cape town trip cost

Cost of a Trip to Cape Town, ZA & the Cheapest Time to Visit Cape Town

The average price of a 7-day trip to Cape Town is $2,327 for a solo traveler, $4,179 for a couple, and $7,835 for a family of 4 . Cape Town hotels range from $39 to $192 per night with an average of $97, while most vacation rentals will cost $150 to $1060 per night for the entire home. Average worldwide flight costs to Cape Town International Airport ( CPT ) are between $1,311 and $2,519 per person for economy flights and $4,114 to $7,905 for first class. Depending on activities, we recommend budgeting $37 to $87 per person per day for transportation and enjoying local restaurants.

See below for average , budget , and luxury trip costs. You can also look up flight costs from your airport for more tailored flight pricing.

The Cheapest Times to Visit Cape Town, ZA

On average, these will be the cheapest dates to fly to CPT and stay in a Cape Town hotel:

• January 8th to March 25th (except the week of February 12th)
• April 16th to May 20th (except the week of May 7th)
• August 27th to October 7th
• October 29th to December 9th

The absolute cheapest time to take a vacation in Cape Town is usually late November to early December .

Average Cape Town Trip Costs

Average solo traveler.

The average cost for one person to visit Cape Town for a week is $1,253-$3,605 ($179-$515 per day)

Food, Travel, and Sightseeing : $37 to $87 per day for one person’s daily expenses

Flights : $712 to $2,192 for economy

Lodging : $47 to $70 per night for one 2 or 3-star hotel room

or $109 to $134 per night for a 1-bed vacation rental

Average Couple’s Trip

The average cost for a couple to visit Cape Town for a week is $3,422-$7,060 ($489-$1,009 per day)

Food, Travel, and Sightseeing : $74 to $174 per day for two people’s daily expenses

Flights : $1,424 to $4,384 for economy

Average Family Vacation

The average cost for 4 people to visit Cape Town for a week is $4,448-$12,410 ($635-$1,773 per day)

Food, Travel, and Sightseeing : $148 to $348 per day for four people’s daily expenses

Flights : $2,848 to $8,768 for economy

Lodging : $94 to $140 per night for two 2 or 3-star hotel rooms

or $153 to $201 per night for a 2-bed vacation rental

Traveling Cheap to Cape Town

How cheap can you make a vacation to Cape Town? The cheapest trip to Cape Town is about $150 per person per day for travelers willing to take standby flights, deal with inconvenience, and otherwise limit travel expenses. About 1% of rentals are available in the $0 to $100 range for an entire place, and vacation rentals can be booked for as low as $42 per night. These inexpensive rentals must be booked as early as possible and may not be in the most desirable areas. 1-star hotels are more likely to be available, with rooms starting at around $35.

Even cheaper trips are possible depending on where you live and whether you can drive. Check the cheapest times to fly for more saving ideas.

Budget Solo Traveler

The lowest cost for one person to visit Cape Town for a week is $1,048-$2,936 ($150-$419 per day)

Food, Travel, and Sightseeing : $18 to $36 per day for one person’s daily expenses

Lodging : $35 to $39 per night for one 1-star hotel room

or $42 to $82 per night for a 1-bed vacation rental

Budget Couple’s Trip

The lowest cost for a couple to visit Cape Town for a week is $1,886-$5,380 ($269-$769 per day)

Food, Travel, and Sightseeing : $36 to $72 per day for two people’s daily expenses

Budget Family Vacation

The lowest cost for 4 people to visit Cape Town for a week is $3,754-$10,514 ($536-$1,502 per day)

Food, Travel, and Sightseeing : $72 to $144 per day for four people’s daily expenses

Lodging : $70 to $78 per night for two 1-star hotel rooms

or $67 to $123 per night for a 2-bed vacation rental

Overall it is very possible to travel to Cape Town cheaply.

The Cost of a Luxury Cape Town Trip

There is no true ceiling on the cost of a luxury trip, so our estimates are based on what most people do in Cape Town.

Luxury Solo Traveler

The high-end price for one person to visit Cape Town for a week is $2,576-$18,826 ($368-$2,689 per day)

Food, Travel, and Sightseeing : $74 to $174 per day for one person’s daily expenses

Flights : $1,452 to $6,160 for first class

Lodging : $101 to $192 per night for one 4 or 5-star hotel room

or $1,060 to $1,908 per night for a preferred vacation rental

Luxury Couple’s Trip

The high-end price for a couple to visit Cape Town for a week is $4,546-$26,204 ($649-$3,743 per day)

Food, Travel, and Sightseeing : $148 to $348 per day for two people’s daily expenses

Flights : $2,904 to $12,320 for first class

Luxury Family Vacation

The high-end price for 4 people to visit Cape Town for a week is $9,092-$46,684 ($1,299-$6,669 per day)

Food, Travel, and Sightseeing : $296 to $696 per day for four people’s daily expenses

Flights : $5,808 to $24,640 for first class

Lodging : $202 to $384 per night for two 4 or 5-star hotel rooms

or $1,484 to $2,862 per night for a preferred vacation rental

Cape Town Hotel Prices

The cost of staying in Cape Town is slightly lower than the average city. On average hotels are less expensive than vacation rentals. Luxury vacation rentals are more expensive in Cape Town due to very high property costs. The graphs below show how much cost can vary depending on the type of experience you’re looking for.

Cape Town Lodging Cost by Star Status

The average price for the class of hotel is on the (y) axis. The hotel class (out of 5 stars) is on the (x) axis.

Prices are based on Cape Town hotel averages and may not reflect current prices. In some cases, we extrapolate prices to estimate costs, and hotels with your desired star rating may not be available.

Vacation Rental Prices

The percent of vacation rentals in the price range is on the left (y) axis. Price range is on the bottom (x) axis.

There are a healthy amount of vacation rentals serving all budgets in Cape Town.

Flight Costs to Cape Town

Averaging flights around the world, prices go from a high of $2,519 average in late December to a low of $1,311 in late November to early December. Median flight price is $1,488. These prices are based on millions of flights. For Cape Town our data includes 194 originating airports, and 107 airlines. The area has more variance in price compared with other locations. Flying to Cape Town from an airport like Savoonga ( SVA ) in Savoonga, AK (the United States) for an average $10,354 trip fare will obviously cost a lot more than from an airport like King Shaka International ( DUR ) in Durban (South Africa) at an average of just $112.

Average Flight Cost by Season

Average flight cost by day of week.

The cheapest day to fly in is typically Tuesday, and the cheapest day to fly back is usually Tuesday. Click here to see data for the cost of flights from your airport. In Cape Town, the difference between the cheapest and the most expensive week is about $1,207, so you can easily save about 92% simply by using our free flight guides and booking in advance.

Daily Expenses Budget

Daily vacation expenses vary more based on what you’re interested in doing. A fine dining restaurant with drinks around Cape Town can easily cost $270 per person or more, while a standard nice meal might be about $18 per person. Private tours can cost $538 per day, but self-guided tours to see the outdoor sights can be free. Costs vary wildly, so recommendations are made based on the cost of living and averages we see for this type of vacation.

Other Cape Town Guides

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How Much it Cost to Travel to Cape Town: Detailed Prices

Cape Town has a fascinating history combined with a normally excellent climate, so it’s popular with both cultural and leisure tourists. The city can be quite expensive though, so some forward planning is a good idea if you are on a budget.

Travel Costs to Cape Town

What is the average price of a hotel in cape town.

There are plenty of hostels in Cape Town and prices for a bed are quite competitive, especially outside of the peak December/January season. Hotels are spread all over and booking a bit into the suburbs can deliver a higher standard at a lower price.

Cape Town Hotel Seasons

As a Southern Hemisphere beach city, Cape Town hotels operate on a fairly predictable set of seasons. The peak season is generally from mid December through mid January, which is also typically has the best summer weather. High season for Cape Town hotels is usually from October through April, excluding the peak season in the middle.

Low season is generally from May through September, and prices don’t change much near the lower end of the market, but sometimes mid-range hotels can be quite cheap, and deals can be arranged if you are staying more than a few days.

Cape Town Hotel Prices

Cape town hostels prices, how much does it cost to visit top attractions in cape town, what’s the average price of food and drink in cape town, featured articles, what are the costs of transportation in cape town, when to visit cape town, temperature and rainfall, cape town weather advice.

Cape Town has a generally pleasant climate all year round, though the winter period from April through August can be cool and wet depending on which part of the city you are in. Summers are typically warm and dry, though extreme heat is rare, as is uncomfortable humidity.

The Cape Town climate is similar to Los Angeles, with seasons reversed, of course. The beach areas can be very pleasant and mild while certain inland areas can be much hotter or much wetter at any given moment.

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Cape town - the estimated travel expenses for food, public transport, attractions entrance and accommodation., how much does a trip to cape town cost.

Currency in Cape Town is South African Rand

Cape town prices guide., if you are travelling alone to cape town, depending on your expectations, you will pay for an overnight stay from 14 usd (255 zar) for a hostel to 289 usd (5,300 zar) for a luxury hotel., the other daily costs you have to pay when travelling to cape town are:.

• Food 6.30 USD (117 ZAR)
• Meals in restaurants 14 USD (253 ZAR)
• Bottled water 0.93 USD (17 ZAR)
• Local transportation 4.40 USD (80 ZAR)
• Entrance tickets 18 USD (330 ZAR)
• Alcoholic beverages 2.90 USD (54 ZAR)

As you can see - a stay for a few days in Cape Town can cost 127 USD (2,300 ZAR) or 1,200 USD (22,000 ZAR) , depending on whether you are a frugal tourist or you are planning to spend a luxurious holiday in Cape Town.

How much South African Rand should I have for one week in Cape Town?

If you want to spend a week in Cape Town the cost of your stay will be:

• 297 USD (5,400 ZAR) - a cheap stay for 7 days in Cape Town
• 419 USD (7,600 ZAR) - a budget travel for 7 days in Cape Town
• 863 USD (15,000 ZAR) for a one week of comfortable stay in Cape Town
• 2,800 USD (52,000 ZAR) for a week of luxury holidays in Cape Town

How much money do I need per day to stay in Cape Town?

If you are travelling alone to Cape Town, 42 USD a day should be enough. If you choose a hotel for your stay in Cape Town, the price will rise to 60 USD. A couple will have to pay around 100 USD for one day in Cape Town. A family with two children should have 180 USD for one day stay in Cape Town.

How to visit Cape Town on a low budget? How to travel Cape Town cheaply? How to save money while travelling in Cape Town?

In order not to exceed reasonable expenses during a trip to Cape Town, which we estimate at 60 USD (1,000 ZAR) for a one day, you must comply with the following rules:

• Choose to stay in a hostel (14 USD (255 ZAR) ) or in a cheap hotel (18 USD (332 ZAR) ).
• Use public transport. The price for a one-way ticket is 1.10 USD (20 ZAR) and for a monthly pass 37 USD (675 ZAR) .
• Make your own breakfast and own dinner. Daily shopping cost in the shop is around 6.30 USD (117 ZAR) in Cape Town.
• Choose restaurants outside the city centre and close to tourist attractions. Meal in a cheap restaurant cost around 8.20 USD (150 ZAR) in Cape Town. McMeal at McDonalds (or equivalent meal in other fastfood restaurant) costs approximately 4.90 USD (89 ZAR) .

Car-related costs are mainly fuel, road tolls and parking fees. Of course, the price depends on the purpose of the journey and energy efficiency of a vehicle.

In Cape Town, you will pay for the fuel accordingly:

• Petrol price in Cape Town is around: 1.30 USD (23 ZAR)
• Diesel fuel price in Cape Town is around: 1.20 USD (22 ZAR)
• 1kg sausage: 13 USD (240 ZAR)
• 0,5 kg bread: 0.99 USD (18 ZAR)
• 10 eggs: 2.30 USD (43 ZAR)
• 1kg cheese: 7.80 USD (142 ZAR)
• 1 liter milk: 1.00 USD (18 ZAR)
• 1 kg apples: 1.50 USD (27 ZAR)
• Bottle of local beer (0,5 liter): 2.40 USD (44 ZAR)

Car rental prices in Cape Town

• What is the average price for a car rental in Cape Town?
• How much does it typically cost to rent a car in Cape Town?
• Is it cheaper to rent a car for a week in Cape Town?
• Table Mountain Cable Car Ticket & Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Combo 39 USD (719 ZAR)
• Cape Town: Marine Wildlife Tour from the V&A Waterfront 52 USD (955 ZAR)
• Cape Town Waterfront and Bay: Sailing Trip 15 USD (280 ZAR)

What is most famous in Cape Town? How much does an average entrance to travel attractions in Cape Town cost?

The most important tourist attractions in cape town that we recommend:, the museums worth a visit in cape town:, on warmer days, we recommend walking in parks in cape town. below is a list of the largest and most interesting parks in cape town. parks in cape town:, how much does dinner cost in restaurants of different cuisines in cape town, cape town - prices in restaurants, alcohol prices in cape town, cape town - whisky prices comparison, cape town - rum prices comparison, cape town - vodka prices comparison, cape town - gin prices comparison, view map of hotels and accommodation.

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Is Cape Town Expensive?

• Is Cape Town expensive?

How expensive is Cape Town?

• How expensive is a weekend trip to Cape Town?
• How expensive is a one week trip to Cape Town?

Is it expensive to backpack in Cape Town?

Are hotels expensive in cape town.

• How expensive are activities in Cape Town?

Is food expensive in Cape Town?

Is transportation expensive in cape town, is cape town expensive to visit.

Cape Town is a popular destination that is also moderately priced. It falls in the middle range of travel cost prices globaly with a daily average travel cost of $98. If we compare it to the rest of Africa, it is a moderately priced place to visit. It ranks in the top 50% of cities in Africa for its travel costs. Its travel costs are comparable with places such as Johannesburg and Masai Mara.

Travelers spend an average of $98 per day when visiting Cape Town (U.S. Dollars). This is according to our calculations which come from the expenses of previous visitors. While this is an average cost, prices can vary by travel style, the length of your trip, and other factors. You can stay fairly close to this average if you stay at moderately priced hotels, eat at affordable restaurants, and take public transportation when possible. See more travel costs for Cape Town here .

How expensive is a weekend trip (three days) to Cape Town?

Based on the travel expenses of others, a weekend trip to Cape Town costs around $295 on average, per person. This includes food, sightseeing, local transportation, accommodation, and nightlife. For two people, a weekend trip costs $591.

How expensive is a one week (7-day) trip to Cape Town?

Based on our calculations from previous travelers, a one week trip to Cape Town will cost around $689 per person. This amount includes sightseeing activities, hotels, restaurants, local transportation, and other travel expenses. For two people, a one week trip would cost $1,379.

Cape Town is a popular backpacker destination with more than 30 hostels. Dorm beds in hostels cost, on average, $17 per night. (See hostel prices in Cape Town here .) You'll find quite a range in prices here, too. The most expensive beds are priced around $32 and the cheapest around $11 per night.

Here are a few sample prices from popular hostels in Cape Town.

• $19 for a dorm bed at Villa Viva Cape Town more details
• $16 for a dorm bed at Ashanti Lodge Gardens more details
• $15 for a dorm bed at 91 Loop more details

If you're considering hotel prices in Cape Town , you'll find them to be notably budget-friendly in comparison to hotels in other cities. On average, a night in a hotel room here will set you back approximately $79. In Cape Town, there are about 73 five-star hotels with an average nightly rate of $218. For a more affordable option, three-star hotels come in at an average of $75 per night, while two-star hotels offer an even more economical choice at $37 per night.

Carmichael Guesthouse

Cape heritage hotel, how expensive are sightseeing activities in cape town.

In Cape Town, the cost of activities and things to do can vary by the type of activity, its length, and the location. To provide an estimate of what to expect during your visit, below are several popular activities that are common in the area. On average, previous travelers have spent around $23 per day on sightseeing and entertainment, which is more than the country's average of $17.

• Cape Peninsula & Penguins Private Day Tour. Viator $ 130
• Cape Peninsula & Penguins Private Day Tour.: $130
• Private Cape Of Good Hope Tour with Table Mountain Ticket Including Park Fees: $192
• Chapmans Peak Sunset Trike Tour from Cape Town: $186
• Cape Point Penguin Tour: $139
• Authentic Cape Town Tour: $299
• Table Mountain Private Hike Tour of Kasteelpoort Route from Cape Town: $139
• Cape Winelands Private Tour: $251
• African Food and Storytelling Tour Cape Town City Centre: $92

In Cape Town, the cost of food can vary by the type of restaurant and food options available. To save money, eat at less expensive restaurants, try street food, or cook your own meals when possible. On average, previous travelers have spent around $42 per day on food, which is more than the country's average of $21.

• Private South African Cape Malay Cooking Class Viator $ 98
• Private South African Cape Malay Cooking Class: $98
• Private Authentic Cape Malay Cooking Class in Manenberg with Locals: $92
• The Cape Town Essentials Food Tour: $111
• Authentic African Cuisine Cooking Experience: $56
• Cape Town Food tour with locals: $115
• From CapeTown: African Dinner and Drumming Experience: $62

The prices of local transportation in Cape Town can vary by the type of transit used. Other travelers have spent an average of $17 on local transportation per person per day, which is more than the country's average of $16. To save money, take public transit whenever possible, as it will almost always be cheaper than a taxi or private driver.

More for Cape Town

If you're planning a trip to Cape Town, South Africa, check out these other informative travel guides.

We've been gathering travel costs from tens of thousands of actual travelers since 2010, and we use the data to calculate average daily travel costs for destinations around the world. We also systematically analyze the prices of hotels, hostels, and tours from travel providers such as Kayak, HostelWorld, TourRadar, Viator, and others. This combination of expenses from actual travelers, combined with pricing data from major travel companies, gives us a uniqe insight into the overall cost of travel for thousands of cities in countries around the world. You can see more here: How it Works .

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How to visit Cape Town on a budget

Apr 22, 2023 • 5 min read

We've got lots of tips on how to stretch your budget in Cape Town © Hello World / Getty Images © © Hello Town / Getty Images

One of Cape Town’s greatest strengths is its diversity. It runs through the city’s landscape, its cultures, the people, the food – and the range of budgets catered for. The rand is generally fairly weak compared to many currencies, so South Africa is quite an affordable destination if you’re coming from Europe, Oceania or North America. And while Cape Town tends to be a bit pricier than other parts of the country, it still offers great value.

You'll really see how far your money can go when eating out. If you were ever going to splurge on a multi-course fine-dining banquet, then Cape Town would be the place (you’ll get a six-course tasting menu for around US$100 in the city’s top restaurants). But of course, there are plenty of budget-friendly options to choose from too. Here's how to make your money go further on a trip to Cape Town.

1. Make a stopover in Addis Ababa

One of the cheapest ways to fly to Cape Town is with Ethiopian Airlines. Flight service is excellent and the fares are great, but the route adds extra hours onto the journey. Most flights involve an overnight stay in Addis Ababa but think of it as an opportunity rather than a burden. Airline staff greet you at the airport and usher you onto buses to your free hotel, where Ethiopian food awaits before bed. You’re ferried back to the airport the next day and can arrive in Cape Town fresh faced after a night's restful sleep.

2. Take Ubers over taxis

Uber has become the transport option of choice in Cape Town, both from a safety perspective and to cut costs. Ubers are almost always more cost effective than private taxis, particularly when leaving the airport to head into the city. The ability to track your journey in the app and share the details with friends is also a bonus when traveling alone.

3. Grab a Gatsby and feed yourself for a day

The Gatsby is a Cape Town institution, feeding families on a budget since the 1970s. It’s essentially a footlong sub, although the bread is often a little longer than 12 inches. It comes topped with salad, fries and any number of meats, from sliced polony (Bologna) to masala steak. It’s huge, it’s stodgy and it can easily feed a family of four in a sitting – for the price of a single meal in the average restaurant.

4. Give public transport a chance

South Africa is generally not renowned for its comprehensive public transport network, but if you’re looking to save some rands, there are options when it comes to a Cape Town stay . The Metrorail train connects the city with the southern suburbs and the False Bay coast, and is safe during daylight hours – just try to choose a carriage with other travelers when you board. The MyCiTi bus network joins the city with the Atlantic Seaboard all the way down to Hout Bay. Buses are clean, safe and largely on time.

5. Hike to the top of Table Mountain

The absolute must-do attraction in Cape Town can actually be tackled entirely for free if you hike up, pack a picnic and hike back down again. The downhill can be hellish on the knees though, so you may want to take the cable car back down – at least you’ll have saved half the fare!

6. Join the locals on street party Thursdays

On the first Thursday of each month, the city becomes an open-air gallery and general street party. Art shops open their doors and host wine tastings, bars let their customers spill out onto the street and the city heaves with revelers. You’ll find drinks specials, live bands and free entrance to many of the city’s galleries and museums.

7. Visit in winter for restaurant specials

Cape Town’s restaurants are already pretty affordable by international standards, but in the months of July and August, many of the city’s top eateries offer special deals. This could be a reduction on the entire menu, a special set meal just for winter or a specific deal, such as a burger and a beer, or two courses for a cut-price cost. Local food blogs and sites like Eat Out often compile lists of the city’s winter dining specials.

8. Consider buying the Cape Town City Pass

It might seem a sizable outlay at R1495/1995 for a two/five-day pass but if you’re planning to cram in most of Cape Town’s top sights, the City Pass is a good deal. It includes entry to major sights like the Zeitz MOCAA Museum , Two Oceans Aquarium , Cape Wheel , Groot Constantia wine tasting and the cableway to the top of Table Mountain, plus a pass for the open-top sightseeing bus. There are lots of activities included as well, from city walking tours to whale watching trips.

9. Check out a market for a stand-up lunch

On weekends, Cape Town has a buzzing food market scene where you can buy bowls of noodles, plates of paella, pastries, sandwiches, pizza slices and loads of sweet treats. There’s a great atmosphere and you can generally find lunch for less than R100. Check out the Oranjezicht Market at the V&A Waterfront or the long-running Neighbourgoods Market in Woodstock.

10. Book tours on Airbnb

Local tours can become quite pricey but you can find great deals offered by locals on Airbnb. These tend to also be unique, insider looks at specific aspects of Cape Town life.

11. Sleep in the burbs

Accommodation in the city center and along the Atlantic Seaboard suburbs of Clifton and Camps Bay is generally more expensive. If you’re planning on spending any time visiting attractions south of the city – such as Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden , the Constantia Wine Route, surfing classes, Cape Point and the penguin colony – then consider staying in the southern suburbs or southern peninsula for part of your trip. There’s not as much nightlife, but there are plenty of great restaurants and the prices are lower.

Daily costs

• Hostel room for two (shared bathroom) R750
• Basic en-suite room for two R1300
• Self-catering apartment (including Airbnb) R1000-1800
• Metrorail train ticket R20; MyCiti bus day pass R80
• Sandwich R70
• Dinner for two (two courses, excluding drinks) R500
• Beer/pint at the bar R25 for a domestic beer; R40-60 for craft beer
• Decent bottle of local wine in a liquor store R80-120

Average daily cost R850-1600

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$481 Find cheap flights to Cape Town

This is the cheapest one-way flight price found by a kayak user in the last 72 hours by searching for a flight to cape town departing on 11/15. fares are subject to change and may not be available on all flights or dates of travel. click the price to replicate the search for this deal., search hundreds of travel sites at once for deals on flights to cape town.

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Cheap flight deals to Cape Town

Flights to cape town - travel insights & trends, get data-powered insights and trends for flights to cape town to help you find the cheapest flights, the best time to fly and much more., what is the cheapest flight to cape town.

In the last 3 days, the cheapest flight deal to Cape Town was found on the route from New York , at $481 one-way and $855 return. The most popular connection is from Newark to Cape Town and KAYAK users have found round-trip deals for as low as $902 in the last 3 days.

How much is a flight to Cape Town?

On average, a flight to cape town costs $1,499. the cheapest price found on kayak in the last 2 weeks cost $1,117 and departed from washington, d.c. dulles intl airport. the most popular routes on kayak are washington, d.c. to cape town which costs $1,600 on average, and new york to cape town, which costs $1,712 on average., see prices from:, what is the cheapest day to fly to cape town, based on kayak data, the cheapest day to fly to cape town is tuesday where tickets can be as cheap as $1,446. on the other hand, the most expensive day to fly is thursday, where prices are $1,593 on average., what is the cheapest month to fly to cape town, the cheapest month for flights to cape town is january, where tickets cost $1,365 on average for one-way flights. on the other hand, the most expensive months are december and june, where the average cost of tickets from the united states is $1,764 and $1,729 respectively. for return trips, the best month to travel is february with an average price of $1,278., what is the cheapest time of day to fly to cape town, the cheapest time of day to fly to cape town is generally in the afternoon, when flights cost $1,012 on average. the most expensive time of day to fly to cape town is generally at night, which is peak travel time and where the average cost of a ticket is $1,554., what is a good deal for flights to cape town, if you’re looking for cheap airfare to cape town, 25% of our users found tickets to cape town for the following prices or less: from newark airport $1,117 one-way - $1,511 round-trip, from washington, d.c. dulles intl airport $1,117 one-way - $1,411 round-trip, from atlanta $1,837 one-way - $1,762 round-trip., how far in advance should i book a flight to cape town, to get a below average price, you should book around 1 week before departure. for the absolute cheapest price, our data suggests you should book 90 days before departure., which airline offers the most flights to cape town, of the 6 airlines that fly to cape town, flysafair offers the most flights, with around 297 per week, followed by airlink with 188 flights per week., how long is the flight to cape town, the duration of your flight to cape town depends on your departure and arrival airports. obviously any flights that include a layover will also be longer. the most popular routes to cape town on kayak are from newark , which takes 14h 20m, los angeles , which takes 24h 05m, new york , which takes 24h 10m, and san francisco , which takes 25h 38m., how many direct flights to cape town are there each day, there are around 2 direct flights from within united states to cape town every day. most flights depart in the evening, with 8:00 pm the most common departure time and 100% of flights departing in the evening., how many direct flights to cape town are there each week, each week there are around 9 direct flights from within united states to cape town. the most common day for departures is saturday, with 22% of flights taking off on this day., how many long-haul flights are there to cape town each week, there are not any medium-haul (3-6 hour flight duration) or short-haul (up to 3 hour flight duration) flights to cape town. instead, there are 9 long-haul flights (6-12 hour flight duration), with the most arriving from washington, d.c.., how many cities have direct flights to cape town, from the united states, there are direct flights to cape town from 3 cities. the city with the most direct flights is washington, d.c., with 3 direct flights each week., good to know, when to book flights to cape town, faqs - booking cape town flights, what are the stopover options for the us to cape town flights.

The stopover options for the flights to Cape Town from the US vary depending on your airline and departure city. Passengers flying with Delta or KLM from New York should expect stops in Amsterdam and Boston. Airlink and British Airways offer flights from Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) to CPT and have common stops in London and Johannesburg. If you’re flying with United Airlines from Los Angeles, expect layovers in New York, Chicago, Houston, and Denver. Flights from Atlanta to Cape Town have common stops in New York, Amsterdam, Johannesburg, Frankfurt, Philadelphia, and London.

Which airlines offer eco-friendly flights to Cape Town from the US?

On average, every passenger on a flight to Cape Town from the US emits about 7,467 kg of CO2. Delta and KLM offer some of the most sustainable flights from the US to Cape Town. They operate two-stop and single-stop flights from the US to Cape Town and emit about 50% and 48% less carbon respectively than their counterparts.

How can I get around Cape Town International Airport?

CPT has a main terminal building that is split into the Domestic Concourse and International Concourse. The concourses are connected by the Central Terminal. The airport has underground walkways that run to the parking lots. A free bus runs from the International and Domestic Terminals to the Baggage Area in the Central Terminal.

Does Cape Town International Airport offer accessible services?

Yes. Passengers who need wheelchair assistance services can visit the Information Desks on the Ground Floor or the Central Terminal Building's check-in areas. You can also use the courtesy phones at the airport to request a wheelchair. Passengers who need wheelchair assistance from the aircraft to the arrivals area should contact their airlines 48h before the travel date. CPT also offers Passenger Aid Units that make boarding and getting off the planes easier for travelers with wheelchairs.

Does Cape Town International Airport have play areas for children?

Passengers who booked flights to Cape Town and are traveling with small children will want to stop by the play area to let them run around. The Jimmy Jungles Play Zone is located on the top floor of the airport in the Departure Hall. It has a ball pit, trampoline, and a toy airplane. There is a fee to use the play area but if you have young children, it’s a wonderful place to visit.

Are there good restaurants in Cape Town International Airport?

Yes, restaurants are located on the third floor of the airport. You can dine at Spur where you can watch the planes land and take off. Or you can choose from a number of delis and cafes. Most restaurants in the airport close by 9PM so it is important to plan ahead if you have a late arrival or a layover.

Are there good shopping places in Cape Town International Airport?

If you want to shop once you arrive at the airport, you can choose from regular and duty free shops. You can also find local specialties and handmade souvenirs at stores like Africa Eco, Out of Africa, Made in SA, and Cape Farm & Wine.

Are there airport hotels in Cape Town International Airport?

If you’re looking for airport hotels, you are in luck. The Road Lodge Cape Town International Airport is located on the airport grounds. Or, if you prefer, the Hotel Verde is located only two minutes from the airport. There is a free airport shuttle that is available from 4AM to midnight every day. The airport shuttle leaves every 30 minutes.

How far is Cape Town from central Cape Town?

The distance between Cape Town and downtown Cape Town is 10 miles.

What is the name of Cape Town’s airport?

All flights to Cape Town land at Cape Town. The airport code is CPT,and it can also be referred to as Cape Town or Cape Town Intl.

On average, a flight to Cape Town costs $1,499. The cheapest price found on KAYAK in the last 2 weeks cost $1,117 and departed from Washington, D.C. Dulles Intl Airport.

How does KAYAK find such low prices on flights to Cape Town?

KAYAK is a travel search engine. That means we look across the web to find the best prices we can find for our users. With over 2 billion flight queries processed yearly, we are able to display a variety of prices and options on flights to Cape Town.

How does KAYAK's flight Price Forecast tool help me choose the right time to buy my flight ticket to Cape Town?

KAYAK’s flight Price Forecast tool uses historical data to determine whether the price for a flight to Cape Town is likely to change within 7 days, so travelers know whether to wait or book now.

What is the Hacker Fare option on flights to Cape Town?

Hacker Fares allow you to combine one-way tickets in order to save you money over a traditional round-trip ticket. You could then fly to Cape Town with an airline and back with another airline.

What is KAYAK's "flexible dates" feature and why should I care when looking for a flight to Cape Town?

Sometimes travel dates aren't set in stone. If your preferred travel dates have some wiggle room, flexible dates will show you all the options when flying to Cape Town up to 3 days before/after your preferred dates. You can then pick the flights that suit you best.

Top tips for finding cheap flights to Cape Town

• Enter your preferred departure airport and travel dates into the search form above to unlock the latest Cape Town flight deals.
• Cape Town International Airport (CPT) hosts several ATMs and Currency exchange counters. ABSA runs an ATM in Shop 14 at the Central Terminal while Bidvest has an ATM in Shop 2 at the same terminal. Rennies Bank offers currency exchange services in the Arrivals Area of the Domestic Terminal.
• If you're planning to self-drive around Cape Town, rent a car at CPT. The airport hosts several car rental companies. You will find the following car rental companies at CPT: Avis, Europcar, Budget, Sixt, Hertz, and FirtsCar, among others. You can find the agencies at the Rental Plaza and the Central Terminal.
• You're welcome to send your last-minute letters to your family from CPT's Post Office. The airport's Post Office is after the Permit Office on the Ground Floor of Parkade 2. Postal services are available from 8 am to 4:30 pm from Thursdays to Tuesdays and from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm on Wednesdays.
• US citizens are allowed to stay in Cape Town for up to 90 days visa-free. However, you must have a valid US passport with at least two blank pages.
• Passengers arriving at CPT will be happy to know that the airport offers multiple charging stations throughout the airport. One such station is next to the food corner on Floor No. -1.
• If you have booked flights to Cape Town and you want to relax before your connecting flight, stop by the Yemaya Express Nail Bar in domestic departures to touch up your manicure. Or, you can visit Gloss in the central terminal for a trim.
• Passengers that are flying to Cape Town for business reasons will be happy to learn there are several services available. Conference rooms are available for passengers who need them. There is also free WiFi throughout the airport for up to 4 hours or 1 GB. Mobile phone rentals are available from Vodafone’s Vodashop Rent A Phone. There is also a post office on the ground floor past the permit office.
• Looking for an easy way to get from the airport to your hotel or local attractions? You will find that an Uber is generally more affordable than a taxi. Be sure that you ask about recommended taxi services at the airport if you choose to use one. If you’d prefer to take public transportation, you can take the MyCiti Bus from the airport to the Civic Center.
• If you have at least 6 hours between connecting flights, you might want to see a little bit of Cape Town while you wait. Drop your luggage at the A-Teck in Parkade 2 so you can explore hands-free. You can then take a short 25-minute ride via an Uber or a taxi to the city center where you can explore the local attractions.
• If you want to freshen up between flights, consider paying for access to one of the VIP lounges. These lounges offer members access to shower facilities. Or, you can buy a special package from Hotel Verde that provides access to showers, a gym, pools, walking trails and restaurants.

Prefer to fly non-stop to Cape Town Intl?

Find which airlines fly direct to Cape Town Intl, which days they fly and book direct flights.

Nonstop departures

United States to Cape Town Intl

Aegean Airlines, Air France, Air India, +38 more

Aegean Airlines, Air France, +39 more

Aegean Airlines, Air Botswana, Air France, +39 more

Aegean Airlines, Air Botswana, +40 more

Aegean Airlines, Air France, Air India, +37 more

Aegean Airlines, Air France, +38 more

Aegean Airlines, Air France, Air India, +36 more

Aegean Airlines, Air France, +37 more

Aegean Airlines, Air Botswana, Air France, +41 more

Aegean Airlines, Air Botswana, +42 more

Nonstop returns

Cape Town Intl to United States

Top 5 airlines flying to cape town.

It was very cold because the air conditioner was on high power, and my son got sick.

3 hours late and all they have is was a $12 meal voucher. That’s not even enough to cover fast food.

Among the poorest flights I’ve had with Delta in a while. Entertainment system failed completely on a 7.5 hr flight. Crew seemed distracted and not the normal friendly crew. Flight overbooked it seemed… very crowded.

If I can, I always fly Delta. I’ve found their service to always be reliable and pleasant.

You could have not cancelled the flight (AA, which I will be flying from now on) left for BOS despite the fictitious weather issues (that no one in my Boston family could see). You could have rebooked my direct flight to another direct flight instead of sending me though JFK, the worst US airport after O’Hara You could have rebooked me on a Main Cabin seat (like the one I paid for in my original ticket instead of putting me a the last row on JFK->BOS leg, pocketing the difference in ticket price But I do not really care whether you will ever do that in a future because in a future neither I nor anyone from my company (unless they pay out of pocket) nor an of my clients and partners (if they heed my advice) will ever be caught dead on any of Delta flights

Really bad baggage handling. Had my Rimowa bag badly damaged at the latches.

It was pretty good I was worried with the short Layover that I might not catch my connection but the gate was there

It was good until there was a 3 hour delay because there was not any pilots to fly the plane.

There was plenty of overhead room but half of the passengers were told they had to check their carryon bags. My partner and I checked in as early as possible and our seats were split across the aisle.

Friendly flight attendants. Comfort plus seats were very comfortable and had lots of leg room. 10A and 10 B.

Besides the flight cancellation, everything else was prefect. Kudos to Malaysian Airlines.

Operated by American Airlines. Very chaotic and the crew was bit rough responding any enquiries. Restricted leg space.. Qatar would have been better

Qatar airways from Doha to guangzhau was excellent big bird Boeing 777 more room and smoothly flight, I Love it

It was good no problems made it on time for the next flight overseas!

The made us waiting and held our passports and boarding pass making us miss our flights

Not impressed. Only allowed one carry on on such a long flight.

The flight was good but my neighbor had the vent open full power for the whole flight and because the air was blowing from the side instead of from the top and I got very cold and ended up with a sore throat.

Bad experience with the delay n long wait time for connecting flight after missing the connection flight from Doha.

Wore experience due to delay and took me 3 days to reach my destination.

All over with Qatar airlines my experience was really bad due to delays and then putting me on different airlines and after 8 hours of wait I had to listen to their is no plane to fly for another 24 hours. Wore experience ever.

Overnight flight in the old style Business class, but still very good.

I was in business class, without the business class amenities. Large seat with lots of legroom, but no TV or bed. Food was okay, but I did enjoy the Turkish red wine.

Excellent service and comfort from the moment you check in. Flight crew is hyper focused on making passengers comfortable and at ease. It’s like a flying hotel!

Only chicken as a meat dish through out the flight

Nothing really was great as such. Seen other no name airlines perform better.

Quality of service on board was very inconsistent. FA service primarily seemed robotic and they barely engaged with passengers

I’m unclear why I had to pay extra for assigned seats as Turkish airlines did not honor the seating. We were placed across the aisle from each other on TK 34, and were seated behind one another on TK 694. Because my name was misspelled on e-ticket (Klawiter, instead of Klawitter) I could not log onto website to get the connection gate number in Istanbul. The monitors in the airport were a jumbled mess 1/2 Arabic and 1/2 English.

On line check in needs a lot of improvement. I tried and gave up.

Food not good, flight attendants not the best, not accommodating very ruff

the female flight attendant was racist towards me. I could tell she treated the two other passengers next to me with more softness.

The baggage handlers broke the handle on my bag that they put under the plane that I checked on the jetway. They traded it out for a less quality bag in Tulsa. But, they said they would try to fix it. Bologna! There was no fixing that bag handle. Someone didn’t care how they treated the bag.

Frankfurt airport is the worst. Passengers are forced to use stairs to get to the terminal or catch a shuttle. Very inconvenient for passengers who are ambulatory challenged or have physical handicaps.

The entertainment wasn’t playing in the app or online.

Lady was a bit rude during boarding and I was being nice to her.

Why does it have to be painful to fly long distances?

It is a modern tragedy that any airline expects you to travel for 14 hours in such discomfort and that the only way to add comfort is exorbitant prices. I was in pain by the time we landed. Shameful.

Original plane sidelined. Had to wait an hour for replacement.

Crew was very cooperative and professional. Passenger's first checked in bag should be free.

No real agent onsite helping you for missing luggage there. Not like the other airline next to UA desk, they have staff attending in their desk assisting answer/helping luggage issue, even after midnight.

Horrible, the flights kept delaying, so it is obvious that we won't be able to make it to the next connection. No easier/real agent on site to help you figure this out. UA agent on other counters refuse to assist you and direct us to use the QR code/call customer service. So inefficient and poor. While technology seems convenient, but it's not the best interest/experience for customers need help while there is active issue need assistance.

Our seats were moved by ticketing agent at Chicago, so we thought we were getting an upgrade. Turns out we were put next to 4 children 2 of which cried or screamed for the entire 7.5 hour flight. It was a terrible experience for us.

The aircraft left 5 hours later than original dipartire time They let all passengers board and sit for 3 hours in a hot air plain with no A/C. Than they made all passengers leave the air plain due to some issues to the engine. Passengers received 1 glass of water the entire time . Than they boarded everyone again and took almost another hour before they took off. I bought these tickets for my 74 years old mother, Julianna Horvathne Kas and my nephew, Balázs Kelemen. Definitely going to request for a compensations!!

Economy class has no legroom so if you have the money worth to upgrade! Food was absolutely horrible! The crew was super nice!!!!!

The flight was provided by Aer Lingus and our seats were in a poor condition (15A & 15C). They looked like they needed repairing/replacing and were uncomfortable for such a long flight. Also the arm rests on Aer Lingus planes do not lift more than around 45 degrees, instead of the usual 90 degrees upright, meaning you cannot maximum the space between you & your travel companion so as to be more comfortable for such a long flight.

Flights were actually with Aer Lingus outward and American Airlines & Aer Lingus on the return journey. Outward flight with Aer Lingus was good but the return flight with them was not so good as our seats were in a poor condition (15A & 15C) and looked like they needed replacing! The American Airlines flight from Miami to JFK New York was good and the seats were very comfortable and spacious (32D & 32E)

Awful. Delay, lost vacation time and travel time now more than 24h

Awful. Flight delayed and we missed our long flight to Rome. It has been a nightmare and we have still not arrived. It was NOT a weather delay, just poor planning by AA

Boarding was as fast and efficient as possible. The flight crew were amazing and extremely friendly. We enjoyed our flight.

Very bed boarding, there was overbooked and make a lot of problems and noises

There was a problem in the luggage because there were not porters

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Cape Town Itinerary: 2 Days, 5 Days or 7 Days

We first visited Cape Town together back in 2015, as the starting point for our main two-week holiday. Given that we planned to visit as much of South Africa as possible in that two-week period, we were only able to spend three nights in this amazing city. We quickly realised that this wasn’t enough time – there are so many things to do in Cape Town!

This time around we are maxing out our three-month South African tourist visas, and we based ourselves in Cape Town for the majority of our time. We absolutely loved living here, and we loved experiencing all the amazing things this city has to offer.

Here are our top choices of things to do in Cape Town from our three months here. We hope that you find it useful when building your own Cape Town itinerary.

Cape Town Itinerary: 2, 5 or 7 days

We have put together a number of different Cape Town itineraries in the table below depending on how much time you have available.

You can find full descriptions of every activity and many more suggestions to add into your own Cape Town itinerary in the rest of this post! Mix and match as you like.

We have also included where to eat and where to stay in Cape Town as well as our top safety tips.

2 Day Cape Town Itinerary

5 day cape town itinerary, 7 day cape town itinerary, things to do in cape town – build your cape town itinerary, climb table mountain.

Table Mountain is easily one of the top things to do in Cape Town and an absolute must on any Cape Town itinerary. We have been up multiple times!

Table Mountain is the top tourist attraction in Cape Town and for good reason! It is simply iconic and one of the oldest mountains in the world at 600 million years old. The name comes from the fact Table Mountain has a flat ‘table like’ peak.

The mountain is spectacular when viewed from a distance, exciting on the way up and the views once you reach the peak are simply jaw dropping! You can take a cable car there and back if you really want to, but we highly recommend  hiking Platteklip Gorge  on the way up and getting the cable car down – it is completely worth the experience!

You can get a taxi from the city centre to the cable car station for around R110-120.

Activity cost:  the cable car fares are R190 one way or R330/290 return depending on the time of day.

Address:  Table Mountain Cable Car Station,  Tafelberg Rd, Gardens, Cape Town, 8001

Hike Signal Hill and/or Lions Head

If you feel like hiking Table Mountain might be a little too tough, opt to climb Signal Hill or Lions Head instead. Well, we say climb, Signal Hill is more of a drive to the car park at the viewpoint!

Signal Hill is a flat-topped hill situated next to Lions Head. When viewed together with Lions Head (some squinting may be needed to see it!), some people see a sleeping lion, or a sphinx, with Signal Hill forming the back, or the rump of the lion.

From the car park, you can then choose to go further and climb Lions Head, a hike which is particularly popular at sunset. Although there are certain parts of the climb that do involve using steps, ladders and holding onto a few chains, overall this is a relatively easy hike, and should take no more than an hour to reach the top.

For the less adventurous, just take a few drinks, some snacks, drive to the car park and sit and watch the sunset from Signal Hill instead. The views from here will be equally as impressive!

Activity cost: free!

Boulders Beach – See the penguins!

This is an absolute must-do during your time in Cape Town! Walking past any tour agency in Cape Town you are likely to see images of the adorable African penguins, and you will immediately want to go and see them for yourselves.

The penguins are found at Boulders Beach in Simons Town, a 30-40 minute drive from Cape Town. Boulders Beach is also one of the few places in the world that is home to a land-based colony of penguins.

African penguins are a unique species, and unfortunately are also becoming endangered. However these cute little creatures are under the protection of SANParks, and your entrance fee to see them goes back into the conservation of both themselves and their habitat on the beach.

The conservation fee to access is R152, which gives you access to the main colony visible by raised wooden walkways, ending in a large platform overlooking the main stretch of beach, named Foxy Beach. Here is where you will find most of the penguins, either nesting if it is season or going in and out of the water.

However, your entrance fee also gives you access to a second entrance, which gives access onto Boulders Beach itself. To get here you need to carry on walking down Kleintuin Road rather than turning into the ‘main entrance’. After about a 10-minute walk you will arrive at another ticket office where you can purchase if you haven’t already done so, or you can show your original ticket. Once through you can walk onto the beach with the penguins – making sure to always stay at least a metre away!

For obvious reasons, please do not feed or touch the penguins. They can and will bite!

If you feel like braving the cold, you are also permitted to swim at this beach. If you’re lucky there will be penguins in the water with you!

Most day tours that visit Cape Point will also include a visit to Boulders Beach (usually with entrance at your own expense) which is great if you are only in Cape Town for a few days. However, these day tours are usually operated on limited time, so will only grant access to the main colony for ease and guaranteed viewing before moving onto the next stop. If you want to have more time, and want to visit the penguins on the beach and swim with them, we recommend visiting in your own time. The drive from Cape Town is very coastal, scenic and easy, and there are plenty of other smaller towns to visit on the way for lunch etc.

Activity cost:  R152 for entrance

Address:  Boulders Beach, Kleintuin Road

Explore the V&A Waterfront

The Victoria and Alfred Waterfront, named V&A Waterfront for ease is one of Cape Towns most visited attractions, and it’s easy to see why!

Spanning over 123 hectares, the Waterfront serves a number of different purposes. It offers residential property, tourist accommodation such as hotels and guesthouses, and different entertainment facilities. The Waterfront is also home to Cape Towns working harbour, one of the oldest in the Southern Hemisphere, where many different boat trips such as sunset cruises depart from.

There are also extensive dining options found here, all lining the waters edge. There are restaurants to suit everyone from the usual fast-food outlets, fish restaurants (naturally given the location), international cuisine, and quite a few fine-dining options. Some of our favourite restaurants are located at the Waterfront!

The V&A Waterfront is also home to a large shopping mall, the Victoria Wharf Shopping Centre. Here you will find most of your large chain clothing stores, 2 large supermarkets and a number of different arts, crafts and souvenir stores.

One of our favourite parts of the Waterfront has to be the V&A Foodmarket. This is along the lines of a street-food market, housed in a warehouse, with a number of different foodstalls, offering locally produced products. You will find hand-made ice-creams, pastries, baked goods, Cape Malay dishes, sandwiches and wraps, artisanal pizzas – something to satisfy everyone! We quite often just find ourselves wandering through for the tasters alone!

All of this is found in an absolutely stunning setting, as the V&A Waterfront offers panoramic ocean views, views of the CBD, but most spectacular of all, Table Mountain as a backdrop. So if you don’t fancy coming here for shopping or eating, you can at least come and enjoy a cocktail, coffee, bottle of wine and just admire the beautiful scenery.

Depending on where you are staying in Cape Town, you can either choose to walk to the Waterfront, or opt to take an Uber.

Go wild on Safari

Having a safari experience should be on everybody bucket list when they visit South Africa! However, we know that not everybody will have the time for a full multi-day safari option, such as is found at Kruger National Park.

We have a couple of options in mind:

1. Aquila Safari

Aquila Safari is a great choice, because if you do have time constraints and are unable to overnight, they also offer both full and half-day Big 5 safari experiences, all easily accessible within a two-hour drive from Cape Town!

Depending on the package booked, you will also get to experience a safari either on horse-back, or quad bike which is absolutely incredible! Don’t worry – this doesn’t take you anywhere near the lions! Some of the full-day packages will also allow you pool access too between game drives!

If you are unable to self-drive from Cape Town, Aquila can also arrange either a shared or a private transfer for you, from any central Cape Town hotel.

Ideally though you will be able to overnight, and enjoy the beautiful accommodation onsite, and sample the delicious buffet served for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

We loved our experience at Aquila, and highly recommend. Take a look at everything on offer and book your safari  here .

Address:  Situated on the R46, Touwsrivier, South Africa

2. Sanbona Wildlife Reserve

Sanbona is a little bit further than Aquila being a 3 hour drive, however if you do have the time we can’t recommend it enough! This is a 5 star luxury, authentic safari at its best. It has to be one of our highlights of our entire 3 months.

We wrote an entire post on our experience at Sanbona, take a  look here  to see why we think you should make time to visit!

Cape Town Side Car Tours

This has to be one of the best and most unique ways to tour Cape Town. Forget about coaches and minivans if you are feeling adventurous and jump on a side car!

We spent the day with Cape Town Side Car Tours and they took us all the way to Cape Point with many stops along the way including an ostrich farm, the very hipster Kalk Bay, and Scarborough Beach to name a few.

Cape Town Side Car tours have been running for just over 15 years. All the tours are private which means that everything can be pretty much tailor made on the day depending on the weather and what you would like to do. You will also be provided with a trendy leather jacket, a bandana to keep and a helmet of course!

We were initially going to explore Bettys Bay, however on the day it was very foggy in that direction and our driver Bradley made the excellent suggestion to change our plans altogether and head towards Cape Point. We are glad we took his advice. Bradley was knowledgeable, friendly and we really enjoyed his company.

We had a lot of fun, learnt a bit about each stop and saw much more than we expected. If you want a tour of Cape Town and a unique experience, we highly recommend taking a look at Cape Town Side Car tours!

Go and get yourself booked  here.

Activity cost:  Shorter 2 hour tours start at R1,150 per person with driver. Full day (8 hours) tours are R2,325  per person with driver. For any tour there is a minimum of two passengers per booking or a surcharge for single passenger bookings. Tailor made trips are also available.

Address : 1 Dickens Road, Salt River, 7925, Cape Town, South Africa.

Visit Cape Point

You can expect incredible views wherever you go in Cape Town and Cape Point is a prime example!

Cape Point is the most south-westerly tip of Africa (the most southern being Cape Agulhas) and attracts 1000s of tourists each year. Pretty much any sightseeing tour you go on will take you here, but you can of course drive yourself if you wish.

The area of Cape Point offers dramatic views of the cliffs, ocean, bays, hills and mountains. It is a haven for over 250 species of wildlife including zebra, eland and the notorious baboons (keep your distance)!

Here you can go on a hike, take picnics along the coast line, visit the most powerful lighthouse in South Africa and take a photo at the iconic Cape of Good Hope (this being the tip).

Activity cost: There is a fee to access the area of R303 (€19 or $21) for international adults or R76 for SA residents.

Kirstenbosch Gardens

We had heard great things about Kirstenbosch Gardens before arriving in Cape Town and we were not disappointed!

Considered to be one of the most beautiful gardens in Africa, you can easily spend hours getting lost here.

The gardens themselves back onto Table Mountain adding to the already beautiful scenery.

We explored the gardens ourselves and would have loved to stay longer for a picnic. They also offer guided tours throughout the day.

Perhaps the most iconic part of the gardens is the stunning elevated walkway bringing you above the trees for the best views of all!

You can get here via taxi, car or if you purchased a hop on hop off bus pass then this is one of the stops.

Activity cost:  R70

Address:  Rhodes Dr, Newlands, Cape Town, 7735

Check out their  website  for the most up to information.

Board a boat to Seal Island

If you want to see over 64,000 Cape fur seals then head to Seal Island.

The island is just 15 minutes by boat from Hout Bay harbour and there is a dedicated boat that runs trips there throughout the day.

This is just a small excursion and usually part of most day tours of Cape Town but you can also drive to Hout Bay harbour and do it yourself, it is quite a spectacle!

Activity cost:  The ticket to board costs R90 for adults and R50 for children.

Hop on Hop off Bus

If you have limited time in Cape Town, or just want to keep things simple, consider the hop on hop off bus.

This heads to the most popular tourist spots including Table Mountain, the V&A Waterfront, Camps Bay and Kirstenbosch Gardens.

Tickets start from R200 for one day but there are options to extend the length and the number of activities included.

Take a look  here  for more.

Activity cost: From R200.

Explore Bo-Kaaps beautiful rainbow houses

This is one for the instagrammers. Bo-Kaap is known for its brightly coloured houses, its history and for being home to Cape Towns Malay community.

The main draw for tourists is the houses, all of which are painted in unique colours creating a rainbow effect as you walk around the neighbourhood. However, there is much more to Bo-Kaap and we recommend taking an organised or a free walking tour to learn more about this historical neighbourhood.

One of the main things to do here is to try out the local restaurants for a Cape Malay meal. Expect to find lots of curries, roti’s and samosas on the menus around here!

To get to Bo-Kaap is very easy. Bo-Kaap sits at the bottom of Signal Hill in the city centre, just walk up Wale Street and it will be very obvious. Depending on where you are staying you can walk or you can just get an Uber.

Activity cost: Free!

Cape Towns Beaches

Cape Towns beaches are world famous. In fact they often rank very highly on TripAdvisors best beaches in the world!

The thing we love most about Cape Towns beaches, is the surrounding scenery. There are many places in the world where you can experience soft white sand but here, the surrounding views of the mountains and different landscapes make everything that bit more special.

Because there are so many beaches on offer, you can sometimes avoid other tourists altogether. Make sure you check out these beaches:

• Camps Bay: this is the most popular and touristy beach in Cape Town. See more about Camps Bay below.
• Clifton 1,2,3,4: Clifton has 4 different beaches with each separated by boulders. The boulders act as a natural wind barrier which is why many people enjoy coming here.
• Sandy Bay: Sandy Bay is actually a nudist beach and takes a little more effort to get to. Once you arrive at the car park it’s a 15 minute walk to get to the beach, but for us this was one of the best. It was quiet, with no one selling anything and perfectly pristine!
• Gay beaches? – Check out our full guide to  Cape Towns gay beaches .

Don’t forget, the sea here is the Atlantic Ocean and it is notoriously cold! Take a quick dip but you probably will not be swimming. If you head further up the coast towards the Indian Ocean side, the temperature changes quite dramatically (and attracts the sharks!).

Don’t worry too much about sharks. For the beaches at any level of risk there are shark spotters or shark nets which have always been very effective.

Activity cost: Free.

Camps Bay feels a bit like Miami Beach.

Camps Bay has one of the most popular white sand beaches in Cape Town and is surrounded by spectacular mountains including the Twelve Apostles Mountain Range.

The street running alongside the beach is lined with palm trees, many trendy restaurants and bars and is the perfect place to spend the day. This is one of the fancier neighbourhoods and yet everything is still very reasonably priced.

We recommend spending the afternoon at the beach and then watching sunset with a cocktail in hand.

The sunset here is particularly amazing and well worth coming for even if you don’t fancy a beach day. There are many restaurants with open fronts offering beautiful views of the sunset as you enjoy a leisurely dinner and drinks. Check out ‘The 41’ while you are there.

Activity cost:  The beach is free!

Address:  Camps Bay, Cape Town

Fly high with NAC Helicopters Cape Town

At some point in your life you have to ride in a helicopter. This is definitely a bucket list experience!

Here in Cape Town, NAC Helicopters Cape Town offer spectacular helicopter tours of Cape Town and the surrounding area. You can see everything from Cape Point, to Robbens Island, the surrounding bays and if you are lucky, whales from a birdseye view!

The views around Cape Town are some of the most impressive we have seen and you will be blow away – we certainly were!

For those who have never been in a helicopter before, the thing that strikes us both is how smooth the ride is. Sion can be a bit unsure with heights, but for some reason, because everything is so effortless and smooth, it does not feel scary at all!

What you might not know is that Cape Town is one of the cheapest places to experience a helicopter ride. Compare the price to places like New York and for the same flight time, here in Cape Town the cost is half or less!

Go and get yourself booked at their  website .

Activity cost:  This depends on the time you want to fly and the size of the helicopter. A 12-minute flight is R3,800 between up to 3 people and a 40-60-minute flight costs R15,300 between up to 3 people. You can also request a tailor made trip and quote.

Address:  East Pier Road, Waterfront, Cape Town

Full Day Tour of Cape Town – Springbok Atlas Tours

If you are short on time and doing a 2 day Cape Town itinerary we highly recommend you book a full day tour.

We used Springbok Atlas Tours and had an excellent day. We managed to see Seal Island, Boulders Beach for penguins, drive Chapmans Peak, go to the Cape of Good Hope and visit Kirstenbosch Gardens all in one day.

This was an excellent introduction to the city and if you have more time you can then revisit some of these locations.

Shark Cage Diving – White Shark Diving Company

Most shark diving tours operate from Gansbaai which is a few hours from Cape Town – you won’t find shark cage diving in Cape Town itself but these companies can arrange shuttles or you can drive.

This is one of the few places in the world that you can do this activity and we really hope you do it! It’s exhilarating, exciting and no where near as scary as you might expect. We were more concerned about how cold the water was!

We used White Shark Diving Company  for our shark cage dive and had an incredible experience. The trip we did was very early so both breakfast and lunch were provided.

Activity cost: R2,050 for the dive plus R450 for a return shuttle if required.

Address:  9 Kusfront, Van Dyks Bay, 7220

Outdoor Pools

With temperatures in Cape Town easily reaching close to 30 °C during the summer months, taking a dip in one of Cape Towns numerous outdoor pools seems to be the perfect way to keep cool. And with 35 public swimming pools (some of these are indoor) in and around Cape Town, you’re going to be spoilt for choice!

Our top choice would definitely be Sea Point Pavilion. Located between the sea and the promenade, here you will be swimming surrounded by some incredible views.

This pool complex has an Olympic-sized pool, a diving pool and 2 pools for children. There are also numerous kiosks and snack vendors, so you can easily spend a whole day out cooling off!

Activity cost: Prices can vary, but expect to pay between R20 – R30 for adults / R10 – R20 for children

Address: Sea Point Pavilion, Lower Beach Road, Sea Point

For information and locations of all Cape Town’s swimming pools, visit  this website .

Wine Tasting – Beau Constantia

South Africa as a whole is known for its wineries and no visit to Cape Town would be complete without a wine tour or wine tasting day.

If you are limited for time, we suggest a wine tasting for an hour or two as one of the wineries. Our favourite in Cape Town has been Beau Constantia. This winery has beautiful rolling hills and a stylish tasting room overlooking the valley.

Here you can try 4 different wines (one white, one rose and two red) for just R100! You can also order by the glass, by the bottle or to take away. We loved the rose here so decided to buy two bottles to take home!

You can get an Uber from the city centre to Beau Constantia for around R170.

Activity cost: R100 for wine tasting and then around R40+ for a single glass depending on your taste and how much wine you want to drink!

Address : 1043 Constantia Main Rd, Constantia, Cape Town, 7806

Drink wine all day on a wine tour

If you have the full day available, you can opt to go on a wine tasting tour rather than just wine tasting at one winery.

Most tours visit 4 or 5 different wineries where you can learn about the process of making wine as well as tasting many varieties. Expect to try 4 or 5 at each place so you might want to pace yourself!

Most travel companies in Cape Town will offer wine tours. We had a day out with Jakes from  Amatulunga Tours  and visited 3 different wineries combined with some other activities.

Activity cost:   Wine tours range from about R600 per person upwards. We suggest shopping around as there are many good deals available.

Hope on Hopkins – Gin Tasting

If you love gin, this is a no brainer – you have to come here during your time in Cape Town.

At Hope on Hopkins you can take part in a gin tasting experience for just 150 ZAR (c$10). You get to try 4 different gins in total.

Each time you are served a gin, the server gives you a full explanation of how it is made, what is unique about it and what garnish they are serving.

The gin tasting takes place in a small bar which is set inside the factory so you can actually see the gin being produced.

Hope on Hopkins was started by Lucy and Lee who came here, fell in love with gin and hoped things would work out – hence the name. The business has been going for 5 years and you can find Hope gin across South Africa and in some parts of Europe.

Tastings are only once a week on Saturdays between 12-5 so make sure to book.

Activity cost: R150 for 4 gins.

Address: 7 Hopkins Street, Salt River, Cape Town, South Africa

Indulge in a Spa Day

One of the things that we will keep coming back to is the cost of activities in Cape Town compared to the likes of the UK or US for example. Spa days here are much cheaper, especially if you look at a website similar to dealzone or Wikideals.

We recently paid R999 for a couples spa day at Avara Wellness Spa (found on Wikideals). This included 1 hour and 15 minutes of treatments, a mini cheese board, chocolates, a bottle of wine and use of the facilities.

However, top of our list for spa experiences has to be the Jiva Grande Spa found in the Taj Cape Town. From the welcome reception, to relaxation lounge and treatments, everything was top class and luxurious. If you deserve a treat, take a look.

This was a really nice way to spend the day and very reasonable to!

Activity cost: look on Wiki Deals.

Sail at Sunset with Mirage Chartered Sailing

There are many options when it comes to sailing in Cape Town. However, if you want the VIP luxury experience on the largest catamaran in the harbour, there is only one option- the Mirage.

This owners of the Mirage designed and built it themselves. It is modern, stylish and comes complete with a bar, BBQ and the option to float a pool out into the ocean.

You can either take a chartered cruise during the day, or head out to see a spectacular sunset with some champagne. We would of course choose the latter!

Activity cost: enquire online at  www.miragecatamaran.com

Address:   Pierhead (opposite the clock tower), V&A Waterfront, Cape Town

Stellenbosch Wine Festival – once a year!

Stellenbosch is a very famous wine region just 40 minutes from Cape Town, and each year all the wineries gather together for the Stellenbosch Wine Festival held at the V&A Waterfront Cape Town.

In 2019 it was held on the 6th and 7th of April, and it was our first time at a wine festival! As you can imagine, we loved it!

The cost was R150 ($10) for entrance which included a souvenir wine glass and 20 tokens. One token gets you a taster of a wine of your choosing, four tokens a glass (for the most part, some expensive wines are more) – although this was by no means a hard a fast rule, some of the wineries were very generous indeed! Do we remember leaving the festival? We’re not going to answer that…

There were over 40 wineries on offer, and also tasting stalls offering cheese, meats and fruits. You could also buy cheese and charcuterie boards which are of course the perfect accompaniment to wine!

All in all this was a great day out, so if you visit Cape Town around April, see if this is on!

Where to eat in Cape Town

The food here is to die for, head over to our guide ‘Where to eat in Cape Town: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner’.

Where to stay in Cape Town?

There are plenty of options for all budgets and depending where you travel from, you might find your money stretches a little further here so you can treat yourself.

Take a look at the following places which we recommend based on our own experience through staying at or visiting these hotels ourselves.

Taj Cape Town

This has to be in our top ten hotels we have ever stayed in. Situated in the heart of Cape Town city centre is the luxurious 5 star Taj hotel.  The breakfast, the food, facilities and service are all first class.

We loved the decor and style of the rooms and during our visit went up to see the presidential suite which was simply out of this world. Make sure you book a room with a view of Table Mountain.

We stayed here for our final two nights in Cape Town and suggest you do the same. Check out availability here .

Cost:  c$250 per night depending on room and season.

Address:  1 Wale St, Cape Town City Centre, Cape Town, 8000

Lagoon Beach Hotel

We fell in love with this hotel simply because of the view. The hotel is on the beachfront just outside the centre and if you book a Table Mountain view room we guarantee you will be blown away. After 2 months in Cape Town we were blown away indeed!

The breakfast here was excellent, as was the pool area (2 pools) and all other facilities.

The hotel also offers free shuttles to and from the V&A Waterfront.

Cost : c$80-300 per night depending on room type and season.

For up to date prices and availability take a look  here .

Address : Lagoon Beach Road, Milnerton, 7435 Cape Town

The President Hotel

The President Hotel is a 5 star luxury hotel located in Bantry Bay where you can expect some amazing sunsets.

What stood out to us about this hotel was the pool and infinity pool area. It was very stylish and reminded us of an expensive Ibiza beach club.

Cost : c $140 per night depending on season.

Address : 4 Alexander Rd, Bantry Bay, Cape Town, 8001

Park Inn by Radisson Cape Town Foreshore

This is a 4 star hotel with stylish rooms, a rooftop bar and a plunge pool.

It was also the hotel to sponsor gay pride in Cape Town and was previously the location for the monthly LGBT Village drinks.

It also boasts great views of the iconic Table Mountain! Take a look at this hotel here.

Cost:  c$100 per night depending on season.

Address:  Park Inn by Radisson Cape Town Foreshore, 29 Heerengracht St, Foreshore, Cape Town, 8000

The Twelve Apostles Hotel and Spa

If you feel like treating yourself, head to the beautiful Camps Bay and check out Twelve Apostles.

This is a luxury hotel with exceptional service, friendly staff, outstanding food and incredible views. They also offer a shuttle bus taking you into Camps Bay and the V&A Waterfront.

Cost: c$400 per night depending on season.

Address: Twelve Apostles, Victoria Road, Camps Bay 8000 South Africa

All the above hotels are by default ‘gay friendly’ given that they are in Cape Town – for more gay owned accommodation or exclusively gay accommodation take a look at our full ‘ Gay Guide to Cape Town ’.

Booking.com

Practical Tips

• The water is safe to drink here.
• The currency is the South African rand denoted R or ZAR. Approx R17=£1 or R14=$1.
• Ubers here are the safest and cheapest means of transport. Avoid walking around at night.
• Like any major city you have to take safety serious – make sure you read these  safety tips  before you go.
• Weather – Cape Town can get four season in one day, be prepared for everything.
• They have mosquitos – bring some bug spray for the evening.
• Here we drive on the left side of the road.
• They call traffic lights robots.
• If you want a good supermarket use Pick n Pay at the V&A Waterfront specifically.

We have absolutely no doubt at all that you will have the most incredible time in Cape Town and the rest of South Africa if you venture further afield. It is truly one of our favorite countries.

Let us know if there is anything we should add to our Cape Town itinerary!

Get more South Africa travel inspiration from these posts:

• The Complete Guide to Knysna
• The Complete Gay Guide to Cape Town
• Top 5 Things to do in Oudtshoorn (and why we love it)
• How to hike Table Mountain (the easyish way)
• 12 tips for keeping safe in Cape Town!

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Note:  This post has affiliate links. You won’t get charged any extra for using the link but we will receive a small commission for each referral. Please note, all opinions are still our own. You are not obligated to use the link but we appreciate it if you do. Thanks.

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Iris C. Permuy

Wednesday 12th of June 2019

Oh my gosh! What have you done? Caoe Town wasn't on my bucket list and now you made it appear among the top positions! Seriously, this itinerary looks like perfection to me. Thanks!

The Globetrotter Guys

Friday 14th of June 2019

I'm so glad to hear it! It's one of our favorites and we want everyone to visit and enjoy CT!

Nicole Hunter

Saturday 1st of June 2019

Wow! This is an excellent list of some pretty amazing activities, safaris and hotels. I was in Cape Town 20 years ago. Some of this stuff I did but others, I did not. Cape town is one of my all time favourite places just for its absolute sheer beauty.

Sunday 2nd of June 2019

We couldn't agree more! It's the perfect destination choice - a beautiful city with plenty on offer.

This is an excellent and detailed itinerary for Cape Town. I'm sad I missed visiting when I was in South Africa, there's so much to do here. For me, seeing the penguins would be a must - but no feeding. A safari would also high on the list as I love animals. Though I'll leave the shark cage diving to the more adventurous!

Aw that's such a shame! You will just have to go back! And if you don't feel like shark cage diving, you are still permitted onboard to observe and take pictures!

Wow there is so much to do in Cape Town! The side car tours look like a really fun and unique way to explore the area. I would definitely want to go to seal island too. Thanks for all the great information :)

This was something we had never come across anywhere else before either, so simply had to do it!

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Is Cape Town Cheap To Travel? [Your Questions Answered]

Cape Town, South Africa, is a popular holiday destination for many. Whether it’s the spectacular views of Table Mountain, the high-end wine farms, or the vibey culture- it attracts people from all around the world and all walks of life.

Is Cape Town cheap to travel to? No, it is not. Can Cape Town be travelled on a budget? Yes, absolutely! It can be expensive, but if you are smart about it, it doesn’t have to be.

There are so many things to do in Cape Town that don’t cost an arm and a leg. All it takes is a little bit of planning and being strategic about what you spend on and what you don’t.

When I embarked on my one-week Cape Town experience, my trip budget was small (all expenses were spared, well, most of them), but I didn’t miss a single thing.

From visiting the wine farms to enjoying movies at the open-air theatres to (of course) climbing Table Mountain and Lion’s head, I enjoyed the Mother City to the fullest, on a student’s budget!  

In this article, we will look into everything from where to stay, what to do, how much spending money to bring with you, and whether Cape Town is safe to visit.

So let’s get straight into it!

Where to stay in Cape Town on a budget ?

The most budget-friendly accommodation in Cape Town is, without a doubt, the backpackers dotted throughout the city.

At the time of writing the South African Rand (ZAR) is roughly at a rate of 1$:R15

From trendy-urban classic to homey but sophisticated to quirky and colourful, the backpackers in and around Cape Town offer something for most tastes.  

The average price per night is around $15 (R200) per night, sometimes lower. The top three are Urban Hive backpackers , Big Blue backpackers (who both charge closer to $10 (R160), and Long street Backpackers , with ratings of 7.9 out of 10 and generally good reviews for each category.

Best backpackers in Cape Town on a budget 

Looking for backpackers in the mother city? Here are some links to budget-friendly backpackers on booking.com :

• Long Street Backpackers  
• A Sunflower Stop Backpackers
• Urban Hive Backpackers
• Big Blue Backpackers
• Never at Home Green Point
• Green Elephant Backpackers

If you prefer something a little more private, there are several options between $20 and $25 (R300-R400) where you can get the whole place to yourself. These are mainly small holiday homes or guest lodges that give a modest but comfortable feel.

Best budget – friendly private accommodation in Cape Town

Looking for budget-friendly private accommodation options in Cape Town? Here are some links to booking.com for options between $20 and $25 (R300-R400)

• Home Away From Home
• Athome Accommodation Boston
• Nature Guest Lodging

If your budget extends the bare minimum, there are several options from $40- $70 (R600-R1000) per night where you can enjoy city centre convenience combined with the warm glow of elegance.  

Best budget hotels i n Cape Town

Looking for budget-friendly hotels in Cape Town CBD? Here are some links to highly rated options on booking.com :

• BlackBrick Cape Town
• HOTEL SKY Cape Town
• Urban Oasis Aparthotel and Spa
• Villa Viva Cape Town
• Signature Lux Hotel by ONOMO
• The Rockefeller Hotel
• Cresta Grande Cape Town
• InnsCape on Castle Hotel
• StayEasy Cape Town City Bowl

Budget – friendly things to do in Cape Town

You’ll be pleased to know that not everything in Cape Town will break the bank and if you know where to look you can find some extremely affordable and exciting things to do.

From visiting the wine estates to hiking up the world-famous Table Mountain and even strawberry picking here are my budget-friendly recommendations.

Visit some w i ne farms

The estates that I’ve chosen are Babylonstoren, Vergenoegd Löw and the old classic JC Le Roux.

Babylon s toren

Babylonstoren is a beautiful old Cape Dutch farm that offers quite a few affordable and fun prospects. Situated in the Franschhoek wine valley at the base of Simonsberg, it boasts a magnificent view.

A wine tasting starts at R80 (roughly $6) per person. You’ll be treated well in their (sit down) elegant tasting room with massive glass walls and admire the view while sipping on the vintage (although technically, you are not supposed to swallow it).

If wine is not your thing, you can experience the olive oil and balsamic vinegar tour , which includes a tasting for R200 (roughly $14) per person.

They also have a giant cactus garden where you can wander around or explore their grand fruit and vegetable garden, inspired by the Company Gardens. The entry fee to the farm is R20 (just over 1 USD), and the walks around the gardens are free of charge.  

Vergenoegd L ö w 

Vergenoegd Löw is a wine estate well-known for its duck parade. More than 1600 Indian runner ducks come charging through white wooden gates at specific times each day. It’s quite a spectacle.

Here, you will find lovely mown grass with trees for shade and picnic blankets and pillows for a nice relaxing afternoon on the spacious lawns.

It is entirely free to enter the estate and view the duck parade. Picnic baskets can be purchased but are slightly pricier- from R300-R500 ($20-$35) per basket. 

JC Le Rou x

JC Le Roux offers an array of tastings. A tasting of five basic sparkling wines costs R70. Depending on which option you go for, you can pair them with five different kinds of cheese, pizza, or nougat- in which case the price increases a little bit. The package price ranges from R70- R155 ($5-$10) per person.

Get some Fresh Air

Hike Lion ‘ s Head and Table mountain

Both of these mountains are signature to Cape Town, and you simply cannot leave without making it to the top of at least one of them.

The greatest rewards are the feeling of accomplishment when you reach the peaks and the unobstructed 360˚ views that you get to enjoy.

The good news? They are both free! The even better news? You can take a cable car up to the top of Table Mountain if you don’t want to hike. However, this will cost you R300-R380 ($20-$26). In contrast, the only way up Lion’s Head is to hike it.

Walk up Signal hill

Signal Hill is another scenic walk that costs nothing and gives you a gorgeous view of the coast and city below. You can also get great sunset photos in the big yellow frame at the top.

Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens

There are so many things that one can do at Kirstenbosch botanical gardens. Some I would recommend are:

• Take a long meandering stroll through the nature reserve admiring all the fauna and flora.
• Have a picnic somewhere secluded beneath the trees.
• Take a memorable photo on the big stairs with the stunning background of the mountains.

You can also pop into one of the cafés or restaurants for a drink or a bite to eat. Kirstenbosch Tea Room has the best tea and scones I have ever tasted . I am still thinking about the jam that came with my scones, and it has been three years!

Entry to the gardens costs R75 ($5) for an adult , but there are many discounts for students, pensioners and learners. You can also watch a movie with Galileo Open Air Theatre at the gardens, costing around R100 ($7) for a standard screening or up to R250 ($17) for a special day screening.

Go to the beach

Muizenberg beach : Sprinkled with its signature colourful tiny cabins, pristine water with a fabulous tidal pool to swim in, and some interesting oceanic street art.

They also hold the moonlight meander every Saturday evening- an event where people take a stroll along the beach to appreciate its beauty at night. 

Boulders beach: Boulders beach lives up to its name with massive boulders dotted in the water and on the sand. However, the main attraction of the beach is the native penguins who live there. Penguins on the African continent? You better believe it!

Seeing the African penguins is 100% recommended if you are planning on traveling Cape Town. The entry fee for South Africans is R39 ($3) and R152 ($10) for international visitors.

Kommetjie Beach: Kommetjie (translated to cup or small basin in English) is another little hidden gem. A quiet town with few crowds. You can do part of the Chapman’s peak drive after Hout Bay on the way to Kommetjie.

A breathtaking view of the towering cliffs, misty mountains, and crashing waves down below can be seen on the drive.

Once you get there, you should visit the Kommetjie lighthouse by walking along the wooden walkway that hugs the beach.

Have a picnic

There are so many idyllic spots to have a picnic in Cape Town that I have already mentioned (see Kirstenbosch), but one or two more are worth mentioning.

Silvermine Silvermine nature reserve has an extensive reservoir that is great for swimming and relaxing nearby. It is not usually crowded, but the fee is relatively high for a nature reserve (R122/$8 for international visitors).

More budget-friendly options are Green Point nature reserve, a well-manicured park with free entry. Or the beautiful, slightly wilder, Rondevlei nature reserve that charges a R10 (under $1) entry fee. Here you can see hippos, African fish, eagles, and many other birds!

Strawberry picking

There are a few strawberry farms in the area where you can go strawberry picking from September to January! I’ve picked out the top three most worthwhile spots for you.

Polkadraai Farm charges R45 ($3) for the smallest bucket and R200 ($14) for the largest bucket, with a few sizes in between.

Heldeberg Farm charges R20 ($1) entrance fee and R40 ($3) picking fee for a 300g punnet.

The best value for money is Redberry Farm , which charges R25 ($2) for a small container and R40 ($3) for a large container.

The Spice Route

The Spice Route is a whole area packed with a wide variety of outdoor stores to explore all in one picturesque place:

• Curiosities
• Restaurants
• Wine tastings
• Biltong (South African delicacy) stalls
• Tea makers and coffee roasteries
• An art gallery
• Paarl Adventure Trails,
• And artisanal chocolatiers

Most of these offer tastings, tours, and samples. The Spice Route is an experience just on its own, even without buying anything.

V & A Waterfront

The V&A Waterfront is an inseparable part of Cape Town , much like Table Mountain. There are so many fun things to do here, but I’m just going to stick to a few must-sees.

Get frozen yoghurt or ice cream for your stroll- there are so many weird and wonderful flavours to choose from at the different stalls.

• Take a photo in the big yellow frame with Table Mountain in the background.
• Explore the Waterfront Food Market – this is an indoor market with an aesthetic, offering artisanal street food.
• Go on a thirty-minute harbour cruise for R110 ($7) per person with Wild Horizons Adventures . (There are also sunset cruises which are R400+/$28 per person) or visit Two Oceans aquarium for roughly R200 ($14) per person.

Arts and Culture

Cape Town is teeming with artisans of many varieties, and the creatively inclined. This city has an appreciation for the finer things in life.

On the first Thursday of every month, art galleries and exhibitions open up on Long Street and further late into the night so that the public can view and appreciate all they have to offer.

Along the V&A Waterfront is the Urban Jungle Southern African Artists Exhibition – sculptures and artworks dotted along the waterfront for anyone to enjoy. Lastly, you can also visit the South African National Art Gallery for R60 ($4) per person.

Cafes and Food Markets

Honest Chocolate: Honest Chocolate is a gorgeous quaint little café. They produce handmade chocolate, and the menu is extremely affordable.

Oranjezicht City Farmers Market: Translated into Orange View City Farmers Market in English. It is an outdoor farmers market where you will find healthy smoothies, cheesecake, artisanal cheese, bread of all kinds, nuts, crafts, flowers, fresh fruit and veggies, tea, and much more. This is a down-to-earth place to spend a whole morning or afternoon. 

Clay Café: An interesting café where you can get your creative juices flowing by painting pottery. There’s a R40 charge for the paints and the activity and an additional charge for the item’s price that you choose to paint R55-R380 ($40- $26) depending on what you desire.

Truth Coffee: A steampunk-themed coffee roastery where you can either enjoy some delicious coffee in the vintage-looking interior. Or, if you want to do something a little different, you can book a one-hour Introduction to Coffee course. Which includes a tour of the roastery and ‘professional cuppings of four single unique origins.’ (R150/$10 per person)

How much spending money do you need in Cape Town ?

The amount of spending money that you need depends on you. So the saying – different strokes for different folks – applies.

If you are going for a budget holiday you can survive off of about R5500 ($380) spending money if you are not eating out at all and you are doing some light vintage & thrifting on your trip. That’s a daily budget of $55.

Doing every single thing on the list, I have provided, using the lower limit of each activity will cost you about R2600/$180 (excluding travel expenses, food/drinks, and of course accommodation). Which works out to a daily budget of $25 for activities.

Cape Town’s living costs are pretty high compared to the rest of the country, so plan to spend a lot on transport, parking and meals.

Book your flight on a day when the flights are cheaper (avoid booking on weekends and during holidays seasons) and stick with affordable accommodation options. 

On a side note, Cape Town International Airport is generally more expensive to fly to/from. So it’s worth looking into using Johannesburg as a hub.

How safe is Cape Town ?

Research shows that Cape Town ( Western Cape ) has a high level of crime. However, these statistics include the whole Cape Town metropolitan area.

Over 90% of the crime occurs in lower economic areas. The city’s CBD is widely considered the safest CBD in the country by the South African Police Service.

That being said, one should always employ universal safety measures when visiting any country.

Never walk alone at night, be vigilant during the day, lock your doors, keep alert, and always be observant of what is happening around you.

It’s also worth noting that taking out travel insurance is a must for a visit to any foreign country. World Nomads has some extremely affordable travel insurance options for those on a strict travel budget.

Try to avoid the urge to save money on travel insurance just for the sake of it. Always ready your policy and if you need more coverage then don’t second guess the spend.

F i nal Thoughts

Cape Town can be visited on a budget, provided you plan well! There are loads of affordable activities and accommodation options , and you can stay safe by sticking to the higher economic areas and keeping a watchful eye on your surroundings. 

Cape Town is an eclectic city of contradictions that offers:

• Adventure activities for expeditioners.
• Scenic wonders for the photographers .
• Cultural and artistic experiences for the creatives.
• Exciting cafes and restaurants for foodies .

And an overarching once-in-a-lifetime experience for anyone who visits. So, when are you booking your ticket? 

Written by:

I’m a travel enthusiast seeking unique adventures off-the-beaten-path. With my camera, I capture genuine moments and prioritize authenticity in both writing and photography.

The Perfect Cape Town Itinerary for 5 to 7 Days (2024)

Planning a visit to amazing Cape Town, South Africa? We’ve put together the ultimate Cape Town itinerary packed with bucket list adventures and the best local experiences.

Whether you’re thinking of visiting for a couple of days, one week, or longer, our itinerary makes it easy to plan the perfect South Africa getaway.

Few cities on the planet rival Cape Town’s cultural, historical, and geographic significance while at the same time offering superb cuisine, jaw-dropping natural beauty, and endless options for things to see and do.

Dive headfirst into the rich cultural heritage of the region, sample the eclectic flavors of the Western Cape, learn about the challenges and achievements of modern-day South Africa, and lose yourself in the numerous outdoor adventures awaiting you on the city’s doorstep.

While Cape Town’s prices might not compare with Southeast Asia or Central America, once you’ve covered your transport here, you’ll find that Cape Town is surprisingly affordable, particularly when compared to other top Africa destinations.

We’ve done this specific trip a few times now over the span of a decade and have managed to pick up a number of great tips and advice along the way. And we’re excited to share it all for you in our detailed itinerary for visiting Cape Town, South Africa.

So let’s get started!

Who Is This Cape Town Itinerary For?

Day 1 in cape town, day 2 in cape town, day 3 in cape town, day 4 in cape town, day 5 in cape town, where to stay in cape town, is cape town safe.

If you are planning on spending around one week in Cape Town, traveling on a practical budget, and prefer working with a loosely-structured itinerary with plenty of room for flexibility, you’re in the right place!

We’ve put together this itinerary with the independent traveler in mind. After all, if you are visiting on a package tour, you’ve already got your own itinerary.

What Lori and I love about independent travel is the flexibility to do and see whatever we want, for however long we want, on whichever day we want (budget providing, of course).

That flexibility allows us to take advantage of happy surprises, cut our losses with dud sights, and linger a bit longer with locals or other travelers.

And this itinerary for your visit to Cape Town allows you to do just that, totally on your own for a reasonable cost.

Robben Island

After a delicious breakfast and strong coffee to get you going, we start things off with a trip to quite possibly the most significant and well known of all of Cape Town’s landmarks—infamous Robben Island.

Located 7 km off the coast of Cape Town, the UNESCO World Heritage Site  of Robben Island houses the prison where Nelson Mandela spent 18 of his 27 years behind bars before the fall of Apartheid.

Why start with Robben Island? Taking a tour of the island provides vital background for approaching modern day Cape Town (and South Africa).

The ferry ride out to the island is also a great opportunity orienting yourself, geographically.

Additionally, tour slots fill up fast, so getting to the ticket office at the Victoria & Alfred (V&A) Waterfront early in your visit is a must.

You can also book online in advance if you have a particular day in mind. During the winter months (June-August), however, it’s a good idea to wait and see how the weather pans out.

Victoria & Alfred (V&A) Waterfront

When your ferry from Robben Island returns to the mainland terminal, take this opportunity to explore V&A Waterfront .

V&A offers a wealth of fun things to see and do, excellent shops, and some of the best restaurants in town.

Highlights include taking a walking tour of the historic district, shopping for local handicrafts at the Watershed , riding the giant Cape Wheel , getting acquainted with the area’s marine life at the Two Oceans Aquarium , visiting any one of several excellent museums , and striking a pose in front of V&A’s historic and brightly painted clock tower .

You’ll definitely want to plan to stay at V&A Waterfront into the evening, as there might be no better time to enjoy the sights and sounds, and sample the local cuisine, of this vibrant area of the city.

We’ve found few better ways to kick of one-week in Cape Town than a sunset stroll along the V&A Waterfront!

Climb Table Mountain

Ready for a little adventure? Great!

After a hearty breakfast, beeline it to Table Mountain. The tippy-top of Table Mountain, that is! This is sure to be one of the highlights of your time in Cape Town.

There are a number of ways to reach the summit of Cape Town’s iconic plateau, but we recommend hiring a taxi to the Platteklip Gorge trailhead and hoofing it to the top, then riding the cable car on the return trip.

Of course, you can do the hike or cable car both ways, but we definitely encourage mixing it up for those who are in good physical condition.

If you want even more adventure in your life, you can walk from town to the Platteklip Gorge trailhead (adding 5 km to your hike) and take the Skeleton Gorge trail down the south side of the mountain to Kirstenbosch National Botanic Garden . I’ve done both of these and can safely say they make for one hell of hike if you’re up for it!

Make sure you factor in plenty of time on the top to explore the summit trails to the Aerial Cableway Cafe and Maclear’s Beacon and take in the incredible views of Cape Town, the Cape of Good Hope, False Bay, and the Atlantic Ocean.

If you want to simplify things and maximize your time on Table Mountain, consider going with a guided tour. There are several highly rated guides and companies that run daily all-inclusive tours.

After a long and satisfying day on the mountain, take a taxi (or walk the 4 km) to stunning Camps Bay Beach for sunset, a sundowner, and dinner along Victoria Road – a perfect end to an eventful Day Two of your visit to Cape Town.

Central Business District (CBD)

It’s time to explore the CBD! Chances are, you’re probably staying close by. If not, pack a day pack, grab some breakfast, and walk or take a taxi to the Castle of Good Hope .

If you want a bit more structure in your life, you can also book one of our recommended walking tours which comes with the advantage of a knowledgable guide.

If doing it on your own, read on!

Castle of Good Hope

Our independent walking tour of the CBD begins at Cape Town’s iconic pentagonal bastion fort built by the Dutch East India Company in the 17th century. It offers guided tours through most of the structure which has served as a fortress, prison, and now, museum.

District Six Museum

A short walk southwest of the Castle of Good Hope is the award-winning District Six Museum, which is a worthwhile companion to a visit to Robben Island.

On one level, the museum is a memorial to a once vibrant and multi-ethnic Cape Town neighborhood of 60,000 residents that was leveled in the 1970s.

On a deeper level, it offers one of the best ways to get a sense of the everyday struggles of non-white South Africans living under Apartheid.

South African National Gallery

Heading farther west, it’s high time for a dose of South African art! The Iziko South African National Gallery is the country’s national art gallery housing both contemporary South African works and Dutch, French, and English works from the 17th to 19th century.

The Company’s Garden

Take a few steps north or west of the National Gallery and you’ll run into this sprawling park, perfect for a relaxing stroll or a break from walking.

While you’re here, you can check out the various heritage memorials or take a load off in the shade of a tree and rest up for the next leg of our walking tour. From this point, it’s two short blocks over to Long Street , which offers numerous good eateries where you can grab lunch.

Green Market Square

From the Company’s Garden or Long Street, head northeast 3-6 blocks to Green Market Square. This is the place to peruse artwork and handicrafts from local artists and stock up on gifts and souvenirs.

Green Market Square is also the heart of the city’s financial center. While there aren’t a ton of landmarks here, it pays to take a stroll around to get a sense of today’s City Center.

Bo-Kaap Neighborhood

A ten minute walk west of Green Market Square gets us to Cape Town’s most brightly colored (and most photographed) neighborhood.

Once home to the city’s highest concentration of Malay-Muslim residents, gentrification has significantly altered the fabric of this vibrant area of town.

The Bo-Kaap Museum on Wale Street offers good insight into the neighborhood’s past, present, and future.

Still, we found that exploring the neighborhood on foot and interacting with residents was equally if not more insightful.

Long Street Pub Street

After a long day of sightseeing across the CBD and beyond, it’s time let our hair down. And there may be no better place in Cape Town than Long Street. Long Street may be best known as Cape Town’s backpacker and pub street and has become an essential stop on any Cape Town itinerary.

If that’s not your scene (it’s not really ours these days), Long Street is still the best place in town for happy hour drink deals, people watching, and grabbing a sidewalk table at any number of excellent eateries.

Day Trip by Train to Simon’s Town

And now for something completely different. It’s Day Four of our one week Cape Town itinerary and we’re getting out of town!

Located 30 km south of central Cape Town on False Bay, Simon’s Town is a supremely picturesque seaside community established in 1680, boasting superb sea views and early 1900s Dutch architecture. Come to explore Simon’s Town, and stay for…penguins!

Starting in Cape Town, grab some breakfast, then get yourself to Cape Town Station on the northeast edge of the Central Business District (CBD).

Get a return rail ticket for “Simonstown,” which is the last stop on the Southern Line. Trains leave about every 40 minutes or so ( view timetables for your exact travel date here ).

Alternatively, there are a number of excellent tour packages from Cape Town to Simonstown that include guided tours of the Boulders Beach Penguin Colony (see below). Highly recommended for travelers who want to make the most of their time, especially those traveling with children .

In addition to exploring the historic waterfront district of Simon’s Town, you may also want to consider a walk up the ridge behind town to pay your respects at the Grave of Able Seaman Just Nuisance .

Visiting the grave of a dog might not justify climbing the 300+ steps to get here, but the breathtaking view at the top most certainly will!

Boulders Beach Penguin Colony

After retracing your steps back down to the water, grab a bite to eat and make your way to Boulders Beach at the southeast edge of town to see some penguins!

Boulders Beach is home to around 3,000 African penguins, which first setup shop on these shores in 1985. Though the colony is very close to the residential and commercial center of Simon’s Town, the penguins are both wild and endangered. So enjoy the view, but definitely keep your distance.

Penguin viewing platforms can be accessed on the northern side at Foxy Beach and Strandbad on the southern end.

Woodstock & Neighbourgoods Market

On our fifth and final full sightseeing day of in Cape Town, we’re going local, with a short trip out to the Woodstock neighborhood for a little taste of the hipster side of the city.

If time in Cape Town includes a  Saturday , then you should check out Neighbourgoods Market , open Saturdays from 9am to 3pm, rain or shine. Housed in the Old Biscuit Mill warehouse, Neighbourgoods features fresh specialty foods by local vendors and growers.

While in Woodstock, peruse the funky and eclectic mix of shops while strolling along Albert Road. If you’re hankering for craft beer and spirits, or specialty coffee and teas, then this is the place!

TBD Afternoon

We always like to build in a To-Be-Determined afternoon on our last full day when visiting just about anywhere.

This gives us the opportunity to visit anything we feel like we missed, revisit favorite attractions, make last-minute gift and souvenir stops, or finalize arrangements for onward travel, and is a great way to wrap up one-week in Cape Town.

Cape Town has no shortage of excellent accommodation for all budgets and tastes.

Budget If you’re traveling on a shoestring or simply want to be in the heart of the action, check out stays along Long Street . V&A Waterfront is also worth considering for budget options as well.

Upmarket If you’re looking for a comfortable stay with a good number of amenities, Central Business District (CBD) , Bo-Kaap and Camps Bay should be at the top of your list.

Low-Key Ifyou’re looking for a more laid back vibe and don’t mind being outside of town, check out stays in Simonstown and the Cape Winelands .

Cape Town (along with much of South Africa) often gets a bad rap in terms of crime and safety. While the hard realities of living in many communities throughout the region can’t be overstated, the threat to short-term leisure travelers frequently is.

In addition to Lori and me, we’ve personally known dozens of people who have visited Cape Town and every one of them walked away with a very positive experience.

With that said, do be mindful of the extreme social inequities that exist here and be modest and respectful with regards to your personal belongings.

Like anywhere, stick to the well-trodden areas, avoid finding yourself out alone late at night, keep your wits about you, and you’ll very likely have a great experience as well.

Be prepared, use common sense, and travel safe!

5 thoughts on “The Perfect Cape Town Itinerary for 5 to 7 Days (2024)”

Great food for thought. I was hoping to work in an overnight safari within a 3 hour drive. Is that impractical? Any recommendations?

Hmm. Good question, Steve. I’d take a look at Aquila (~2.5 hrs from Cape Town) and Sambona (~3.5 hrs). Now whether it’s impractical I think depends on how much you’re itching to do a safari and your other time commitments on both ends 🙂 If you’ve got the time and the willingness, I’d say go for it!

What amazing content! Thanks to share this helpful post.

I would be fascinated to watch the penguins and take a long, challenging hike!

Bo-Kaap photos have given me some ideas for upcoming exterior house painting project! Great photography and narrative.

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How much does it cost to visit South Africa? 10-night budget breakdown

Posted on Last updated: November 17, 2023

Its wildlife, wine and beautiful landscapes make it a real wish-list destination. But how much does it cost to visit South Africa? This budget breaks down the costs of 10 nights in the Cape and Kruger.

* This site contains affiliate links , where I get a small commission from purchases at no extra cost to you.

South Africa had been on my wishlist for longer than anywhere else in the world. It’s got a bit of everything – wildlife, beaches, mountains, wine regions. The only downside is the long journey from the UK. But if you can find a good flight deal, the value of the rand (with 100 rand getting you £4.80/$5.50/€5.60) makes it an affordable place to visit.

But how much does it really cost to visit South Africa? Here’s my budget breakdown for a 10-night trip to Cape Town, the Kruger and Johannesburg, breaking down the costs for accommodation, transport, activities and food to help you plan your own trip.

Note: these costs are based on my mid-range travel style – keeping costs down where I can to splash out on special experiences. This post was first published in 2018 but prices have been updated where possible to costs as of October 2023.

What does accommodation in South Africa cost?

Accommodation in South Africa is generally fairly reasonable, though hotels in Cape Town can be quite expensive, coming in at an average of 3000 ZAR (£146/$166/€170) a night for a double room in a four- or three-star hotel in a central location.

Since we knew the safari would be a big blow-out, we tried to keep costs down in Cape Town to balance things out. Apartment rental is generally much better value than a hotel, so we chose a one-bedroom apartment in Oranjezicht, at the foot of Table Mountain.

It was secure and quiet, with a full kitchen so we could save money by cooking some meals, access to a swimming pool and terrace, and the friendly owners gave us lots of Cape Town tips. It cost 5730 ZAR (£280/$317/€324) for two people for five nights in November (including the AirBnB fees), which works out at £56/$63/€65 per night.

The trip’s biggest expense was always going to be the safari. There are lots of different options for a South African safari – from £1000-a-night luxury lodges to budget campsites. For my first safari I wanted to try the classic game lodge experience, so we chose Naledi Game Lodge in the private Balule Game Reserve on the edge of Kruger National Park.

There’s a huge choice of safari lodges in the Kruger area so it’s always going to be a bit of a punt choosing one over the others. But Naledi had (justifiably) amazing reviews and a not-too-eye-watering price tag. We stayed in the Marula Suite in the Bush Camp, which has two bedrooms with a private deck, en-suite bathroom and air conditioning.

At a cost of 30,780 ZAR (£1502/$1704/€1742) for three nights it’s the most expensive place I’ve ever stayed at, working out at £501/$567/€581 per night for two people. But the price does include all meals (excluding drinks), game drives and other activities.

We also spent one night sleeping on the Premier Classe overnight train between Cape Town and Johannesburg, which is included in transport costs below.

And we spent our final night in Johannesburg at the African Pride Melrose Arch * hotel, which cost 2460 ZAR (£120/$136/€139. As we didn’t have much time in Johannesburg and we flying out the next evening, we picked somewhere which was easy to get to, had places to eat nearby and a pool to chill out by before we headed home.

Accommodation total: £951/$1079/€1103 per person – £95/$108/€110 a night each.

How much is transport in South Africa?

Central Cape Town is easy to get around on foot so we did a lot of walking, although we did take a taxi from the airport to our apartment in Oranjezicht which cost 300 ZAR (£15/$17/€17). We also took a couple of trips using Ubers. Uber is really cheap in Cape Town, so three short rides around the city only cost 145 ZAR (£7/$8/€8) in total.

We also used the sightseeing bus (included under activities) to reach some of the places a bit further out, like the beach suburbs and Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens.

We hired a car for one day in Cape Town to do a road trip down the Cape Peninsula to Muizenberg and Boulders Beach . This was only booked the night before by searching for the closest car rental office which had the lowest prices. That ended up being Europcar, where a day’s car hire and petrol cost us 465 ZAR (£23/$26/€26).

We also hired a car for five days from Johannesburg to get us to and from the game reserve – picked up and returned to the airport. This was pre-booked in advance with Sixt before we left home and cost 1450 ZAR (£71/$80/€82. It cost another 1400 ZAR (£68/$78/€79 for petrol and road tolls (we covered 1000km/620 miles altogether).

To travel from Cape Town to Johannesburg we took the Premier Classe , a budget-luxury overnight train trip which cost 3120 ZAR (£152/$171/€177), including all meals on board. The Premier Classe has been suspended since 2020 and it’s not sure when services will restart, but a flight from Cape Town to Johannesburg costs around £65/€74/€76.

And finally, we took the Gautrain to Johannesburg airport from the train station to collect our hire car, which costs 191 ZAR (£9/$11/€11) per person one way.

Transport total (excl flights): £253/$287/€294 per person – £25/$29/€29 a night each.

What’s the price of activities in South Africa?

Most of the things we did in Cape Town were free – walking along the coast, listening to music at the V&A Waterfront, lazing in parks, visiting free museums.

We did pay for a one-day ticket for the sightseeing bus for 275 ZAR (£13/$15/€16) which we used to travel down the coast to Camps Bay and get to the Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, where entry costs 210 ZAR (£10/$12/€12). The only other thing we paid for entry to in Cape Town was the Bo-Kaap Museum at 20 ZAR (£1/$1/€1).

Because the weather was really windy when we were in Cape Town, we couldn’t do two of the city’s biggest attractions – the Table Mountain Aerial Cableway (395 ZAR/£19/$22/€22 for a return trip) and the boat trip to Robben Island (600 ZAR/£29/$33/€34). But we would’ve done them both if we could, so I’ve added them to the budget totals.

We also took a couple of day trips from Cape Town. The first was a private wine tour to Stellenbosch and Franschhoek for 1650 ZAR (£80/$91/€93). It included visits to four wineries, and was well worth the cost for the amount of tasting samples.

The second was a self-guided road trip to Cape Point via Muizenberg (free), Boulders Beach to see the penguins (160 ZAR/£8/$9/€9 per person), Cape Point (360 ZAR/£17/$20/€20 per person) and Chapman’s Peak Drive (a toll road costing 57 ZAR/£3/$3/€3 per car).

All activities at the game lodge were included in the price, with twice-daily game drives plus an afternoon walk or trip to a hide. Tips are extra though – articles I read say you should tip 200–250 ZAR per day to your guide, 100–150 ZAR to your tracker and lodge staff.

We ended up tipping 1200 ZAR (£58/$66/€68) in total (mainly based on how much cash we had left on us at the time – remember to stock up). And finally we took another sightseeing bus for a quick tour of Johannesburg on our last day (275 ZAR/£13/$15/€16).

Activities total: £221/$253/€259 per person – £22/$25/€26 a night each .

What does food and drink cost in South Africa?

Food and drink – especially local wine – is really good value in South Africa, and we had some great, inexpensive meals. In Cape Town we tried to keep to a budget so we mixed up making our own breakfasts and dinners with eating out at lunchtime.

We did a couple of food shops at Woolworths and a local wine store, which came to a total of 1150 ZAR (£59/$64/€65). And we ate out at the Company’s Gardens café (245 ZAR/£12/$14/€14) and the V&A Waterfront food market (180 ZAR/£9/$10/€10).

We also went out for cocktails in Camps Bay and Sea Point (358 ZAR/£17/$20/€20). And on the days we were out of the city, we bought lunch at Lust Bistro during our wine tour (260 ZAR/£17/$20/€20) and had lunch at the (now closed) Two Oceans restaurant at Cape Point (560 ZAR/£27/$31/€32) on our Cape Peninsula road trip.

All our food was included on board the Premier Classe train and at the game lodge, but drinks were extra. We paid a bargain 180 ZAR (£9/$10/€10) for two bottles of wine on the train, and 560 ZAR (£27/$31/€32) for drinks over three nights at Naledi Bushcamp.

Finally, we had a room service dinner in our hotel in Johannesburg as we arrived there late at night (498 ZAR/£24/$28/€28). And we had lunch and drinks at a restaurant in Johannesburg before flying home (457 ZAR/£22/$25/€26).

Food and drink total: £112/$127/€129 per person – £11/$13/€13 a night each.

The grand total

So how much does it cost to visit South Africa? The overall cost for our 10-night South Africa trip came in at £1537/$1746/€1785 per person , excluding flights (which were around £500 return from the UK). This works out at £154/$175/€179 per person per night.

A safari’s such a bucket list trip it’s worth splashing out on and South Africa’s affordability means you can save on other things so the overall budget doesn’t get too out of control. I loved it and would definitely go back and explore more of the country.

Lower budget? The easiest way to save money would be to cut safari costs by staying in a SANParks lodge or camp. They’re state-owned so are more no-frills, but the locations are fantastic and you can either drive yourself around the park or join their ranger tours. You could also cook more and cut out pricier activities like the wine tour or Robben Island.

Higher budget? If you want to splash out, Cape Town has gorgeous beachside hotels *, as well as high-end restaurants and activities like helicopter trips over the city. You could also do a longer safari, stay in a luxury lodge, or do a fly-safari to multiple locations.

Looking for somewhere to stay in South Africa?*

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Visiting Cape Town on a budget

Cape Town to Johannesburg by train: On board the budget-luxury Premier Classe train

A day in the life of a safari at Naledi Game Lodge, South Africa

Saturday 22nd of January 2022

In the USA, I feel totally comfortably driving wherever via GPS; however, I am leery to do so in a foreign country and have heard many horror stories. How safe did you feel commuting to all of these places in a rental car via GPS, driving on the opposite side of the vehicle and road, being stopped often at borders, etc.? We would be traveling two women (myself and mother) with two teens.

Lucy Dodsworth

Tuesday 25th of January 2022

Hi Ashleigh, we were cautious driving to Kruger as had heard about accidents, but the road quality was patchy so were naturally going quite slow. No problems though at toll booths etc and the GPS worked well. Though worth noting that in South Africa they drive on the left the same as the UK so that wasn't an issue. If you don't want to drive and are staying at a game lodge they'll often provide pick ups from the nearest airport or Johannesburg, though it's more expensive than driving.

Anjali Chawla

Thursday 24th of September 2020

Hey Lucy, South Africa seems to be much more affordable than I thought. Thanks for the practical tips! If everything goes as planned, we'll be traveling to South Africa next year in May.

Monday 28th of September 2020

Fingers crossed for you, I loved my trip to South Africa and hope to get back there someday!

Rene dussault

Sunday 28th of July 2019

We are planning our 30th wedding anniversary next he and my 70th birthday. This sounds very affordable thank j's for providing such detail

Tuesday 30th of July 2019

You're welcome – and hope you have a wonderful trip!

Thursday 25th of April 2019

Hi lucy, I am planning trip to arrive SA to jehannesburg and return from cape town. What would you recomand first safari... Can you suggest me a budget safari plan and post safari i am planning to follow the cape town visit.

Saturday 27th of April 2019

ANIKET one of my favorte spots in the world is Ngwenya Lodge right on the south of the Kruger National Park. If you have any timeshare it may be quite affordable. Pretty accessible from major roads / airports. Be sure to get a river view lodge! The beauty of the lodge is that it opens up on a 180° vista of the Crocodile River looking north. There is no boundary between the lodge and the wildlife. You can spend the morning / day just watching from your porch. We've seen a leopard take an Impala from there, Lion, Elephant, Buffalo... If you want to drive into the park the Crocodile Bridge gate is about 20 minutes away. Be sure to get everyone in your crew a decent pair of binoculars.

Friday 26th of April 2019

Hi, the cheapest way to do a safari is to stay in one of the SANParks lodges or camps at the Kruger – the accommodation is simple but reasonable and the locations are great. If you have a hire car you can drive yourself around the park or there are ranger-guided tours you can take part in too.

Monday 14th of January 2019

We always heard October was the time to go. We went mid-end October. Out of the 15 days there; from Capetown, to the Winery Region; we had one night/early AM of heavy rain and Thunderstorms in Entabeni. Our entire hotel was surrounded by Wildebeests. And what a treat it was to see them act in such uniform of the storm. Facing East...then West...then South....ending North.....until the storm ended. Magnificent to watch!!!! For what it's worth since I originally questioned how much Rand to bring. We brought 3000 Rand; and we could've used a little more if we wanted to. So much to buy.......I Loved South Africa so much. We were there for a week; then up to Victoria Falls then to Zimbabwe. Beautiful! Beautiful! Beautiful~!

Thursday 17th of January 2019

Sounds like you had a wonderful trip! It's such a great country, I hope to get back to see some more someday.

Your Ultimate Guide to Cape Town

Start Planning Your Next Cape Town Trip

From beautiful beaches to activities for all ages, the city is packed with hidden gems.

This is your ultimate guide to Cape Town travel.

Find your perfect stay, whether it’s in a cosy budget hotel or an opulent luxury resort. But, that’s not all.

Guess what, foodies? The city is known for its delectable dishes and wine culture. You can enjoy the option of experiencing world-class, award-winning chefs or opt for locally-made, affordable cuisine.

Cape Town is a playground for all – whether you’re a solo traveler, planning a family adventure, or a romantic escape.

The city pulses with activity and diverse local cultures; so, be prepared for the trip of a lifetime.

Your 2024 Cape Town Travel Guide

Cape town planning: essential must reads.

• Where to Stay
• When to Visit
• How To Get To Cape Town
• Airport Guide
• Car Rentals
• Cape Town With Kids

Explore the Best Cape Town Hotels

• Hotels With Private Pools
• Hotels With Sunset Views
• Best Cheap Hotels
• Best Beach Hotels
• Best Luxury Hotels
• Best Boutique Hotels
• Best Villas & Rentals
• Best Hotels for Families
• Best Honeymoon Hotels
• Hotels With Mountain Views
• All-Inclusive Hotels
• Waterfront Hotels
• Camps Bay Hotels
• Sea Point Hotels
• Stellenbosch Hotels
• City Hotels
• Airbnb’s in Cape Town
• Cape Town Hotel Reviews
• Best Hotels in Cape Town

Activities in Cape Town: Don't Miss Out

• Best Beaches
• Best Tours & Things to Do ( coming soon )
• Best Restaurants in Cape Town ( coming soon )
• Best Bars & Nightlife ( coming soon )
• Wineries & Wine Tours ( coming soon )
• Safaris ( coming soon )

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is cape town.

Cape Town, fondly known as the Mother City, lies at the southwestern tip of South Africa, bordered by the Indian and Atlantic Oceans.

This breathtaking city is approximately 1400 km (870 miles) from Johannesburg. It’s easily reachable through Cape Town International Airport, named Africa’s best airport for 9 years running. ¹

Nestled under a bowl of mountains, including the famous Table Mountain, this scenic city uniquely combines natural splendour with urban allure, marking it as a distinctive spot on the African continent and the ideal spot for travelers.

🕮 Essential Airport Guide

How Do I Get to Cape Town?

You can get to Cape Town through land, air, and sea.

It’s a seamless experience, especially for visitors from the UK and USA.

UK adventurers can access direct overnight flights on British Airways ² or Virgin Atlantic ³ from London. It’s a swift 12-hour journey to Cape Town International Airport.

For those from the USA, direct connections from Atlanta, Washington D.C., and New York make it easy to get to the Mother City.

Upon arrival, there are easily accessible taxis, Ubers, ⁴ shuttles or car rentals, usually at all hours.

Do you have an adventurous spirit?

If you’re sailing around the world, Cape Town has the V&A Marina for private yachts ⁵ or you can fly to another part of South Africa and drive a rental car to the city.

🕮 How to Get to Cape Town With Ease

How Big is Cape Town?

Cape Town covers roughly 2,445 square km (943 square miles).

It’s comparable in size to cities like Birmingham in the UK or Dallas in the USA.

It ranks as the country’s second-largest city, trailing only behind Johannesburg.

Its highway, MyCiTi bus routes, ⁶ and train systems make it easy to commute to different parts of the city.

The South African metropolis is not just expansive geographically, but also diverse in its population.

Home to a population of approximately 4.6 million people, Cape Town is a melting pot of cultures, languages, and traditions.

This diversity is reflected in the city’s vibrant neighbourhoods, each offering unique experiences.

🕮 Get to Know: Cape Town Maps

What Is the Best Month to Go to Cape Town?

The best time to visit depends on your preferences and the type of trip you’re looking for.

Cape Town enjoys a Mediterranean climate, characterised by mild, wet winters and warm, dry summers.

For beach enthusiasts and those seeking sunny, warm weather, the summer months from December to February are ideal. You can expect temperatures between 25°C (77°F) – 30°C (86°F), but it does get hotter.

However, be prepared

Cape Town’s strong southeasterly wind is particularly prominent in these months, but this doesn’t deter beach goers.

If you prefer cooler, more temperate weather, the shoulder seasons of March to May and September to November are excellent times to travel.

The winter season, from June to August, tends to be rainy, but also offers lush and green landscape.

This season is perfect for whale watching and enjoying the less crowded city. Plus, you could benefit from off-season prices.

Overall, Cape Town’s diverse climate makes it a great year-round destination, each season offering a unique charm.

🕮 Top Tips: When to Visit Cape Town

What Are the Most Popular Areas in Cape Town?

Cape Town boasts several popular areas, including the City Bowl, the V&A Waterfront, and the Atlantic Seaboard, each offering diverse experiences.

Take a look at these popular neighbourhoods:

• The City Bowl , the vibrant heart of the Mother City, combines historic sites with a dynamic array of restaurants and activities. It’s a place where history meets modernity in a lively setting.
• The V&A Waterfront is a bustling hub ideal for shopping, entertainment, and dining. Suitable for all ages, expect stunning views of the ocean and Table Mountain, making it a must-visit destination.
• Beach lovers are drawn to Camps Bay and Clifton , celebrated for their exquisite shores and stylish beachfront eateries. These areas are the epitome of glamour and relaxation.
• For those eager to immerse themselves in local culture and cuisine, the colourful streets of Bo-Kaap are not to be missed. This area is a kaleidoscope of culture, offering a unique glimpse into the city’s heritage.
• Wine aficionados will find their paradise in Constantia or Stellenbosch , renowned for world-class vineyards and gourmet dining experiences.
• The West Coast, especially Bloubergstrand , is famous for its coastal bars where one can enjoy a drink against the backdrop of Table Mountain and Robben Island.

Each area in Cape Town has its unique charm. Whether you’re single, part of a couple, or with a family, you’ll find the perfect spot to suit your preferences.

🕮 18 Best Areas in Cape Town for Travelers

Do I Need a Car in Cape Town?

You don’t need a car in Cape Town, but it is the most convenient way to get around. If you want to stick to the city centre, Waterfront, and Camps Bay, Uber and Bolt make it easy to get around. You can also use the train (not the most reliable) or bus system when travelling to some further destinations

If you want to venture further, perhaps the Cape Winelands or scenic Cape Peninsula, renting a car becomes much more practical. It offers the freedom to explore at your leisure and access locations that are off the typical tourist path.

It’s worth noting that South Africa, much like the UK, follows left-hand side driving.

🕮 Best Cape Town Car Rentals

Where Should I Stay in Cape Town?

Consider one of these popular destinations to stay in Cape Town:

• V&A Waterfront : The ideal for those looking for a vibrant and bustling atmosphere with plenty of shops, restaurants, and entertainment. The ideal location for first-time visitors.
• Camps Bay : A favourite for beach lovers, featuring trendy bars, upscale restaurants, and stunning sea views.
• Constantia : A tranquil, upmarket, and scenic stay, renowned for beautiful vineyards, luxurious accommodations, and a close connection to nature.
• Sea Point and Green Point : Neighbouring areas, great for travelers seeking a lively local atmosphere, with numerous cafes, parks, and an oceanfront walking path.
• Franschhoek : Known for its unique history, exquisite wine estates, top-tier restaurants, and picturesque scenery. It’s a must-visit for those interested in the gastronomic and vinicultural delights of the Cape Winelands.

🕮 Best hotels in Cape Town for 2024

What Are the Best Things to Do in Cape Town?

The best things to do in Cape Town include beautiful beaches, hikes through exquisite landscapes, historical sites, and the enjoyment of scenic tours.

• A Cable Car Ride Up Table Mountain: Picture breathtaking views of the city and its surroundings from the top of an iconic landmark. More adventurous visitors may want to hike up and/or down.
• Historical Exploration: Delve into the city’s rich cultural heritage. With an abundance of historical sites to consider, we highlight the District 6 Museum, ⁷ the Castle of Good Hope, and the poignant Robben Island.
• Beach Relaxation and Water Sports: Enjoy sun, sea, and sand by visiting the city’s abundance of popular and hidden beaches. Notable mentions are Muizenberg’s surfer’s paradise and Boulders Beach, the place for swimming with penguins. Don’t get too close; the cute little buggers can bite!
• Wine Tasting and Vineyard Tours: With hints of raspberries or undernotes of coffee, wine connoisseurs will love the Cape’s rich grape heritage and unique wine flavours. Explore the renowned vineyards and tasting rooms of the Cape Winelands, with something to suit all budgets.
• Botanical Beauty: Discover lush landscapes and native flora at the Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden.
• Shopping and Dining: Don’t miss the vibrant atmosphere of the V&A Waterfront. Picture an array of indoor and outdoor shops, attractions, museums, restaurants, and scenic boat trips. Ready for a mall crawl? Canal Walk houses a massive range of local and international stores.
• Red Bus Tour: Hop on the iconic red bus for a sightseeing tour that takes you to some of Cape Town’s most significant landmarks and attractions. A must for first-time travelers.

🕮 Your Ultimate Guide to the Best Things & Tours to Do in Cape Town

Is Cape Town Safe?

Cape Town is safe enough to visit but one must always stay cautious and alert.

While crime does occur, as in any large city, visitors who stick to popular and well-trafficked areas are less likely to encounter issues.

• Maintain awareness of your surroundings, especially when in the city after dark.
• Exercise caution and avoid isolated areas at night.
• Secure your belongings and use trusted transportation options.

Most visitors enjoy their stay without any problems by following these basic safety precautions and staying informed about the areas they plan to visit.

Cape Town’s popular areas are generally well-monitored and secure , allowing you to explore and enjoy the city’s rich offerings with peace of mind.

How Many Days Should I Spend in Cape Town?

To make the most of your time in Cape Town, we recommend a minimum of 3 to 4 days.

You’ll want to explore iconic attractions like Table Mountain, the V&A Waterfront, and the stunning beaches.

For those wanting to delve deeper into Cape Town’s charm, including day trips to the Cape Winelands and the Cape Peninsula, as well as a visit to Robben Island, planning a 5 to 7-day trip is ideal. 

There’s so much to do!

Many visitors opt to combine their Cape Town experience with a safari in Kruger National Park, an iconic South African experience.

However, the Kruger is on the opposite side of the country, necessitating either a flight or a long drive.

If you want Safari near Cape Town, check out Aquila Private Game Reserve. ⁸

Additionally, the scenic Garden Route is a fantastic option for those with extra time. 

What Currency Is Used in Cape Town?

In Cape Town, the official currency is the South African Rand (ZAR).

US Dollars, British Pounds, and other foreign currencies aren’t accepted for direct transactions in shops, restaurants, and most other establishments.

Credit and debit cards, and payments via cellphone or QR codes should work, especially in popular areas. 

There are ATMs all around the city and currency exchange facilities at the airport, major banks, and designated bureaus.

Don’t forget to check the latest exchange rates before your trip

Is Cape Town Expensive?

Visitors with foreign currency will usually find Cape Town to be inexpensive .

However, the cost of your trip will depend on the level of luxury you desire.

Cape Town caters to lower and higher income travelers.

Dining out in Cape Town is notably affordable and the city is renowned for high-quality, fresh culinary experiences.

For an average meal including drinks for 2 at a mid-range restaurant, expect to pay around $30-$40 (approximately £20-£30).

Enjoy a range of activities, from exploring local markets to fine dining, without breaking the bank.

🕮 Best Restaurants in Cape Town

• Best hotels in Cape Town
• Best beaches in Cape Town
• Where to stay in Cape Town
• Cape Town Airport Guide

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Your Cape Town Vacation

The spectacular views and cosmopolitan vibe are just the beginning of the things Cape Town has on offer. Enjoy the sights and sounds of this interesting city the way you want with a personalized Cape Town vacation package. If your trip to Cape Town includes a little sightseeing, hit up major attractions such as Table Mountain , Cape Town Stadium and Two Oceans Aquarium . Your ultimate Cape Town vacation is clicks away. Explore accommodations, flights and more on Expedia for a getaway that's tailored just for you.

The Latest Cape Town Vacation Packages

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Where to stay in Cape Town

Victoria and Alfred Waterfront

Explore the oldest working harbour in the Southern Hemisphere, offering shopping, dining, and attractions like Battery Park, the 1882 clock tower, and Zeitz MOCAA contemporary art museum.

Affluent suburb with a picturesque bay, Camps Bay offers a variety of beaches, including the popular Camps Bay Beach and Glen Beach for surfing. Explore the open-air curio market at Koeël Bay and enjoy picnics at Oudekraal, all near hotels, restaurants, and shops.

Cape Town City Centre

Known for its majestic mountain landscape and popular shops, there's plenty to explore in Cape Town City Centre. Check out top attractions like District Six Museum and Cape Town City Hall, and jump on the metro at Woodstock Station or Esplanade Station to see more of the city.

Bring the kids to the playgrounds and cafés in this dynamic, rejuvenated coastal area in the shadow of a mossy mountain.

Green Point

Travelers like the cocktail bars in Green Point, and Greenpoint Market is a top attraction you might want to visit.

Cape Town Beach Vacation

If you're planning to escape the city crowds, a Cape Town vacation is just what you've been waiting for. There's no lack of beautiful coastal views to take in during a trip to Cape Town. Those who enjoy being near the water are likely to be familiar with Boulders Beach (19 miles (30 km) away) and will probably prefer to stay nearby. But don't worry if the surrounding accommodations are full. A lot of visitors to the area also book Cape Town vacation packages around Camps Bay Beach and Bloubergstrand Beach.

Things You Should Know About Cape Town

• Choosing a hotel close to the water means picture-perfect vistas and relaxing walks along the shoreline at dusk. Cast your eye over our Cape Town beach hotels and see what's available.
• Apartments are also popular with many travelers to the area. La Pergola and Collection Luxury Apartments are great examples of what you can expect from this type of accommodation.
• Alternatively, let one of our All-Inclusive hotels in Cape Town look after all the nitty-gritty details. That means more time for you to zero in on the important task of kicking back and enjoying yourself.
• Cape Town, population 3,433,400, is a wonderful place to visit for countless reasons. Get a few sightseeing tips on our Cape Town things to do page .
• Save a bundle on wonderful experiences with our Cape Town vacation deals. Visit Table Mountain, as well as other big sights, with the dollars left over in your pocket.

Cape Town Essential Information

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Frequently asked questions, discover the most popular places to visit in cape town, table mountain.

One of the world’s oldest mountains creates an iconic backdrop to the Cape Town skyline. Climb to the summit for breathtaking views of the surrounding coast.

Camps Bay Beach

See and be seen, admire beautiful sunsets and go hiking in the famous Twelve Apostles at one of Cape Town’s most stylish beaches.

Boulders Beach

Get a privileged close-up view of an African penguin colony among the spectacular rock formations at this beach that also offers excellent swimming conditions.

What to do in Cape Town

Cape town: half-day city tour, aquila safari game drive, lunch & shared transfers from cape town, cape town: lion's head sunrise or sunset hike, other vacations you might like.

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30+ Best Things to Do in Cape Town, South Africa (2024)

W elcome to your go-to guide to Cape Town, a city that promises diverse and unforgettable experiences for every traveler. Whether you’re planning to explore the majestic Table Mountain or indulge in the renowned Cape Winelands, this guide has got you covered, complete with travel tips and accommodation advice. There is no shortage of fun things to do as you see the Cape. 

Situated in South Africa’s Western Cape, where the Atlantic Ocean meets the coast, Cape Town is a unique blend of cultures and cuisines, offering a vibrant scene that attracts culinary enthusiasts worldwide.

It’s not just a haven for food lovers with some of the best restaurants; its picturesque landscapes make it a paradise for adventurers and a budding hotspot for digital nomads, thanks to its thriving café culture and co-working spaces.

Cape Town is an incredible city and has been a dream destination for so many. Now, we invite you to explore the top 30 experiences that make Cape Town a city that enchants every visitor.

So, let’s dive in and uncover the magic that makes Cape Town a must-visit, continually captivating the hearts of travelers worldwide.​​

Need a perfect 5-day Cape Town Itinerary? Check out my post here!

Top Attractions in Cape Town

Cape Town is a blend of stunning landscapes and vibrant cultural attractions. Situated between the magnificent Table Mountain and the azure Atlantic Ocean, it offers a harmonious blend of natural splendor and urban charm.

Essential stops include the Table Mountain National Park, where a cable car ride unveils panoramic views, and the bustling V&A Waterfront, a shopping, dining, and entertainment hub.

The historic Robben Island, where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned, is a significant marker of South Africa’s history. At the foot of Table Mountain, Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens provides a serene retreat amidst lush greenery. For beach enthusiasts, Clifton and Camps Bay offer pristine sands and a vibrant beach culture.

Cape Town Travel Guide

Embarking on a Cape Town adventure necessitates thoughtful planning to enjoy its diverse experiences fully. From the vibrant streets of Bo-Kaap to bustling markets showcasing local crafts and cuisines, there’s something for everyone.

Depending on the season, the city offers varied attractions; summer is ideal for beach outings and vibrant nightlife, while winter presents opportunities for whale watching and exploring the Winelands.

Transportation options, including Ubers, rental cars, and public buses, facilitate easy exploration of the city’s gems. Accommodation varies, from luxurious resorts to budget-friendly hostels catering to diverse travelers.

Popular Cities in Cape Town

Surrounding Cape Town are smaller cities and suburbs, each offering unique attractions. 

Stellenbosch, in the heart of the Cape Winelands, is a paradise for wine lovers, boasting numerous vineyards and wine-tasting tours.

Simon’s Town, home to the South African Navy, combines beautiful landscapes with historic attractions, including the renowned Boulders Beach, inhabited by African Penguins. Nearby, Hermanus offers prime whale-watching between June and November.

Muizenberg, known for its colorful beach huts and surf spots, exudes a relaxed beach atmosphere. These neighboring cities enrich the Cape Town experience, offering a blend of cultural and natural adventures, making day trips a worthwhile addition to your itinerary.

Things to Do in Cape Town

1. summit table mountain.

Embarking on the journey to summit Table Mountain is akin to stepping into a living postcard. Dominating Cape Town’s skyline, this iconic landmark offers a thrilling adventure that promises breathtaking panoramic views at every turn of your ascent.

Whether you hike up its challenging trails or opt for the convenient cable car ride, reaching the top of Table Mountain is a rewarding experience.

As the sun sets, the mountain transforms into the perfect spot to gaze upon the vast ocean and the enchanting realms of the Western Cape. To enhance your experience, consider booking a private guide for a tailored adventure.

Pro Tip: Remember to pre-book your tickets to avoid the queues, especially during the high season from late November to February.

2. Hiking Table Mountain

For the spirited and resolute, hiking Table Mountain offers an exhilarating challenge that promises unparalleled rewards.

This adventure is not for the faint-hearted; it demands a moderate to advanced level of hiking proficiency, with over 4 hours to reach the summit and return.

Platteklip Gorge stands out among the popular routes, offering a 1.5 to 3-hour hike amidst breathtaking scenery. Other favored trails include the Skeleton Gorge and Nursery Ravine, guiding you through a 5-mile trek with a significant elevation gain of 2,100 ft.

Remember, safety comes first: never hike alone, and carry ample water to stay hydrated throughout your adventure.

3. Make Your Way Around the V&A Waterfront

Step into the vibrant world of the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, affectionately known as the V&A, a picturesque seaside neighborhood that embodies the spirit of Cape Town.

Here, every moment celebrates life, offering a delightful array of experiences that cater to every taste and preference. From indulging in gourmet cuisine to exploring quaint shops and engaging in lively social interactions, the V&A promises a well-spent day.

Take advantage of a spin on the iconic Cape Wheel, a giant Ferris wheel that offers stunning city views. Also, visit the Watershed, where local artisans showcase exquisite crafts and creations.

4. Explore the Colorful Bo-Kaap Neighborhood & Museum

Step into the vibrant heart of Cape Town as you explore the colorful Bo-Kaap neighborhood and museum. Wander through hilly streets adorned with houses that boast a riot of bright colors, a delightful sight that promises to uplift your spirits.

Despite its small size, this neighborhood is significant in history, being the birthplace of the Afrikaans language and a fascinating cultural crossroads.

As you stroll, feel the rich tapestry of cultures that have intertwined here over centuries, making it a living historical landmark. Don’t miss the museum, where you can delve deeper into the captivating stories that shaped this unique area.

5. Take in Chapman’s Peak Drive

Prepare yourself for a drive that promises a journey and an experience that’s etched in your memory forever.

Chapman’s Peak Drive, affectionately known as “Chappies,” offers a panoramic paradise with winding roads between the rocky coastline and cliffs.

As you navigate through the curves, each turn unveils a more breathtaking view than the last, making it a photographer’s dream. Remember to pull over at the viewpoints to soak in the majestic vistas of the Atlantic Ocean.

This drive promises a golden, unforgettable spectacle, whether at sunrise or sunset.

6. Stroll The Oceanside Sea Point Promenade

Begin your stroll at the vibrant Sea Point public pool, a popular starting point for locals and tourists alike. From here, make your way down to the picturesque coast, where the rhythmic sound of waves creates a soothing backdrop for your walk.

The promenade is a hive of activity frequented by joggers, bikers, and dog walkers, all soaking in the refreshing sea breeze.

If you’re in the mood for a bit of speed, you can rent bicycles or electric scooters available at various points, adding a dash of velocity to your coastal exploration. It’s the perfect way to immerse yourself in the vibrant local life while enjoying stunning ocean views.

7. Visit The Penguins at Boulders Beach

Embark on a delightful journey to Boulders Beach, near the quaint Simon’s Town. This pristine haven, part of the Table Mountain National Park Marine Protected Area, promises an enchanting encounter with the adorable African Penguins.

Always immaculately maintained, the beach offers a perfect backdrop to watch these charming creatures frolic in their natural habitat.

Visitors can enjoy an unobstructed view from the designated viewing point at Boulders Beach, accessible via three wheelchair-friendly boardwalks.

Pro Tip: While seeing these cute birds might be tempting, remember to maintain a safe distance to avoid their surprisingly sharp beaks.

8. Hike Lion’s Head For The Sunrise

Kickstart your day with an exhilarating hike up Lion’s Head to catch the sunrise, painting the sky with hues of gold and pink.

Sitting 670 meters above sea level, this popular trail is a favorite among families and couples, offering a moderate challenge and a chance to bond over the breathtaking landscape.

As you ascend, you’ll be greeted with unparalleled views of iconic beaches like Camps Bay and Sea Point, nestled below in all their morning glory.

Lion’s Head, a majestic peak standing proudly beside Table Mountain, offers a 360-degree panoramic spectacle that’s simply unforgettable.  

9. Hit Up a Few Markets

Cape Town is home to various farmers’ markets, each offering a unique blend of fresh produce, artisanal products, and vibrant culture. Here are some top-notch options you shouldn’t miss:

• Oranjezicht City Farm Market: Nestled beside the V&A Waterfront, this market is a haven for organic produce lovers. It operates every Saturday, offering a delightful range of fresh vegetables, fruits, and homemade goods.
• Neighbourgoods Market: Situated in the Old Biscuit Mill, this market is a hotspot for food enthusiasts every Saturday. From gourmet dishes to craft beers, it’s a place where culinary dreams come true.
• Earth Fair Market: With locations in Tokai (Wednesday and Saturday) and St Georges Mall (Thursday), this market is known for its wide array of quality products, including organic foods, baked goods, and more.
• The Blue Bird Garage Food and Goods Market: Located in Muizenberg, this Friday market is a great place to unwind with food stalls, craft beers, and live music.
• Cape Point Vineyards Community Market: If you find yourself in Noordhoek on a Thursday, this market offers a picturesque setting to enjoy a variety of gourmet food stalls complemented by the vineyard’s exquisite wines.

Each market has its unique vibe, offering a delightful glimpse into Cape Town’s vibrant community and food scene. Make sure to check them out for a taste of the local culture!

10. Head To The Beach

Cape Town, affectionately known as the Mother City, is a haven of picturesque beaches that beckon locals and tourists alike to immerse themselves in the city’s coastal charm.

Each beach, unique in its own right, offers a distinct experience, ranging from vibrant beachfront promenades to tranquil sunset spots.

Whether you’re seeking the bustling atmosphere of popular spots or the serene embrace of secluded bays, Cape Town’s beaches promise unforgettable moments. Let’s take a virtual tour to explore the pristine sands and azure waters that await you.

Camps Bay Beach

• Vibe: Vibrant and bustling, a favorite among locals and tourists alike.
• Features: White sandy beaches with palm trees, backed by the majestic Twelve Apostles mountain range.
• Amenities: Many trendy cafes, restaurants, and bars along the beachfront promenade.
• Activities: Sunbathing, volleyball, and picnicking.
• Tip: Arrive early to secure a good spot, especially during summer.

Llandudno Beach

• Vibe: Tranquil and secluded, offering a more peaceful beach experience.
• Features: Nestled between granite boulders and surrounded by lush greenery, it’s a picturesque, relaxing setting.
• Amenities: Limited amenities, so bring along snacks and drinks.
• Activities: Surfing, sunbathing, and romantic sunset walks.
• Tip: The parking area is relatively small, so try to visit during off-peak hours.

Sunset Rock

• Vibe: Quiet and serene, a hidden gem for sunset enthusiasts.
• Features: Elevated rocky outcrops offering stunning views of the sun setting over the ocean.
• Amenities: None; it’s all about the natural beauty here.
• Activities: Photography, sunset viewing, and contemplative solitude.
• Tip: Bring a blanket and snacks to enjoy a peaceful sunset picnic.

Kloof’s Corner

• Vibe: Adventurous, a popular spot among hikers and nature enthusiasts.
• Features: A hiking trail that leads to a viewpoint offering breathtaking panoramic views of the coastline.
• Amenities: None. Be sure to bring water and snacks for the hike.
• Activities: Hiking, photography, and bird-watching.
• Tip: Start your hike early in the morning to avoid the afternoon heat.

Signal Hill

• Vibe: Relaxed and family-friendly, a popular spot for picnics and strolls.
• Features: Offers panoramic views of the city and the ocean, with well-maintained picnic spots.
• Amenities: Parking is available, with several benches and picnic spots.
• Activities: Picnicking, kite flying, and enjoying the view.
• Tip: It’s a popular spot for watching the Noon Gun, a historic time signal in Cape Town.

11. Taste Wines in Constantia

Imagine yourself wandering through the lush vineyards of Constantia, the birthplace of South Africa’s wine industry, with the majestic mountains embracing you in the backdrop.

Your companion on this journey? A glass of exquisite wine embodies centuries of viticulture heritage, adding a touch of elegance to your expedition.

This isn’t a mere day out but a voyage through time, witnessing the rich tapestry of wine-making traditions that have graced this region since the 1600s.

I highly recommend indulging in the legendary Vin de Constance, a golden nectar that narrates tales of royalty and grandeur with each sip. It’s not just a wine tasting but a rendezvous with history, promising an experience that’s nothing short of unforgettable.

12. Drive Along the Cape Peninsula

Set out on a picturesque adventure as you navigate the breathtaking landscapes of the Cape Peninsula. Renting a car is your ticket to freedom, allowing you to discover the region’s natural splendors at your own pace.

The journey promises encounters with craggy mountains, mesmerizing turquoise waters, and untouched white sand beaches. Don’t miss the vibrant atmosphere of Kalk Bay, the tranquil shores of Fish Hoek, and the historic charm of Simon’s Town. The Cape of Good Hope and Cape Point are both must-see destinations. These iconic landmarks offer breathtaking views, from the rugged cliffs and pristine beaches to the diverse wildlife and fascinating shipwreck stories.

Each stop offers a unique slice of the peninsula’s beauty, making for a day of unforgettable exploration and scenic wonders.

13. Paragliding From Lion’s Head or Signal Hill

For adrenaline junkies seeking the thrill of a lifetime, paragliding from Lion’s Head or Signal Hill is an unmissable experience in Cape Town.

Imagine soaring like a bird, with the majestic Table Mountain as your backdrop and the expansive blue sea stretching as far as the eye can see.

Whether you’re launching from the rugged peaks of Lion’s Head or the gentle slopes of Signal Hill, the rush of wind and the weightlessness will leave you exhilarated.

Guided by experienced instructors, this adventure promises safety alongside heart-pounding excitement, making for an unforgettable sky-high journey over the city’s iconic landscapes.

14. Go on a Safari Game Drive

Embark on the adventure of a lifetime with a safari drive in the heart of South Africa’s mesmerizing landscapes.

Just a short 2-hour trip from Cape Town is Karoo, a semi-arid geographic region that hosts great game drives for those seeking a quick day trip or overnight stay. 

Check out Aquila Safari, one of the better-known lodges that offer half- and full-day game drives. For those staying overnight, you can choose between their lodges or cottages. You are provided three meals at their restaurant, inclusive of your stay. They have a spa if you’d like a relaxing massage after a long day under the hot sun. 

Take the chance to witness the majestic Big Five in their natural habitat, a truly unforgettable experience that brings you face-to-face with the wild heart of South Africa.

15. Join a Free Walking Tour

Discover the rich tapestry of Cape Town’s history and culture by joining a free walking tour. With flexible starting times at 11:00, 14:00, and 16:20, you can choose a tour that fits your schedule.

Each time slot offers two distinct tours departing separately, allowing you to pick the one that piques your interest. Opt for the “Historic City Tour” to delve into the city’s storied past or the “Apartheid to Freedom Tour” to understand the journey towards liberation.

Alternatively, explore the vibrant Bo-Kaap neighborhood with its dedicated tour. Book your adventure at Free Walking Tours Cape Town and embark on a 1.5-hour journey of discovery.

Pro Tip: I recommend tipping them R200-400 to show your appreciation for their effort.

16. Go Surfing/Kitesurfing

Dive into the vibrant surf culture of Cape Town by riding the waves at renowned beaches such as Llandudno, Big Bay, and the legendary Dungeons.

(Museum of Contemporary Art Africa)

Whether you’re a seasoned surfer or a newbie eager to learn, the city’s coastline offers a variety of waves to suit every skill level. For those keen on kitesurfing, the strong winds provide the perfect conditions for an exhilarating session.

To make the most of your surfing or kitesurfing adventure, consider booking with reputable companies like Surf Emporium or High Five Kitesurf School , which offer lessons and equipment rentals to ensure a safe and thrilling experience on the water.

17. Do a Whale-Watching Tour

Prepare yourself for a mesmerizing encounter with the ocean’s gentle giants on a whale-watching tour. The coastal waters of South Africa are a playground for these majestic creatures, offering you the chance to witness their grace and might up close.

From July to November, the coastline comes alive with breaching whales, a spectacle that is nothing short of magical.

I highly recommend booking your tour with “Southern Right Charters,” known for their responsible tourism practices and exceptional onboard amenities. Their experienced guides will provide insightful commentary, enhancing your whale-watching experience.

Remember to bring your camera to capture the breathtaking moments when these magnificent beings breach the water’s surface, offering a display of nature’s grandeur that you’ll cherish forever. Check out their offerings and book your tour on their website .

18. Snorkel With Seals

Dive into a world of aquatic wonder at a petite island in the picturesque Hout Bay, where you can snorkel with a vibrant colony of cape fur seals. These playful and furry locals are ready to share their underwater paradise with you.

For 2.5 hours, priced at $54.39 USD, you can immerse yourself in the clear waters, observing and interacting with the seals responsibly and ethically.

It’s more than just a snorkeling experience; it’s a chance to connect with Cape Town’s charming marine life in their natural habitat. Head over to book with Snorkel With Seals, and let these delightful creatures welcome you with their infectious enthusiasm!

19. Kayak With Dolphins in Table Bay

Picture yourself smoothly gliding across the tranquil waters of Table Bay, the majestic Table Mountain forming a breathtaking backdrop. Your companions on this journey? A pod of playful dolphins adds a sprinkle of magic to your kayaking adventure.

This isn’t a figment of imagination but a tangible, exhilarating experience awaiting you in Cape Town. I highly recommend using Kaskazi Kayaks for this adventure, a company renowned for offering tours where you can witness these graceful creatures in their natural habitat.

It’s not just a tour but a testimony to the harmonious coexistence between humans and the vibrant marine life that adorns our oceans, promising an unforgettable experience.

20. Explore Cape Winelands

Embarking on a journey through the Cape Winelands is a must for any wine enthusiast visiting South Africa. The region, comprising Stellenbosch and Franschhoek, is renowned for its exceptional grapes and unique weather patterns. It is one of the premier wine destinations globally.

Visitors are welcomed with open arms, treated to generous pours and affordable tastings that showcase the rich variety of wines, including the distinctive Pinotage, a South African exclusive.

Among the notable vineyards are Tokara Wine Estate , known for its splendid views, and the picturesque Babylonstoren in Paarl. For a hassle-free experience, consider joining an organized tour, which often includes convenient transportation from Cape Town.

Pro Tip: You can also take part in the cycling tour through Cape Town Winelands, which is a great way to enjoy the views while getting some exercise.

21. Franschhoek Wine Tram

Embark on a delightful journey with the Franschhoek Wine Tram, your gateway to the enchanting world of the Cape Winelands. This hop-on, hop-off experience invites you to discover the region’s renowned vineyards at your own pace.

Spend your day indulging in the exquisite flavors of local wines, strolling through picturesque vineyards, and delving deep into the secrets of wine-making with captivating cellar tours.

Complement your wine-tasting adventure with world-class cuisine that promises to tantalize your taste buds.

Getting there is a breeze; opt for a convenient Uber, rent a car, or book a tour with round-trip transportation, making your wine escapade seamless and enjoyable.

22. Take a Scenic Helicopter Flight

Elevate your Cape Town adventure by indulging in a scenic helicopter flight. Numerous companies offer this exhilarating experience, allowing you to capture stunning photographs from a vantage point like no other.

Imagine soaring high above the city, with breathtaking aerial views of the iconic Table Mountain and the majestic Cape of Good Hope unfolding before you.

For a reliable and exceptional experience, we recommend booking your aerial adventure with Cape Town Helicopters . Their seasoned pilots and well-maintained fleet promise a safe and unforgettable journey through the skies of this beautiful city.

23. Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens

Nestled at the foot of the iconic Table Mountain, the Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens offer a tranquil escape into nature’s embrace.

Here, you can immerse yourself in a world adorned with a rich tapestry of African plant life, where walking paths invite you to explore breathtaking landscapes and exotic flora.

It’s the perfect spot for a leisurely afternoon where you can lose yourself in the captivating beauty of the great outdoors. If you find yourself in Cape Town during the summer months (November – March), seize the opportunity to attend a Kirstenbosch Summer Sunset Concert.

Experience live music in a magical setting where nature’s beauty forms the perfect backdrop. Learn more about these enchanting concerts here , especially with the BYOB policy.

24. Take The Ferry to Robben Island

Step back in time as you take a ferry to Robben Island, a place echoing the stories of the arduous battle against apartheid. Your journey begins at the vibrant V&A Waterfront, where you’ll board a ferry to this historic island.

Upon arrival, air-conditioned tour buses await to transport you through the poignant chapters of South Africa’s history.

Guided by former inmates, you’ll gain a deep understanding of the struggles endured here, enriched by comprehensive historical insights provided by an English-speaking guide.

The highlight of your visit is the museum, once a prison, where Nelson Mandela spent many defining years of his life.

25. Go for a Sunset Cruise

A catamaran sunset cruise in Cape Town is a delightful experience that will leave you with memories to last a lifetime. As the sun starts to dip below the horizon, there is nothing like the beauty of watching it slowly disappear beneath the ocean’s surface. The view of the surrounding mountains and beaches from the water is breathtaking, and on a clear evening, you are likely to have an unobstructed view of Table Mountain. 

During your cruise, the crew will provide drinks and snacks while you relax and soak up the sights. The boat’s gentle swaying motion and calm atmosphere make it an ideal spot for conversation or relaxation. As the sun sets, savor some of Cape Town’s renowned cuisine while music plays in the background – this will surely add more magic to your evening! 

The best part about a catamaran sunset cruise in Cape Town is that everyone can enjoy it. Whether you are looking for something romantic or want to get away from daily life for a few hours, everyone can find something special about this experience. With its stunning views and tranquil atmosphere, a catamaran sunset cruise in Cape Town promises to be an unforgettable experience!

26. Go Shark Cage Diving

Dive into the adventure of a lifetime in Gansbaai, the undisputed shark diving capital of the world. This exhilarating experience doesn’t require any scuba diving certification or special qualifications.

All you need is the courage to hold your breath and step into the cage, coming face-to-face with the majestic Great White Sharks that rule these waters.

But don’t worry, if diving isn’t your thing, the surface viewing offers a spectacle just as breathtaking, allowing you to witness the grandeur of these creatures from the boat’s safety.

Gansbaai Shark Diving Trips are available every day, weather permitting. To secure your spot on this unforgettable adventure, I recommend visiting sharkdiving.co to book your adventure.

27. Try Amazing Restaurants

Embark on a gastronomic adventure in Cape Town by visiting these remarkable restaurants, each offering a unique dining experience:

Chef’s Warehouse :

Dive into a culinary wonderland at Chef’s Warehouse, where every dish is a masterpiece. Renowned for tapas-style dining, the restaurant offers a daily changing menu showcasing the freshest local ingredients.

The open kitchen allows you to witness the artistry that goes into crafting each dish, making your dining experience interactive and memorable.

You can transport yourself to Greece without leaving Cape Town. Ouzeri is a Greek taverna in the city’s heart that serves traditional dishes with a modern twist.

The restaurant exudes an inviting atmosphere, accentuated by its al fresco dining and relaxing ambiance. Enjoy delicious small plates such as dolmades and spanakopita paired with refreshing craft cocktails. I recommend you try the Kouros Sour; it is divine.

Emazulwani:

Step into the vibrant world of African cuisine at Emazulwani. This hidden gem offers a diverse menu that celebrates the rich culinary traditions of the continent. From hearty stews to flavorful grills, each dish is a testament to the restaurant’s commitment to authenticity.

The vibrant atmosphere, adorned with African art and crafts, offers a warm and welcoming setting, making it a perfect place to immerse yourself in the local culture.

28. Visit Zeitz Contemporary Art Museum

Embark on a cultural journey at the Zeitz Contemporary Art Museum, Africa’s beacon of modern art. Nestled within a transformed grain silo, the museum is a masterpiece, boasting intricately designed windows and staircases that are artworks in their own right.

Dedicate a half-day to explore the rich tapestry of contemporary art that graces its halls, offering a feast for both eyes and soul.

While there, seize the opportunity to visit the luxurious Silo Hotel, perched atop the museum, where a night’s stay starts at a lavish $1,000, marrying art and opulence in a unique blend.

29. Cape Point Nature Reserve

Venture into the wilds of Cape Point Nature Reserve, a spectacular site where you can experience some of the most stunning landscapes in South Africa.

Here, you can explore the untouched beauty of nature as you walk among rolling hills and pristine beaches. With its diverse range of flora and fauna, from rare antelopes to dolphins, this is one of the most magical places in Cape Town.

The best way to capture its beauty is by taking a tour of the reserve, where you can explore the many trails and savor a picnic with views of breathtaking scenery. Don’t forget to visit the historic lighthouse at Cape Point for panoramic views of this wild wonderland.

30. Visit a Cape Dutch Manor House

As you step into the grandiose world of a Cape Dutch manor house, take a journey through time. This type of architecture is unique to Cape Town and is inspired by Dutch gables combined with local building techniques. The result is an exquisite product of centuries-old traditions.

The most fascinating way to explore this style is by taking a tour of Groot Constantia, one of the city’s most famous Cape Dutch estates. This historic site offers charming gardens and a well-preserved manor house, each offering a window into a world that has been carefully preserved for centuries.

Tours are available daily, providing you with an unforgettable experience. Remember to try the delicious wines while you’re there!

Tips for Visiting Cape Town Attractions

Embarking on a journey to Cape Town is a thrilling adventure, and to make your experience truly unforgettable, we’ve curated a list of essential tips for navigating the city’s most iconic attractions with ease and enjoyment.

Best Time To Visit Cape Town

Envision setting forth on a tranquil adventure to Cape Town, a city where each season unveils a new facet of its alluring beauty. Your perfect moment to visit? It intricately depends on your desires and the experiences you seek in this vibrant metropolis.

From our perspective, the prime time to immerse yourself in the wonders of Cape Town spans from December to April, the summer months in the southern hemisphere.

However, it might be wise to sidestep the peak periods of Christmas and New Year to truly enjoy the city’s essence without the hustle and bustle. January, a bustling and pricey month, could also be avoided to ensure a serene and budget-friendly experience.

February emerges as the golden period, where the summer vibrancy is still palpable, yet the city gradually transitions out of its peak season.

Following suit, March and April present themselves as excellent choices, offering splendid weather and a respite from the crowds, allowing you to explore Cape Town in its full glory but with tranquility.

How To Get To Cape Town

Navigating your way to the heart of Cape Town is a breeze, with several convenient options at your disposal. The Cape Town International Airport (CPT), situated approximately 20 km from the bustling city center, serves as your gateway to this vibrant city.

Depending on your exact destination within Cape Town, the journey from the airport might extend by 30 minutes, so plan accordingly. While various modes of transportation are available, many visitors find Uber the most economical and convenient choice.

Not only is it a popular service in the area, but it also offers affordability that is hard to beat – a trip from the picturesque Sea Point to the airport, for instance, generally costs around R237, roughly equivalent to $13 USD.

If you prefer steering the wheel yourself, renting a car for your stay is a fantastic option, allowing you the freedom to explore the city at your own pace.

How To Get Around Cape Town

Navigating through the picturesque landscapes and vibrant neighborhoods of Cape Town is a vital part of your adventure. Here, we explore the most convenient and popular modes of transportation that the city has to offer:

Uber/Rideshare Apps

In Cape Town, rideshare apps like Uber have become a popular choice for locals and tourists. These apps offer a safe, reliable, and affordable way to traverse the city without the hassle of finding parking spaces in busy areas.

Download the app on your smartphone, and you’ll have quick access to rides wherever you are in the city.

Get a Rental Car

Renting a car is a fantastic option for those who prefer more autonomy in their travels. It not only allows you the freedom to explore the city at your own pace but also makes it easier to visit the picturesque locales that are off the beaten path. This will give you access to more places to see in Cape Town in a shorter time. 

I recommend using Discover Cars to scout for the best deals. This platform compares prices from various rental car agencies in the area, generally helping you save substantially in the long run.

Public Bus System

Taking the public bus is an excellent choice if you want to immerse yourself in the local culture. Cape Town boasts a well-maintained and efficient bus system connecting all major city parts.

It’s not only a cost-effective way to get around but also gives you a chance to experience the city like a local, soaking in the vibrant atmosphere and perhaps discovering some hidden gems along the way.

Acquaint yourself with the different routes and schedules to maximize this transportation option.

Where To Stay in Cape Town

Embarking on a journey to the expansive city of Cape Town can initially seem overwhelming, especially when you’re unsure about the best locales to settle in. But fret not; I’m here to guide you through the prime neighborhoods that have enriched my visits to this vibrant city.

This locale often evokes a sense of affordability akin to a budget-friendly San Diego for visitors.

It stands out as a secure area in contrast to the bustling Central Business District (CBD), offering numerous dining options and a stunning seaside promenade that eliminates the need for a vehicle.

It has become my preferred destination for leisurely summer getaways lasting approximately three months.

Central Business District/Kloof:

Positioned east of Signal Hill, extending around the famous Kloof Street towards Lion’s Head, this region is a hub for modern eateries, bars, and lively nightlife.

Despite its vibrant atmosphere, be prepared for a denser urban setting, slightly removed from the coastal charm. It stands as the premier choice for those seeking an energetic nightlife.

Nestled between the hills and the sea, Camps Bay offers a luxurious retreat with a picturesque backdrop, albeit at a higher price range.

While it houses a few establishments, anticipate a longer commute, especially during peak hours, to reach the CBD for a wider variety of amenities. It’s the ultimate destination for those yearning for a tranquil seaside retreat away from the urban hustle.

Green Point:

Situated between Sea Point and the Waterfront, this residential enclave is renowned for its lush surroundings, featuring numerous public parks and the iconic Cape Town stadium. It is an excellent base for digital nomads or those seeking a homely atmosphere.

Dewaterkant/V&A Waterfront:

This area is a hotspot for tourists and is close to the vibrant activities at the V&A Waterfront. While there might be better choices for extended stays, particularly for digital nomads, it offers excellent walkability, making it a favorite for short-term vacationers.

I have meticulously selected the top 4 hotels in Cape Town, South Africa, each offering a unique blend of luxury, comfort, and picturesque views, promising an unforgettable stay.

• The Silo Hotel: Situated atop the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa, this luxury hotel offers rooms with a blend of industrial and elegant designs, providing breathtaking views of the V&A Waterfront, the city, and Table Mountain.
• Cape Grace Hotel: Nestled on a private quay between the vibrant V&A Waterfront and the tranquil yacht marina, this hotel offers a blend of modern luxury and traditional Cape culture, making it a unique place to stay.
• Ellerman House: Perched on the slopes of Lion’s Head, this boutique hotel offers an exclusive and serene retreat with panoramic views of the Atlantic Ocean, complemented by a fine art gallery and a world-class wine cellar.
• Twelve Apostles Hotel and Spa: Located near Table Mountain National Park, this hotel offers a tranquil escape with stunning ocean views, luxurious rooms, and a range of spa treatments, making it an ideal choice for a relaxing getaway.

Ways To Tour Cape Town

• City Sightseeing Bus: The hop-on-hop-off city sightseeing bus is convenient for exploring Cape Town’s major attractions. With various routes available, it covers landmarks like Table Mountain, Camps Bay, and the V&A Waterfront, offering informative audio commentary in multiple languages.
• Guided Walking Tours: Discover the hidden gems of Cape Town through guided walking tours. These tours often cover historic districts like Bo-Kaap and the city center, offering insights into the city’s rich history and culture.
• Cycling Tours: For the environmentally conscious traveler, cycling tours offer a great way to explore the city. Whether it’s cycling along the Sea Point Promenade or through the vineyards of Constantia, it’s a healthy and eco-friendly way to tour Cape Town.
• Helicopter Tours: Experience Cape Town differently with a helicopter tour. These tours offer breathtaking aerial views of landmarks like Table Mountain, the Twelve Apostles, and the stunning coastline.
• Boat Tours: Embark on a boat tour to witness the marine life around Cape Town. From whale-watching tours in Hermanus to seal snorkeling adventures in Hout Bay, these tours offer a unique maritime experience.
• Wine Tasting Tours: The Cape Winelands region’s lush vineyards and historic estates are a must-visit for wine enthusiasts. Many companies offer guided tours where you can indulge in wine tastings and learn about the wine-making process.
• Adventure Tours: For adrenaline junkies, Cape Town offers a range of adventure tours, including shark cage diving in Gansbaai, paragliding from Lion’s Head, and abseiling down Table Mountain.
• Cultural Tours: Engage with the local communities through cultural tours. These tours often include visits to townships to learn about the local culture and traditions and interact with the residents.
• Self-Drive Tours: Rent a car and explore Cape Town at your own pace. The scenic drives like Chapman’s Peak Drive offer stunning ocean views and mountains, making for a memorable road trip.
• Gastronomic Tours: Explore Cape Town’s culinary scene through gastronomic tours. These tours take you to various eateries, markets, and restaurants where you can savor local delicacies and learn about South African cuisine.

Remember to choose a tour that aligns with your interests and allows you to explore Cape Town in a way that resonates with you.

FAQS: BEST THINGS TO DO IN CAPE TOWN

What are the top 6 attractions in cape town.

The top 6 attractions in Cape Town are Table Mountain, Robben Island, V&A Waterfront, Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden, Cape of Good Hope, and Boulders Beach, famous for its penguins.

What is Cape Town famously known for?

Cape Town is famously known for its stunning natural scenery, including Table Mountain and picturesque coastal landscapes. It’s also renowned for its rich cultural heritage and history, notably its role in the struggle against apartheid, as well as its vibrant food and wine scene.

How can I spend 3 days in Cape Town?

In three days in Cape Town, you can visit Table Mountain and the V&A Waterfront on day one, explore Robben Island and the city on day two, and take a Cape Peninsula tour to see the Cape of Good Hope and Boulders Beach penguins on day three.

What to do in Cape Town for 6 days?

For a 6-day Cape Town itinerary, you can follow the 3-day plan mentioned above and additionally explore Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden, visit the District Six Museum, take a wine tour in Stellenbosch or Franschhoek, and enjoy a day in Hout Bay and drive along Chapman’s Peak Drive.

How many days do you need in Cape Town?

At a minimum, you should plan to spend 3-4 days in Cape Town to see the main attractions. For a complete experience and to explore the surrounding areas, consider staying for 6-7 days.

What is the most beautiful place in Cape Town?

Many consider Table Mountain to be the most beautiful place in Cape Town, since it offers spectacular panoramic views of the city and its surroundings. Other contenders include the Cape Peninsula, with its dramatic coastal scenery, and Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden.

What is the best month to go to Cape Town?

The best time to visit Cape Town is during the South African summer, which falls between November and March. December to February is particularly popular for its warm weather, but Cape Town’s mild climate makes it a year-round destination.

Why is Cape Town worth visiting?

Cape Town is worth visiting for its stunning natural beauty, diverse cultural experiences, historical significance, and world-class food and wine scene. It offers a unique blend of outdoor adventures, cultural exploration, and relaxation.

Do I need a car in Cape Town, South Africa?

While a car can be convenient for exploring the outskirts of Cape Town, it’s not strictly necessary within the city itself. Public transportation and taxis are readily available for getting around the urban areas.

Can you get around Cape Town without a car?

Yes, you can get around Cape Town without a car. The city has a well-developed public transportation system, including buses and minibus taxis. Ridesharing services like Uber are popular and convenient options too.

What is unique to Cape Town?

Cape Town’s uniqueness lies in its stunning natural landmarks, such as Table Mountain and the Cape of Good Hope, its rich history tied to the struggle against apartheid, its diverse cuisine influenced by various cultures, and its thriving wine industry.

Is Cape Town walkable?

Parts of Cape Town, especially the city center and waterfront areas, are walkable. However, to explore the broader metropolitan area and natural attractions, you may need a vehicle to reach certain places.

What is the best way to travel in Cape Town?

The best way to travel in Cape Town depends on your itinerary. Public transportation, taxis, and ridesharing services are suitable for urban exploration, while car rentals or guided tours are recommended for venturing further.

What is the coldest month in Cape Town?

The coldest month in Cape Town is typically July, which is during the South African winter.

How do people dress in Cape Town?

Cape Town’s dress code is generally casual and relaxed. Lightweight clothing is suitable for summer, while layers are necessary in cooler months. In more formal settings or upscale restaurants, business-casual attire is appropriate.

Is it expensive to visit Cape Town?

The cost of visiting Cape Town can vary widely depending on your choices. While some attractions and activities are affordable, others, like fine dining and wine tours, can be relatively expensive. Overall, Cape Town offers options for various budget ranges.

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