Greenmarket Square

Cape Town

LoginSave

This cobbled square is Cape Town’s second-oldest public space after the Grand Parade. It hosts a lively and colourful crafts and souvenir market daily. Apart from the Old Town House, the square is also surrounded by some choice examples of art deco architecture, including Market House, an elaborately decorated building with balconies and stone-carved eagles and flowers on its facade.

Next to Market House, the dazzling-white Protea Asssurance Building was built in 1928 and renovated in 1990. Opposite is Shell House, once the South African headquarters of Shell, now a hotel and restaurant.

On the corner of Shortmarket St is Namaqua House; Baran’s cafe here has a wraparound balcony providing a great view over the square. Kimberley House is built of sandstone and decorated with an attractive diamond-theme design.

Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

  • Flowers in the Kirstenbosch Botanic Gardens below Table Mountain.

    Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden

    4.55 MILES

    Location and unique flora combine to make these 5.28-sq-km botanical gardens among the most beautiful in the world. Gate 1, the main entrance at the…

  • Table Mountain Aerial Cableway in Cape Town

    Table Mountain

    2.62 MILES

    Around 600 million years old, and a canvas painted with the rich diversity of the Cape floral kingdom, Table Mountain is truly iconic. You can admire the…

  • Prison Barrack on Robben Island

    Robben Island

    8.57 MILES

    Used as a prison from the early days of the VOC (Dutch East India Company) right up until 1996, this Unesco World Heritage site is preserved as a memorial…

  • Simondium near Paarl Western Cape South Africa, Vineyard of the Babylonstoren wine estate.

    Babylonstoren

    29.86 MILES

    This 2.5-sq-km wine and fruit farm is on the north slope of the Simonsberg mountain between Klapmuts and Paarl. Its highlight is an 800-sq-metre, formally…

  • African penguins on the stone in evening twilight. African penguin ( Spheniscus demersus) also known as the jackass penguin and black-footed penguin. Boulders colony. South Africa 628098086 Endangered Species, Wilderness Area, Stone - Object, Sea Life, Colony, Two Animals, Water Bird, Bird Watching, Arrival, Coastline, Dusk, Dawn, Twilight, Cute, Jackass Penguin, Animal Foot, Animal Wing, Fun, Wildlife, Nature, South Africa, Uncultivated, Animals In The Wild, Penguin, Sea Bird, Freshwater Bird, Bird, Animal, Sunset, Boulder - Rock, Sand, Pacific Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, Sea, Surf, flightless, Footed, south-africa, blackfooted, black-footed, Life, Aquatic

    Boulders Penguin Colony

    18.99 MILES

    This picturesque area, with enormous boulders dividing small, sandy coves, is home to a colony of some 3000 delightful African penguins. A boardwalk runs…

  • District Six Museum

    District Six Museum

    0.4 MILES

    It's impossible not to be emotionally moved by this museum, which celebrates the once lively multiracial area that was destroyed during apartheid in the…

  • Groot Constantia manor house in Cape Town, South Africa.

    Groot Constantia

    7.39 MILES

    Simon van der Stel’s manor house, a superb example of Cape Dutch architecture, is maintained as a museum at Groot Constantia. Set in beautiful grounds,…

  • Silvermine Reservoir.

    Silvermine Nature Reserve

    11.59 MILES

    The Silvermine Reservoir, a beautiful spot for a picnic or a leisurely walk on the wheelchair-accessible boardwalk, is the focal point of this section of…

View more attractions

Nearby Cape Town attractions

1. Shell House

0.02 MILES

Another of the art deco buildings on Greenmarket Sq, this building once housed the South African headquarters of petrochemicals company Shell. It's now a…

3. Protea Assurance Building

0.03 MILES

This dazzling white art deco building fronting onto Greenmarket Sq was built in 1928 and renovated in 1990.

4. Namaqua House

0.03 MILES

On the corner of Shortmarket St, Namaqua House is of the City Bowl's many art deco gems. Baran’s cafe here has a wraparound balcony providing a great view…

5. Market House

0.03 MILES

The most elaborate example of art deco architecture on Greenmarket Sq, this building has majestic stone-carved eagles and flowers on its facade as well as…

6. Kimberley House

0.03 MILES

This art deco building facing Greenmarket Sq is constructed from sandstone and decorated with an attractive diamond-theme design.

7. New Zealand House

0.07 MILES

This grand example of art deco architecture was designed by WH Grant in a style known as Cape Mediterranean.

8. Church St

0.07 MILES

The pedestrianised portion of this street, between Burg and Long Sts, hosts a flea market (8am to 3pm Monday to Saturday) and has several interesting art…