Information to Cape City, South Africa

Cape City is South Africa’s crown jewel. Based by the Dutch East India Firm in 1652, it was South Africa’s first try at a contemporary metropolis, incomes it the nickname “The Mom Metropolis.” Due to its strategic location on the southwestern tip of Africa, it as soon as performed an essential function in world commerce. As we speak, it is one in all South Africa’s three capital cities and residential to almost 5 million residents who proudly check with themselves as Capetonians. 

However Cape City’s setting—a dramatic shoreline hugging Desk Mountain Nationwide Park—is as picturesque as its historical past is problematic. Like the remainder of South Africa, Cape City continues to be recovering from the apartheid period, which led to 1994. Whereas crime and corruption are nonetheless points, town helped host the 2010 FIFA World Cup, spurring an inflow of vacationers that has but to decelerate. Cape City is now serviced by three nonstop flights from the U.S. Common day journeys from town embody seeing the bucolic wineries of Stellenbosch, the African penguin colony in Simon’s City, and the Large 5 at Aquila Recreation Reserve.

Greatest Lodges and Resorts

The Silo Resort

As soon as an eyesore, the tallest grain silo on the waterfront is now an art-forward five-star resort. The primary 9 flooring are a museum boasting the continent’s largest assortment of latest African artwork. The subsequent six tales function 28 rooms and suites with floor-to-ceiling “pillowed glass” home windows. The property, which opened in 2017, is a part of The Royal Portfolio.  

The President Resort 

President Nelson Mandela opened this Bantry Bay establishment in 1998. It’s widespread with enterprise vacationers and households who recognize facilities together with a restaurant, spa, salon, present store, children play space, infinity pool, and fitness center. Rooms had been renovated in 2024, and the property affords bike leases, good for exploring the adjoining beachfront promenade. 

Cape Grace, A Fairmont Managed Resort 

Voted a prime metropolis resort in Africa by T+L readers for greater than 20 years, Cape Grace is the place to remain on the V&A. The 112-key property was acquired by Fairmont in 2023 and reopened in 2024 after an intensive overhaul. Select from 12 classes of luxurious rooms and suites with both harbor or mountain views. 

Ellerman Home

As soon as a non-public residence, this tony property prides itself on being voted 2024’s Greatest Metropolis Resort in Africa by T+L readers. “Home” is a little bit of a misnomer; it’s extra of a compound that includes gardens, a spa, a 9,000-bottle wine gallery, and one in all Africa’s largest personal artwork collections. The mansion has 13 bedrooms and suites; the 2 personal villas are perfect for households. 

Twelve Apostles Resort and Spa 

Though it’s positioned six miles outdoors of town, this 70-room oceanfront retreat is simple to search out. It’s the one constructing on this stretch of the scenic drive to Chapman’s Peak. Reap the benefits of the complimentary shuttle into city, or deal with your self to a therapeutic massage adopted by a G&T within the fabled Leopard Bar. 

Greatest Issues to Do 

Take a helicopter tour.

“The seaboard metropolis has such gorgeous pure geography, it’s laborious to know from the bottom and completely gorgeous from an aerial perspective,” says Samantha Gordon, a T+L Prime Journey Advisor who recommends an aerial tour with Heli Flip. Particular person seat charges and wholesome competitors amongst tour operators make it a extra inexpensive expertise. 

Go for a wine tasting.

Gordon additionally recommends visiting the Cape Winelands, particularly with wine grasp Harry Melck. Established in 1682, Steenberg is the world’s oldest wine farm. Even if you happen to do not drink, benefit from the scenic drive by means of pastoral communities like Stellenbosch, the place you possibly can meet South Africa’s first Black feminine winemaker.   

Go to the apartheid museums.

Seen from nearly anyplace in Cape City, Robben Island is very similar to San Francisco’s Alcatraz. Take a ferry to see the previous jail the place Nelson Mandela and different political prisoners had been incarcerated throughout apartheid. Gordon recommends the personal excursions with Christo Model, Mandela’s jail guard-turned-friend. The District Six Museum, on the mainland, is one other good spot to realize a greater understanding of racial segregation in South Africa. 

See penguins at Boulder Seashore.

Don’t miss the adventures of the African penguin colony that lives on a white-sand seashore named for its truck-sized boulders. Professional tip: Skip the north entrance, the place you need to keep on the boardwalk, for the lesser-known southern entrance, the place you possibly can stroll on the seashore. “You get a way more intimate and shut expertise,” says Capetonian Shaun Stanley, founding father of Stanley Safaris. 

Hike Desk Mountain Nationwide Park.

Desk Mountain is South Africa’s most well-known landmark and the namesake for this sprawling nationwide park. Along with placing geological formations, it is residence to distinct vegetation, known as fynbos. Hike one in all many trails to the highest (3,563 ft.) or experience the cable automotive to soak up the panoramic views.  

Greatest Procuring

Neighbourgoods Market

In case you’re visiting on a weekend, you could possibly simply spend half a day at this bustling Woodstock market housed in a superbly restored former biscuit mill. “It affords a variety of regionally made crafts, jewellery, clothes, and meals merchandise,” says Maija De Rijk-Uys, a T+L Prime Journey Advisor. 

V&A Waterfront

The V&A Waterfront’s focus is the mall, with greater than 450 retail shops the place you’ll discover each model from Adidas to Armani. In case you’re in search of handmade souvenirs you received’t discover anyplace else, try Watershed, the place De Rijk-Uys prefers to assist the 150+ native distributors. 

Kalk Bay 

De Rijk-Uys describes this False Bay neighborhood as a “charming fishing village with vintage outlets and quirky shops.” The 40-minute drive from Cape City is value it if you happen to recognize impartial bookstores and attempting to find antiques. 

Greatest Eating places

Kloof Avenue Home 

This boutique brasserie serving up lunch and dinner downtown is housed in a Twentieth-century Victorian residence with an equally spectacular backyard. “From intimate candle-lit corners to tree-shaded backyard tables, the area lends itself to any event,” says Gordon, who likes to lunch right here and take heed to reside jazz on Sundays. 

Reverie Social Desk

With only one neighborhood desk, Reverie affords the Mom Metropolis’s most unique epicurean expertise. End up making new buddies over a five-course dinner that includes “hyper-seasonal” components handpicked by head chef (and Reverie’s proprietor) Julia Hattingh, who lives on website. Arrive early to get pleasure from a glass of South African wine within the again backyard. 

Fyn

Stanley’s favourite restaurant is FYN, which additionally requires reservations. Simply a Michelin contender, this South African-Japanese fusion institution serves up a hard and fast nine-course dinner and a hard and fast six-course lunch. Though the Karoo Wagyu alone is value touring for, pescatarians and plant-based diners are additionally welcome to get pleasure from their very own particular menu. 

Our Native

“The relaxed ambiance, mixed with the cheap costs, makes Our Native a super spot for a leisurely lunch or a laid-back dinner with buddies,” says Rijk-Uys. Select from ingenious dishes starting from orange shakshuka to 3 types of loaded schnitzel. Regardless of being a mom-and-pop place, it’s so beloved that it’s in a position to be open for breakfast, brunch, lunch, and dinner.  

Belmond Mount Nelson

“Whether or not it’s Sunday afternoon tea, an intimate dinner at The Crimson Room, or a desk at Oasis for the resort’s famed jazz brunch, Mount Nelson is on the forefront of Cape City’s eating scene,” says Gordon. Serving up every thing from farm-to-table fare to Mediterranean delicacies and even shareable plates of pan-Asian specialties in its seven eateries, the Belmond’s kitchen workers know no bounds. For probably the most memorable meal, e book a seat on the Chef’s Desk. 

Greatest Time to Go to

December by means of March is South Africa’s summer season, when Cape City is alive with vacationers and locals having fun with the solar. It is typically heat sufficient to warrant a dip within the ocean. For decrease costs and fewer individuals, go to in the course of the winter, late June by means of late September. Pack a raincoat, as a result of winter means moist. Lastly, the shoulder seasons might be simply as unforgettable. Spring, September by means of early December, is when Desk Mountain’s wildflowers are in full bloom. Autumn, late March by means of early June, is considered the perfect time to go cage diving with nice white sharks.

The right way to Get There 

There are three direct flights from the U.S. to Cape City Worldwide Airport. United flies from Newark (EWR) and Washington, D.C. (IAD) whereas Delta affords a direct flight from Atlanta (ATL). Cape City Worldwide Airport is positioned 12 miles from downtown Cape City. One of the simplest ways to achieve your resort from the airport is to rearrange a experience upfront (some inns supply shuttles), or take Uber. Comply with the indicators within the arrivals corridor to Parkade 1. For security causes, e book by means of the app; don’t settle for rides from drivers providing their providers in individual. 

Neighborhoods and Suburbs to Know 

Metropolis Bowl

Nestled in a pure despair, Metropolis Bowl is the guts, and oldest half, of Cape City. It is residence to the CBD (Central Enterprise District), Lengthy Avenue’s well-preserved Dutch colonial structure, the Bo-Kaap’s colourful homes, and the V&A’s canals that wind by means of the waterfront district. 

Atlantic Seaboard

Cape City’s riviera, that is the place you’ll discover boutique inns, white-sand seashores, and big compounds belonging to town’s elite. Every neighborhood, centered round a seashore, has its personal character, from the uber-posh Camp’s Bay to the fishing village vibes of Hout Bay.

Woodstock

Woodstock is Cape City’s reply to Brooklyn’s Williamsburg. In case you’re enthusiastic about artwork, theater, or something various, this former industrial space is a must-see. If nothing else, in 10 years, you possibly can say you visited Woodstock earlier than everybody knew how cool it was and property builders ruined it. 

The right way to Get Round

Trains: Cape City’s commuter trains exist because the Metrorail, though if you happen to ask locals, they’re unreliable and unsafe. In 2024, Ceres Rail introduced again its scenic vacationer practice—a historic steam engine—that travels from Cape City to Elgin Railway Market. 

Buses: Whereas there are a number of native buses and minibuses (mainly vans shuttling commuters), the perfect buses for guests are the MyCiTi buses. They join with the airport and serve scheduled stops in high-traffic vacationer areas. Metropolis Sightseeing hop-on, hop-off buses additionally cease at widespread sights and embody commentary. The Crimson Line covers the northern a part of Cape City; the Blue Line goes to Hout Bay. 

Taxis and Shuttles: Solely use taxi and shuttle providers supplied by respected firms you can e book upfront. Don’t take rides from drivers who method you on the road.

Rideshare: Uber is one of the simplest ways to get round Cape City, and drivers are in all places. That stated, Stanley recommends sticking to Uber Black. “Normal Ubers are okay,” he advised T+L. “However the autos aren’t all the time in the perfect circumstances, and given the trade charge, getting an Uber Black just isn’t that rather more.” 

Automobile Leases: It’s simple and comparatively inexpensive to hire automobiles in Cape City. However remember they drive on the left-hand aspect of the street, and plenty of neighborhoods aren’t protected to drive by means of. Stanley additionally cautions towards renting if you happen to plan on having fun with Cape City’s Winelands. “We have now a really strict drink/driving coverage.” In case you do hire, the Cape City Tourism board recommends parking in well-lit areas with safety guards. 

Security

Whereas Cape City is taken into account to be a lot safer than Johannesburg, it’s suffering from a comparatively excessive crime charge. Carjackings, muggings, and specific kidnappings are frequent. That stated, most vacationers say Cape City continues to be value visiting. You simply have to be extra vigilant. By no means stroll alone at evening, all the time hike in teams, don’t show your valuables, and by no means settle for assist from somebody at an ATM or money level.