AfricaCape Town
Table Mountain cloud, Cape-vineyard reds, and penguin-dotted coves.
Why visit
The case for going
Cape Town wraps a flat-topped mountain in two oceans, so a single day can run from a cable car above the clouds to a wine estate in Stellenbosch to a sundowner on a cold-Atlantic beach.
South of the city the Cape Peninsula trails past Boulders' penguins to the wind-scoured cliffs of the Cape of Good Hope.
What to do
Ways to spend a day
Activities €80–180 total
- 01Ride the rotating cable car up Table Mountain. Book on GetYourGuide (opens in a new tab)
- 02Drive the Cape Peninsula to the Cape of Good Hope. Book on GetYourGuide (opens in a new tab)
- 03Watch the penguin colony waddle across Boulders Beach. Book on GetYourGuide (opens in a new tab)
- 04Taste your way through the Stellenbosch winelands. Book on GetYourGuide (opens in a new tab)
- 05Wander the botanical paths of Kirstenbosch. Book on GetYourGuide (opens in a new tab)
- 06Photograph the painted houses of the Bo-Kaap. Book on GetYourGuide (opens in a new tab)
Table Mountain cloud, Cape-vineyard reds, and penguin-dotted coves.
Where to stay
The right base
Accommodation €45–100/night
Cape Town
City Bowl · Sea Point · Camps Bay
Find a place to stay
How to get there
Easiest way in
How to get around
Once you land
A rental car is the key to the peninsula and the winelands; MyCiti buses and Uber cover the city itself cheaply. In Franschhoek the hop-on wine tram loops the estates so nobody has to drive between tastings.
What to eat
Order this
Food €20–40/day
- TasteAtlas (opens in a new tab)
Braai
open-fire barbecue
- TasteAtlas (opens in a new tab)
Bobotie
spiced baked mince
- TasteAtlas (opens in a new tab)
Bunny chow
curry in a bread loaf
- TasteAtlas (opens in a new tab)
Snoek
smoked line fish
- TasteAtlas (opens in a new tab)
Koeksisters
syrup-soaked plaits
By the numbers
Cards on the table
Safety index
60/100
General guide, not advisory data
Best seasons
Summer · Fall
When it's at its best
Fly into
CPT
Cape Town International
Daily spend
$$
Mid-range
How to fit in
Read the room
Book Table Mountain for a clear, wind-free morning, the cable car closes when the tablecloth cloud rolls over the top. Locals chase the sun west for sundowners on Camps Bay or Clifton, and a winelands day is best with a driver so everyone can actually taste.
How to pack
What goes in the bag
Best in Summer
Summer: warm dry days around 22 to 28C with strong sun and the gusty southeaster, the long Cape beach season.
- layers for fast-changing mountain weather
- a windproof shell for the southeaster
- a swimsuit for the cold-Atlantic beaches
- strong sunscreen and sunglasses
- broken-in shoes for the trails
How to prepare
The boring bits
- Open (opens in a new tab)
Get a local eSIM
Airalo
- Open (opens in a new tab)
Travel insurance
SafetyWing
- Open (opens in a new tab)
Check entry requirements
Visa & vaccinations
Tomorrow's detour
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