Cape Town International Airport (CPT) Traveler Essentials

Terminals: Single integrated terminal with international and domestic wings. Clear signage throughout. The international arrivals and departures area is modern and well-equipped.
Distance to city: 20 km / 20–30 min by taxi or shuttle (no rail link)

Overview

Cape Town International is a modern, well-designed airport at the foot of the Cape Flats, handling 10+ million passengers. Surrounded by mountain views on the approach, it's one of Africa's most pleasant airports with good duty-free, restaurants, and efficient ground operations.

Transport to city center

MyCiTi Bus Route 100 to City Centre (45 min, ZAR 90) — safe and reliable. Uber or Bolt: ZAR 150–250, 20–35 min. Metered taxis: ZAR 300–400. Do not accept offers from unauthorized drivers in the terminal.

Wi-Fi

Free WiFi at Cape Town Airport — connect to the airport network; the free session is time-limited but you can reconnect.

Lounges

South African Airways Lounge, British Airways Lounge (Priority Pass eligible), Bidvest Premier Lounge. The SAA lounge has good South African wine and Cape food.

Security & customs

Use the official MyCiTi bus or metered/app taxis from the designated ranks rather than informal operators. South Africa stamps passports manually, so allow time for immigration queues. Standard 100ml liquid rules apply at security; declare any cash over the limit and don't carry restricted wildlife products.

Travel tips

Uber and Bolt are the safest and most cost-effective transport options from the airport. The MyCiTi bus to the Waterfront is a good alternative. Avoid arriving after midnight if possible — arrange transfers in advance for late arrivals. Cape Town's V&A Waterfront is 25 minutes from the airport.