Cape Town is without doubt one of the world’s most breathtaking cities, which offers all the major attractions that travellers expect from their holidays as well as many unique experiences all surrounded by some of the most beautiful scenery to be found anywhere on the planet. Cape Town city offers more than you might expect and at times it seems the more you discover the more that remains to be found.
Cape Town City Accommodation
Accommodation in Cape Town City ranges from the truly luxurious to budget guesthouses suitable for backpackers. Accommodation in Cape Town is distributed throughout the city, with hotels and hostels close to most of the major tourist attractions giving an ideal base from which to explore the rest of the city.
Top Things in Cape Town City
When spending time in Cape Town, there are a few things that you will not want to miss, regardless of the length of your stay. First on your list should be to visit the spectacular Table Mountain, which is perhaps the best-known landmark in this part of the world. Guided tours and walks are available to make sure you are safe at all times. A visit to Langa Township is also essential if you are to experience a true sense of the history of the city and its more turbulent times. If relaxing is more your sort of thing then spend some time catching rays on Boulders Beach or Clifton Beach; both are located in idyllic settings that are no more than a stone’s throw away from the heart of the city. Robben Island, which is a designated World Heritage Site, should make your list before you leave, as this is the Alcatraz of Africa. Finally, no trip to Cape Town would be complete without a guided tour of the city itself.
Eating out
The standard of restaurants across Cape Town is of a very high standard and comes with a fascinating food and wine history. A wide range of flavours and influences are on offer, from local cuisine to French, Asian and fusion providing gastronomic delights that will please people of all ages and tastes. Discerning palates will find fine dining in Cape Town more than satisfactory and with influences that stem from as far back in history as the colonists and beyond, the Malay kitchen has a real foothold here and spices abound. Various districts across Cape Town serve up top-notch food, but without doubt the most popular and most-frequented area is that of Kloof Street, where world-class cuisine is served alongside some of the city’s best nightlife. There is no shortage of eateries across Cape Town City to suit all tastes and budgets and with dishes ranging from traditional British to curries, breedies, bobotie and koekstisters, travellers have the opportunity to experience a range of international and local dishes, all within the eclectic city limits.
Parks & The Great Outdoors
People who love the outdoors will wonder how they ever managed to experience nature without visiting Cape Town. National parks surround this spellbinding city; Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens, which are located on the eastern slopes of the world famous Table Mountain, are internationally acclaimed and regarded as one of the top seven botanical gardens in the world. Table Mountain provides walks and activities, which are as energising as they are breathtaking, while Table Mountain National Park offers views and countryside that is nothing short of stunning, as well as providing 360o views of Cape Town and further afield. Boulders is renowned for not only providing a fantastic landscape, but also for its indigenous penguin colony. Greenpoint Park and Biodiversity Garden is well known for being a legacy project from the FIFA 2010 World Cup and offers great views of Signal Hill. It is a superb place to enjoy a relaxing picnic with learning opportunities available to people of all ages.
Cape Town City Nightlife
Cape Town City has a vibrant and pulsating nightlife, which caters to the tastes of a wide variety of people. Regardless of age, there is something here to keep you up until the small hours. Clubs kick off at around 11 p.m. and the bars open late, so if you have no reason to get up early in the morning or even if you do, there is no reason to head back to your hotel early. Restaurants, clubs and pubs are found throughout the city, but by far the most popular area is that around the V&A Waterfront, as well as within the city centre itself. The locals are laid back and while there might not be hundreds of clubs, there are certainly enough to keep even the most party-hardened person happy. The Greenpoint area is popular with the younger crowd and there is a wide range of vibes on offer, from sultry Cuban to hardcore techno and just about everything else in between.
Arts & Entertainment
Cape Town City is a veritable cultural hub and the entertainment at night is about far more than just pub-crawls and clubbing. Talented performers are found all across the city, which is also renowned as a top class jazz destination. Theatre, which offers shows ranging from one man/woman experiences to lavish musicals akin to those you would find on Broadway, is at the heart of life in Cape Town, while the ballet often puts on much loved classics; for something a little unusual, aqua opera can also be found. Shows and exhibitions can be found at the Cape Town International Convention Centre, which is the city’s state-of-the-art conference and exhibition centre. Events range from book fairs to jazz performances, as well as art exhibitions featuring local and international artists. Finally, comedy is starting to really blossom in the city, with amateur and professional comedians being found performing more and more regularly.