Mr & Mrs Smith

Adrenalin junkies can get their fix over and over again, with golf, mountain biking and walking, boat and kayak trips, sailing, surfing and windsurfing all on tap. Companies to consult on keeping busy include Cape Rainbow Tours (+ 27 21 551 5465; www.caperainbow.com) and Navigators 4-WD Adventures (+27 (0)21 689 1825; www.navigators4wd.co.za). Something unique to this city, and which many would argue is unmissable, is a visit to Robben Island, where Nelson Mandela was held prisoner (www.robben-island.org.za). The tours of this former prison by inmates are not only fascinating, but also incredibly touching.

Daytripper

Drive half an hour north to the lush wine region, where hundreds of vineyards offer tastings and lunch in their postcard-perfect surrounds. At Spier, near Stellenbosch (www.spier.co.za), you can sample five wines for about £1, eat pan-African fare in Moyo, and stroke one of the furry inhabitants of their cheetah outreach. Stop in the colonial town of Franschhoek, where a romantic boozy lunch at the hillside La Petite Ferme is a must for gourmands (+27 (0)21 876 3016). Another bright star in this culinary capital is Reubens (+27 (0)21 876 3772). Lunch in its large courtyard is worth lingering over; have the sommelier match a glass of wine to each course. Haute Cabriere, the restaurant at the Cabriere Estate (+27 (0)21 876 3688) is another must for epicureans.

Best beaches

Find your own deserted sandy discoveries and sheltered lagoons among the miles of unspoilt coastline. Be warned though: those Atlantic waters can be icy, even if the sea loses its cool as you head east towards the Indian Ocean. Delightful spots in which to catch some rays are the coves in Clifton, overlooked by Table Mountain; or try quiet Llandudno, a far cry from its Welsh namesake. A 15-minute drive from the city, Hout Bay is great for people- and parasurfer-watching. Locals walk their dogs or bring their broods here at weekends.

Panama Jacks on Eastern Mole Road (+27 (0)21 447 3992) is a fantastic seafood restaurant in the Waterfront area. It's advisable to book ahead. Manolo on Kloof Street (+27 (0)21 422 4747) is a very stylish Cape Town bar and restaurant set in an old Victorian house with a sleek and exquisitely crafted interior. The menu blends East and West with some decidedly South African twists like the springbok carpaccio. Also on Kloof Street, Ocean Basket (+27 (0)21 422 0322) serves excellent seafood; the fresh squid and prawns are particularly delicious. Further down on Kloof Street, Manna (+27 (0)21 426 2413) is another great restaurant, where everything from the service and all-white decor to the coconut bread and beef fillets, is exceptional. Miller’s Thumb on Kloofnek Road in Tamboerskloof (+27 (0)21 424 3838) is a popular seafood restaurant with a casual atmosphere and an emphasis on Cajun and Creole flavours. Ginja on Castle Street (+27 (0)21 426 2368) has a French brasserie ambience and an inventive East-meets-West fusion menu.