Site containing spectacular scenery, hikes, well over 250 species of birds and unsurpassable views of the ocean.
#kirstenbosch (45 121 photos)
Our only surprise was to discover how low on the most hashtagged list this magnificent botanical garden was, despite its being one of the most visited tourist attractions in the city.
#longstreet (42 832 photos)
Long Street is Cape Town’s party-all-night capital, and has a bustling 24-hour vibe.
Regarded as a bohemian hangout, its pavements, Victorian buildings and wrought iron balconies play host to antique book stores, street-wear boutiques, the oldest mission church in the country, the Palm Tree Mosque, and a long list of clubs and bars.
#muizenberg (39 135 photos)
Muizenberg is Cape Town’s surf capital and where anyone and everyone learns to get up on a board and brave the waves.
The long beach might lack the boulders and dramatic turquoise of the Atlantic, but it’s warmer, and Muizenberg’s bohemian village combines with surfers’ corner seamlessly.
#kalkbay (38 286 photos)
The next village up from Muizenberg, this beautiful old-fashioned fishing village has gentrified over the years and its main road is packed with coffee shops, galleries, antique shops and second-hand bookstores.
Its working harbour sells daily fresh fish and provides unfailing photo material.
#winelands (32 320 photos)
The winelands – Franschhoek, Stellenbosch, Somerset West, Paarl – are synonymous with farmlands swept with vineyards, Cape Dutch-style homesteads, oak-tree lined drives, mountains and fine wines.
Visitors have yet to be disappointed.
#blouberg (27 171 photos)
The beach with the famous view of Table Mountain, Blouberg, or Blaauwberg (blue mountain beach), is the Afrikaans equivalent to Camps Bay, with arguably better views, depending on whether or not you like your mountain behind or in front of you.
Blouberg Village is where Big Bay and Small Bay meet, where the sunset is unbeatable, and where you can eat seafood virtually on the beach.
#canalwalk (27 342 photos)
Canal Walk is for serious shoppers, with over 400 shops, chain stores, boutiques and specialty stores. They’re also open until 7pm most nights of the week, and all weekend, which is why Canal walk is always busy.
But if you’re prepared to fight the crowds and enjoy shopping, other than the V&A Waterfront, this is your best bet.
#robbenisland (23 142 photos)
Famous as the island where Nelson Mandela was incarcerated for 18 of the 27 years he was to spend in prison, Robben Island lies in Table Bay and is Dutch for ‘seal island’.
The oval island is not only a UNESCO World Heritage Site but has a history of incarcerating prisoners since the end of the 17th century. Today it is a symbol of freedom and personal liberation. There are daily tours to the island by ferry.
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