Here’s what you gotta know before visiting Cape Town.
Christopher Larson/Travel + Leisure
Top 5 Cant Miss
Cape Town is South Africa’s crown jewel.
But Cape Towns settinga dramatic coastline hugging Table Mountain National Parkis as picturesque as its history is problematic.
Colorful buildings on Cape Town’s rocky landscape.Credit:Christopher Larson/Travel + Leisure
The first nine floors are a museum boasting the continents largest collection of contemporary African art.
The next six stories feature 28 rooms and suites with floor-to-ceiling pillowed glass windows.
The property, which opened in 2017, is part ofThe Royal Portfolio.
Guest room in The Silo Hotel.Courtesy of The Silo Hotel
The President Hotel
President Nelson Mandela openedthis Bantry Bay institutionin 1998.
The 112-key property was acquired by Fairmont in 2023 and reopened in 2024 after an extensive overhaul.
Choose from 12 categories of luxurious rooms and suites with either harbor or mountain views.
Penguins at Boulders Beach.Christopher Larson/Travel + Leisure
The mansion has 13 bedrooms and suites; the two private villas are ideal for families.
Its the only building on this stretch of the scenic drive to Chapmans Peak.
Best Things to Do
Take a helicopter tour.
The V&A Waterfront in Cape Town.Christopher Larson/Travel + Leisure
Individual seat rates and healthy competition among tour operators make it a more affordable experience.
Go for a wine tasting.
Gordon also recommends visiting the Cape Winelands, especially with wine masterHarry Melck.
Dining room in Belmond Mount Nelson.Courtesy of Belmond
Established in 1682,Steenbergis the areas oldest wine farm.
Visit the apartheid museums.
Visible from almost anywhere in Cape Town,Robben Islandis much like San Franciscos Alcatraz.
Aerial view of Cape Town’s coastline.Tobiah Lui/Travel + Leisure
Take a ferry to see the former prison where Nelson Mandela and other political prisoners were incarcerated during apartheid.
Gordon recommends the private tours withChristo Brand, Mandelas prison guard-turned-friend.
See penguins at Boulder Beach.
The colorful Bo-Kaap neighborhood of Cape Town.Anna Haines/Travel + Leisure
Dont miss the adventures of theAfrican penguin colonythat lives on a white-sand beach named for its truck-sized boulders.
You get a much more intimate and close experience, says Capetonian Shaun Stanley, founder ofStanley Safaris.
Hike Table Mountain National Park.
Traffic signs in Cape Town, South Africa.imageBROKER/Christoph Schöne/Getty Images
Table Mountainis South Africa’s most famous landmark and the namesake for this sprawling national park.
In addition to striking geological formations, it’s home to distinct vegetation, called fynbos.
The 40-minute drive from Cape Town is worth it if you appreciate independent bookstores and hunting for antiques.
Reverie Social Table
With just one community table,Reverieoffers the Mother Citys most exclusive epicurean experience.
Arrive early to enjoy a glass of South African wine in the back garden.
Fyn
Stanleys favorite restaurant isFYN, which also requires reservations.
Choose from inventive dishes ranging from orange shakshuka to three styles of loaded schnitzel.
For the most memorable meal, book a seat at the Chefs Table.
It’s often warm enough to warrant a dip in the ocean.
For lower prices and fewer people, visit during the winter, late June through late September.
Pack a raincoat, because winter means wet.
Finally, the shoulder seasons can be just as unforgettable.
Spring, September through early December, is when Table Mountains wildflowers are in full bloom.
Woodstock
Woodstock is Cape Town’s answer to Brooklyns Williamsburg.
They connect with the airport and serve scheduled stops in high-traffic tourist areas.
City Sightseeing hop-on, hop-off buses also stop at popular attractions and include commentary.
The Red Line covers the northern part of Cape Town; the Blue Line goes to Hout Bay.
Do not take rides from drivers who approach you on the street.
Rideshare:Uber is the best way to get around Cape Town, and driversare everywhere.
That said, Stanley recommends sticking to Uber Black.
Standard Ubers are okay, he told T+L.
Car Rentals:Its easy and relatively affordable to rent cars in Cape Town.
Stanley also cautions against renting if you plan on enjoying Cape Towns Winelands.
We have a very strict drink/driving policy.
If you do rent, the Cape Town Tourism board recommends parking in well-lit areas with security guards.
Carjackings, muggings, and express kidnappings are common.
That said, most travelers say Cape Town is still worth visiting.
You just need to be more vigilant.
