Walmer Estate, City Bowl
Cape Town is a vibrant city, bursting at the seams with culture and entertainment, complemented by a well-established commercial and retail hub. The City Bowl is the center of the Mother City, and is characterised by the tall office blocks, long streets flanked by boutiques, breath-taking views of Table Mountain and its tall mountainous companions, and a number of historical suburbs that represent so much in the way of change.
Walmer Estate is one of these suburbs and, while it is no longer particularly residential, it tells an important story of struggle and victory. It is part of what used to be known as District Six, which was occupied by black and coloured South Africans during the Apartheid regime (a political and social state that extended from 1948 to 1994 and demanded the splitting of white and no non-white people).
However, because many of the residents of Walmer Estate spoke English, this suburb was considered to be of a higher class than its surrounding areas, and earned itself nicknames like the Coloured Bishopscourt.
In recent years, a renewal of the City Bowl's historical neighborhoods has seen a decrease in problems like gangs and poverty in Walmer Estate. Many of the original residents have moved to other parts of the Cape Flats, and the area is very different from its District Six days.
Still, it is close to many of the tourism hotspots, as well as to a number of cultural and historical gems. De Waterkant and the Bokaap are two of these must-see areas. Woodstock is alive with quirky shops and markets, while Tamboerskloof never sleeps and offers diners and shoppers a world of things to see and do. Other nearby areas include the Company's Garden, Higgovale, Zonnebloem, Vredehoek, Oranjezicht and University Estate. The harbour is nearby too.
Lion's Head, Signal Hill, Devil's Peak and the iconic Table Mountain all loom over Walmer Estate in quiet majesty. There are various hiking and cycling trails up and around these mountains, along with viewing points that promise spectacular views of the city and the ocean. The cable car takes visitors right up to the flat top of Table Mountain, on which there are shops and restaurants. But, most importantly, it is from here that the exquisite appeal of Cape Town and its surrounds can be savoured to the full.
In the vicinity
Hotels & other accommodation options
Cape Aloe Apartment
Cape Aloe Apartment offers holiday accommodation in Cape Town in the "suburb with the views", Walmer Estate. Here you can enjoy a home way from h...
Protea Star Apartment
Protea Apartment in Walmer Estate offers luxury holiday accommodation in Cape Town for eight guests. Here you can enjoy a home way from home in a...
Bougainvillea Apartment
Bougainvillea Apartment offers accommodation in Cape Town in the 'suburb with the views', Walmer Estate. Experience Cape Town from a place of lux...
Arum Lily Apartment
Arum Lily Apartment offers holiday accommodation in Walmer Estate in the City Bowl. Here you can enjoy a home way from home in an ideal location ...
Erica Apartment
Erica Apartment offers accommodation in Walmer Estate in Cape Town. Experience Cape Town from a place of luxury and comfort that is conveniently ...
Jasmine Apartment
Jasmine Apartment offers holiday accommodation in Walmer Estate, Cape Town. Here you can enjoy a home way from home in an ideal location close to...
Star Holiday Apartments
Star Apartments Cape Town offers self catering accommodation in holiday apartments found in Walmer Estate, Cape Town. Each apartment has air-cond...
Mandelas Gold Apartment
Mandelas Gold is a spacious holiday apartment in Walmer Estate that sleeps six guests. The apartment has splendid views of Table Mountain and Tab...
Coco Swift 4
Coco Swift 4 is a stylish studio apartment offering self-catering accommodation in Salt River, Cape Town. The apartment that brings you tranquili...
Things to do in the area
Heritage Drive of District Six
Route: Buitenkant Street to Chapel StreetDescription: this is an excellent way to explore District Six, other than the yellow route of the City S...
Noteworthy attractions
Table Mountain National Park
At the south-western tip of South Africa, the Table Mountain National Park encompasses the incredibly scenic Peninsula mountain chain stretching ...
V&A Waterfront
One of Cape Town's biggest tourist attractions, the Waterfront evokes images of the early activities of the harbour. Much of its charm lies in th...
Table Mountain
Since the first person laid eyes on Table Mountain, it has exerted its powerful and charismatic pull, enchanting and drawing any and all who fall...
Robben Island
For nearly 400 years, Robben Island, 12 kilometres from Cape Town, was a place of banishment, exile, isolation and imprisonment. It was here at R...
Signal Hill
Signal Hill, which connects Kloof Nek to Lion's Head, in the distinctive shape of a lion's rump, is one of the most famous spots in Cape Town for...
Noon Day Gun
Up on Signal Hill at 12:00 exactly every day, a cannon is fired. Accurate to the nearest millisecond, it booms over the Mother City, Table Mounta...
Castle of Good Hope
A unique combination of history, fine wine, traditional food, military ceremonies and craftsmanship awaits you at this pentagonal fortification. ...
Cape Town City Hall
On Cape Town's Grand Parade stands an imposing Italian Renaissance-style Edwardian building constructed from honey limestone. Cape Town's City Ha...
Company's Garden
The Company's Garden is a large public park and botanical garden set in the heart of Cape Town, home to a rose garden, Japanese garden, fish pond...
Find accommodation in Walmer Estate
FIND / South Africa Accommodation / Western Cape Accommodation / Cape Town Accommodation / City Bowl Accommodation / Walmer Estate Accommodation