Cape Town has won a few awards over the years and it really is easy to see why. Few cities in the world can boast such excellent access to the mountains and to the coastline. Blessed with both the dramatic Table Mountain National Park and a whole array of beautiful beaches – some of which are indeed surfer friendly, it’s no wonder that outdoor-urban enthusiasts have been raving about the area in recent years. But it’s not just its adventure pursuits that make Cape Town a winner. As well the city’s colonial history and easy access to the vineyards of Franschhoek and Stellenbosch, Cape Town is packed with funky bars and hip hangouts just waiting to be discovered – most of which are very reasonably priced if you’re at all familiar with similar scenes in Europe. However, like most locations in South Africa the public transportation system is somewhat lacking, and if you don’t have your own transport (or friends or family in the area to help out) you’ll no doubt find it difficult to access a good deal of what’s on offer. The metro trainline does help out in this respect, and it’s cheap too! But the combination of endemic inequality and poor maintenance means that many tourists might not feel completely comfortable using it. Yet despite its reputation for criminality, Cape Town feels for the most part friendly and very safe. Indeed, provided you follow the basic maxims of travel, you shouldn’t run into any trouble at all during your stay here. What’s most likely to happen is that you’ll fall earnestly for this city and its surroundings, just like so many have done before you. – Daniel
Cape Town is one of the most likeable cities in the word. With an abundance of scenic coastline and a wonderful national park, it’s easy for any nature or sports enthusiast to love their time here. Although surrounded by nature, the city centre has just enough high-rise powerhouses, colonial-era buildings, and dapperly dressed individuals to give it a real feel of economic importance. The hip crowd of craft beer and coffee drinkers are certainly visible, as is the prime real estate that goes with them. But alongside this disposable-income community are the impoverished. While such a dichotomy is common in many cities the world over, for Cape Town the slum-like townships that populate the city’s outer edges are a reminder of its recent history and the strains that this young country is under. Ultimately though, the sheer beauty of Cape Town coupled with the pride of its residents creates an overwhelmingly positive atmosphere for any lucky traveller who finds themself passing through. – Sarah
Top Tips
Cape Town is a large (and beautiful) city with lots to do, so plan on spending as long here as you possibly can. Even after a month in an Airbnb, there was still plenty left for us to explore.
Try to stay somewhere on the Southern Line if you don’t have your own wheels. The train is cheap and you can access quite a few attractions from that line, especially in conjunction with Uber.
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