V & A Waterfront, Cape Town

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Waterfront is an active center of commercial activity day and night. It is also a spot favoured by marimba ensembles and folk choirs vying for the tourist buck. Fierce competition aside, they are easy and valuable introduction to the musical fibre of the South African society and offer glimpses of where some of the best Michael Jackson moves have come from. Locals join spontaneously into the performance, singing, dancing or both, thus adding patina of truthfulness to the whole exercise.

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I enjoyed walking around this wonder V & A Waterfront where a lot of tourists go to...my brother-in-law took at 70 day cruise of the continent of Africa and one of his favorites was this wonderful harbour area where you can have awesome food as you leave your cruise ship.

The V & A is located between Robben Island and Table Mountain at Cape Town's working harbour, and it is known for it's restaurants, luxury hotels and amazing shopping. I actually found a shop there where a lot of souvenirs were so affordable so I bought a lot of them...plus chocolates! (unfortunately, I cannot remember the name of the shop but it qwas very near the clock tower).

Also, I took a little boat cruise around the harbour itself and I saw a seal sleeping so nicely in one of the huge tires at the harbour (have it in one of the pictures). I think it was less than $20 to go on that boat and it was worth it to experience seeing the V&A from the water.

Everyone that visits Cape Town probably pays a visit to the waterfront. Well known throughout the world. This is one of Cape Town's biggest tourist attractions. For us folk that come from up country, it is a big thing and a real thrill to visit.

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The waterfront started life as a harbour redevelopment project by Prince Alfred, the second son of Queen Victoria. During the boycott of the late Apartheid decades, the harbour fell into decay and it wasn’t until 1994 when construction works began to turn a part of the harbour into an entertainment center. Although the remaining part is still a working harbour, V&A Waterfront is mainly known for its shopping malls and hotels. But this does not mean that only tourists go there – many locals visit the Waterfront for a nice day out. There are shops for everyone, but beware that it is all aimed at a wealthier public than the shops in the city center. Among all the nice amenities, there’s also an aquarium which is worth a visit. Boat tours start from here, including the ferry to Robben Island which starts from a place near the clocktower. There’s always something going on here – may it be a concert or a magician doing some tricks. V&A is perhaps not the most South African place, but indeed a South African success story.

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At the V&A Waterfront, you’ll find Nobel Square, where the four south african Nobel Peace Price winners are honoured. These are Albert Lutuli, Desmond Tutu, Nelson Mandela and FW de Klerk. The bronze figures of the four laureates are popular photo motives, so feel free to take your pictures with them. However, please be respectful with them and don’t touch the heads. The figures enjoy a high status and South africa is very proud of its Nobel Prize winners. On the same square, a modern sculpture remembering the victims of the Apartheid years was placed, also showing Mandela and de Klerk.

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The Victoria & Alfred Waterfront in the historic heart of Cape Town's working harbour is South Africa's most-visited destination.

Situated between Robben Island and Table Mountain and set against a backdrop of sea and mountain views, it offers a variety of shopping and entertainment options to visitors, intermingled with office locations, hotels such as the historical Breakwater Lodge once a 19th century prison and luxury apartments in the residential marina.

It houses the Nelson Mandela Gateway which offers boat trips to Robben Island, as well as the Two Oceans Aquarium.

Prince Alfred, second son of Queen Victoria, began construction of the harbour in 1860. The first basin was named after himself, the second after his mother, hence the name.

Located right on the Harbour the V & A waterfront is a place to spend time just walking around, the souvenires sold here are a bit more expensive than you can find around town. Several restaurants here are open air, and have various cusines. The main reason to come here is for the Robben Island gate way...it's the only way to get there. Other than that it isn't much...there is numberous shops, so if that is your thing than you could spend more time here, but other wise just a shopping center on the water.

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The Victoria and Alfred waterfront is a popular spot for shopping, dining and other kinds of entertainment.In the evenings, lots of street artists perform here and there's a fairground atmosphere.
Apart from this it's still a working harbour and boats to Robben Island and harbour cruises depart from here