Table Mountain
Flat-topped mountain rising above the city centre. A cable car and several hiking routes lead to the top, where there are wide views over the city, the bay and the Atlantic.
Cape Town
Cape Point, the V&A Waterfront, Robben Island and nearby winelands round out this coastal city below Table Mountain.
Attractive locations
Robben Island
Island in Table Bay where Nelson Mandela and many other political prisoners were held. It is now a museum and World Heritage Site, visited by ferry on guided tours.
Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden
Botanical garden on the eastern slopes of Table Mountain, devoted to South African plants such as proteas. Lawns, shaded paths and a treetop walkway make for a relaxed day.
V&A Waterfront
A working harbour turned into a lively waterfront with shops, restaurants, an aquarium and views of Table Mountain. Boats to Robben Island leave from the nearby Nelson Mandela Gateway.
Cape Point
A rocky headland at the southern tip of the Cape Peninsula with dramatic cliffs, a lighthouse and sweeping sea views. Walking trails and a funicular lead to the viewing point, within the Cape of Good Hope nature reserve.
Boulders Beach
A sheltered cove near Simon's Town with granite boulders and a colony of African penguins. Boardwalks let visitors watch the birds up close, and part of the beach is open for swimming.
Bo-Kaap
A hillside neighbourhood of brightly painted houses and cobbled streets, long home to Cape Malay families. Mosques, small museums and food stalls give a sense of the community's history.
Airports
Cape Town International Airport CPT
It is about 18 km in a straight line from Cape Town.
Scams and safe taxis
Taxi and scam advice for this country is on the South Africa page
Weather by month
Each month shows its average temperature in °C and its mm of rain per month.
- Jan20.0 °C14 mm
- Feb20.3 °C9 mm
- Mar19.3 °C17 mm
- Apr17.7 °C37 mm
- May16.5 °C51 mm
- Jun15.1 °C91 mm
- Jul14.4 °C81 mm
- Aug14.3 °C76 mm
- Sep15.0 °C40 mm
- Oct16.2 °C31 mm
- Nov17.4 °C30 mm
- Dec19.1 °C12 mm
Driest months: Jan, Feb, Dec. Wettest months: Jun, Jul, Aug.
Costs
Prices here are about 42% of US prices (World Bank, 2025). This compares a country's overall prices, not the cost of a trip.
Festivals and events
sport
Cape Town Cycle Tour
No timed cycle race in the world is larger.
Who can help
Emergency
112 from a mobile phone. Police 10111. Ambulance 10177.
local government
South African Police Service (Crime Stop line)
Helps with: Anonymous crime tip-off line. For a police emergency dial 10111, or 112 from a mobile.
Who qualifies: Anyone in South Africa, including visitors, who needs to report a crime.
Phone: 08600 10111
local government
National Department of Tourism call centre
Helps with: South Africa's national tourism department. The government help-line directory lists its tourism call centre for visitor and tourism enquiries.
Who qualifies: Anyone travelling in South Africa or planning a trip there.
Phone: 0860 868 747
ngo
South African Red Cross Society
Helps with: South Africa's national Red Cross society. It lists a free, confidential service to reconnect people with missing relatives, plus disaster response and first aid training.
Who qualifies: People in South Africa who need its family-tracing, disaster relief or first aid training services.
Phone: +27 10 022 4197
Email: [email protected]
Address: 5 Ryder Road, Randburg, Johannesburg
un agency
International Organization for Migration (IOM) South Africa
Helps with: The UN migration agency, present in South Africa since 1995. It works on migration management, crisis response and partnerships; its office is in Pretoria.
Who qualifies: Migrants and governments working on migration. It is not a help service for ordinary tourists.
Phone: +27 12 342 2789
Email: [email protected]
Address: Building 4 Walker Creek Office Park, 25 Nicolson Street, Bailey's Muckleneuk, Pretoria 0181
embassy
Foreign embassies and consulates in South Africa (official list)
Helps with: For a lost passport or serious trouble, contact your own country's embassy or high commission. The foreign ministry's page lists each mission, with addresses, phones and emails.
Who qualifies: Citizens of each country, through their own embassy, high commission or consulate.
local government
National Disaster Management Centre
Helps with: South Africa's national disaster management centre, based in Centurion. Its contact page gives a main office number and email, and links to a disaster contact list.
Who qualifies: Anyone needing to contact the national disaster management authority. No public hotline is shown on its page.
Phone: 012 065 0969
Email: [email protected]
Address: Riverside Office Park Letaba Building, 2nd Floor, 1303 Heuwel Avenue, Centurion, 0157
local government
Emergency number 112 from mobile phones
Helps with: Reaches emergency services for all emergencies when called from a mobile phone. UK government travel advice lists this number.
Who qualifies: Anyone in the country, including visitors.
Phone: 112
local government
Police emergency number 10111
Helps with: Reaches the police. UK government travel advice lists this number.
Who qualifies: Anyone in the country, including visitors.
Phone: 10111
local government
Ambulance and fire emergency number 10177
Helps with: Reaches the ambulance and fire services. UK government travel advice lists this number.
Who qualifies: Anyone in the country, including visitors.
Phone: 10177