The Best Travel Guide to Cape Town

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South Africa

Cape Town

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Overview

Cape Town The guide was updated: 2023-08-20

Overlooked by spectacular heights of Table Mountain and surrounded by stunning beaches, lush farmland, and superb vineyards, Cape Town has established itself as South Africa’s cultural capital and one of the most vibrant cities on the continent. This is where African, European, and Asian cultures meet in a multi-ethnic rainbow reflected in its music, architecture, visual arts, as well as in its amazing choice of cuisines. Cape Town is great for partying as well, with a year-round calendar of festivals, parades, and world-class sporting events.

Facts

Population:	4.7 million (2021)
Currency:	Rand, R1 = 100 cents
Search Accommodation:	Hotels »
Emergency numbers:	Emergency: 107 Police: 10111 Ambulance: 10177
Newspapers:	The Cape Argus & The Sunday Independent (English) — www.iol.co.za/capeargus Cape Business News (English)— www.cbn.co.za Die Burger (Afrikaans) — www.netwerk24.com/dieburger
Website:	www.capetown.travel
Opening hours:	General: Mon–Fri 9am–5pm, Sat 9am–1pm Shopping malls: Daily 9am–7pm Banks: Mon–Fri 9am–3:30pm, Sat 9am–11am
Tourist information:	City Hall Visitor Experience Office Darling Street, Cape Town Open Mon–Fri 8am–5pm, Sat 8:30am–2pm, Sun 8:30am–1pm +27 861 322 223 info@capetown.travel cityhall@capetown.travel

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Section in Cape Town

Cape Town has an amazing array of things to do and see, from historic buildings, museums and art galleries to nature reserves, wine tastings, boat trips and horseback riding. Discover the different quarters of the city, and be sure to take some time to explore the beautiful natural surroundings, as well.

Cape of Good Hope & Cape Point

Cape of Good Hope & Cape Point

Cape of Good Hope and Cape Point are two of the most famous and popular tourist spots in Cape Town. There is a misconception that the Cape of Good Hope is the most southern tip of Africa, which is not true, as in fact Cape Agulhas is the southernmost point. Both the Cape of Good Hope and Cape Point are sections of the Table Mountain National Park, where you can see cape lions, spotted hyenas, jackals, elephants and zebras.

Bo Kaap

Bo Kaap

The colourful Bo Kaap of today is a far cry from its tumultuous beginnings — in the 16th and 17th centuries, slaves brought from Malaysia and Indonesia by the Dutch were forced to reside here. Each house received a fresh coat of bright paint following the end of apartheid, as an act of defiance, expression of individualism and a celebration of freedom at long last.

BOS 400 Shipwreck

BOS 400 Shipwreck

This rather secluded wreck is only accessible via a long trek along the coastline, but the scenic walk alone is already worth the drive to the suburb of Hout Bay in Cape Town. The ship broke loose while being towed in 1994 — it was later deemed unsalvageable and left to rust at that very spot, gaining eerie appeal in the years since. Admire the ship wreck from shore. Climbing onto rusted metal is extremely dangerous.

Chapman's Peak Drive

Chapman's Peak Drive

Chapman's Peak Drive lures in with stunning views over the Atlantic Ocean, provided that you can handle the steep descents that start immediately off the roadside. Along the trip, there are observation points for stop-overs where you can also buy souvenirs from locals and admire the views without having to constantly keep your eyes on the road.

Victoria & Alfred Waterfront

Victoria & Alfred Waterfront

Victoria & Alfred Waterfront — also known as A&F Waterfront - is a hotspot for tourists as well as locals. It is a harbour with exciting architecture that offers a magnificent view of the sea and the mountain range. The area has more than 250 shops, restaurants, pubs, hotels and cafés that will most likely keep you busy all day.

Robben Island

Robben Island

The former prison island, located 11 km off the coast of Cape Town, is now a World Heritage Site and an evocative virtual shrine to its most famous prisoner, African National Congress leader Nelson Mandela. This is where he spent 18 of his 27 years in prison. Take an insightful journey through South Africa's difficult past on a tour of Robben Island. Hear stories from a former prisoner on the island as you explore this tangible symbol of political freedom and a reminder of the tough road to South African democracy.

Table Mountain Aerial Cableway

Table Mountain Aerial Cableway

The view of the city and its surroundings from the top of Cape Town’s biggest landmark, the 1,086 m (3,563 ft) Table Mountain, is stupendous. The revolving cablecar that takes you up gives you a great view in all directions. Once up there you can check out the telescopes or sit down for a drink or a meal and just take in the spectacular view.

Two Oceans Aquarium

Two Oceans Aquarium

Sharks and thousands of other marine creatures from the seas off South Africa’s coasts swim in the huge glass tanks of this excellent aquarium. This aquarium showcases the Marine life of the Indian Ocean as well as the Atlantic Ocean, hence the name.

Camps Bay

Camps Bay

Camps Bay is a prestigious area and one of Cape Town's most popular beaches. The area houses a number of fantastic restaurants, hotels, sports clubs and entertainment venues, as well as the white sandy beaches and blue waters that keep people coming back for more.

Franschhoek

Franschhoek

Franschhoek is a rather small but nonetheless impressive province to the east of Cape Town and, as part of the community of Stellenbosch, also portrayed with idyllic wine farms and lovely landscapes within a great natural reserve. As to its meaning of 'French Corner', this is where the Huguenots came for in the 17th centuries, and both culture and architecture show off a rich history of cultural and (wine)industrial happenings.

Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens

Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens

Nestled at the foot of Table Mountain in Cape Town lies one of the world’s greatest Botanical Gardens. It was founded in 1913 to preserve the indigenous flora of South Africa and displays a wide variety of plants, including fynbos, karoo, savanna and a giant baobab tree. They even have plants dating back millions of years, to when there was probably only one continent. Do not miss their regular concerts during the summer.

Simonstown

Simonstown

Simon’s Town, or Simonstown as it has come to be called, has an interesting history and many famous buildings. There are many activities to keep you busy, such as boat charters, sea kayaking, deep sea fishing or whale watching. However, this quaint little town is most famous for being home to a colony of South African Penguins. Boulder’s Beach, a few kilometres south of town, is the one and only place in the world where you can swim with penguins!

Groot Constantia

Groot Constantia

The graceful, whitewashed Groot Constantia manor is a magnificent example of 18th century Cape Dutch colonial architecture. It also happens to be the country's oldest wine producing estate, founded in 1685. They offer tours of the grounds, the museum and the cellar, as well as wine tastings, and have two top restaurants.

District Six Museum

District Six Museum

This evocative and moving museum commemorates the more than 60,000 non-white inhabitants of District Six who were expelled from this once multi-ethnic neighbourhood when it was declared a ‘whites only’ zone in the 1960s by the Apartheid government. It tells the stories of the forced removals and aims to help reconstruct the community of District Six.

Koopmans-De Wet House

Koopmans-De Wet House

The Koopmans-de Wet House is pretty 18th century townhouse decorated and furnished as it would have been in the 18th and 19th centuries, including an impressive collection of ceramics and offering a glimpse into the gracious life of colonial Cape Town. The Koopmans-de Wet family, who originally owned the house, was known for helping orphans and widows in the community.

Bo-Kaap Museum

Bo-Kaap Museum

This excellent museum in the colourful Bo Kaap district (formerly the city's Malay quarter) traces the history of Cape Town’s Islamic culture and heritage. The museum is furnished and decorated to depict the lifestyle of a 19th-century Muslim family.

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