The City of Cape Town is a port city on the southwest coast of South Africa. We first visited Cape Town at the beginning of our Around the World Trip and it was an amazing experience.
In recent years, more and more people have been visiting Cape Town. We couldn’t agree more that it’s an excellent destination, and we understand why people love to visit and live in Cape Town.
During our 4-day visit to Cape Town, we realized that the city has a lot to offer, both culturally and gastronomically, and that it is a very safe city.
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Easy Access to Cape Town
Cape Town is served by the Cape Town International Airport, which is the second largest in South Africa. It serves as a hub for South African Airways, but most major international airlines have regular flights, making it easy to access the city, which can also serve as an entry point for those wishing to explore more areas of South Africa.
We chose a route with TAAG from Lisbon, with a layover in Luanda and a final destination of Cape Town. Our choice was based on a promotional price we found for the dates we wanted, but we do not recommend this option unless the price is really low. The service quality, customer attention, the poor condition of the interior of the planes, and the low quality of the Luanda airport are negatives that will make us reconsider in the future.
The connections between the airport and Cape Town can be made by bus, taxi, or Uber. We chose Uber, as it gives us more security. Upon arrival at the airport, there are dozens of taxi drivers and Uber drivers offering their services. In our opinion, you should decline those offers and use the Uber app. These services are well organized, and there are specific zones for picking up passengers. Just follow the instructions the app provides.
Uber in South Africa is affordable, and the trip to the city takes about 20 minutes and costs around 200 ZAR.
If you don’t plan to use roaming in South Africa, you can buy a SIM card or hotspot for your phone right after collecting your luggage. There are kiosks from different operators. Prices may vary depending on existing promotions and your needs. We chose Vodacom since it has better 4G coverage, and after visiting Cape Town, we were continuing our trip to other parts of South Africa. If you want to have unlimited mobile data you can check Holalfy.
Friendliness, Art of Hospitality, and Safety
During our trip to Cape Town, we realized how friendly South Africans are. At every place we visited, we were warmly welcomed with kindness and the dedication of a people who enjoy hosting and ensuring that we feel good.
In addition to the friendliness, we dispelled the idea that Cape Town might be an unsafe city for travelers. We never felt threatened nor were we approached by anyone with bad intentions. The only specific precaution was not to walk at night in areas of the city that are more dangerous or less crowded. In this case, we used Uber to get around, as it is a very economical means of transportation. Like other cities, you only need to follow general travel safety precautions.
Social Change and Sustainability Projects
While visiting Cape Town, we had the opportunity to stay at The Backpack. This hostel is a fair trade accredited establishment that invests in people and communities, offering relaxed and meaningful travel experiences.
At a time when many places around the world are facing over-tourism situations, it’s important for sustainable and responsible initiatives to be applied in accommodations, and The Backpack is no exception. In addition to community projects and fair trade, this hostel has a Green Traveller policy and the Pack for a Purpose initiative, which help reduce environmental impact and contribute to local communities.
The Backpack offers private or shared accommodations in dormitories. This hostel provides comfort and a relaxed, laid-back atmosphere, perfect for enjoying your visit to Cape Town. The decor is modern, and it has several pleasant outdoor spaces, including a pool for warmer days.
Continental breakfast is served at the bar and can be enjoyed on the terrace.
As is common with this type of accommodation, The Backpack is perfect for expanding your network, interacting with locals or other travelers. Free walking tours are also available.
Make your reservation at The Backpack
Gastronomic Diversity in Cape Town
During our visit to Cape Town, we realized that the best way to get to know the cuisine of a city is to take a culinary tour with a local. Besides discovering the best places and dishes, we also learned about the city’s history and some of its areas.
In Cape Town, we took this culinary tour with Eat Like a Local Cape Town.
Rupesh was our guide, and for 3 hours, he took us to various hidden gems of Cape Town to try the best of the local cuisine. In a casual and relaxed environment, we had the opportunity to taste everything from the best Pastel de Nata in the city, meet a lady who teaches cooking classes in her home, to a gin tasting made in the city, all while strolling through some of the most amazing spots.
The Eat Like a Local Cape Town tour is focused on cuisine, but we also learned a lot about the city’s and South Africa’s history, and got many tips for other places and restaurants to visit.
If you’re planning to visit Cape Town, we highly recommend taking this tour with Eat Like a Local Cape Town.
Make your reservation at Eat Like a Local Cape Town
South African cuisine is very rich, and Cape Town’s, with its historical influences, is especially interesting. There are many places in the city where you can find and try local products.
One of the places we visited was V&A Water Front. It’s a complex by the marina that, besides shopping and entertainment, houses the V&A Food Market where you can have a meal or buy local products.
Bo-Kaap is the famous neighborhood of colorful houses in Cape Town, which in the past was where the Cape Malays lived. Over the years, the culinary culture has grown, and today it’s much more than a neighborhood with colorful houses. It’s a wonderful place that oozes the culture of the city.
Mountains Around Cape Town
Cape Town is surrounded by mountains that create a special atmosphere in the city and also offer stunning views when you climb them.
The most famous mountain is Table Mountain. You can climb the mountain by hiking to the top or take the cable car.
The cable car ticket costs 200 ZAR (one way) or 360 ZAR (round trip).
The cable car gives access to the Table Mountain National Park through the arrival tower, where there is a shop. The views from the top of the mountain, both of the city and the sea, are fantastic. When we visited, we chose to go at the end of the day to have the chance to see the sunset.
The operating hours vary throughout the year, so make sure to check them before planning your visit here.
Unique Place in the World with Both Atlantic and Indian Ocean Beaches
Being the only place in the world where the Indian and Atlantic Oceans meet, you can swim in the Atlantic beaches in the morning and surf at the Indian Ocean beaches in the afternoon.
In Camps Bay (Atlantic side beach), the views are absolutely breathtaking, with the 12 Apostles and the mountains as a backdrop. The atmosphere and the landscape here are incredible. The wide white sandy beach is the perfect spot for beach lovers, and for travel photography enthusiasts like us, it’s a great opportunity to take beautiful photos.
When we visited Camps Bay, we took the opportunity to have a photo shoot with Monica from FlipFlopTree. With many years of experience, Monica specializes in travel photo shoots, helping you capture your travel moments in professional photographs. She is also a travel enthusiast herself.
It was our first professional photo shoot, and it couldn’t have gone better. The relaxed and informal atmosphere allowed us to be ourselves and capture our moments together. We loved the final result, and it was great to have the opportunity to do it with someone who knows what they’re doing.
Book your photo session with FlipFlopTree
On the Indian Ocean side, Muizenberg is the famous beach with colorful wooden houses and is also a popular spot for surfers. It’s definitely worth a visit.
Visit a protected colony of African Penguins
In Simon’s Town, about 25 km from Cape Town, there’s a beach (Boulders Beach) that has something special. Several years ago, a colony of African penguins settled there.
This endangered species is now protected by national parks and can be visited by anyone passing through. The visit allows you to get very close to the penguins, while also contributing to the conservation project.
Cultural Events in the City
Cape Town is a place with a very visible cultural and artistic movement, with cultural events and art galleries all over the city.
On the first Thursday of every month, the First Thursdays event takes place. This cultural event brings together artists and encourages everyone in the city to come out, visit galleries, enjoy street food, and listen to music.
Visit the Cape of Good Hope, the place where the Atlantic Ocean meets the Indian Ocean
For us Portuguese, since school days, the Cape of Good Hope has been frequently mentioned due to the history of the Age of Discovery and Portuguese colonization. Having the opportunity to visit it was almost like confirming it truly exists.
Aside from that, the place is imposing, and the surrounding views are breathtaking: it’s worth the climb to the viewpoint. This location is within a natural park with other points of interest.
Explore the Wine Culture of the Region
Near Cape Town, there are two of South Africa’s main wine regions: Franschhoek and Stellenbosch. This region is considered one of the country’s largest wine producers and is only 40 minutes by car from Cape Town.
The areas are close, and it is possible to visit both in a single day, but we recommend staying at least one night. The area has a relaxing atmosphere, and waking up in accommodation amidst the vineyards is a unique experience.
We visited Stellenbosch and the surrounding vineyards. It’s a pleasant town for a walk through the center and choosing one of the modern spots to have a meal.
Around the town, you’ll find the wine estates. The town is surrounded by mountain formations, creating vineyard landscapes with the mountains as the backdrop. Some estates focus solely on wine production, but others also offer accommodation and restaurants.
We chose Mont Angelis for a two-night stay. This establishment is a small complex with individual houses surrounded by vineyards and fantastic views in the midst of the mountains. The decor is very well thought out, and each unit is equipped with a full kitchen and a fireplace for cooler nights. Each unit is spacious, with a balcony to enjoy the views or a traditional South African BBQ (braai).
Book your stay at Mont Angelis
There’s also a pool and an outdoor area to enjoy the warm days in that peaceful setting.
For a wine tasting, we went to Dornier Wines. The tasting takes place at a bar in the modern winery building. The service and location are very well maintained, and the service is excellent. With each tasting, an explanation of each wine is provided, allowing us to learn more about the wine culture of South Africa.
Tips for Cape Town
- Public transport may not be the best way to get around, and for visiting areas around the city, we recommend renting a car. Driving in South Africa is easy, traffic is calm and safe. Driving is on the right side. If you’re not used to it, Cape Town can be a good place to try (that was our case).
- Within the city, there are areas where you can walk around safely, even at night. If you’re unsure about the safety of the place you’re heading to, you can always use Uber, which is a safe and affordable option to travel around Cape Town.
During our visit to Cape Town (and actually, all of South Africa), we were continuously surprised by what we discovered. The safety, preservation, and care taken with each place we visited, the diversity of food and nature, were undoubtedly factors that pleasantly surprised us and made us want to return to this city that has so much to offer.