City Guide

City Guide

Cape Town is multi-culturally and geographically diverse. The city lies in a natural basin, flanked by mountains on one side, and the ocean on the other. Downtown is an international business center; visitors can enjoy all the culture, dining, and other tourist destinations major cities like London, Paris, and New York have to offer, including: museums, parks, architecture, South Africa’s Houses of Parliament, sports, and much more.


* Golf

Host on more than one occasion to world-class golf tournaments, Cape Town offers a selection of excellent golf courses with sweeping views of beautiful South Africa. Enjoy views of the beach, mountains, or the Atlantic while golfing on a championship course. There are a number of selections to suit any type of golfer.

* Art

Cape Town is home to the South African Art Gallery, which displays local art and has an extensive permanent art collection. African, French, British, Dutch, and Flemish art exemplifies the unique and diverse South African heritage. Smaller galleries are interspersed throughout the city, and offer both international and local offerings to interested buyers.

* Culture

Cape Town is a multicultural mecca, and you simply have to walk its streets to observe its diverse people, historical cultural influences, and unique South African flavor. From its Dutch-inspired architecture, to its blend of food, arts, music, and theater, Cape Town is a multicultural experience. After apartheid ended in 1995, the government strives to bring tolerance among the different races and point-of-view, and while there is still strive, Cape Town citizens are starting to become proud of their unique heritage. To get a feel for the history surrounding current Cape Town and South African culture, be sure to visit the South African Cultural History Museum.

* Theatre

Enjoy world-class theatre in Cape Town! Ballet, opera, and dance enthusiasts will enjoy the Artscape Theatre complex in City Centre. Shakespeare lovers should check out the Maynardville Open-Air Theatre in Winberg for a truly South African take on the bard. Contemporary theatre is featured at the Baxter Theatre Complex in Rondebosch, and Cape Town has its own Broadway selection for those looking for musical spectacles.

* Beaches

In Cape Town, there’s a beach for every type of person: for the water sport enthusiast, the nudist, the swimmer, the person who revels in a spectacular view, and for those who desire peace, quiet, and stretches of sand to lounge on. The Atlantic Seaboard beaches tend to be trendy and attract those who want to see and be seen; the False Bay Coast beaches boast warmer waters, and the Bloubergstrand beaches offer incredible views of Table Mountain and are most popular with sports enthusiasts.

* Restaurants

Cape Town thrives on its tourist industry, and therefore offers a selection of fine and casual dining choices to suit any taste. Enjoy South African cuisine, Mediterranean fare, fusion, or Asian spices. Camps Bay offers a number of beachfront dining options, while different parts of town offer specific kinds of foods: visit Franschoek for French foods. There are casual dining options at the top of Table Mountain, where you enjoy the best views in all of Cape Town.

* Wine

Near Cape Town, the following communities are renowned for wine-making: Stellenbosch, Buitenverwachting, Constantia, and Franschhoek. Local restaurants feature the best in local wine, and wineries cater to visitors. There are over 120 wine estates in the region; South Africa is a wine connoisseur’s paradise. These communities offer quaint shops, fine dining, festivals and wine tastings, all against the backdrop of stunning, mountainous South Africa.

* Family

Cape Town is a kid-friendly city! Bring the kids along on your journey up the Table Mountain Cable Way, visit the Two Ocean’s Aquarium, the Iziko Planetarium, or frolic on one of Cape Town’s beautiful beaches. The City Sightseeing Bus has a VIP Kids Club, and families can hop on and off the bus at various spots in the city. Don’t forget the plenty of playgrounds and nearby nature reserves.

* Shopping

The most popular shopping spot in Cape Town is the V&A, where you will find boutiques, supermarkets, local goods, and more on the beautiful waterfront. The South Africa Venues website contains a comprehensive list of the best shopping spots in Cape Town.

* Nightlife

Cape Town comes alive when the sun goes down. The city boasts a diverse selection of clubs, cocktail bars, dance venues, theaters, bars, and lounges. The Undercover the Cape website provides detailed descriptions of the best nightlife in town.

* Business and Convention Center

Cape Town is considered a major city for global commercial enterprise, and its convention center was built to impress. The Cape Town International Business Center is located in the heart of Cape Town, with amenities to please and a friendly staff that is eager to help business professionals have a wonderful stay while in town.

* Gay

Cape Town has become a top destination for gay travelers, and calls itself the “gay capital of the world.” Businesses cater to this booming clientele. Venues like The Amsterdam House and 65 Kloof Street are gay-friendly guest houses, and there are an abundance of gay beaches, nightclubs, and shops that are run by and cater to gay tourists. Gay men frequent the Clifton Third beach while gays and lesbians both enjoy Sandy Bay- a world-famous nude beach. Nightlife is vibrant on Somerset Road, between the Waterfront and downtown area, where most of the gay bars are located. The Bronx Action Bar is also a popular spot for partiers.

* Weather

Cape Town is idyllically set between the Atlantic and Indian Oceans, and therefore has a Mediterranean climate, which entails mild winters and pleasant, warm summers. Its weather is comparable to that of San Francisco in California.