Cape Town
South Africa
- Safety rating
- 5.8/10
- Best time to visit
- December to February for beach weather and outdoor activities. September to November for whale watching (Hermanus). March to May for grape harvest in Stellenbosch and Franschhoek. June to August is rainy but ideal for visiting without crowds.
- Population
- 4.8M
Overview
Cape Town is arguably Africa's most beautiful city — Table Mountain presiding over a city of colonial Victorian terraces, rainbow-hued Bo-Kaap slopes, white-sand Clifton beaches, the vineyards of Stellenbosch 40 minutes away, and Cape Point where two oceans meet. The Mother City is cosmopolitan, creative, and compellingly complex.
Top attractions
Table Mountain, V&A Waterfront, Boulders Beach Penguins, Cape of Good Hope, Bo-Kaap, Robben Island, Stellenbosch Winelands, Chapman's Peak Drive, Kalk Bay, Franschhoek
Getting around
Uber and Bolt are essential — don't walk far from tourist areas at night. The My Citi BRT bus connects the Waterfront, city, and sea point. Renting a car gives access to the Winelands and Peninsula. The Metrorail (train) is not recommended for tourists.