The city is vibrant, colourful and interesting at every turn but Cape Town’s surroundings are what really set it apart! The city is flanked by beautiful craggy mountain ranges, pristine beaches and rolling, fertile hills covered in all types of delicate flora. Just outside the city, the abundance of nature is ever present — zebra and wildebeest can be seen grazing on the mountain slopes, there’s the resident penguins around Boulders Beach or mischievous baboons which can be sighted near Cape Point.

Cape Town is situated on the southwest coast of South Africa and is the second-most populated urban area in the country after Johannesburg. It is also by far the largest city in the Western Cape province and has an estimated population of 3.78 million.

The climate in Cape Town is Mediterranean-like with an annual average temperature of 18°C (64°F), the winters are wet and cool and summers warm and dry.

Summer

November to March – summer sees Cape Town bathing in daily sunshine with the average daytime temperature around 23°C (73°F). Temperatures at night time rarely drop below 14°C (57°F) during the summer.

Autumn

March to May – as the season changes the trees and shrubs turn red, orange and yellow, with pleasant temperatures that are typically around 18-20°C (64-68°F).

Winter

June to August – everything’s greener in the winter due to more rainfall and average temperatures range from a minimum of 8°C (46°F) to highs of 17°C (62°F).

Spring

September to November – spring is when temperatures start to rise again and the areas around Cape Town become awash with colour as flowers burst into bloom. At the start of spring daily temperatures range from 15-17°C (59-62°F) with October seeing temperatures rising to around 21-23°C (70-73°F).

Overall the best months to visit weather-wise are October through to April.

Minibus Taxis

Somewhat crazy at times but they are a cheap, efficient means of getting around. Most come in the form of 14–16 seater minibuses, they can be found on most main roads and hubs such as train stations and taxi ranks. Fares start at R5 upwards depending on the route which are usually shouted out the window or displayed on a sign behind the windscreen.

Buses

Golden Arrow Buses cover over 1300 routes that mainly serve the outer areas of the city, they aren’t the most tourist friendly but they are a good way of getting around certain areas and suburbs, with a one-way fare costing R10-R15.

The MYCITI BUS system is fairly new and the buses are efficient and easy to use. The buses don’t cover as bigger area as the Golden Arrow buses but they are an easy way to get around town, into the city centre, as well as to a host of nearby landmarks. The system also offers an affordable Airport route, as well as routes to Hout Bay, Table View and the Blouberg coastline. If you’re going to use these buses it’s best to purchase a pass for R35 which you can get from kiosks and certain retailers.

Metrorail

Unpredictable, with trains being on time one day and hopelessly delayed the next, however they do offer access to much of Cape Town and beyond for a reasonable price with a first class fare costing around R10. The trains are known to be dangerous at certain times of the day so it’s safest to travel between the hours of 7:00 am–9:00 am and 4:00 pm–6:00 pm.

Car Hire

A popular option for people staying in Cape Town for more than a couple of days as it is both convenient and affordable. There a huge number of car rental companies to chose from with many different types of cars on offer. A car can be collected from Cape Town International Airport or from one of the offices around the city. Due to the keen competition you will be able to find a good deal on car hire, especially if booked online in advance. Due to many of the popular sights in and around Cape Town being quite spread out this is a recommended option.

Taxis

There are metered taxis and Uber taxis in Cape Town. Uber taxis are booked using the popular app, whereas the metered taxis are restricted to designated taxi ranks so you either need to book them in advance or find one of the designated areas. Many of the taxi companies now offer online bookings, which can also be used when getting from airport into the city, with many offering a set fare depending on the destination. It is also worth saving a trusted taxi companies number in your phone for when you can’t get internet.

The currency in Cape Town is the South African Rand (ZAR) and note denominations are 10, 20, 50, 100 and 200 Rand.

ATM’s are widespread around Cape Town as well as the majority of South Africa, including the rural towns. As with many parts of the world there are ATM scams, you can reduce the risk of being targeted by using cashpoints with guards or high customer turnover/main banks. We always recommend using cashpoints at the major banks as if your card does get swallowed or jammed it can be dealt with or retrieved quickly. Major credit cards such as MasterCard and Visa are also accepted around Cape Town and SA.

Average costs (in South African Rand)

• A mid range 3–4 star hotel 830–1,900
• Budget accommodation from 400 per night
• A meal for two at a mid-range restaurant 350–550
• A budget dinner 80–160
• A pint of beer in a bar 20–40
• A beer in a supermarket 8–12
• A 3 km taxi ride around the city 30–70
• A regular coffee 20–30
• A bottle of water 7–15

Table Mountain National Park

This huge National Park stretches from the North of Cape Town to the southwest tip of Africa and encompasses beautiful beaches, wondrous valleys, iconic Table Mountain and the scenic Cape of Good Hope. The flat-topped Table Mountain that rises 1,085 metres (3,560 ft) is an iconic landmark and the top can be reached by hiking or a cable car. Boulders Beach is also within the National Park, where you will find a picturesque beach that a colony of African Penguins call home.

Victoria & Alfred (V&A) Waterfront

Situated on the Atlantic coast lies one of Cape Town’s most popular tourist attractions. A huge entertainment complex has been built up around the busy, commercial harbour and there is a huge choice of pubs and restaurants, plus shops, markets, theatres and hotels. Queen Victoria’s second son Alfred inaugurated the construction of the harbour in 1860.

Robben Island

Visit this UNESCO World Heritage Site and the island where Nelson Mandela spent 18 years of his 27 years in prison. The island can be reached by daily ferries from the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront at 9:00 am, 11:00 am and 1:00 pm and each tour lasts about 3 and a half hours. The tour costs R340 and it will take you to historical sites on the island like the leper graveyard, army and navy bunkers, the lime quarry and the Maximum Security Prison, including Nelson Mandela’s cell.

Greenmarket Square

One of South Africa’s oldest public squares is a cobblestone plaza with local vendors selling everything from arts, crafts, clothing and jewellery. Various street performers will also keep you entertained with music, dance or mime. The market can be visited from 9:00 am–4:00 pm Monday to Saturday. It is located just a short walk from the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront.

Bo-Kaap

Situated on the edge of the city centre and at the bottom of Signal Hill lies this vibrant area. The majority of the people who live here are Muslim and it is one of the oldest residential areas in Cape Town. The oldest house in the area still in its original form is now the Bo-Kaap Museum which showcases Islamic culture and heritage, it was built in 1768. A major draw for a visit here is the colourful houses, each one painted in a different and eye-catching colour.

Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens

This beautiful garden just outside Cape Town was established in 1913 to protect, conserve and display the diverse flora of southern Africa. The gardens are open everyday from 8:00 am–7:00 pm from September to March and everyday from 8:00 pm–6:00 pm from April to August. The Conservatory is open everyday from 9:00 am –5:00 pm. The entrance fee is R65.

City Bowl

This aptly named area is nestled between the towering, curved mountain range, with Devil’s Peak to the east and Lion’s Head to the west. This is where you will find the city centre, also known as the Central Business District and the surrounding, interesting and historical suburbs of Bo-Kaap, Oranjezicht, Tamboerskloof and Gardens to name a few. The closer they get to the mountain the steeper they become so some of them lie right on the slopes of Table Mountain. You will find coffee shops, restaurants, bars and nightclubs in this area with Long Street and Bree Street being the liveliest hubs of nightlife.

Atlantic Seaboard

This area stretches from Green Point and the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront all the way along the coast to Hout Bay, with the popular suburbs of LLandudno, Clifton, Camps Bay and Sea Point also located here. Some of the city’s most beautiful beaches and the glistening Atlantic Ocean are on one side, with the majestic Twelves Apostles mountain range on the other. Watching the sunset into the Atlantic Ocean from one of the many picturesque beaches or from one of the elevated vantage points is a popular way to spend an evening on this side of the peninsular. You will also find many excellent spots for wining and dining in this area.

False Bay

A beautiful expanse of coastline that stretches from Hangklip, near Pringle Bay all the way round to Cape Point on the peninsula. There are white, sandy beaches, safe swimming in the warmer waters of the Indian Ocean, seaside villages and picnic spots situated all along the coast. Some of the most popular spots are Muizenberg, Kalk Bay and Simon’s Town.

Constantia Valley

One of the most beautiful valleys in the Western Cape lies just outside the centre of Cape Town next to the largely residential area of the Southern Suburbs and behind the shadow of the Constantiaberg mountain range. It is a scenic, green area with stately homes, forests, hills and vineyards. It’s wine-making history dates back to 1685 and the area has 8 award-winning wine estates all within 9 miles (15 km) of the city centre.

• The most spoken language in Cape Town is Afrikaans with more than 40% of Capetonians speaking the language.
• The Castle of Good Hope is the oldest existing colonial building in South Africa. It was built by the Dutch East India Company between 1666 and 1679.
• Cape Town was the first city outside of Europe to get a Blue Flag beach status .
• The world’s first ever heart transplant was performed in Cape Town in 1967.
• Cape Town is a popular location for filmmakers, some of the films filmed there are Safe House (2012), Invictus (2009) and Blood Diamond (2006).
• Table Mountain officially opened in 1929 and by 1959 over 1 million people had travelled to the top.
• Canal Walk in Cape Town’s Northern suburbs is the 3^rd largest shopping centre in Africa.
• Cape Town has the oldest wine industry outside of Europe and the Mediterranean, dating back to 1659 when the first bottle was produced by Jan Van Riebeeck.