Cape Town, South Africa Destination Guide
Section 1: Intro to the Destination
Cape Town is a hidden gem in the Western World. From the U.S.A. it seems so far away but while visiting it will feel like home. Cape Town is packed full of natural beauty (the mountains, beaches, and waterfront) and history that has shaped the country that it is today. The unification of diversity in Cape Town is very inspiring and strong within the local culture. There is something for everyone here during all seasons and the prices can be very reasonable. One of the best trips that will leave you wanting more time to experience it all!
Which of the Following Phrases Best Describes this Destination?
Energetic, Natural Beauty, BBQ
What’s the Destination Known For?
There is so much to see and do, including the Waterfront, Table Mountain, Wineries, Cape Point, Robben Island, etc. Make sure you research in advance so that you can maximize your time will visiting!
Braais - the South Africans love a good BBQ!
Water - one very important natural resource in South Africa. The tap water is definitely drinkable, however, the problem is there is not a lot of it. There is a shortage of fresh water in Cape Town, so everyone follows the second flush rule and taking fast showers. Water waste is definitely frowned upon.
South Africa still has some issue with crime, some ways to avoid any trouble - keep your valuables out of sight, keep cash in your pockets instead of a handbag, don’t leave anything expensive in the car, Stick to busy areas and never walk alone, especially at night.
Getting There
Location: Matroosfontein, Cape Town, 7490
Located East of the city
Visa: US citizens will receive a 90 day tourist visa upon arrival.
Tram: no longer exists
Bus: The AO1 Bus to the Civic Center is non-stop and will take around 25 minutes, it will cost around $7.50 for the one way.
Car: around a 20 minute drive to the city center on the N2. Cape Town is a very spread-out city, highly recommend renting a car during your stay.
Uber/Taxi: cost around $15 (with UberX)
Hire a car: also an option if you want a personal car to pick you up
Local Etiquette
Learn more about the culture and etiquette in South Africa - Kwintessential
Tipping: is very important! Most wait staff make lower wages, so tipping between 10-15% is very customary, however, no extra tipping is needed if there is already an added service charge on the bill.
Greeting: it is customary to shake hands and make eye contact. South Africans are very respectful of older people, and always address them with reverence.
Gestures: Making a ‘V’ with the index finger and middle finger, in the shape of the peace sign is very rude if the palm is facing towards yourself.
Meal Time: it is considered an insult if you leave food on your plate at the end of a meal
Local Languages: English, Ndebele, Northern Sotho, Sotho, Afrikaans, Tswana, Zulu, Xhosa, Tsonga, Venda, Swazi
Slang Words/Phrases to know:
Slap Chips – Deep fried potato chips
Skinner – Afrikaans slang for gossip
Lekker – great, nice, delicious
Kief [kif] – derived from Arabic (kayf), means cool, great, awesome or neat
Braai [br-eye] – BBQ
Shame – expression for sympathy or admiration
Eish [aysh] – exclamation of surprise, disapproval, exasperation or regret
Sharp Sharp [shahp] – goodbye
Weather
Temperatures:
Spring: (September-November)
High: 73F / 23C
Low: 48F / 9C
Summer: (December-February)
High: 79F / 26C
Low: 59F / 15C
Fall: (March-May)
High: 77F / 25C
Low: 50F / 10C
Winter: (June-August)
High: 64F / 18C
Low: 45F / 7C
Elevation: 72ft / 22m
The best month for swimming is February, the average sea temperature is 70F. The wettest month of the year is July.
The weather is best between December and February with the sunshine lasting between 10-11 hours. Fantastic months for warm weather and not so many crowds would include March to August. In winter, the temperature will slightly drop, making June the coldest month, with the sun shining for only about 5 hours a day.
How to dress: Cape Town on average can be quite cool feeling, with the temperature ranging in the upper and lower 70 degrees. Dress in layers with a light jacket always on hand, especially for when the sun goes down.
Getting Around
In-city transportation:
Rent a Car: Possibly the best way to get around and navigate Cape Town. There is plenty of parking everywhere and this really gives you the option to get outside of the city to explore on your own.
MyCiti Bus: a convenient and reliable way to get around the city.
Train: definitely an option! Especially if you want to travel with the locals and see what it is like to commute in Cape Town.
Uber/Taxi: both exist and are easy to use, just perhaps be careful and aware when taking a ride home after dark.
Bikes Rental: a great way to explore the inner city!
City Card:
Pick up the card at
Price:
Hop-On Hop-Off Bus: over 30 stops highlighting 50 major attractions.
Price: ranging from $13-$28.
Walking: it is hard to reach all major attractions by foot, however, there are some really great areas for exploring.
Section 2: What to See, Do, and Eat
Breakfast
Cafe, European
$$
Location: 95 Regent Road, Cape Town Central 8005
Times: Sunday: 8:00-16:00, Monday to Wednesday: 8:00-17:00, Thursday: 8:00-21:30, Friday & Saturday: 8:00-17:00
Casual dress
Known for their Bagels, that are served fresh after being hand-rolled, fermented overnight, and boiled in honey-water before baking.
Other great dishes include: homemade challah french toast and the potato latke benedict
Contemporary, Cafe
$$
Location: 185 Bree St, Cape Town City Centre, Cape Town, 8001
Times: Sunday: closed, Monday to Friday: 7:00-15:30, Saturday: 8:00-14:00
Casual dress
Known for their fantastic baked goods and extensive breakfast and lunch menu
Cafe
$$
Location: 28 Hudson St, De Waterkant, Cape Town, 8001
Times: Sunday: 8:00-14:00, Monday to Friday: 7:00-17:00, Saturday: 8:00-15:00
Casual dress
Famous for their delicious coffee that they roast on site, and amazing breakfast menu
Brunch
Farmers Market with all food types
$-$$
Location: Old Biscuit Mill, 373 Albert Rd, Woodstock, Cape Town, 7925
Times: only open Saturdays: 9:00-16:00
Casual dress
Fantastic modern market with food of all types - fresh seafood, Papaya, organic salads, BBQ, homemade pizza, and more!
Cafe, Diner, Bar
$$
Location: 133 Bree St, Cape Town City Centre, Cape Town, 8001
Times: Sunday: 8:00-15:00, Monday to Friday: 7:00-24:00, Saturday: 8:00-24:00
Casual Dress
Very diverse and large brunch menu that can last all day!
Known for their fantastic burgers
Cafe, Healthy, Vegan
$$
Location: 94 Belvedere Road, Claremont
Times: Sunday: closed, Monday to Friday: 7:00-17:00, Saturday: 8:00-16:00
Casual Dress
Starlings specialize in serving every kind of brunch eggs imaginable, with locally sourced ingredients. The Cafe is also vegan, veggie, and diet friendly.
Perfect for on-the-go bites or all-day-long brunches
Lunch
Street Food, Fast Food
$-$$
Location: V&A Food Market, the main entrance is right next to the Nobel Square at the V&A Waterfront inside the old Musica Building.
Times: Monday to Sunday: 9:30 - 17:00/18:00
Casual dress
“An artisanal street food market that brings together locally produced products, cutting edge concepts and affordability together”
Italian, Mediterranean
$$
Location: Corner Bree & Wale Street, Cape Town Central
Times: Sunday: closed, Monday to Saturday: 12:00-20:00
Casual dress
The menu includes: outstanding pizzas, gourmet sandwiches, interesting salads and meat dishes such as slow-cooked pork belly.
Cafe, Vegetarian
$$
Location: 10 Spin St, Cape Town City Centre, Cape Town, 8001
Times: Saturday & Sunday: closed, Monday to Friday: 6:45-16:00
Casual dress
The menu includes ready-made wraps and sandwiches to a lunch buffet featuring fresh salads, pies, curries, pasta and baked goodies
Dinner
European, Contemporary
$$-$$$
Location: Groot Constantia Road | Shop 8/9 High Constantia Centre, Constantia 7806
Times: Monday to Sunday: 12:00-14:00, 18:00-20:30
Upscale Dress
Foxcroft offers a wonderful 'fine dining' experience in a classy venue, with helpful and knowledgeable staff, and fantastic dishes with attention to detail.
African, Fusion
$$$
Location: 75 Kloof St, Gardens, Cape Town, 8001
Times: Sunday & Monday: closed, Tuesday: 18:00-24:00, Wednesday to Saturday: 12:00-14:00, 18:00-24:00
Upscale Dress
Reservations are highly recommended!
The greatest combination, including the best ingredients, preparation with passion, and a strong focus on provenance and seasonality
Contemporary, Fusion
$$$
Location: 375 Albert Road | Shop 104 A / The Old Biscuit Mill, Woodstock 7925
Times: Sunday & Monday: closed, Tuesday to Saturday: 18:30-21:00
Upscale Dress
In 2017, the Test Kitchen placed 45th at the Elite Traveler Top 100 Restaurant
Make sure you make a reservation well in advance, the meal will include 17 courses.
Other (Food Trucks, Late Night Bites, Ice Cream Shops, Cafes, Wine Bars)
Contemporary
$$$
Location: 76 Orange Street, Gardens, Cape Town, 8001
Times: Morning Tea 9:30-11:30, Afternoon Tea 13:00-15:00 or 15:30-17:30, Evening Tea 18:00-20:30
Upscale/Tea Time Attire
Known by the locals as the Pink Palace, the Mount Nelson Hotel is known for serving the best afternoon tea in the world
Sevruga Restaurant and Wine Bar
Japanese, Sushi
$$
Location: Shop 4, Quay 5, Victoria Wharf, V&A Waterfront, Cape Town, 8001
Times: Monday to Sunday: 12:00-20:00
Upscale Attire
Over 200 wines to choose from!
Top things to See and Do
The most famous mountain in South Africa! Table Mountain is one of the seven natural wonders of the world and known for its flat “table-like” peak.
You can hike up the mountain (1.5-2 hours) or take the cable car.
Location: Tafelberg Rd, Gardens, Cape Town, 8001. There is free parking along the road leading up to the Lower Cable Station.
Time Open: January to March: 8:00 - 19:00 (last car returning at 20:00), April: 8:00-18:30 (last car returning at 19:30), May to August: 8:30-17:00 (last car returning at 18:00)
Price: highly suggest to purchase your tickets online for the cable car before you arrive. The cost for the one-way is around $11-$12 and the round trip ranges from $18-$24 for one adult depending on the season.
Wine Tasting in the South African wine country
There are over 100 wine farms in the Cape Town wine region, the most popular wine towns include: Constantia (20 minutes from the city), Stellenbosch (40 minutes from the city), and Franschhoek (around 1 hour from the city)
There two ways to tour the wine region: create your own itinerary or with a tour company.
Location: Constantia, Stellenbosch, Franschhoek Valley
Time Open: most wine tastings end around 17:00.
Price: wine tastings range from $2-$4
“On September 17, 1860, Prince Alfred, Queen Victoria’s second son, tipped the first load of stone to start construction of the breakwater for Cape Town’s first harbour to make it a safe haven all year round for passing ships.”
The Victoria & Alfred Waterfront in Cape Town is positioned between the Atlantic shore, Table Bay Harbour, the City of Cape Town and Table Mountain.
Location: V & A Waterfront, Cape Town, 8001
Time Open: Monday to Sunday: 9:00-21:00
The V&A Waterfront has many attractions, as well as, restaurants, hotels, and shopping centers.
The perfect place to visit the African Penguin colony and go for a light swim in the brisk waters, just around the corner from Simon’s Town.
Location: Kleintuin Rd, Simon's Town, Cape Town, 7995
Time Open: Summer: 8:00-18:30 , Winter: 8:00-17:00
Price: $5.50 for adults, $3:00 for children
Bo-Kaap Neighborhood/Malay Quarter
The neighborhood is famous for its colorfully painted houses and cobblestone streets, located at the base of Signal Hill.
The residents can still trace their roots back to the Malaysians, Indians, Sri Lankans, and African people brought here by the Dutch as slaves many centuries ago.
A fantastic place to visit during the day, here are a few ideas of things to do and see during the day: Culture Trip or Trip Savvy.
Time Open: all day long, but highly suggested to go during the day.
Located at the meeting place of the Atlantic ocean and Indian ocean. The Aquarium is certified as a Diamond member of the Heritage Environmental Rating Program.
Explore the exhibits and go for a dive in the aquarium, or get a closer look in the ocean experience or make a new friend in the penguin experience.
Location: Dock Rd, V&A Waterfront, Cape Town, 8002
Time Open: Monday to Sunday: 9:30-18:00
Price: $13.00 for adults, $9.50 for children
Robben Island is where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for 27 years of his life. Today it is a museum that pays tribute to his life.
The tour takes 3.5 hours, which includes the ferry ride to and from the island and a guided tour on the island.
Location: ferries depart from the Nelson Mandela Gateway at the V&A Waterfront
Time Open: the ferries depart at 9:00, 11:00, and 13:00.
Price: $27.00 for one adult ticket
Cape Point is located at the southern tip of Africa (although most southern tip is actually Cape Agulhas) where the Atlantic and Indian Ocean meets.
You can visit both, the Cape Point and the Cape of Good Hope during the same trip. Cape Point will take around 1 hour and Cape of Good Hope will take 2-3. Both offer stunning views of the area and wildlife. Just make sure to keep your things and food away from the baboons!
Location: You can drive down along the False Bay or Atlantic side. Here are directions!
Time Open: October to March: 6:00-18:00, April-September: 7:00-17:00
Price: $11.00 for adults, $5.50 for children
Festivals/Parades
National Braai Day/National Heritage Day
A public holiday in South Africa to unite and celebrate the local heritage, diversity, beliefs, and traditions.
History: “The Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) originally proposed the idea of a public holiday in 1995 called “Shaka’s Day” to commemorate the unification of the Zulu nation brought about by King Shaka in the 19th Century. However, the new South African government agreed that the day should be more inclusive, and so Heritage Day was born. So 24 September came to be known as the day to celebrate the cultural diversity that makes up South Africa.”
Date: September 24
How to best experience it: with a group of friends or new acquaintances around a fire at a local Braai (BBQ).
“The Cape Town Carnival is a glamorous celebration of the transformative power of creativity and our African identity with its diverse array of communities and cultures.”
The Fan Walk in Green Point is where you can experience the city come alive through dancing, pyrotechnics, enormous colourful floats, giant puppets, and live music. Learn more about the Cape Town Carnival!
Location: Green Point, Cape Town, Western Cape
Date: Middle of March
Price: You can stand anywhere along the parade route for free, or get a bleacher seat for $22 per person.
Nightlife (bars, clubs, wine bars, rooftops for sunsets, etc.)
This is THE place to go out at night for restaurants, bars, and clubs.
Located between the Cape Town Convention Center and Kloof Street
Long Street in Cape Town is equivalent to Bourbon Street in New Orleans
Here is a list of the best bars & clubs!
Hidden Gems
Although the water isn’t always the warmest, going to the beach is definitely an experience you don’t want to pass up while in Cape Town. Here is a short list of some popular/hidden beaches:
Beta Beach: a convenient ten minutes’ drive from the city center, this tiny beach is lined by big boulders, which makes it great for swimming as well as enjoying the beautiful views of Camps Bay and Lion’s Head.
Oudekraal Beach: very close to Beta Beach. It offers a protected cove at the bottom of a steep set of stairs, surrounded by a thicket of milkwood trees. The area forms part of the Table Mountain National Park, so there is a small entrance fee of $0.75.
Smitswinkel Bay: is a little further out of the city towards Cape Point. The parking lot is a tiny graveled road between Simon’s Town and the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve. Once parked, head 15-minutes down the overgrown footpath to the isolated Smitswinkelbaai. The calm water is great for snorkeling!
Tieties Bayi: about a two hour drive from the city, situated in the Cape Columbine Reserve on the West Coast. It is heavily covered in colourful wild flowers in the spring and a forever quiet thanks to the prohibition of any “noise”.
Gansbaai is about 2 hours east of Cape Town and perfect for a day trip of Great White Shark diving in cages or viewing from the boat. Either which way, it will be an adrenaline rush of an experience!
There is an insane amount of Great White sharks because of the large population of seals.
Location: 5 Geelbek Street, Kleinbaai, Western Cape
Time Open: Need to make a reservation before!
Price: $160 per adult, $90 per child
