Top tips when visiting Cape Town

Around 900 miles southwest of Johannesburg and a similar distance from the Namibian capital of Windhoek, Cape Town sits at the southern tip of Africa. Aptly named, it’s the closest city to the Cape Peninsula, on which you’ll find both the Cape of Good Hope and Cape Point, where the Pacific and Indian Oceans meet. The easiest way to arrive from the UK is on direct flights to Cape Town with BA or Virgin Atlantic, depending on the season. Alternatively, the city can be reached with one change through Johannesburg, Dubai, or Doha and via several European and African hubs. For those following a more extensive South African itinerary, Cape Town is the perfect place to end a Garden Route road trip from Port Elizabeth and its surrounding game reserves.

Like any major city worldwide, the answer to ‘Is Cape Town safe?’ will always be ‘Yes, if…’. While South Africa has had a reputation for crime in the past, this has been steadily improving for many years, and most parts of Cape Town are perfectly safe for tourists to visit. As a general guide, daytime exploring is fine, but consider a taxi or Uber if you’re passing through unfamiliar neighbourhoods after dark, just as you might in London or Los Angeles. If in doubt, areas such as City Bowl and the V&A Waterfront offer plenty to do in a well-lit and protected environment that is secure for any visitor.

Speaking of the V&A Waterfront, if you have the budget, that’s the number one place to stay in Cape Town. The Table Bay Hotel and One&Only Cape Town are just some luxury hotels scattered around this oceanside plaza filled with restaurants, museums, markets, and entertainment. If you prefer to save your spending for experiences, nearby properties include The Commodore and The Cullinan or self-catering apartments at De Waterkant and the Waterfront Village. 

Other great locations in Cape Town include Sea Point, where you’ll find The Winchester Boutique Hotel, or the central basin between Table Mountain and Lion’s Head, where you can enjoy sophisticated luxury at the Belmond Mount Nelson Hotel and welcoming hospitality at Four Rosmead. If you prefer to stay closer to the sand and travel into the city, The Bay Hotel offers oceanside living while the elegant mountainside Twelve Apostles Hotel & Spa will help keep any stay feeling relaxed and refined.

The first thing you should do in Cape Town is book an extra night, or maybe two, because there will always be something more you want to enjoy. The next thing on your agenda should be working up an appetite because the food choices are incredible. From the 80 or more eateries of the V&A Waterfront to the eclectic restaurants in the heart of the city and local gathering points such as the Eastern Food Bazaar and Food Lover’s Market, you’ll be spoiled for choice. Fortunately, growing that appetite is easy, with lots to do on offer: take a cable car to the summit of Table Mountain and enjoy views over the city to the ocean. Hop on a ferry to Robben Island and walk in the footsteps of Nelson Mandela, or discover the stories of South Africa in the city’s museums.

The Cape Peninsula can be explored as part of a tour or as a self-drive - for those wanting freedom to explore. Take a selfie by the colourful beach huts of Muizenberg, spot baboons, klipspringers, and Cape Mountain zebras at the Cape Point Nature Reserve, and get an obligatory picture by the Cape of Good Hope sign. Whichever attractions you visit, don’t miss spending an hour with the adorable penguins at Boulders Bay before grabbing lunch by the waterfront in Simon’s Town.

Less than an hour’s drive east, you’ll find the beginning of South Africa’s famous Winelands. Hire a car, take an escorted tour, or, even better, book an overnight stay and sample the goods at incredible vineyards and cellar doors from Stellenbosch to Franschhoek. Perhaps spend a leisurely day touring on the hop-on, hop-off Wine Tram as you collect the best-tasting bottles to take home. Beyond the rolling fields of grapes lies the start of the Garden Route, one of the most beautiful scenic drives in the world, which takes you through clifftop villages and coastal towns all the way to Port Elizabeth and the Eastern Cape Game Reserves. Here, you can enjoy Big Five safaris and complement your city stay with an all-inclusive South Africa holiday in a luxury lodge.

There are two things any traveller to Cape Town should know. The first is to pack for every weather. While the region enjoys pleasant summers and relatively mild winters, each day can be changeable, just as it is in the UK. Layers and light waterproofs will help you enjoy any plans uninterrupted. The second tip is to book early. The best hotels, tours, and experiences can fill up in advance, and most have flexible policies, so booking ahead is always the best way to guarantee your holiday is the very best it can be.