What to do once you land inCape TownFind your bearings
Cape Town is where a flat-topped mountain meets two oceans, and the result is one of the world's most dramatically beautiful cities. The food scene rivals anywhere in Europe at a third of the price, the wine is world-class and 30 minutes from downtown, and the outdoor adventures are endless. It's also a complex city with deep history — engage with it honestly.
Neighborhoods
City Bowl & Bree Street — Downtown's restaurant row: craft cocktail bars, innovative restaurants, and rooftop sundowners backed by Table Mountain
Bo-Kaap — Historic Cape Malay neighborhood with rainbow-colored houses, cobblestone streets, and the smell of bobotie and samoosas from home kitchens
Woodstock & Observatory — Gentrifying creative hub: The Old Biscuit Mill market, street art, micro-breweries, and vintage shops
Camps Bay & Clifton — Atlantic seaboard glamour: white sand beaches, sundowner bars, and the Twelve Apostles mountain range as a backdrop
Kalk Bay & Simon's Town — False Bay fishing villages: antique shops, harbor fish & chips, penguin colony at Boulders Beach, and the scenic train ride to get there
Best time to visit
November through March (South African summer) for warm weather, long days, and dry skies. December through January is peak tourist season. March through April is gorgeous with fewer crowds and harvest season in the Winelands.
Getting around
Rent a car or use Uber. Public transport exists but isn't reliable or safe for tourists outside the MyCiTi bus routes
MyCiTi buses connect the airport to Civic Centre for about $5 and run to Camps Bay and the Waterfront
The scenic train to Simon's Town is beautiful but check safety advisories. Go during daytime, busy hours only
Uber is safe, reliable, and extremely cheap. Airport to city center is $10 to $15
Key areas
Table MountainBree StreetBo-KaapCamps BayV&A Waterfront
Zero-dollar wins
1
Lion's Head sunrise hike45-minute hike to the summit for 360° views of Table Mountain, the Atlantic, and the city below. Full moon hikes are a Cape Town tradition
2
Bo-Kaap walkingWander the cobblestone streets of this colorful Cape Malay neighborhood. Every house is a different pastel shade against the mountain backdrop
3
Kirstenbosch gardens (free days)World-famous botanical garden offers free entry on certain days. The Boomslang treetop walkway and fynbos gardens are extraordinary
4
Muizenberg Beach and surfer cultureColorful Victorian bathing boxes line the beach. Watch surfers, walk the boardwalk, and photograph those iconic beach huts
5
Company's GardenHistoric garden in the city center with 350-year-old trees, squirrels, and free museums (SA National Gallery, SA Museum) alongside it
6
Greenmarket SquareOpen-air market in the city bowl with African crafts, fabrics, and art. Free to browse and the architecture around the square is stunning
7
Chapman's Peak Drive viewpointsOne of the world's most scenic coastal roads. Multiple free pullover viewpoints with jaw-dropping cliff-meets-ocean panoramas
Treat yourself
(we think it's worth it)
The Test Kitchen$80 to $130
Luke Dale-Roberts' legendary fine dining. Multi-course tasting menu that pushes South African cuisine into avant-garde territory. Book months aheadTable Mountain cableway + sunset$25 to $35
Take the rotating cable car to the summit for sunset. Bring wine (allowed) and watch the city light up 3,500 feet belowFranschhoek wine tram$40 to $70
Hop-on-hop-off tram and tuk-tuk through the Cape Winelands. Visit 6+ estates for tastings, cheese pairings, and vineyard lunchesLa Colombe$90 to $140
Constantia valley fine dining with Asian-French-South African fusion. The tasting menu with wine pairing is revelatoryThe legendary bites
The dishes this city perfected
The Pot Luck Club$30 to $50
Rooftop tapas by Luke Dale-Roberts in the Old Biscuit Mill. Creative small plates meant for sharing with panoramic city viewsKorean-spiced short rib with kimchi and gingerHarbour House Kalk Bay$20 to $40
Fresh-off-the-boat seafood in a converted harbor warehouse. Watch fishing boats unload while you eat their catchWest Coast mussels in white wine and garlicThe Shortmarket Club$25 to $45
Hidden speakeasy-style restaurant on Bree Street. Ring the bell to enter. Modern South African plates in an intimate 30-seat roomSpringbok loin with beetroot and fynbos honeyKloof Street House$18 to $35
Victorian house turned restaurant with a lush garden terrace. South African comfort food elevated and a killer cocktail listSlow-roasted lamb shoulder with roasted garlicOld Biscuit Mill Saturday Market$5 to $15
Woodstock's weekly food market with 100+ stalls. From Ethiopian injera to Cape Malay curries to artisan pastries — arrive hungryWhole hog pulled pork roll with slawWhere locals eat
Where residents actually go
Mzansi's rooftop gatsby$2 to $4
The gatsby is Cape Town's signature sandwich: a foot-long roll stuffed with chips, steak, and sauce. Messy, massive, and $3Golden Dish (Athlone)$3 to $6
Legendary Cape Malay takeaway in the Cape Flats. Samoosas, koeksisters, and denningvleis that define Cape Town's food heritageKalky's (Kalk Bay harbour)$5 to $8
Fish and chips counter at the harbor where seals beg for scraps. Fresh hake, calamari, and slap chips ($5) with ocean sprayMojo Market (Sea Point)$8 to $14
Indoor food market with global stalls: Thai, Mexican, Ethiopian, and South African braai. Live music on weekends, great craft beerMariam's Kitchen (Bo-Kaap)$12 to $18
Home-cooked Cape Malay meals in a Bo-Kaap residence. Bobotie, samoosas, and roti made by hand. Book ahead, small groups onlyLanga Quarter food walk$15 to $25
Guided township food experience through Langa. Taste umqombothi (traditional beer), braai meat, and smiley (sheep head) in a community settingGo off-script
1
Table Mountain Platteklip Gorge hikeSkip the cable car and hike up the front face. 2 to 3 hours of switchbacks rewarded with the same summit views. Take the cable car down if legs are done
2
Cape Point and penguinsDrive the Cape Peninsula: Chapman's Peak, Cape of Good Hope, Boulders Beach penguin colony, and fish & chips in Simon's Town. Full day, unforgettable
3
Stellenbosch wine crawl30 minutes from the city: Delaire Graff for views, Waterford for chocolate pairings, Hidden Valley for sunsets. Uber between estates
4
Robben Island tourFerry to the island where Mandela was imprisoned. Tours led by former political prisoners. Powerful, essential, and important context for understanding Cape Town
Insider intel + tourist traps
Tips
- ✓Load shedding (scheduled power outages) is a reality. Download the EskomSePush app to know when your area loses power and plan restaurant visits accordingly
- ✓Cape Town is safe for tourists who stay aware. Uber everywhere at night, don't flash expensive items, and stay in well-traveled areas
- ✓The rand makes everything cheap for Americans. A world-class tasting menu is $80, a bottle of excellent wine is $8 at the estate
- ✓Water is precious here. Cape Town nearly ran dry in 2018. Short showers are appreciated and most restaurants won't pour tap water automatically
“We did a Franschhoek wine tram, hiked Lion's Head at sunrise, and ate at three restaurants that would be impossible to get into in NYC — all for less than one nice dinner back home. Cape Town is the best value in the world right now.”
Skip
- ✗V&A Waterfront restaurants: mall-food prices for average quality. Walk 10 minutes to Bree Street for the real food scene
- ✗Table Mountain at midday in summer: hour-long cable car queues and harsh light. Go early morning or late afternoon, or just hike
- ✗Big Bus hop-on-hop-off for $30 when Uber between all the same stops costs half and runs on your schedule
We found flights to Cape Town from $499
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