Getting started: About Cape Town
First, some background on this modern African metropolis: According to World Population Review data, the city’s population is expected to reach four million by 2023. The most populous city in South Africa, Cape Town contributes significantly to the country’s economy. For centuries, this port city has played an important role in global trade due to its strategic location at the southwestern tip of Africa.
The cloud cover formed by the country’s southerly winds on majestic Table Mountain is known as the “table cloth” as well as the “Cape doctor” because these winds help to keep air pollution at bay.
We’ll address transport in Cape Town in more detail below, but keep in mind that the apps in our list of 7 smartphone apps for travelling abroad can be very useful in this city.
When to visit Cape Town
The short answer is ‘any time of the year’! Spring and summer in Cape Town are lively and filled with events. For instance, September’s Hermanus Festival features spring blossoms and whale spotting. Visitors escaping the northern hemisphere winters come to Cape Town to bask in the warmth of the southern summer, which extends from December to March. Autumn, between March and June, is considered an ideal time for shark cage diving. Cape Town winters tend to be rainy, but the season may offer more affordable travel opportunities.
Things to do in Cape Town
Boulders Penguin Colony
In quaint Simons Town, Boulders Beach and its African Penguin colony are about an hour’s drive from the center of Cape Town. Set along False Bay, the Boulders section of the Table Mountain National Park includes three beaches, three boardwalks and a penguin viewing area. Please note: human visitors are not permitted to touch or feed the penguins! Entry to Boulders Beach is approximately 170 rand per adult. For more information on these adorable birds, you can visit the Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds at https://sanccob.co.za/.
Table Mountain National Park
Extending from Cape Town’s Signal Hill down to Cape Point, this vast national park encompasses 221 square kilometers, including Table Mountain, Boulders Beach and the Cape of Good Hope. Table Mountain National Park is renowned for its rich biodiversity and is part of the Cape Floristic Region World Heritage Site. The summit of the 1,086-meter Table Mountain can be accessed by foot, bicycle or road, as well as via a cable car, and offers stunning views of Cape Town and the surrounding area.
Greenmarket Square
The bustling Greenmarket Square has been a central point in the city since 1696. Open seven days per week, Greenmarket Square features numerous stalls offering a variety of local and regional products and handicrafts. In addition, street artists perform on the first Thursday of every month.
Neighbourgoods Market
Set in a former biscuit factory, the colorful Neighbourgoods Market is open on Saturdays and Sundays. In addition to a farmer’s market with fresh vegetables and fruits, there are purveyors of honey and other local products. As well, there are design shops, boutiques, and food stalls offering specialties from around the world.
Kalk Bay
About 40 minutes’ drive from Cape Town, Kalk Bay is a picturesque fishing village set between the bay and the mountains. Quaint bars, bookstores and antique shops draw visitors, as do the mountain caves and the bay’s surf spot.
Surfing in Muizenberg
With a coastline along the Atlantic Ocean, Cape Town is known for its surfing. The town of Muizenberg, about a 40-minute drive from Cape Town, is home to a long, sandy beach and consistent surf breaks.
Useful apps for a Cape Town visit
The MyCiTi Cape Town Official App helps you to navigate your way around the city via the public bus system, while Love Cape Town provides suggestions for local sightseeing.
Dining in Cape Town
Some of the local delicacies include:
- The Gatsby, a submarine sandwich usually consisting of bologna slices, French fries, ketchup, lettuce and hot piri-piri sauce.
- Malva pudding, a sweet dense cake flavored with apricot jam and drenched in a sauce of cream, butter, sugar and salt.
- Rooibos tea, brewed from the dried leaves of roobois (red bush) plant, which is native to South Africa.
- And, of course, there’s the braai, a South African-style barbecue involving a variety of meats grilled over a wood or charcoal fire along with side dishes and spicy sauces.
Getting to Cape Town
Turkish Airlines operates four direct flights per week from İstanbul to Cape Town. You can find more information on flights, which take around 10 hours and 35 minutes, on the Cape Town flight ticket page.
Cape Town city transportation
In Cape Town, minibus taxis for 14-16 people, the Metrorail and Golden Arrow buses cover around 1,300 routes in total. In addition, the city’s MyCiti buses have been in service since 2010 and are environmentally conscious.
Transportation from the airport to Cape Town
Cape Town International Airport is approximately 20 kilometers from the city center. The drive takes around 20 minutes if there’s no traffic. You can use rideshare apps like Uber, Didi or Bold as well as taxis.
A lower-cost option is public transportation. MyCiti buses operate to the city center and MyCiti cards of various denominations and duration can be purchased from kiosks at the airport. Trips between the airport and city center take approximately 25-30 minutes.
Useful information
Official language: The Republic of South Africa has 11 official languages; English is commonly spoken as are Zulu and Xhosa.
Currency: South African Rand
Socket type: C, D, M, N
Area Code: +27
Emergency Assistance: 10111
