Things to Do in Century City

The Paddocks Shopping Centre is perfectly positioned and just a short drive from Century City, Canal Walk and the Cape Town CBD and is positioned close to the upcoming and densely populated area of Royal Ascot.It is conveniently located on the West Coast for easy access and an enjoyable experience for all. The Paddocks Shopping Centre is characterised by its high shop fronts allowing for fantastic views of Table Bay, Table Mountain, the harbour and Robben Island.Some of the tenants include Woolworths, Super Spar, Standard Bank and a variety of fantastic restaurants including Bihari Indian Restaurant, The Dros Restaurant, Mugg 'n Bean and Cape Town Fish Market. The Paddocks Shopping Centre offers covered and uncovered free parking.Need to know? Monday to Friday 09:00 - 18:00, Saturday 09:00 - 16:00, Sundays and Public Holidays 10:00 - 14:00.

The sugar-white sandy Sunset Beach is paradise for surfers, windsurfers and kitesurfers. It also has fantastic views of Table Mountain, the city and Robben Island. Enjoy beach strolls as the sun sets across the ocean providing magical twilight skies.

A shooting star in Observatory These Four Walls gallery has risen out of its humble beginnings as a series of affordable art exhibitions operating out of a small flat in Woodstock. Thanks to the overwhelming success of these exhibitions, the owners came to realise that there was indeed a gap in the Cape Town art market for a space that offers inexpensive, desirable and beautiful artworks in a semi-informal atmosphere.Our vision is to bring to the buying public a gallery that excels at exhibiting artwork that people want to live with and can afford to own.These Four Walls creates a space that is not completely defined. It is a space that can change and adapt with and to a variety of art and exhibitions in which the overwhelming sense is of honesty and integrity. Two elements which tend to be forgotten in the cut-throat world of art.It is a place to visit, be welcomed, and enjoyed, even if only for a fleeting five minutes.

The legendary Old Biscuit Mill is something of an institution in the Mother City. It has the vibe of a warm-hearted country hamlet situated in the middle of the bustling suburb of Woodstock. This vibrant spot is home to night and day markets, dynamic office spaces, workshops and designer stores, delicious farm-stalls, decadent cafes as well as an awesome line-up of festivals and events. 'The Mill' is also a place where people share, collaborate and show off their heart-felt passion. Explore the Mill and meet some of South Africa’s most talented designers, artists, photographers and connoisseurs of fine taste and décor. Where? 373 - 375 Albert Road, Woodstock

Milnerton Aquatic Club (MAC) is situated on the banks of the Rietvlei Nature Reserve with sweeping views of Table Mountain. The Rietvlei Nature Reserve is a haven for bird life and has a walking trail for people to enjoy the tranquillity of the outdoors.Because of the location, ideal wind and water conditions, MAC has become a very popular destination for overseas water sports enthusiasts who spend between 3 to 6 months of the year here.MAC has a membership of around 600 with three divisions, namely power, sailing and board sailing. A recent addition to the sailing section has been that of the Cape Radio Yacht Club and its members with their model remote controlled sailing boats who enjoy the perfect water conditions that MAC has to offer.Club members can enjoy the facilities of the club's galley and the "Wet Start" Bar which offers stunning views of the water and Table Mountain.When the sun goes down, members often enjoy the sunset while a braai and sundowners after a day on the water. MAC also has a large swimming pool, a toddler's pool, a small play park for its members.Whatever you choose to do, or not to do at MAC you can enjoy a fun filled carefree day exactly as you wish, whether it is on or off the water.

This all white minimalist space features innovative exhibitions showcasing some of South Africa's rising young talent as well as established artists. UCA Gallery regularly curates conceptual and visual artists in solo and group shows. Their dual focus is to promote Cape Town talent and bring in other vibrant artists from other parts of South Africa to the Mother City.Need to know? Gallery hours: Mon - Fri 9am - 5pm | Sat 9am - 1pm

The Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds, SANCCOB is a non-profit sea bird rehabilitation centre based in Cape Town. Their primary focus is to conserve and protect South Africa's sea birds, especially threatened species, for the benefit of present and future generations.SANCCOB rehabilitate ill, injured, oiled and orphaned sea birds on a daily basis, prepare for and manage the rehabilitation of sea birds during a major oil spill, raise awareness about conservation through environmental education and collaborate on research projects. SANCCOB has treated more than 83 000 sea birds throughout the last 37 years.Private groups may book an exclusive “behind the scenes” tour at SANCCOB. The tour includes a short video about the infamous Treasure oil spill and a tour of select areas of SANCCOB’s rehabilitation centre. Please note that some areas of the centre are restricted. Tours are 45 minutes in length. The maximum number of people per group is 8.

Bayside Mall Shopping Centre is your one stop shopping mall with free parking. Here you will be able to shop for all your requirements from groceries to fashion, movies to perfume, restaurants to jewellery - all under one roof. Bayside Mall's fashion offering includes most of South Africa's major retailers, as well as a number of quality speciality stores. Bayside Mall offers a large variety of eateries, including loads of coffee shops and restaurants. Ster-Kinekor, situated at the heart of the food court, offers 8 spacious cinemas and the latest sound technology.

Killarney is a classic motor racetrack in Cape Town boasting magnificent views of Table Mountain. The course is ideal for novices but also presents a stern challenge for those willing to pin back their ears. Every facet of circuit racing is catered for, including motocross, karting, super motards, stock cars and drag racing. www.wpmc.co.za

The Baxter Theatre Centre provides an exciting forum for the celebration of life which is the essence of live theatre, music and dance. It is one of the major live theatre venues in Cape Town and has always been at the forefront of the performing arts both as a popular venue and as a leading producer.The Baxter Theatre Centre at the University of Cape Town endeavours to present and host the best of South African performing arts. The objective is to reflect the cultures of all the people of South Africa on our stages and in our galleries. The Baxter Theatre strives to present cutting-edge and major works from South Africa and masterpieces from the international repertoire. Since its opening in 1977 the complex has continued to provide a stage for all types of professional entertainment - music, drama, ballet, opera and intimate theatre. Even through the difficult years of racial segregation its doors remained open to everyone and it thrived, drawing on indigenous talent and creating a uniquely South African theatre tradition.

The multitude of Grecian-style columns and host of lion sculptures on the slope of Table Mountain is something of a curiosity. This rather grand, shrine-like structure goes way beyond being a memorial to the imperialist Cecil John Rhodes but it’s a great place to go for tea and take in the magnificent view of bustling Cape Town towards the Helderberg and Hottentots Holland Mountains. Built on the site where Rhodes liked to sit and ponder his future, it was a short ride on his horse from his home at Groote Schuur, where the famous hospital now lies. Rhodes Memorial Restaurant is open 9am to 5pm, 7 days a week.

The University of Cape Town, fondly called UCT, presides over the southern suburbs and Cape Flats from its lofty position on the slopes of Devil’s Peak on Table Mountain. UCT's setting and beautiful historic buildings make it one of the most attractive universities in South Africa.Famous students who have walked its halls include Prof Christian Barnard, the heart transplant surgeon and three Nobel Prize laureates – the writer JM Coetzee, Prof Alan MacLeod Cormack and Sir Aaron Klug.Visitors often walk from UCT to Rhodes Memorial. Another popular spot is the ‘Jammie steps’ leading up to Jameson Hall. These steps used to be the hub of many heated political protests and debates during the Apartheid regime.

The Mother City's 'One-Stop-Shop of Creative Excellence' is situated between Table Mountain and Table Bay. The Artscape Theatre Centre is home to the Artscape performing arts company and includes the Opera House, Theatre, Arena, Piazza and News Café. Originally established 40 years ago as the official performing arts council for the Western Cape, Artscape has today developed into a vibrant, multi-functional creative arts centre, offering exceptional venue facilities and specialist theatrical services. With its close proximity to Cape Town's central business district, the new International Convention Centre and the V&A Waterfront, Artscape is ideally situated to serve the Cape's performing arts, film, tourism, entertainment, conference and exhibition industries. Artscape Opera House auditorium is the largest theatre in the Western Cape and seats 1187 and offers a variety of productions from contemporary opera to ballet, large scale musicals to semi-staged orchestral performances. Artscape Theatre auditorium seats 540 if the pit is not utilised. The size of the orchestra pit determines the number of seats. The Artscape Arena theatre was originally the right side of Artscape Theatre. The raked auditorium can seat up to 140 people. A cosy bar at street level offers opportunities for intimate art exhibitions and private parties. DF Malan Street, Foreshore, Cape Town +27 (0) 21 410 9800

Widely regarded as one of the leading convention venues in the southern hemisphere, the Cape Town International Conference Centre (CTICC) couldn't be more appropriately positioned. Situated in the heart of the City Centre against the stunning backdrop of Table Mountain and next to the V&A Waterfront, it is a place where people from all walks of life are brought together. The CTICC is an International exhibition and conference venue featuring auditoriums, exhibition and trade show space, grand ballroom, meeting suites, galleries, conservatories and landings as well as the largest, most advanced kitchen facility in the Western Cape.

“Today when I look at Robben Island, I see it as a celebration of the struggle and a symbol of the finest qualities of the human spirit, rather than as a monument to the brutal tyranny and oppression of apartheid. It is true that Robben Island was once a place of darkness, but out of that darkness has come a wonderful brightness, a light so powerful that it could not be hidden behind prison walls… ' Nelson MandelaThis famous little windswept island has captured hearts and minds around the globe in recent history. Situated just a few kilometers from the glitzy Waterfront, it was “home” to Nelson Mandela for almost 20 years. The intention to silence anti-apartheid leaders by imprisoning them on Robben Island had the opposite effect. Instead Robben Island came under the spotlight as a focal point for international resistance to the regime. Today it has become a symbol of freedom, the transformative power of forgiveness and a place of political pilgrimage. The entire six square kilometer island is now a UN World Heritage Site.In 1961 an austere maximum-security prison was built on Robben Island. It was here that Nelson Mandela was sent after receiving a life imprisonment sentence in 1963. Political and common-law prisoners were initially lodged together. Contact with the outside world was limited to receiving and sending two letters a year. Beatings, hard physical labour in the lime quarry, prolonged solitary confinement and insufficient food, bedding and clothing were endured for many years. Hunger strikes, legal action and international pressure eventually brought better conditions. The prison even became an informal university behind bars, with prisoners tutoring their warders. 1991 saw the release of the remaining political detainees and in 1996 the common-law prisoners were transferred to the mainland.Daily tours depart by ferry from the Nelson Mandela Gateway at the Waterfront. The ferry trip takes 30 minutes to the tiny harbour. From there a bus ride takes one to historic places like the kramat, leper graveyard, a church designed by Sir Herbert Baker and the lime quarry where political prisoners endured lengthy hours of tough physical labour. Driving along the shipwreck strewn coast you can spot some antelope, plentiful seabirds and the lighthouse. The last stop is the maximum security prison.The guides are former inmates and will take you along the Footsteps of Mandela tour in the notorious B-section. Mandela’s sparse cell is open, the others locked and empty. The A-section houses the Cell Stories exhibition, evoking the meagerness of prison life. Former prisoners have loaned personal items including an amazing saxophone that works, crafted from found bits and pieces. Have a look at the interesting Smuggled Camera Exhibition in the communal cells. Prisoners managed to slip cameras onto the island in the late 1980s. The enlarged photos are heart warming, giving an indication of their solidarity, friendship and expectancy that it would soon be over. The entire trip lasts three and a half hours and costs around R150. Need to know? Ferries depart at 9am, 11am, 1pm and 3pm, weather permitting, from Nelson Mandela Gateway, at the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town. The standard tour to Robben Island is three and a half hours long, including the two half-hour ferry rides. For bookings: (0)21 413 4200. Robben Island MuseumTelephone: +27 (0)21 409 510Nelson Mandela GatewayTelephone: +27 (0)21 413 4200

A unique combination of cultural and military history, exhibitions and military ceremonies awaits you at the Castle of Good Hope. Also experience the dungeons, dolphin pool, blacksmith, cannon fire, horse and carriage rides and above all the tranquil atmosphere of the Castle of Good Hope.Built between 1666 and 1679 by the Dutch East India Company, better known as the VOC (Vereenigde Oost-Indische Compagnie), this pentagonal fortification replaced a small clay and timber fort built in 1652 by Commander Jan van Riebeeck, founder of the maritime replenishment station at the Cape of Good Hope. The oldest building in South Africa, it is steeped in history but moving with the times.The Castle lends itself to many present day activities, such as open air concerts with Table Mountain as a backdrop, film and fashion shoots as well as a variety of venues for corporate functions and conferences.Guided tours are conducted by Castle guides from Monday to Saturdayat 11:00, 12:00 and 14:00. Traditional ceremonies take place during weekdays.The Key Ceremony was performed in the Castle from its earliest days and depicts the unlocking of the Castle of Good Hope. This ceremony takes place at 10:00 and 12:00 during weekdays.The firing of the signal cannon directly after the Key Ceremony is symbolic to indicate the significance of cannons at the Castle of Good Hope.The Castle Guard performs both these ceremonies. The Castle of Good Hope opens daily at 09:00 and closes at 16:00.

Somewhere between comfort and sophistication; understated, with flair, something to discover & celebrate in style, the Alba Lounge is situated above the Hildebrand Restaurant. A much needed experience in the V & A Waterfront, the Alba Lounge is the up market cocktail lounge and provides a venue in which to relax, listen to the subtle music or indulge in conversation with friends. This venue has style, elegance and a relaxed atmosphere complete to suit any & all needs.

The first of its kind in South Africa, the Wheel of Excellence is an exclusive attraction for the V&A Waterfront during and after the 2010 FIFA World Cup.The stunning situation offers visitors a bird’s-eye view of the V&A Waterfront, Cape Town Stadium, Robben Island, Table Mountain, the City Centre and Paarl mountains.At 50m high, it is a fully illuminated giant observation wheel featuring 36 fully enclosed luxury cabins that will treat visitors to a unique sightseeing opportunity, glass of bubbly in hand! The comfy cabins feature glass floors, air conditioning and LED lighting.This type and size of wheel is a first for Cape Town and South Africa and will be fully operational for an extended period post-World Cup. This particular wheel came directly from the Champs Elysees in Paris where it was a major attraction over the peak Christmas and New Year period.Ticket prices to the Wheel of Excellence cost R80 per person and R50 per child aged 4 to12. Tickets can be purchased at the Wheel of Excellence site or at the V&A Waterfront Information Centre.

Sway your hips to great bands, live dance productions and storytelling or catch live action on the big screen. The V&A Waterfront Amphitheatre is one of Cape Town's hottest stages, hosting live music and other entertainment that's free to visitors. It's also a popular place for shopped out folk to grab some fresh air, rest weary feet and watch the bustling harbour activity.

An exciting new theatre in Cape Town’s legendary District Six, The Fugard, is home to the internationally acclaimed Isango Portobello Theatre Company - an exciting example of what can transpire when local talent and vision meets committed international support.The Fugard is located in the historic Sacks Futeran building with the original decommissioned Congregational Church Hall in Caledon Street as its entrance. The theatre is named in honour of Athol Fugard, South Africa’s greatest playwright who will be present at the inauguration. The 270 seat theatre complex, including a rehearsal studio, foyer space, dressing rooms and office space, is a transformation of two warehouse spaces and the original Congregational Church Hall.