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Introduction to Cape Town

However, living here will surely save you time cause finding a place to park your car here is almost as impossible as finding a toddler that doesn’t want to enter a candy store. If you prefer a more relaxed atmosphere at the beach then you just need to head into the other direction (north) and go to Bloubergstrand where there’s endless space and the amazing view of Table Mountain overlooking the city is just an added bonus.

Constantia

While the City Bowl is the trendy and vibrant area of the city, Constantia is the total opposite with lush green gardens, old vineyards and the world renowned Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens. It’s here that the Dutch settlers planted the first grapes over 350 years ago. Today, Groot Constantia is still regarded as the oldest wine estate and as such it is also a very popular tourist destination. But not to worry, there are plenty of vineyards in Constantia which are worth a visit and not all of them are as busy, making them actually more enjoyable to experience.

As Constantia is located on the eastern flanks of the Table Mountain, it is the ideal location for nature to thrive and the Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens are the perfect example of that. From the 6 major habitats found in South Africa, Kirstenbosch Gardens holds 5! It’s hard to imagine yet once you walk through these amazing gardens you’ll soon realise the work and care that is continually put into it.

Wine estates

Many may think that the famous South African wines are concentrated in specific areas like Constantia, Stellenbosch, Paarl,….and so on. However, while these are indeed some of the most famous areas to find vineyards and wine producers, there are many more regions in and around Cape Town and the Western Cape where you’ll find these craftsmen-and women who will turn juicy grapes into a wonderful wine.

We already mentioned Constantia as it is one of the most famous, yet Somerset-West (which is ironically situated on the far east side of the city) is another splendid area where some of the most well known wine estates have been situated for centuries. To the north, in between Milnerton and Durbanville, you’ll also find some wonderful wineries, often having the added bonus of giving you the chance to enjoy some of the wines while overlooking large parts of the city and Table Mountain.

Peninsula

One of the places many want to visit is the Cape Peninsula, because it not only holds the the famous Cape of Good Hope, but also has a beautiful scenic road that makes the whole loop of the peninsula and thus provides the perfect means for lots of tourists to see everything it has to offer.

More importantly, most of the peninsula is part of the Table Mountain National Park, making it a safe-haven for lots of wildlife but equally for a lot of fynbos and rare plant species. Some of the wildlife you’ll see over here are ostriches, zebras and baboons. Be careful with the latter as they can be very aggressive and will try to steal anything that interests them, irrelevant if it is food or something shiny.

While the west side of the peninsula gives you amazing views over the Atlantic Ocean and equally let’s you drive some of the most scenic roads in the world, aka Chapmans Peak drive, the eastern side will give you a totally different experience. Here you’ll drive through quaint fishermen villages like Simon’s Town and Kalk Bay, each having their own particular atmosphere.

In Simon’s Town you’ll also find another famous tourist attraction, being Boulders Beach where you’ll be able to visit the penguin colony that lives here. These cute little animals have taken over this small beach and turned it into their nesting grounds. It’s easy to visit and the penguins go about their daily life as if nobody is watching them. Truly a wonderful experience.

History of Cape Town

Often overlooked yet certainly worth considering is staying in the city bowl itself. There’s plenty to do, you’re close to all the landmarks, tourist attractions and shops, and most of all you’ll experience the city more like a local.

Those looking for tranquility should look into staying in areas like Constantia, Hout Bay, Somerset West and St-James. All these neighbourhoods are perfectly connected with the city centre yet are situated in green or more relaxed locations.

In my personal opinion and experience it is good to move around a bit and stay in multiple places as it will allow you to get different views on and of Cape Town and its surrounding neighbourhoods.

Most will opt to stay in a hotel though, and there is a healthy variety going from basic to boutique and all the way to the over-the-top luxurious. In recent times global hotel chains have landed or increased their footprint in the city, often offering both a budget friendly option and a more luxurious one. Marriott, Radisson, IHG, Hilton,… they are all here. Budget-friendly hotels like the Holiday Inn Express, Doubletree and Protea (a local brand that has been taken over by Marriott) all offer some decent accommodation.

Boutique hotels can be real hidden gems in and around the city. One of the best examples is the Grand Daddy hotel, located in one of the most vibrant streets in the city. Not only does it have the regular rooms and suites, it also has 7 Airstream trailers on the rooftop terrace which provide some of the most unique accommodation to be found in the city.

Rather go all out and live life to the fullest, then there’s no way to ignore The Silo, Belmond Mount Nelson, One & Only or Ellerman House just to name a few. Limo service, butlers, insane spas, multiple gastronomic restaurants,…they cover it all. Ellerman House and Belmond Mount Nelson have been around for decades and thanks to their continued efforts they remain some of the crown jewels in the Cape Town. One & Only is a boutique brand that has a very loyal clientele and they will not be disappointed when they visit this property. The youngest baby in this bunch is the Silo, a stunning architectural marvel that towers above the V&A Waterfront. A former grain silo (hence the name) has been converted into the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa, one of the best museums in South Africa. The Silo hotel literally sits on top of the museum and has an all glass window exterior with an amazing rooftop bar, pool and relax area. Truly a masterpiece on so many levels.

Another must-visit is Robben Island. This small little piece of land, surrounded by freezing waters from the Atlantic is located just a few kilometers from central Cape Town, and has a rich history thanks to the prison that was built upon it. The most famous prisoner was of course Nelson Mandela and you can still visit his cel.

The beaches in and around Cape Town are absolutely stunning and if you like a trendy vibe to go along with it I suggest going to either Camps Bay or Clifton. Rather look for more space, amazing views and great waves to surf and kite, then you must go north of the city towards Bloubergstrand and Milnerton.

Wine estates are the perfect places to escape the bustle of the city for a day (or longer). As mentioned, Constantia is the birthplace of the South African wine and has the oldest wine houses, yet there are many other areas in Cape Town that have several renowned wine estates like Durbanville and Somerset West. Of course, there are many more areas where they grow wine, Stellenbosch and Paarl being two of the best known and only located 40 minutes out of the city centre of Cape Town. But focussing on the ones that are situated in the Cape Town area you can’t go wrong with Vergelegen, Waterkloof, Groot Constantia, Steenberg, De Grendel, Klein Constantia, Constantia Glen and Buitenverwachting just to name a few.

And we might have spoken about some of the famous beaches around the city, but you can also find some cool patches of white sand, palmtrees and loungers in and around the V&A. Cabo Beach Club and Grand African Café and Beach are the perfect examples and the place to see and be seen.

Cape Town is a place where action is never too far away. As a result, a lot of thrill seekers enjoy many adventures in and around the city. One of the most popular is paragliding from Signal Hill as it allows you to fly over the famous beaches and have some of the best views over the west side of Table Mountain. Helicopter tours are equally in demand and there are several options to choose from. You can take the scenic flights in and around Cape Town or even all the way to the Cape of Good Hope. If this sounds a bit too boring you can opt to fly one of the famous Huey helicopters (made famous during the Vietnam war) where they take the doors off in order for you to truly feel the power of the machine. They even organise simulated combat flights which will truly give you that adrenaline hit.

The typical hop on-hop off busses are also a great way to explore the city and its surrounding areas in a short period of time. They even offer canal and harbour cruises as part of the tours, giving you a unique experience to discover the Mother City both on land and water. Of course, there are several companies that offer boat cruises without having to take these busses. Sunset cruises, pirate cruises, sailing trips, speedboat rides,….the options are endless.

Wine tasting should always be on your itinerary when visiting this part of the globe. many of the worlds best wines come from this area. Almost all people that didn’t know anything about South African wines leave with a list of distributors in their home country as they want to order more as soon as possible. While most just go for a tasting of the wines, there’s really a lot mor to see and do in many of these estates. Food pairings, bike tours through the vineyards, luxury accommodation on the estate, luxurious spas to enjoy,….the list is endless and everything but boring.

Looking for a spot where you can mingle with the locals while experiencing something unique? Go to Signal Hill around 5pm and take a nice bottle of wine and some nibbles with you. Before you know it you’ll be sitting among locals while watching the sun does its magic.

Fish and chips is another popular dish and is one of the many influences of the British. The abundance of freshly caught fish is ideal to make this dish really stand out. Mostly hake, snoek and yellowtail are used and they all have the perfect texture to go along with the crunchy fried batter.

A Gatsby is another quintessential thing you need to try when visiting Cape Town. It consists of a loaf of bread with lots of French fries topped with either meat, fish or calamari. Egg, salad and a bunch of sauces of your choice finish it off to make a massive sandwich that will fill you up for a few hours.

If you still have some space for dessert then you’ll have to try the malva pudding. It’s a sweet and sticky pudding made with apricot jam and heavy cream (South Africans rarely count calories) and once it’s out of the oven it’s often served with ice cream and/or custard.

You don’t have to worry about cooking though, as there is a plethora of restaurants available in and around the city. Some of the best known are Fyn restaurant, La Colombe, The Pot Luck Club, Signal, Chefs Warehouse Beau Constantia, Willoughby’s & Co, The Bungalow,…

Vegetarian and vegans don’t have to worry though as there is a large variety of options on every menu thanks to the large numbers of likeminded people in and around the city. And with all the amazing produce they have, the food is equally as impressive as for everybody else.

Taxis are easy to come by. Uber, Bolt and Unicab are just a few of the better known companies that deliver a good service and over here the prices for a ride are really attractive, making it the ideal mode of transport for many.

Air travel is equally available and there are several options to fly with a helicopter from the International Airport to the V&A Waterfront which is the most centrally located heliport in the city. There are also options to fly from here to some of the wine estates which makes for the most amazing entrance + gives you stunning views of the landscape along the way.

Train travel is not that commonly used by visitors, however, there is an extensive rail network and South Africa has two very luxurious trains which are an absolute must if you like to travel in style. They are called Rovos Rail and the Blue Train. Both serve the Cape Town – Johannesburg route, but Rovos also offers many other itineraries giving you the option to explore much more of the land and even the neighbouring countries.

As mentioned before there are also several bus tours that take you to all the sights and attractions in and around the Mother City. If you happen to take one of the open air busses, make sure to wear sun-protection as all too often the cool wind from the Atlantic makes you forget how strong the African sun is.

Ever thought about driving through some of the most amazing scenery in a sidecar? No? Well, maybe you should consider it over here. No better way to get an impression of the beautiful city and landscapes which can be found over here.

From May onwards till the end of August and beginning of September you’ll be able to experience winter here. Temperatures drop but remain well above freezing while the rainfall does increase compared to the other seasons. It’s the perfect time to enjoy a nice local red wine at the fireplace.

If snow is what you are looking for, you need to drive less than an hour inland in the north eastern direction to find several mountains regularly covered in snow during the winter months. It’s a beautiful scenery as often these mountain tops are surrounded by vineyards.

Spring comes along mid September till the end of November. The temperatures rise again and the rains become less frequent. A great time to vist the Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens.

Before you know it it’s the Christmas and New-Years period once again. Keep in mind that this is a peak period as a lot of locals from Johannesburg and elsewhere in the country come down to Cape Town to celebrate the end of the year with friends and family. So if you prefer less crowds and more space in restaurants, bars and so on, I suggest you plan a visit outside the festive season.

If you want to get another view of the city, why not hire one of the sailing boats or yachts and go for a little trip around the bay. Make sure you pick the right time cause the wind can be a bit unpredictable at times.

Do yourself a favour and take a helicopter ride from the airport to the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront in the middle of the city. The views you’ll get on the short flight are priceless and it never hurt anyone to make a grand entrance…right? Hence why you can take these helicopters to most of the wine estates in and around Cape Town, making it the perfect way to have a luxurious wine tasting and lunch without having to worry about who’s driving afterwards.

Stay at the Belmond Mount Nelson, truly an icon of luxury set in its own massive gardens and perfectly located in the city centre. The history you’ll find here is rarely seen elsewhere and don’t forget to try their afternoon high tea as it is known in and around Cape Town as the best you can get.

If you want to enjoy the nice weather and cruise along some of the most stunning scenery, then you should consider hiring one of the luxurious convertibles at Wiggle in the CBD. Few things beat driving along Chapman’s peak drive in a Jaguar F type or even the iconic AC Cobra.

Cape Town is the perfect example of this cultural melting pot, as more than half of the population in this metropolis is coloured (meaning of mixed race), a quarter is white (which is probably the highest number of whites in any area in South Africa) and one-fifth is black (mostly speaking Xhosa).

There’s also a large Indian community yet not as impressive as the ones we see in Durban. Other Asian communities are less abundant yet they each have their place in the society.

Cape Town is also one of the places where Afrikaans is the leading language, together with English. This is of course in part due to the Dutch heritage throughout the region. It’s also here that you’ll find the highest concentration of old Cape Dutch architecture, especially in the wine regions.

Weather in Cape Town

Visiting Cape Town soon? See below for the latest weather forecast for Cape Town.

CAPE TOWN WEATHER