Cape Town Travel Guide
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Top Attractions
Cheap Flying Tips
Where to Stay
Things to Do
Your Guide to Cape Town
Cape Town, South Africa, is an ideal destination if you like your travel experience to have a mix of outdoor adventure and local culture. Often called the Mother City, Cape Town straddles the cape at the southern tip of Africa and is the continent’s most metropolitan city. It is surrounded by epic mountains and blue ocean and hosts a bustling nightlife and cultural center.
In this article, we’ll look at some of the city’s top attractions, neighborhoods, and places to stay. We’ll also discuss what it’s like flying in and out of Cape Town and some tips for getting cheap fares.
Top Attractions in Cape Town
There is so much to do in Cape Town that, for the time you have, it’s best to prioritize. You may not get to everything the city has to offer, but if you make it to these three must-see places, you’ll find they offer you quite a lot to do. Let’s take a look.
Table Mountain
There is a primal-looking plateau named Table Mountain that juts up from the Atlantic seaboard on Cape Town’s eastern side and dominates the city with views from just about every district. Likewise, it’s home to panoramic views of Cape Town and the surrounding environs.
Depending on how fit you are, you can hike up the mountain on trails with varying difficulties in about 1 to 3 hours. Or you can take a cable car to the top of the mountain, enjoying breathtaking views as the car spins 360 degrees during its ascent.
When you get to the top, you will have a 57 square kilometer area to hike around, enjoying 1,470 species of flora that are native to the region. Trails range from easy forested hikes along the plateau to steeper trails along the rocky bluffs.
If this isn’t enough adventure, jump on a non-motorized, off-road scooter for some downhill fun or abseil down the face of the mountain. And if you’re interested in learning more about the mountain and its dams, you can visit the Waterworks Museum.
The Victoria and Alfred Waterfront
More than 24 million people visit the V&A Waterfront each year, so if it’s the bustle of city activity you’re looking for, this is the place to start.
There is so much to do at the waterfront that a list is inherently limiting, but here’s a look at some of the highlights:
- Shop among more than 450 stores from those known internationally to those known only to South Africans.
- Eat at the V&A Food Market located in the Old Power Station and home to forty vendors cooking up worldwide cuisine.
- Visit one of two aquariums to learn more about the immense variety of ocean life represented off the shores of Cape Town.
- Choose from a plethora of museums, including the Iziko Maritime Museum, Chavonnes Battery Museum, the Cape Diamond Museum, and the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary African Art, among others.
- Take a helicopter tour or a sight-seeing cruise
Boulders Beach
Cape Town is home to many beautiful beaches, but there are two things that make Boulders Beach a must-see.
First, if swimming is your thing, the chilly Atlantic waters are pretty off-putting at every beach except Boulders, which sits in the protected False Bay on the southern side of the city. Here you can take a dip without a wetsuit!
Second, Boulders Beach is home to a local culture of another kind: a penguin colony. The colony of penguins claimed the beach for their own in 1982 and have lived there ever since, now growing to about two to three thousand penguins. This is a protected area that allows you an up-close view of these birds living and working in their neighborhood.
And, of course, don’t forget to climb among the smooth, iconic boulders from which the beach gets its name.
The Experience Flying into Cape Town Airports
There are currently no direct flights from the United States into Cape Town. There are, however, several one-stop flights available from such major airlines as American Airlines, United, Delta, and British Airways. Covid-19 has imposed more rules on travel, so for your trip to Cape Town, keep the following in mind for your time at Cape Town International Airport:
- Only passengers are allowed inside the airport
- Masks are required
- You will have to pass a health screen
- Practice social distance
- Arrive at the airport four hours prior to your international flight
Top 3 Tips to Fly Cheap into Cape Town
Air travel can be the most expensive part of your trip, so here are some tips to save some money:
Schedule your trip for February
It is the height of summer in Cape Town, but you avoid the heavy tourist months of November, December, and January.
Book in advance
Airlines sell their cheapest tickets first, so book as far in advance as possible.
Flying with a lesser-known
Consider flying with a lesser-known African airline. In an effort to get business and name recognition, they may offer unbeatable prices.
Popular Areas of the City to Stay
After buying your plane tickets, the next step is to figure out where you’ll stay. Some of the most popular areas of New York City are:
The most popular areas to stay in Cape Town are to be found in the City Bowl, which is flanked by Table Mountain National Park on three sides and the Atlantic Ocean on the fourth. If you’re looking for a stay in the beating heart of Cape Town, look for places in one of these districts.
The Central Business District is about dead center in the City Bowl. Up until a few years ago, it was only thought of for business travel, but a growing number of cafes and galleries, a wealth of restaurants, and a bustling nightlife have made the Central Business District one of the exciting destinations for tourists.
Once again, the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront makes the list. With all the exciting things to do on the waterfront, you may want to consider staying as close to the action as possible.
The Bo Kaap is famous for its narrow streets and brightly colored houses and is the oldest residential neighborhood in the city. It was formerly known as the Malay Quarter and in the 18th and 19th centuries was home to freed slaves who celebrated by painting their houses in the bright colors that are so iconic today.
Like the Central Business District, Woodstock is another up and coming area that is a hub for creatives and young professionals. If you’re looking to be among a younger crowd of exchange students and entrepreneurs, this older section of town is a good place to set up camp.
Popular Hotels in those areas
Once you pick an area to stay in, the next thing is accommodation. Finding a hassle-free place that meets your needs may be one of the most important decisions of your trip, so take a look at these options.
Central Business
District
Tucked away between Long Market and Church streets, the Gorgeous George comes highly recommended and is even considered one of the reasons the CBD is thriving as a tourist spot. You can also check out the Taj Cape Town, which has taken over the old Reserve Bank building, or the Labotessa, whose building dates back to the 17th century.
Victoria and Alfred Waterfront
In the V&A, the Table Bay Hotel puts you right on the water and in the middle of this bustling area of town. The OneAndOnly brings views of Table Mountain to their room-with-a-view hotel, and the Cape Grace Hotel and Spa wins points for luxury with its whiskeys, wine, and cuisine.
Bo Kaap
and Woodstock
At the base of Signal Hill, which overlooks the waterfront, stands Signal Hill Lodge, which overlooks the colorful Bo Kaap district. On the other side of the City Bowl area in Woodstock, you can stay at the Stock Exchange Apartment Hotel, which gives you a self-enclosed apartment. In the area, you’ll find the Woodstock Exchange, a kind of mall for local businesses.
Popular Airbnb Places in Those Areas
If hotels aren’t your thing and you want to go the more adventurous route of Airbnb, here are some places you will want to look into:
Central Business District
Central Art Deco Loft offers a fashionable loft in a central location for those who want to be close to the waterfront and have the nightlife at their feet.
Victoria and Alfred Waterfront
Luxury one bed on the water gives a couple the chance to stay in the V&A Waterfront Residential Estate, offering views of the harbor’s birds and seals. If you’re even more adventurous, Atlantic Point Backpackers is a hostel that has a bar, swimming pool, TV Lounge, and BBQ area if you don’t mind sharing your amenities with like-minded travelers.
Bo Kaap
Because of the district’s historical value, you have a great opportunity to support local families. For example, this Private room within a traditional Bo Kaap home is a 200-year-old restored home that is located in the heart of the district and within walking distance of the beach and restaurants.
More Top Attractions in Cape Town
Now that you’ve nailed down some options for your stay in Cape Town, it’s time to look at some more things that you can do. Below are the shortlisted contenders for the top three. They give you a bigger picture of the history, culture, and environment of Cape Town, so you don’t want to miss out.
Robben Island
As you may have guessed from learning about the Bo Kaap district, Cape Town has had a troubled history. Under the adventure and excitement of the tourist draw is the dark undercurrent of apartheid, which was abolished in 1994.
Beginning in 1961, Robben Island held political prisoners and housed Nelson Mandela for 18 of his 27 years in prison. While the island used to be a symbol of apartheid, it now reminds us of the strength of the human spirit.
Signal Hill
If you don’t have time to get up to Table Mountain, but you still want to take in a panoramic view of the city and the ocean, Signal Hill is the place for you. It is close to the City Bowl and offers breath-taking views and Instagram-able selfies.
It’s also home to the Noon Guns, one of which is discharged daily at 12 pm exactly so ships in the bay can check their chronometers. Operating since 1806, they are the oldest guns in daily use.
Kirstenbosch Gardens
Over a hundred years old, the Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens sit on the slopes of Table Mountain and is home to flora unique to South Africa, which you can enjoy at your leisure or on a guided tour. It is also home to the Summer Sunset Concert series. Just imagine sitting on the grass listening to South African music while the sun sets over Table Mountain.
Coolest AirBnB Experiences in Cape Town
For some of us, where you stay is as much a part of the travel experience as what you do. For those of you who want to bring Cape Town into your bedroom (metaphorically, of course), here are some Airbnb musts:
- Everview Suite in Camps Bay offers expansive views of the Atlantic Ocean and the surrounding mountains, complete with a pool to cool off in during your hot February stay.
- Beach house on the rocks in Bakoven has a name that says it all. Bakoven is a quiet suburb in an out of the way corner on Table Mountain’s west side that makes this Bnb a peaceful stay.
- City Center penthouse puts you on the top floor overlooking the action. Take in the views by day and the bars by night.
Source: Culture Trip
Final Thoughts
You can’t expect to do it all, but in Cape Town, you can do quite a bit. From epic hikes to colorful culture and history to the hustle and bustle of metropolitan life, you need only place yourself in Cape Town’s City Bowl and proceed to pick and choose what you want.
