Greenmarket Square

Greenmarket Square is an open-air marketplace in Cape Town's historic center where local artisans display handmade goods alongside each other. The stalls showcase wooden pieces, beaded works, textile creations, and hand-painted items that reflect diverse South African artistic traditions.

Founded in 1696, the square began as a watchtower location for the early colonial settlement. Over centuries it transformed from serving produce sales to eventually becoming a center for local artisans and handmade goods.

The square serves as a gathering place where local makers and international visitors come together to share stories about traditional craftsmanship and South African artistic practices. These encounters create a living connection between people interested in understanding how local artisans approach their work.

The square is accessible daily with enough space to move freely among the stalls and browse at your own pace. Bring both cash and a card since vendors have different payment preferences, and be ready for haggling if you want to negotiate prices.

Beneath the square runs an underground river accessible through a manual pump that dates from the city's early days. This hidden water system reveals how the settlement's founders managed water resources in the area.