Our guide to Cape Town’s best, including our favorite places to go, eat, stay, have fun, and see art.
Cape Town is known as the Mother City of South Africa for being the oldest city in the country—but old certainly doesn’t mean outdated. Instead, Cape Town offers one of the most dynamic city travel experiences, rich in history, culture, and geographic diversity.
Here you’ll find some of the most unique cuisine, a thriving arts scene, beautiful beaches for surfing and lounging alike, hiking, shopping, and many exciting neighborhoods to explore. It’s no wonder Cape Town ranked as one of our top destinations for 2019—and below, we outline all the different ways to take advantage of the city’s authentic splendor.
Cape Town Travel Guides
The largest city in the Western Cape, a single day in Cape Town can mean surfing the Indian Ocean, learning about South Africa’s turbulent past, or digging into local fare. For starters, check out the must-sees and must-dos both in and outside the city limits, including the best restaurants, galleries, and adventures on offer.
→The Ultimate Guide to Cape Town
→Why You Should Take an Overnight Train Between Cape Town and Johannesburg
→Your Next Family Vacation Should Be a South African Safari
Where to Stay in Cape Town
The range of hotels available in Cape Town is just as diverse as its geography. Here, no traveler type—business or pleasure, luxury or laid-back, modern or classic—will want for anything, whether you’re in town for a quick jaunt in settling in for an extended stay.
→4 Cape Town Hotels for Every Type of Traveler
What to Do in Cape Town
In Cape Town, all of life’s pleasures exist in abundance: The great outdoors, local shopping, food, the arts, and many, many excellent glasses of wine. Below, learn how to spend your days sipping wine at venues overlooking the ocean, shopping and supporting local businesses, or scaling the side of Table Mountain in pursuit of the perfect view.
→ The 6 Best Wine Bars in Cape Town, According to Certified Sommelier Wayve Kolevsohn
→ 6 Hiking Trails in Table Mountain National Park Worth the Sweat
→ 9 Independently-Owned Cape Town Shops to Spend Your Vacation Money
Arts and Culture in Cape Town
The artists of Cape Town have the spirit of a people prepared to reinvent their city. A major hub for a new generation of talent in the musical and visual arts, get to know the game-changing creatives and venues reshaping the landscape of Cape Town into one more diverse, inclusive, and unapologetic.