About Cape Town

Experience an exciting choice of holiday options in Cape Town – one of the world’s most beautiful cities. Surrounded by stunning white-sand beaches and overlooked by the massive Table Mountain, South Africa’s oldest city mixes a rich cultural heritage with an easygoing and laid-back nature.

With a choice of world-class shopping, fine dining restaurants and accommodation options to satisfy the most demanding holidaymaker, Cape Town has all the ingredients you need for an unforgettable South African beach holiday or romantic getaway.

Things to do and see

Away from the beaches, Cape Town offers a variety of attractions: hike or ride the scenic cable car to the top of Table Mountain; examine the cell where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned at notorious Robben Island; stroll beside a showcase of South African flora at the colourful Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens; and relax in some of the country’s best best-preserved examples of Cape Dutch architecture while savouring award-winning wines at nearby Winelands.

Enjoy panoramic vistas of False Bay and the Hottentots Holland Mountains from the lookout at Cape Point, a dramatic rock that juts into the Atlantic. Then stroll through a choice of nature trails in the Table Mountain National Park until you reach the Cape of Good Hope – the southwestern-most point of the continent.

Make the most of Cape Town’s surrounding rugged landscape, where you can go surfing, scuba diving, sailing, hiking, mountain biking, rock climbing and sky diving.

Browse for African curios and unique souvenirs at one of the city’s splendid open-air markets or at the restored Victoria and Alfred Waterfront, which offers a wide variety of shops and arts and crafts markets, as well as free entertainment, museums, taverns and restaurants.

Accommodation
Cape Town offers a wide range of accommodation options to suit all budgets, including the Cape Brace, a classy waterfront hotel surrounded by water on three sides. You can also try the elegant Mount Nelson, set in 9ha of mature gardens.

Out-of-town hotels include: the luxurious Twelve Apostles Hotel and Spa, which sits perched on a plateau just metres above Atlantic rollers and flanked by the majestic Table Mountain; and the stylish Ellerman House, overlooking the Atlantic in prestigious Bantry Bay.

Best time to visit Cape Town?
The best time for Cape Town holidays is any time. However, the most popular time for holidaymakers is during the summer months between December and March, when the average maximum temperature hovers at 26°C and the famous (but often fierce) southeasterly wind known as ‘Cape Doctor’ brings a welcome breeze.

In spring – September to November – temperatures average 16˚C and the wind can turn into a wild gale with gusts of up to 120km/hr lashing the coastline. However, this is also the season for colourful blooms of wild flowers and for migrating whales.

Winter temperatures range from 7°C to 18°C between June and August, with rain showers but also lots of pleasant sunny days – an ideal time for hiking and watching wildlife. For more climate info: Cape Town Weather Guide

Location – Cape Town is located on South Africa's south coast in Western Cape Province.

Getting there – From Australia, on Qantas, Etihad Airways, Emirates, Singapore Airlines and South African Airways. Cape Town receives daily non-stop flights from the major capital cities of Australia, North America, Europe, the Middle East and several African nations.

Flight time – 16 hours from Sydney to Cape Town; allow 11.5 hrs from London and 17 hours from New York

Flying in – Cape Town International Airport is located 22km east of Cape Town's city centre. Taxis are also available.

Entry requirements – A passport valid for at least six months beyond intended period of stay as well as a ticket for return or onward travel. Australian citizens are issued with a visitor's permit on arrival, valid for a month.

Getting around – Minibuses and taxis are cheap and plentiful. Car and motorbike hire is available. Traffic drives on the left.