Cape Town

Cape Town, South Africa

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.

Population:

4,618,000 (2020)

Currency:

Rand, R1 = 100 cents

Emergency Numbers:

Emergency: 107
Police: 10111
Ambulance: 10177

Opening Hours:

General: Mon-Fri 9am-5pm, Sat 9am-1pm
Malls: Daily 9am-7pm
Banks: Mon-Fri 9am-3:30pm, Sat 9am-11am

Newspapers:

The Cape Argus
The Independent
City Vision
Cape Business News

The City

You cannot help but be impressed by the splendour of Cape Town’s location, with the cloud-capped crag of Table Mountain overlooking the skyscrapers and historic buildings of the compact city centre.

For many visitors, the cable-car trip to the top and the view from the summit is the high point of a Cape Town holiday. For others, the focal point of the city is the V&A Waterfront, a rejuvenated area of docklands that is now home to some of Cape Town’s best hotels, restaurants, bars and shopping. Here you can see families of seals sunbathe within a few feet of smart café terraces.

The city rises from the waterfront to the slopes of Table Mountain, with posh residential suburbs – including the ultra-exclusive enclave of Constantia – overlooking the downtown area.

Cape Town has much more to offer than city life. There are excellent beaches just a short distance from the city centre, at spots such as Clifton, Camps Bay and Hout Bay south of the centre and Milnerton and Sunset Beach to the north.

Only a short distance to the south lie the wilds of the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve – home to a range of wildlife – culminating in the dramatic scenery of Cape Point. Meanwhile, just a short drive from the city and its airport lie the lush vineyards and pretty colonial-era towns of the Winelands region, where some of South Africa’s finest vintages are produced.

Cape Town also has a mellow climate that makes it attractive all year, with plenty of sunshine during the winter months making it particularly attractive to visitors from the Northern Hemisphere.

Do & See

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.

Dining

Places to eat and drink range from excellent seafood restaurants to grills that serve wild and farmed game such as eland, antelope, and gazelle. There are also several good restaurants serving authentic African dishes as well as eateries serving Asian-influenced Cape Malay food. For outdoor dining, head for the V&A Waterfront.

Here's a list of the top restaurants in Cape Town:

Cafes

With its clement climate, which makes sitting outdoors pleasant for much of the year, Cape Town has a lively cafe scene. Most cafés are, in fact, also bar-restaurants, serving full meals and alcohol as well as tea, coffee, soft drinks and snacks.

Here are some of the best cafes in Cape Town: