Company's Garden: Cape Town's Original Park
Originally planted in the 1650s to supply passing Dutch East India Company ships with fresh produce, Company's Garden is now a shaded public park at the heart of the City Bowl, ringed by museums and government buildings.
History
The garden began in 1652 as a vegetable garden for the Dutch East India Company, supplying ships rounding the Cape on the route between Europe and Asia — making it, in effect, the starting point of Cape Town itself. It has since been transformed into a landscaped public park, though it retains some historic elements, including centuries-old trees.
What's around it
The garden is surrounded by some of the City Bowl's key cultural institutions — the South African National Gallery, the Iziko South African Museum, and the Houses of Parliament all sit at its edges, making it a natural hub for a museum-focused morning. Grey squirrels (introduced from North America over a century ago) are a permanent, tame fixture of the park and popular with kids.
How to use it
It's free, shaded, and centrally located — a good rest stop between other City Bowl sights like Bo-Kaap or the District Six Museum, rather than a full standalone destination. A slow walk through takes 20–30 minutes; combine it with the surrounding museums for a half-day.