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Legislative capital of South Africa
Photo: Nick Roux, CC BY-SA 1.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Cape Town (Afrikaans: Kaapstad, Xhosa: iKapa) is the second most populous city in South Africa. The capital of Western Cape Province, it is also the legislative capital of the nation. Cape Town is on South Africa's southwestern coast close to the Cape of Good Hope, and is the southernmost city on the African continent. It is the gateway to the globally renowned Cape Winelands which includes the towns of Franschhoek, Stellenbosch and Paarl.
From the travel guide. Select a place for details, a map and what is nearby.
Malay Quarter
This neighbourhood, on a hilly area southwest of the city centre, is where historically Malay Muslim descendants of slaves had lived. It is a popular location to shoot films, since there are bright and colourful buildings, mosques, quaint streets, stunning views of Cape Town, and delicious street food sold along the side. It is worth exploring the quarter for about an hour, and then visiting the Bo-Kaap Museum, showing how a wealthy Malay family lived during the 19th century. Within the quarter is Atlas Trading, an old-fashioned spice shop. Ask the manager to mix the spices you need for making the meal you want. About 1 km from the Bo-Kaap is the Noon Gun which is a cannon used as a time signal. At 12:00 from Monday to Saturday the cannons are fired, never ceasing to amaze the crowd of people watching. Go and see the brief ceremony that occurs before and during the shooting.
Popularly called 'The Castle' by locals, it is the oldest surviving building in South Africa, having been built from 1666 to 1679. The castle displays a vast range of historical military equipment and tools, an art collection and the William Fehr Collection, which includes antique Cape Dutch furniture. Visitors can buy wine and eat at the café or restaurant within the Castle .
This beautiful Edwardian building, completed in 1905, is where Nelson Mandela made his first speech after his release from prison in 1990. It no longer hosts municipal offices, but instead functions as a venue for exhibitions and performances, including those of the Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra.
See the beautiful and highly diverse flowers and plants of the Cape in one of the most stunning botanical gardens in the world. Plants from every South African bioregion are displayed. These include a huge baobab tree, rare succulents from the Richtersveld, as well as fascinating medicinal species. Several paths meander throughout the garden. There are also many restaurants, an indigenous nursery and a gift shop located here. At certain times of the year there are concerts and performances in the open air amphitheatre. There is art frequently on display, including large Shona stone sculptures from Zimbabwe. The gardens are also home to the National Biodiversity Institute. The garden is special because it changes dramatically every season. You will see different birds, new flowers, etc. In the summer, sunset concerts feature excellent international and local music acts in various genres. Enter early to find a good spot on the grass amphitheatre. Come along for a picnic and revel in the music of the Cape Philharmonic Orchestra, popular local artists and rock bands.
Built on the lower slopes of Devil's Peak, the memorial was designed in recognition of imperialist politician and business magnate Cecil Rhodes. The wooden bench that Rhodes used is placed under the memorial. This memorial is a wonderful spot to have a picnic. It is a starting point for the bike and hiking trails that head towards Devil's Peak, which have now become very popular. If you are eager to explore the nature and beauty in the area, make sure you are never alone and never carry valuables with you.
Cape Town is the legislative seat of South Africa (the presidential seat is in Pretoria while the judicial seat is in Bloemfontein). A tour of the Houses of Parliament will acquaint you with South Africa's modern history and political system. The tour includes visits to the National Assembly, the National Council of Provinces and the old apartheid-era assembly now only used for caucus and committee meetings. Tours are offered a few times per day in various languages.
A decent-sized aquarium showcasing the biodiversity within the Indian and Atlantic oceans. Displays include clownfish, seahorses, turtles, sharks and even the local penguins. Features a live kelp forest and microscope exhibit. There is an extensive series of events calendar for each month, and a daily event schedule including live feedings as well. Scuba diving with the sharks is also offered. A walk around the aquarium takes about an hour. There is also a viewing platform available to see the cape fur seals near the V&A Waterfront.
A huge shopping and entertainment area in the harbour. It is very popular with tourists, because of the high density of shops, restaurants and amusement possibilities, like the Aquarium or the Marine Museum. Harbour tours and trips to Robben Island start from here, as well as helicopter flights to the Cape Peninsula. The V&A Waterfront has more or less full wheelchair access.
A world of discovery under one roof! Expect a wide variety of interactive displays and exciting activities for your enjoyment. Build a house in the exclusive 'kids only' Building Site, challenge your mind with Puzzling Things, experience weightlessness similar to that of space with a spin on the Human Gyroscope, play Mindball - the game where you control the ball with your brain waves and see and hear science in the Audio Kinetic Sculpture.
Along the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront. Features sculptures of South Africa's Nobel Peace Prize winners including Albert Luthuli, Desmond Tutu, F. W. de Klerk and Nelson Mandela.
Located in a home dating from the 1760s, the museum offers an insight into the cultural life of the Muslim community of the Bo-Kaap area in Cape Town.
District Six is an area near downtown Cape Town which remained multiracial well into the 1960s against all attempts by the government to declare it a "white only" area. Eventually the residents were all evicted and the buildings were bulldozed. The area remains uninhabited. The museum provides information about the area, the eviction, the Group Areas Act, and the people who used to live there. The director of the museum is a former resident. There is a small bookstore with an excellent selection of books on South Africa's history, District Six and apartheid.
One of the oldest wine estates in South Africa and well worth the fee for the internal tour and wine tasting.
One of the oldest buildings in Cape Town which houses a social history museum.
This museum has a wide range of aircraft operated by the South African Air Force on display, as well as a small museum. Visitors can enter several of the aircraft and the museum is run by very enthusiastic volunteers. Note that the hangers containing most of the museum's aircraft are only open on Saturdays, so time your visit for then if at all possible.
The museum about this small community that has made large contributions in South African society and bringing down Apartheid. The museum is about Jews but non-Jews will find it very interesting and informative.
Located in the Gardens area of Cape Town off Government Ave. Most of the gallery is used for temporary exhibitions, which can be very good, but there is a permanent exhibition of South African works.
Galleria Gibello is a photo gallery that is filled with visually captivating moments of life on the African continent.
MOCAA
Established in 2017 as the largest museum of contemporary African art in the world. Built out of an old grain silo that was decommissioned in 2001.
Theatre performances, comedy, jazz and others.
Has an African screen showing African-made and African-oriented films all year round.
Table Mountain Aerial Cableway
One-way and return cable car ticket available. Wheelchair accessible throughout, with a separate lift entrance and friendly staff will help accessibility visitors. Weather conditions at the top of the mountain are not the same as at the bottom so always take something warm to wear when going up the mountain, even if it is a nice toasty 30˚C at the bottom of the mountain. Wear sunblock and carry a water bottle (there is also a free drinking fountain at the top near the cable station). There is a cafe with a limited range of snacks, coffee, beer and wine at the top. Table Mountain is the home of a small animal, the rock rabbit (known locally as the 'Dassie') whose closest relative, DNA-wise, is the elephant, and you can see them running around on the rocks at the top of the mountain. If you want to see the sunset, you can go on the last car up which ranges from 17:00 (winter) and 20:30 (summer).
Platteklip Gorge is the most accessible and therefore the most popular route for climbing up Table Mountain. You start from Tafelberg Road and proceed up a steep gully to the top of Table Mountain. It's a steep two hours but well worth the effort and you can jump in the cable car back down to spare your knees. The cable car does not operate in strong winds so you need to check before departing. Remember to take water, sunblock, a hat and jacket. Climbing the mountain in the heat is a grueling task. But clouds can appear unannounced and the temperature then plummets. Poorly equipped hikers often have to be rescued. Although it is very steep this route is extremely popular and you are guaranteed to meet many people on the way up and down. The gorge is shaded in the afternoon but earlier in the day it can be extremely hot with very little shade. Most of the route involves rock steps which can be challenging and many people find coming down even harder than going up. Don't underestimate the time and energy required for the downward section of this hike. Wear appropriate hiking shoes. Leave plenty of time to get down before dark. As this is a well known route and easy accessible, many inexperienced hikers attempt the climb. Take care, or consider a guide. Meridian Hiking Club welcomes visitors on its organized hikes led by experienced climbers.
Go to the Cape of Good Hope via Simon's Town and the African penguin colony at Boulders. Visit Cape Point in the Table Mountain National Park, maybe have lunch there before taking a hike in a quieter part of the reserve to immerse yourself in the essence of the landscape. Then take a scenic drive along Chapman's Peak Drive (if it is open) through Hout Bay and along the Atlantic seaboard via Llandudno and Camps Bay, stopping off at one of Clifton's famous four beaches.
Tour the beautiful Constantia Valley wine estates Groot Constantia, Buitenverwagting, Klein Constantia and Constantia Uitsig before checking out the Cape Winelands around Stellenbosch, Paarl and Franschhoek. Stellenbosch has the added attraction of being an historical university town and Franschhoek, well established as the food capital of the Cape, is home to three of the country's top ten restaurants. The views are extraordinary. Have a drink and a snack at Dieu Donne estate for an unsurpassable vista of the entire valley, or take your own picnic to the top of a little hill they have by the parking area. Most wineries charge for a tasting session, but usually refund it on a purchase. It's right next to the botanical garden.
On visiting Cape Town take the opportunity for a sunset cruise from one of the services lined up along the V&A dockside. Well worth seeing the sunset but also the view back towards the town and Table Mountain from the sea. Some tours include free wine and drinks, so you can get your sun-downer in as well. If you're lucky you may also see dolphins.
Beaches on the False Bay side of the peninsula are the most popular with swimmers as the water is warmer. St James has the most picturesque tidal pool on the stretch between Muizenberg and Kalk Bay, while Clovelly and Fish Hoek beaches wrap around a sheltered bay with soft, white sands. Fishing boats, hobie cats and kayaks launch from here too. Brave hearts can sun-worship and swim naked in the freezing water of the isolated and breathtaking nudist beach Sandy Bay near Llandudno. Major spot for gay tourists as well. There's a 1½ km walk down from the parking lot. Camps Bay and Clifton also have great beaches to visit if you want to try the chillier waters of the west coast.
Cape Town is one of the best places to surf. Muizenberg is a good place for beginners to learn to surf, Gary offers reasonably priced lessons from a shop facing the beach. Don't forget that the False Bay area (where Muizenberg is located in addition to Kalk Bay and Fish Hoek) is known for its sharks! If you're an experienced surfer, try the reef break at Kalk Bay, Outer Kom near Kommetjie or Misty Cliffs on the coast road near Scarborough. You could head up the west coast and sample Milnerton, Table View or Big Bay, although Big Bay is often crowded with people kitesurfing due to the windy conditions. When the swell is really cranking, the big wave surfers gather at Dungeons, near Hout Bay, for some of the biggest surfable waves in the world.
Cape Town is one of the most popular kite surfing destinations in the world. The two oceans, combined with the windy conditions, make for a great kite surfing experience. Some of the most popular kite surfing hot spots are Dolphin Beach in Blouberg Strand, Muizenberg and Langebaan Lagoon.
Overlooked by Table Mountain and Devil's Peak, this scenic ground hosts Test matches and is home to Western Province and MI Cape Town teams. Its capacity is 20,000.
Tuna fishing charter that also offers boating excursions. If it's your lucky day, you'll catch a yellowfin.
SABP Tours offers a diving opportunity to witness the great white shark.
You must hold a recognised diving certification, specifically a minimum Open Water 1 qualification and present it when you arrive. Swim along with the sharks, guitar fish, bass, bull rays and turtles. The dive masters are kind and knowledgeable and will accompany you into the aquarium ready to fend off the sharks with his broomstick should they become cuddly. Dive time is around 30 minutes. For advanced divers, the Kelp forest tank puts you into the water with more and bigger local reef fish than you will see in the sea.
Total distance is 109 km. Start in downtown, cycle down the eastern side of the peninsula, past Simon's Town and back up the western side of the peninsula.
An Ultra marathon (56 km), a half marathon (21 km) and a number of fun runs ranging from a 56m Nappy Dash to a 8 km walk or run. Maximum 10 000 entrance accepted per year per race distance (fun runs excluded).
Also known as the Kaapse Klopse, these brightly dressed singers and dancers spend months preparing for this annual event.
Kirstenbosch Gardens Concert Stage
A picnic style concert, so bring a blanket and a picnic basket. Children under 6 years do not require a ticket. All concerts take place irrespective of rain. Regret no refunds are issued. The Kirstenbosch concerts are completely non-smoking events. There will be no designated smoking areas. Gates to the concert area open at 16h00 (On New Year’s Eve, gates open at 19h00).
Biggest gay and lesbian party of the year.
First Thursdays Projects
On the first Thursday of every month, walk between the galleries, restaurants and shops of Cape Town and Johannesburg until late.
Discover the best things to see and places to go on First Thursdays. First Thursdays was started in Cape Town in 2012, and in Johannesburg in 2015. Inspired by similar initiatives in other cities around the world, the monthly event, taking place on the first Thursday of every month, is centred around a primary programme of art galleries and cultural attractions that are open to the public until late. The initiative is equally about access to the arts as it is about injecting life into our urban spaces after hours. Walk around the streets of Cape Town and visit galleries and restaurants who all have specials on the night.
Cape of Good Hope in the Table Mountain National Park, 34 km, 2 Days.
3-day, non-strenuous, luxury trail through the city, botanical gardens and Table Mountain National Park.
6 days, Cape Point to Table Mountain.
3 km (all uphill), 1 to 3 hours, Platteklip Gorge to the Upper Cable Station.
3 hours. Start at the sign on scenic Boyes Drive and climb up towards the rocks above which are peppered with scores of caves, many of which are not recommended for novice cavers so be careful. Take a torch. Follow the right forks in the trail and you'll be rewarded with increasingly spectacular views of False Bay. Head straight up through Echo Valley and through an ancient milkwood grove. Come back the same way if you don't have detailed directions. No permit required.
For guided walks up the mountain with a botanical guide.
A good one for twitchers to use and is a member of Bird Life South Africa.
Guided hiking and cycle tours in Franschoek and Stellenbosch, including wine tasting.
This club organizes hikes ranging from easy day walks to strenuous rock scrambles on the mountain and multi-day hikes. Look up the calendar on the web site for details of current hikes. It is very popular with tourists.
Helicopter Wine Tours Western Cape, visit, Stellenbosch, Franschhoek and or Paarl from Cape Town.
Offers chartered and private chopper rides.
For scenic flights around the mountain, Huey flights, wine farm transfers.
Go supersonic in a fighter jet.
One of the most scenic dropzones in the world, a 30 minutes drive up the just after Melkbos.
Tandem Paraglide
Paraglide over the Cape while being securely strapped to a professional pilot. Lovers of height will be blown away. Flights are also provided to the disabled.
Provides training (African Paddling Association approved) as well as sea kayaking in the West Coast National Park.
Guided sea kayak trips, twice a day from Seapoint.
Take a relaxing sunset cruise on the Condor to Greenpoint and back or do the champagne cruise. One to one and a half hours.
The Jolly Roger is the only authentic pirate ship in South Africa, departs from the V&A Waterfront at popular times. The Jolly Roger is able to sail in most weather conditions, normally at 11:00 (on weekends), 13:00, 15:00, 17:00 and 18:00. Must arrive early for boarding. Bookings to be made online here, or direct on arrival. https://www.webtickets.co.za/v2/EventCategories.aspx?itemid=379132481.
Offers a variety of different tours, including jazz, soccer, poetry, and culinary tours. Their emphasis is on meeting people, not looking at them.
Offers hands-on African cooking experiences in Langa at a local cooking school. This gives you an insight into the culture, the people and their cuisine.
Township Tavern Tours.
Specialised in township tours (Gugulethu and Khayelitsha) and wine tours.
A tour company specialising in wine and food tours with a registered tour guide.
The sole permit holder for boat based whale watching in False Bay (Permit No. 0806336). Also operate sightseeing cruises to Seal Island in the whale off-season.
3 to 4 hour cruise in the bay and you are almost guaranteed to spot whales.
An old-school cinema which has been open for more than 65 years.
South Asian food court offering high quality meals for a fair price. 100% Halal.
Sushi
The Charles can accommodate 25–30 people seated.
Affordable and very good. Maybe the best restaurant in Cape Town for African cuisine. Lower to medium price range. Serves fixed menu, all you can eat of 12-15 different dishes.
One of the oldest restaurants around, known for its Malay kitchen. No alcoholic drinks are available.
Italian dishes made to order.
A top class Italian restaurant with modern décor and a trendy atmosphere.
Vegetarian food with local colour and great karma. Good conversation and even better meals. Mingle with dreadlocks, artsy types and brooding poets.
Very popular, European kitchen, which serves up tasty drinks.
African style tourist restaurant offering local and African meals, like Bobotie and Potjiekos, but also springbok, kudu and crocodile steak. Good range of wines at affordable prices. Live marimba music some nights.
Has some of the best seafood including excellent sushi at very good prices.
Temporarily closed as of August 2022. A 120 seat, self-service restaurant. No booking required. Quality is variable.
Serving with steamed seasonal vegetables, new potatoes and lemon butter.
While eating delicious Mediterranean cuisine, customers are entertained by their talented waitrons who perform throughout the evening between serving tables.
Choose from authentic Mediterranean tapas and a wide range of seafood and meat from the open flame grill.
Enjoy delicious selection of traditional South African steaks, grills and venison.
Choose from a variety of homemade pastas, wood-fired pizzas and various other authentic dishes.
La Colombe, one of Cape Town's most well-loved and awarded restaurants, achieved an impressive 12th place in the San Pellegrino 50 Best Restaurants of the World Awards 2010. Having moved up 26 places and into the hallowed Top 20, this bastion of contemporary French-meets-Asian fine dining thereby also clinched the Acqua Panna Best Restaurant in Africa and Middle East Award. Winner of Chef of the Year and Restaurant of the Year in the Prudential Eat Out Awards 2008, and again honoured with the prestigious Restaurant of the Year title in 2009, La Colombe has also achieved the highest three-star rating in the 2009, 2010 and 2011 issue of the acclaimed Rossouw’s Restaurants guide. Book months in advance!
Luke Dale-Roberts’ The Test Kitchen, which opened in 2010, has the celebrated chef cooking at his most creative in a distinctive contemporary space. At the prestigious World’s 50 Best Restaurants Awards 2013, The Test Kitchen made an impressive leap to No. 61 on the list, climbing up 13 places from no.74 in 2012. More significantly, The Test Kitchen was singled out as the winner of the “Cacao Barry One To Watch Award” 2013. Book months in advance!
A British-owned and -run bar with beer from . and breakfast from .
A dance club and cigar bar focusing on hip hop and RnB music.
Forries
Nestled at the foot of our majestic mountains, in the leafy suburb of Newlands, Cape Town, Foresters Arms Restaurant and Pub (fondly referred to by the locals as Forries), is one of the oldest pubs in South Africa and provides a retreat from the hustle and bustle of city life. They have a good selection of draught beers.
Popular gay bar which serves up specialities such as Ulwimi (steamed ox tongue with mustard sauce) along with live African music.
Mitchells Brewery
Great location, fun atmosphere, friendly staff and famous craft beers, amazing views of the Cape Town harbour and Table Mountain, and karaoke.
Open to the public at The Bay Hotel over summer, Sandy B is a unique cocktail venue, accentuated by its glorious views of Camps Bay beachfront.
Run by the Carnival Court Backpackers hostel. Good meeting place for other travelers visiting Cape Town. Live jazz on Sundays, DJ's on Friday & Saturday nights. Free entry most nights.
Renowned club with weekly indie-, drum'n'bass- and minimal-electro-nights
World-class live music, with students nights.
Township B&B.
Township B&B.
A boutique-style hostel. You can join them every Tuesday for their locally known "creative evening.".
African HeART is an artwork in progress, a small, beautifully decorated backpackers which aims to offer the alternative side to travelling in Cape Town.
Dorm beds and twin rooms has a kitchen, travel desk, big screen TV, bicycles for hire, airport transfers, fast Wi-Fi included.
A perennial favourite among travellers; camping also permitted. Has a large travel centre as well.
Tastefully decorated perfectly and clean dorms. Doubles and twins. En-suite rooms available too.
Dorm beds and double rooms.
A clean hostel with dorm beds. Free Wi-Fi, swimming pool, free tea and coffee 07:00–10:00.
Directly opposite the Castle of Good Hope and 5 minutes' walk from the train station. Cheapest Internet cafe in the area.
Right in the heart of the party street. Has a bar. Offers dorms.
Vibrant and colourful youth hostel with all amenities. The rooms are private or shared dorms from 4 beds upwards and ensuite. Communal kitchen and lounge area with bar and glittering pool upstairs with a terrace and reasonable pool bar. There is Wi-Fi and sanitation stations, masks are compulsory.
Has camping and a 10-bed dorm.
Dorms and private rooms. Linen provided, hostel is very clean and staff friendly and there is a bar and balcony to hang out.
Views of Table Mountain and the Cape Town City Bowl.
Luxury guesthouse set high on Table Mountain overlooking Cape Town city. Dramatic views from individually decorated rooms. Built in 1905 in the Arts-and-Crafts style, and has been remodelled. An easy hop from the city centre and the V&A Waterfront. Rated 5 stars by TGCSA. Provides free wi-fi to guests.
Beautiful four star guest house in Camps Bay with exhausting view on the beach of Camps Bay and the Lionshead, only 10 minutes away from the V&A Waterfront. Provides free wi-fi to guests.
Very central, walk to Waterfront, beach and city centre, helpful staff, rooms clean and tastefully equipped.
3 star. 200 metres from the Gardens Shopping Centre, is comfortable, central and quiet, very good value for money, excellent breakfast, very helpful in all itinerary planning.
Exclusive use of 180 m² private self-catering stand alone luxury accommodation set in the grounds of the owners Camps Bay Villa, private and secure with onsite gated parking, full kitchen, teak floors, living and dining room with underfloor heating throughout, widescreen LCD television with Apple TV entertainment system and stereo surround, complimentary hi-speed WIFI access, private deck and garden area opens into the grounds with access to the Villa swimming pool, porcelain tiled bathroom has separate bath and shower, WC and bidet.
All rooms equipped with air-conditioning, private toilet and bath, safe deposit box, side lamp table and Wired Internet connection (extra charges apply). Some of its facilities and services are meeting/ banquet facilities, business centre, restaurant, Theatre Cafe, 24-hour front desk, room service and laundry service.
Has Table Mountain as a backdrop and fantastic views.
Trendy and fashionable today, it is compared to New York's Greenwich Village and London's Soho with its tree-lined streets, restored cottages, spectacular views and village atmosphere.
3 star.
Located in the heart of the city centre on one of Cape Town's most celebrated streets - a hotel with a difference, focusing on good value accommodation and a hotel experience you'll never forget.
Standard rooms, all equipped with Air-conditioning, TV with cable and High-speed Internet connection. Facilities and services are garden, outdoor swimming pool and conference.
De Waterkant is often described as being arty, charismatic and quaint and is a truly special place decorated with gorgeous al fresco restaurants, sidewalk café's, boutiques and bars and is often compared with Greenwich Village.
The Don Beach Road is located in Sea Point spectacularly overlooking the Atlantic Ocean.
Good sea views, Fantastic Lions head view and views of famous Robben Island.
Kloof Nek Suites is a guest house offering three self-catering rooms in Tamboerskloof.
All rooms equipped with English breakfast, Spacious dining area, Hair dryer, TV with satellite channels, Work desk and Fan. Outdoor swimming pool, Garden, Banquet hall, Car rental, Wi-Fi Internet connection, Fax and photocopying services.
Very central, helpful staff, nice rooms.
Modern and intimate Four star accommodation in Cape Town. The One 8 Hotel is located in Green Point and close to Clifton Beach, Camps Bay, V&A Waterfront, De Waterkant gay village, and Table Mountain. This gay and lesbian friendly Guest House offers bed and breakfast and contemporary rooms for your South African Holiday.
Protea has a whole bunch of hotels in Cape Town and surrounding areas. It is well worth checking their website for last-minute bargains, which can reduce the price by 50%.
Upper Sea Point, near the Waterfront, Campsbay and Clifton beaches.
Southern Light Country House is an accommodation in Constantia set in the beautiful surround of Upper Constantia.
In the city centre, near the Waterfront, Parliament, Gardens or the Malay Quarter Boo-Kap.
The Villa Sunshine guesthouse is a classic Mediterranean Villa situated along the prestigious Atlantic Seaboard. In close proximity to several of Cape Town’s most revered tourist attractions, it is still able to provide its guests with a peaceful setting – within walking distance of restaurants and shops to meet your every need.
The Villa Zest is in the Green Point suburb.
Situated on its own private quay on Cape Town’s vibrant Victoria and Alfred Waterfront, the Cape Grace has 121 rooms all with views of the V&A harbour or yacht marina with a Table Mountain backdrop.
private villa & guesthouse with Dutch management. #1 at Booking.com and #1 at Tripadvisor
De Verdwaalde Boer boasts 7 suites and is available to book as a villa for full privacy.
Old school charm and hospitality meets modern amenities and features. It also boasts a gymnasium, swimming pool, wireless internet, undercover parking, 24 hour concierge and business centre, optional breakfast service, pre-delivery grocery shopping, airport and city transfers, car hire, housekeeping and laundry and day tours
Opened in 1899, as the first hotel in South Africa to offer hot and cold running water.
5-star hotel overlooking its own private marina and the famous Robben Island.
Upmarket bed and breakfast.
Originally a Farmers' Market dating back to 1710, Green Market is today one of the city's best flea markets. There's a range of local arts, craft and curios on offer and the vendors expect to bargain for their wares.
Better selection and more knowledgeable staff. City Centre location recommended, but both are excellent. Foam inserts and boxes for international shipping or for checking with your luggage (safe!) Not cheap though, compared to supermarkets and wineries.
Quality selection but not exhaustive. Knowledgeable staff. Generally substantial (10-20%) markup over winery prices but of course more convenient.
Another great wine shop, certainly the best outside the City Bowl. A franchised location is on Kloof Street in the Lifestyle Centre.
A large South African liquor chain. Several locations around the city, the one in Green Point is the most accessible to tourists. A warehouse bottle store but with a remarkable wine selection across all price ranges. Case discount (even on mixed cases). Good if you want to stock up for a road trip. Stash a bottle of Amarula Cream in your backpack while you're at it. Great prices -- in fact, often cheaper than at the wine farms themselves.
Has a Pick N Pay supermarket.
many low prices shops and places to eat right in down town cape town. has a Pep Clothing/shoe Store
Cape Town’s largest shopping centre has over 400 stores.
low cost clothing and shoes.
Independent bookshop focusing on South African works but with a good range of international books as well. Runs a busy program of book launches and other events. Often identified as one of the best, or the best, bookshops in South Africa.
This long-standing bookshop has two stories of books, with a mix of new and second-hand works.
This large branch of the national Exclusive Books chain is conveniently located for tourists in the V&A Waterfront mall. It has sections for South African fiction and non-fiction works (including a dedicated area for books about Nelson Mandela!). There are other branches of the chain located across Cape Town, including at the airport.
By train
Long distance trains operated by the public company Shosholoza Meyl used to link Cape Town to the main South-African cities, but since Covid, this is not the case any more.
By car
Most roads in Cape Town and its surroundings are in excellent condition, which makes getting around in a car a straightforward task.
By bus
Every major bus company has intercity connections to Cape Town, taking you there from other areas in South Africa and from Namibia, Botswana and Zimbabwe.
By boat
Most of the larger cruise lines, such as Princess Cruises, offer Cape Town as one of their destinations, but you can also try something different:
By bicycle
It is possible to get around by bicycle. There are some bike lanes in the center. More information about cycling in and near the city.
By car
Many car hire companies are based in the airport as well as being found all over town. Note that South Africa is a left-hand traffic country.
By metered taxi
Metered taxis are controlled by the city council and can be considered safe and reliable. The price per kilometer is around - and can often be read at the taxis side door.
By ride-hailing service
Ride hailing services are widely available across Cape Town, in particular Bolt and Uber.
By minibus taxi
Minibus taxis are used widely by locals but tourists are usually discouraged from using them, except for the Green Point - Sea Point - Clifton - Camps Bay route that is frequently used by tourists.
By bus
An international standard rapid transit service in Cape Town, known as MyCiTi, runs from Cape Town Airport to the Cape Town CBD (City Bowl) and the Atlantic coastal suburbs.
By motorcycle or scooter
There are a number of motorbike and scooter hire services throughout Cape Town. Motorbikes and scooters are agile forms of transportation and will save you some coin compared to renting a car.
By train
Cape Town has a commuter rail system called Metrorail, though it is the locals that primarily use it.
Choose an airport to see hotels, stations, taxi ranks and car rental desks around it.
Cape Town · International · CPT
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