Text: Marcella van Alphen
Photographs: Marcella van Alphen & Claire Lessiau

Cape Town has once more been voted the most beautiful city of the planet in 2025 by Time Out Magazine. And rightfully so! The Mother City with its fantastic gastronomy, rich cultural heritage, laid-back vibes, friendly people, gorgeous beaches, and hundreds of hiking trails at its doorstep keep attracting visitors and invites to come back. Even if going around in a rental car or by Uber is easy, traffic can be hectic, especially in the festive austral summer months around the end of the year celebrations. Ditch the traffic, do not stress over finding parking, and instead soak up the beauty of Cape Town’s surrounding by riding its beautiful roads by Vespa. Here is our top 10 must-visit places in Cape Town that are ideal to explore on a two-wheeler.

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1. Chapman’s Peak Drive

Cruise one of the most beautiful roads in the world that is carved out of Chapman’s Peak mostly by convicts. Named after John Chapman, the mate of the captain of an English ship that anchored in front of today’s Hout Bay in 1607, the Chapman’s Peak Drive is a masterpiece of engineering. The stunning road has been connecting Cape Town to the city of Hout Bay since 1922. The best time to drive it is around sunset where it is easy to pull over your Vespa into one of the many parking bays to enjoy the warm hues on the dramatic mountainous coastline. If you look carefully, you might even spot some whales in the distance if you happen to be there between June and December!

2. The Constantia Wine Route

No need to ride far at all to explore the oldest vineyards of the Southern Hemisphere! Much closer than the over-marketed wine experiences of Franschhoek and plethora of estates of Stellenbosch, the terroir of the Constantia area will blow you away! With the dramatic backdrop of Table Mountain, the dozen or so of vineyards each propose a different experience and very specific wines crafted by passionate and often innovative wine makers. Discover domains such as Groot Constantia, Constantia Glen, Constantia Uitsig, and the Cape Point Vineyards. The latter is not quite on the Constantia Wine Route, but slightly further close to #1, and with its amazing view on Noordhoek Beach is definitely worth the extra scenic miles! To learn more about each vineyard, their best wines, and food options please refer to this article about the best wine route of South Africa!

3. Llandudno Beach

While Cape Town’s beaches such as Clifton and Camps Bay are definitely worth a visit (that is much eased on a 2-wheeler as parking and traffic do get hectic in the summer), a drive along the scenic Victoria Road to the secluded and upscale Llandudno leads to the more stunning Llandudno Beach. A breeding ground for South Africa’s best surfers [overhead waves are very common here], its white sandy beach is surrounded by large granite boulders and offers a dramatic setting that is fantastic for a romantic sunset or just the ideal place to relax. With very limited parking close to the beach after a winding downhill, the Vespa will make the difference between driving your car back up disappointed (after queuing for a while) or being able to park and enjoy the beach to the fullest.

4. Table Mountain Road

The recently reconstructed Table Mountain Road boasts wonderful views over the Cape Town City Bowl as it is referred to by locals. Passed the cable car station, the road becomes quieter and is well worth a Vespa ride all the way till the end.

Taking in the views on the legislative capital of South Africa and its harbour from the slopes of Table Mountain is great in itself but even better from all the way up the iconic landmark, and one of the new 7 wonders of the world.

While parking can be tricky or will get you to start your hike along the asphalt road, putting your Vespa on its standard and safely tucking the helmet(s) into the top case or under the saddle is easy. Take out your backpack with water, snacks, and a light jacket and make sure to make it to the top. Hiking is by far the best option in order to fully enjoy the Cape Floral kingdom (see must-visit #6) that is so varied and precious –Platteklip Gorge is the easiest and most frequently hiked route up. The cable car offers a 360-degree experience as its cabin rotates to ensure everyone on-board can take it the views.

5. Bloubergstrand Beach

For this one iconic view of Cape Town’s skyline with Table Mountain towering above the city and Lion’s Head to its right, you will need to ride your Vespa out of town a little. Follow the Marine Drive towards Milnerton and check out the weekend flee market that takes place until about midday on the way. A bit further north, Bloubergstrand Beach awaits and stretches for several kilometres with is fine white sands. As it is often more windy here, it is a kite-surfer’s hotspot.

6. Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens

Cape Town has been appointed world’s most biodiverse city, and its outstanding Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens are the ideal place to discover its ecosystems. To approach the garden with your Vespa, opt for a little detour and arrive from the Houtbay side. Not only does that avoid a stretch of highway, preferring the super scenic Victoria Road along the Atlantic Ocean, but from Houtbay, the M63 road that leads to Constantia Neck offers a stunning ride amongst centennial oak trees.

The mind-blowing variety of flora on the back slopes of Table Mountain is probably what makes Kirstenbosch one of the most beautiful botanical gardens in the world, attracting more than a million visitors a year. Beyond observing colourful sunbirds feeding on proteas, exploring the section of medicinal plants, or braving the wooden canopy walk, you will find yourself mingling with the locals who flock to the green lawns for picnics with friends and family, a concert in the park, or a movie night. Tempted? Learn more about the Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden.

7. The V&A Waterfront

The V&A Waterfront is the most visited attraction of Africa with 25 million visitors in 2024. The most successful development project of the whole continent is also the oldest working harbour of the Southern Hemisphere. Riding your Vespa around here is by far the easiest way to avoid waiting for a never-arriving Uber during the high season, or hoping for an elusive parking spot. On weekends when the super popular Oranjezicht Market takes place, you will be glad for your two-wheeler!

Shop in the trendiest mall of South Africa, try out a fine-dining restaurant, watch seals by the Two-Ocean Aquarium, embark for the must-visit Robben Island, and simply enjoy the stunning views from the V&A and soak up its jovial vibes… Read more about the fascinating history of the V&A to understand it better and to make the most of your visit.

8. Boulders Beach and Cape Point National Park

Head to Muizenberg—and go for a surf session if you are in the mood—or continue to Simon’s Town along the coast and head south to Boulders Beach. Named after the 540-milion year old boulders that cover its shoreline, it is home to a colony of African penguins.

What makes Boulders Beach extra special is that more than observing the penguins in their natural habitat that is already quite rare, it is the only place in the world where you can swim with these critically endangered birds.

From Boulders Beach the road south leads to Cape Point National Park. A visit to the famous lighthouse is a must. While cruising on your Vespa, keep your eyes open for baboons, mountain zebras, herds of elands, and some elegant klipspringers. Don’t lose you focus on the road too much though as tortoises frequently cross the road. This full day outing, looping back to Cape Town via Misty Cliffs and Kommetjie is a good bet, and perfectly ended with driving Chapman’s Peak Drive for sunset!

9. Lion’s Head and Signal Hill

Signal Hill divides the City Bowl from the Sea Point area and driving its scenic winding road by Vespa is the best way to take in its panoramic view. A famous spot for sunset as well as the starting point for the hike to the top of Lion’s Head, Africa’s most summited mountain, parking here is hard and your Vespa therefore ideal.

10. Bo-Kaap

Taking your stylish Vespa to the most Instagrammable place in town is a must. The historic small residential area is picturesque with its colourful houses and vibrant thanks to its mainly Muslim inhabitants with a strong sense of community. Try out some koesisters, a local donut flavoured with soft Cape Malay spices, explore the murals, stroll its steep cobblestone streets, sip a rooibos tea and stack up on spices at the famous Atlas spice store. Conveniently, Cape Town Vespa Rentals is located in the very heart of Bo-Kaap so you cannot miss it!

Travel tips:

• Reach out to Cape Town Vespa Rentals to rent your ride. For licensed motorbikers, more powerful engines are also available.
• Check out our interactive map for more in the area (black pins lead to an article):

For more in Cape Town, click on these images: