V&A Waterfront, Cape Town

Cape Town's working harbour, turned into a lively area of shops, restaurants, hotels and museums, with Table Mountain as a backdrop. Highlights include the Two Oceans Aquarium, the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa (Zeitz MOCAA) in a converted grain silo, the Cape Wheel, the food market and live music in the amphitheatre.

Ferries to Robben Island, where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for 18 years, leave from the Nelson Mandela Gateway at the Clock Tower. Book the tour online well in advance, as it often sells out. Harbour cruises, sunset boats and seal-watching trips also leave from the quays.

The Waterfront is easy to reach by MyCiTi bus or a short taxi ride from the city centre, and it's one of the safest places in Cape Town to walk around in the evening.