Cape Town travel guide
South Africa
A mountain in the middle of the city, two oceans and the winelands an hour away. Few cities put this much outdoors this close to the centre.
Essentials
- Language
- English, Afrikaans and isiXhosa are all widely spoken
- Currency
- South African rand (ZAR)
- Plugs
- Types C, D, M and N, 230 V
- Emergency number
- 10111 for police, 10177 for ambulance, 112 from a mobile
- Tipping
- Around 10 to 15 percent in restaurants is standard, and car guards and petrol attendants expect a small tip.
Rough daily budget
Approximate spend per person per day, in US dollars:
- Backpacker: $35-55, with a hostel or shared room, street food and public transport.
- Mid-range: $90-150, with a private room and restaurant meals.
Last reviewed: October 2026
Where to stay in Cape Town
- Bo-Kaap: brightly painted houses and Cape Malay food at the foot of Signal Hill.
- Observatory: a relaxed, student and creative neighbourhood with cafés and bars.
- Sea Point: a promenade along the Atlantic, good for runs and sunsets.
Getting around Cape Town
MyCiTi buses cover the centre and the Atlantic coast; ride-hailing apps fill the gaps. Avoid walking alone in quiet areas after dark.
Best time to visit Cape Town
November to March, the summer months.
Top things to do in Cape Town
- Ride the cable car up Table Mountain, or hike up via Platteklip Gorge
- Take the ferry from the V&A Waterfront to Robben Island
- Walk Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden and its treetop walkway
- See the Zeitz MOCAA, a museum of contemporary African art in a converted grain silo
- Visit the District Six Museum to understand the forced removals under apartheid
What to eat in Cape Town
- Bobotie: spiced minced meat baked under an egg custard, a Cape Malay dish
- Gatsby: a long roll stuffed with chips and meat, made for sharing
- Braai: a barbecue, as much a social ritual as a meal
- Koeksister: a plaited, deep-fried dough soaked in syrup
Day trips from Cape Town
- Cape Peninsula: Chapman's Peak Drive, the Boulders Beach penguins and Cape Point, a full day by car
- Stellenbosch and Franschhoek: wine estates among the mountains, about an hour away
- Hermanus: clifftop whale watching from roughly June to November, about 90 minutes by road
Local etiquette
A greeting and a 'how are you' come before any request, even in a shop. At a braai it is normal to bring your own drinks and something for the grill.
Staying connected
SIMs from Vodacom, MTN and others need a passport to register, and data costs more than in much of the world; Wi-Fi is common in cafés and accommodation.
Staying safe
Opportunistic crime is a real concern: keep phones out of sight, leave nothing visible in a parked car, and use ride-hailing apps rather than walking at night. On the mountain, hike in a group, start early and turn back if cloud or wind comes in.
A local tip
Hike Lion's Head for sunrise or sunset, and check the wind forecast before any mountain plan.
Visas:rules depend on your nationality and change often – check your own government's official travel advice before you go.
Meet people in Cape Town on Waypacker
Waypacker is a free travel community: stay with ID-verified local hosts, join meetups and city groups, and ask people who live in Cape Town for advice. We are new here, so if you live in Cape Town, you could be one of the first hosts.
Questions about Cape Town
- What currency is used in Cape Town?
- Cape Town uses the South African rand (ZAR).
- What is the emergency number in Cape Town?
- In Cape Town, call 10111 for police, 10177 for ambulance, 112 from a mobile.
- When is the best time to visit Cape Town?
- November to March, the summer months.
- How much does a day in Cape Town cost?
- Roughly $35-55 a day in US dollars on a backpacker budget (a hostel or shared room, street food and public transport), and $90-150 mid-range (a private room and restaurants). These are broad estimates, last reviewed October 2026.
- Is Waypacker free to use in Cape Town?
- Yes. Joining is free and stays with hosts carry no nightly rate or booking fee.
- Are Waypacker hosts ID-verified?
- Every host's ID and selfie are checked by hand by a real person before they can host. Nothing is sent to an AI service.
- Can I meet locals in Cape Town without staying with anyone?
- Yes. You can join meetups and city groups, or ask locals for tips, without booking a stay.
- Will anyone see my exact location?
- No. Hosts and meetups appear as a neighbourhood-sized area about a kilometre wide, and exact addresses are never stored.