Where to Stay in Cape Town with Children

Cape Town has a rare ability to make a family holiday feel like a different adventure every day. Mornings can begin on the slopes of Table Mountain, afternoons can be spent spotting penguins, exploring the V&A Waterfront, or playing on golden beaches, and evenings bring spectacular Atlantic sunsets and a thriving food scene. With nature, wildlife, culture, and outdoor adventure all within easy reach, the city offers plenty to capture the imagination of children and adults alike. The right hotel brings these experiences together, providing a comfortable and well-connected base for discovering Cape Town as a family.

Set between the Atlantic Ocean and the Twelve Apostles mountain range, The Twelve Apostles Hotel and Spa combines a spectacular coastal setting with thoughtful facilities for families. Part of The Red Carnation Hotel Collection, the hotel sits just beyond Camps Bay on the road towards Llandudno and Hout Bay, creating a base that feels removed from the bustle of central Cape Town while keeping many of the city's best family experiences within easy reach.

From school holiday adventures to weekend escapes and milestone family celebrations, here is what makes The Twelve Apostles an excellent choice for families visiting Cape Town.

A Cape Town Location Made for Family Adventures

Location matters when travelling with children, and The Twelve Apostles occupies an unusual position between the city and some of the Cape Peninsula's most beautiful landscapes. Table Mountain National Park rises behind the hotel, while the Atlantic stretches out in front, giving families immediate access to the natural scenery for which Cape Town is famous.

The Twelve Apostles

Cape Town is particularly rewarding for families because sightseeing rarely feels confined to traditional attractions. A day out can introduce children to marine life, South African history, remarkable landscapes, and wildlife, often with plenty of outdoor adventure along the way. From the hotel, families are well placed to build an itinerary that combines these experiences without spending every day travelling long distances.

Start close to home with Camps Bay, just a short drive along the coast, where a wide sweep of sand is backed by the Twelve Apostles mountain range. It is an easy choice for a relaxed morning on the beach, followed by lunch or ice cream at one of the cafés and restaurants along the seafront. Continue further around the coast and the scenery leads towards Llandudno and Hout Bay, where families can explore the harbour, browse the market, or take a boat trip out onto the Atlantic.

Camps Bay Beach

Another day could be devoted to Cape Town's historic harbour district, the V&A Waterfront. Set around a working harbour, this lively neighbourhood brings together shops, restaurants, museums, public spaces, and family attractions beside the water. 

One of its highlights for younger visitors is the Two Oceans Aquarium, where children can learn about the extraordinary marine ecosystems of the Atlantic and Indian Oceans, from sharks and rays to turtles, penguins, and colourful coastal species. Boat trips also depart from the harbour, offering the chance to experience Cape Town from the water and appreciate the dramatic scale of Table Mountain from a completely different perspective.

Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden

The following morning might begin high above the city with a trip up Table Mountain, turning one of Cape Town's most famous landmarks into an introduction to the unique plants, geology, and wildlife of the Cape. Back at ground level, Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden offers another opportunity to explore outdoors, with walking trails, expansive lawns, indigenous plants, and the elevated Tree Canopy Walkway making it especially enjoyable for families.

Cape Town's cultural history can be explored in Bo-Kaap, one of the city's most distinctive neighbourhoods. Set on the slopes above the city centre, its brightly painted houses and cobbled streets are closely associated with Cape Town's Cape Malay community. A visit offers families the opportunity to learn about the area's heritage, architecture, food, and traditions, adding another layer to children's understanding of the city beyond its beaches and natural landmarks.

For families staying a little longer, a full-day journey around the Cape Peninsula can become one of the defining memories of the holiday. Follow the coastline south towards dramatic viewpoints and nature reserves, stopping at Boulders Beach to see its famous colony of African penguins at close quarters. It is the kind of wildlife encounter that children are unlikely to forget, while also opening conversations about conservation and the importance of protecting vulnerable species.

Penguins at Boulders Beach

A Hotel Designed with Younger Guests in Mind

The Twelve Apostles takes a particularly thoughtful approach to younger travellers. Instead of treating children's facilities as an addition to the adult experience, there are activities and details throughout a stay that give children something of their own to look forward to.

There are two outdoor swimming pools, providing an easy option for slower mornings or afternoons between excursions. Families can also explore walking trails around the hotel and surrounding landscape, turning a morning outdoors into an opportunity to discover some of the Cape's distinctive flora and wildlife.

One of the hotel's most distinctive family features is its private 16-seat cinema. Family-friendly films offer a welcome change of pace after sightseeing, with the cinema making rainy days or relaxed evenings part of the holiday rather than an interruption to it.

The Rock Pool

Children can get creative with pizza decorating and milkshake making, take part in treasure hunts around the hotel and grounds, enjoy arts and crafts, games, and other seasonal activities. During school holidays in particular, these experiences give children plenty to look forward to between days spent exploring Cape Town. A dedicated Family Experience Manager can also assist with activities and family outings, helping parents create an itinerary that works across different ages and interests.

A Warm Welcome for Younger Guests

From the moment families arrive, younger guests are made to feel like VIPs in their own right. While parents are welcomed with a glass of MCC, children can enjoy refreshing fynbos iced tea or water before taking part in their own dedicated Kids' VIP check-in experience. The welcome continues with a complimentary goodie bag filled with holiday essentials and keepsakes, including a Kids Passport, beach bag, hat or cap, water bottle, customised activity book, and souvenir playing cards.

There are surprises to discover throughout the stay too. Children receive special treat vouchers that can be redeemed for everything from fresh popcorn at the private cinema to soft-serve ice cream and a handcrafted mocktail. Seasonal fruit and chef-selected sweet treats await in the room on arrival, while pre-arrival children's preference forms allow the team to learn a little about each young guest in advance and personalise their Cape Town experience accordingly.

A luxury children's wigwam

Thoughtful Touches for Little Ones

Families travelling with children of all ages can expect plenty of thoughtful touches designed to make their stay feel comfortable from the outset. For babies and younger guests, the team can arrange complimentary cots, additional beds and playful sleeping tents, alongside baby essentials, children's bathroom amenities, and child-sized robes and slippers. Older children and teenagers are well catered for too, with Xbox gaming consoles and premium board games available for downtime between adventures. Turndown surprises and small gifts add an extra sense of occasion, giving younger guests something special to discover throughout their stay.

Children Stay Free

Family travel can quickly become expensive, especially during the school holidays. The hotel's Children Stay Free offer is therefore an important consideration for parents planning a Cape Town break.

Children aged 12 and under can stay free when sharing with two adults, subject to the offer's applicable room categories, availability, and current terms. Alongside the financial saving, it makes it easier for families to consider extending a weekend into a longer Cape Town stay, giving everyone more time to enjoy the city without trying to fit every experience into two or three days.

That extra time can make a significant difference to a family itinerary. One day might be devoted to Table Mountain and Camps Bay, another to the Waterfront, while a full day can be reserved for exploring the Cape Peninsula. Leaving space for a pool afternoon, cinema visit, or relaxed morning at the hotel also creates a more manageable pace for younger travellers.

Everything is in place for the perfect family stay

Families considering the offer should check the current booking conditions, eligible room categories, dates, and occupancy requirements when reserving.

Space to Spend Time Together

Family holidays are often as much about the time between activities as the sightseeing itself. The Twelve Apostles has 70 individually designed rooms and suites, with ocean or mountain views available across much of the accommodation.

For parents travelling with children, choosing a room or suite with additional space can make mornings, bedtime, and downtime considerably easier. One-bedroom and sea-facing suites, for example, include separate lounge and bedroom areas and can accommodate two adults and a child. Young guests can also receive thoughtful touches such as welcome gifts and child-sized bathrobes, while cots and playful sleeping tents can help make bedrooms feel special for younger children.

Views for young and old

This also makes the hotel well suited to trips with the wider family. Grandparents, parents, and children can share the same holiday while retaining their own space, meeting for breakfast, swimming, excursions, or dinner as suits the day.

Dining That Works for the Whole Family

Keeping everyone well fed is another important part of family travel. At The Twelve Apostles, dining ranges from the refined setting of Azure Restaurant to the more relaxed Café Grill, giving families flexibility across a longer stay.

Parents can enjoy South African flavours and ocean views at Azure, while the Café Grill's informal approach is useful for casual family meals. Picnic hampers can also be arranged, creating the opportunity to take lunch outdoors and make the most of Cape Town's scenery.

A Cape picnic

For parents hoping to enjoy dinner together, professional babysitting services are available, allowing adults to make the most of the hotel's restaurants or enjoy some time at the Spa while experienced carers look after younger guests.

It is a small detail that can transform a family break, giving parents time to themselves without having to compromise on the children's experience.

A Natural Setting for Family Celebrations 

Cape Town is also an appealing destination for birthdays, anniversaries, reunions, and special family holidays. The Twelve Apostles lends itself particularly well to these occasions because a celebration can extend beyond a single lunch or dinner.

Days can be spent exploring Cape Town together before everyone reconvenes at the hotel for drinks, dinner, or sunset views across the Atlantic. Gardens, terraces, elegant dining spaces, and larger accommodation options give families flexibility when planning something special, while the hotel's setting provides an impressive backdrop for photographs and shared occasions.

The Atlantic Terrace Pool

For grandparents travelling with grandchildren, extended families gathering from different parts of the world, or parents arranging a significant birthday trip, having activities, restaurants, accommodation, and outdoor spaces in one place makes the practical side of organising a celebration much simpler.

Planning Your Family Stay in Cape Town

A successful family holiday needs enough activity to keep children entertained, balanced with time for everyone to recharge. The Twelve Apostles makes that combination particularly easy.

With its remarkable position between mountain and ocean, thoughtful children's facilities, easy access to Cape Town's leading attractions, and the valuable Children Stay Free offer, The Twelve Apostles Hotel and Spa provides families with a base designed to make travelling together feel straightforward and special.

For a school holiday adventure, a spontaneous weekend by the Atlantic, or a family gathering that deserves a memorable setting, the hotel offers plenty of reasons for every generation to look forward to returning to Cape Town.