Cape Town

South Africa

A mountain in the middle of the city, two oceans and winelands next door.

Nature
Beach
City
Family

Brightly painted houses on a street in Bo-Kaap, Cape Town

Aerial view of Lion's Head above the Camps Bay coastline

Photos: Jaman Asad, Madiba.de African Inspiration, Tobias Fischer on Unsplash

Best time to go: November to March is summer: dry, sunny and often windy. Winter, from June to August, is cooler and wetter. Whale watching along the coast is best from late winter into spring.
Ideal length: 5 to 7 days

Plan with ROVE AI

Rovepoint guide: general information. Check current details before you travel.

Known for

Table Mountain, by cable car or on foot
The Cape Peninsula drive to Cape Point and the Cape of Good Hope
African penguins at Boulders Beach
Robben Island and the story of South Africa’s journey to democracy
The winelands of Constantia, Stellenbosch and Franschhoek
Beaches from Clifton and Camps Bay to Muizenberg

Getting around

Ride-hailing apps are widely used and the easiest way to get around the city.
A hire car gives you the freedom to explore the Peninsula and the winelands. Traffic drives on the left.
The city bus network covers the centre, the Atlantic seaboard and the airport.
Ask locally about which areas suit walking, and take a car rather than walk through quiet areas after dark.

Areas to explore

City Bowl
The city centre beneath Table Mountain, with museums, gardens and markets.
Bo-Kaap
Brightly painted houses, Cape Malay heritage and cobbled streets.
V&A Waterfront
The working harbour, with shops, an aquarium and boats to Robben Island.
Camps Bay and Clifton
Atlantic beaches beneath the Twelve Apostles mountain range.
Woodstock
Street art, design studios and weekend markets.
Southern Peninsula
Surf at Muizenberg, the harbour at Kalk Bay and the penguins near Simon’s Town.
Constantia
Historic wine estates a short drive from the city.

A three-day outline

1Day 1The mountain and the city
- Table Mountain early, before the wind and cloud pick up
- An afternoon in the Bo-Kaap and the city centre
- Sunset at the V&A Waterfront
2Day 2The Cape Peninsula
- Drive the coast road over Chapman’s Peak
- Cape Point and the Cape of Good Hope
- The penguins at Boulders Beach on the way back

Good to know

Currency: South African rand.
Plugs: Mostly Type M (three large round pins), with Type N and two-pin Type C sockets also in use, 230V. A universal adaptor helps.
Language: English is widely spoken, alongside Afrikaans and isiXhosa.
Tipping: Tipping in restaurants is customary, and it is usual to give car guards and fuel station attendants a small tip.
Weather: The summer wind, known locally as the Cape Doctor, can be strong, and mountain plans can change at short notice.

Before you go

Rovepoint does not have visa information for South Africa yet. Check the official embassy or immigration website for South Africa before you book.

Keep your passport in your Travel Vault, so Rovepoint can check its expiry against your trip dates.

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3Day 3Gardens and wine

A morning at Kirstenbosch botanical garden
An afternoon in the Constantia winelands
Sunset over the Atlantic at Camps Bay

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