The old docklands of Cape Town have developed from a twinkle in someone's eye to the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, a world class shopping and entertainment complex where designer threads and fishing trawlers now share space.

The Victoria & Alfred Waterfront complex in Cape Town is South Africa's most visited tourist destination. Cape Town's Waterfront is a montage of colour, activity and sounds. Buskers line the walkways, tugs and ocean liners vie for space in the harbour and happy holiday makers throng the shops and restaurants. Touristy? Yes. Crowded? Sometimes. But the numbers of locals at the Waterfront tell you that it's no tourist trap. It is a wonderful place to dine and stroll, day and night, and has the charm of a working harbour with seagulls and fur seals waiting for scraps from fishing boats, all set in jaw-dropping scenery.

Accommodation is no problem: spoil yourself with a stay at the elegant Cape Grace or Table Bay Hotel located right in the thick of things, or any number of hotels or guest houses in the area.

Along with a dazzling choice of restaurants, there are two shopping centres and two craft markets offering something for every shopper, as well as multi-screen cinemas and bars. During the day an assortment of helicopter trips and boat rides are on offer, as well as a high speed catamaran to Robben Island - the infamous prison of Nelson Mandela.

Don't miss the Two Oceans Aquarium, a fabulous offering 300 species of underwater creatures, birds and of course the legendary predator tank. For scuba divers with a bit of the maverick in them, diving in the shark-packed tank can be arranged through the aquarium.