Greenmarket Square, Cape Town

Cape Town & Western Cape Tourist Attractions

Greenmarket Square, Cape Town

You cannot visit Cape Town and not visit one of its oldest markets, set on a cobbled square between Short and long Market Streets. This is where Capetonians have been buying their clothing, jewellery, sandals, crafts and nick-nacks for years, and, whilst the face of the market may have changed a little - African curios now predominate - there is still an exciting buzz as well as evidence of the city’s most colourful and eccentric characters.

Greenmarket Square is unbeatable value too. You can pick up local art, crafts, fabrics and artifacts from almost every country on the continent at this open-air gathering place. Bartering is the name of the game on the square, which used to function as a trading area for passing ships.

Today Greenmarket Square is bordered by a selection of restaurants and cafés that provide ample opportunity to people-watch and enjoy local fare, although a cup of coffee might suffice as Cape Town’s renowned hospitality isn’t always in evidence here. There are an few coffee shops, restaurants and hotels bordering on Greenmarket Square, convenient for customers who need to relax after shopping.

Greenmarket Square, Cape Town

The square was originally built in 1696, when the first burgher watch house was erected here, and was ingeniously known as ‘Burgher Watch Square’. The watch house was replaced by the old town house, built in 1761, which also functioned as the city’s City Hall for a while.

Today it houses the Michaelis collection, through which you can browse - entrance is by donation. Many of the other houses on the square date back to the 1860’s and, whilst the square, declared a national monument in 1961, may originally have been for the wealthy and elite, today it is the stamping ground of people from all walks of life and a tribute to the vibrancy of Africa.

Greenmarket Square

Accommodation nearby

For accommodation nearby see:
• Cape Town Central • Devils Peak • Foreshore • Gardens • Granger Bay • Higgovale
• Highlands Estate • Kloof Nek • Oranjezicht • V&A Waterfront • Vredehoek • Woodstock

Or to see all accommodation in this region at once, visit Cape Town City Bowl.

Attractions / Activities nearby

District Six Museum

When the apartheid government swooped on District Six, Cape Town in 1965, forcibly removing its occupants and declaring the area a "whites-only" zone, the rich fabric of an impoverished but vibrant community was torn to shreds. Over 60 000 people were wrenched from their homes, livelihoods ... more information

Cape Town Castle

A unique combination of history, fine wine, traditional food, military ceremonies and craftsmanship awaits you at this pentagonal fortification. Built between 1666 and 1679, the Castle is the oldest surviving building in South Africa. The Castle, was, however, not the first fort to be built at the Cape. A ... more information

St Georges Cathedral

St George’s Anglican Cathedral, a gorgeous example of Victorian era design with magnificent stained glass windows and a crypt in which there is a restaurant - reminiscent of St Martin’s in the Field in London - lies on Wale Street in Cape Town, and is known as ‘the people’s cathedral’ because of its ... more information

St Georges Mall & Adderley Street

Once a congested city street, St George’s Mall is now a pedestrian area in the middle of Cape Town’s city, bustling with activity that ranges from live entertainment - provided by buskers, dancers, drummers, street artists and the like - to the sidewalk coffee shops and restaurants at which many locals and visitors ... more information

Visiting Greenmarket Square?
Also see Things To Do in Cape Town City Bowl or check out Things To Do in Cape Town to view activities by category, including watersports, sightseeing activities, arts & crafts and many, many more.

destinations / attractions in the western cape

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