Victoria & Alfred Waterfront Cape Town

The Victoria and Alfred Waterfront Harbour development is a world class shopping and entertainment centre. It is unique because of its stunning location.

The complex is situated around Cape Town harbour, which was built in 1860 and is still a busy working harbour. Original buildings have been renovated and new ones have been built in a Victorian style.

There is a great variety of different things to do here. There are all of the usual features of a large shopping centre, including:

• great book and music shops
• clothing shops of all descriptions
• coffee shops
• supermarkets
• restaurants
• two large craft markets full of unusual and attractive items
• many outside cafes and restaurants offering views of the ships, the city and Table mountain
• dozens of cinemas, including several devoted to "art" movies
• a huge Imax cinema with a screen the size of a 5-storey building
• theatres devoted to live performances
• several venues for live music, including an amphitheatre where there are often free outdoor concerts.

Two Oceans Aquarium

A highlight of the Waterfront is the Two Oceans Aquarium. It is a very interesting and relaxing place to spend an afternoon. The aquarium provides a window to the marine life of the Atlantic and Indian oceans. You can see large green moray eels, sharks, penguins, giant crabs and all sorts of brightly coloured fish.

Robben Island

Boat trips and cruises, including one to Robben Island, are another highlight. Table Mountain and the city are very beautiful from the sea, especially when the sun is setting.

Robben Island is famous as the place where Nelson Mandela spent many years in prison. As a result it has a special historical significance for many South Africans. Your trip to the island includes a tour of the prison buildings. The tour is often led by former prisoners who can provide you with inside information on the island's past.

V & A Waterfront Cape Town Links

The official V & A Waterfront site provides a guide to the shops and restaurants. It also contains information about current events.

The South African Imax Cinema site provides details for the Waterfront Imax cinema. The international Imax site provides general information about Imax cinemas.

The Robben Island Museum website is informative and attractive.