Why I love Cape Town

“Mother Nature surpassed herself when crafting the Mother City. Whether jogging along Sea Point Promenade, climbing up Lion’s Head in the dawn light, clambering over giant boulders at Sandy Bay or driving the amazing coastal roads down to Cape Point, I never fail to feel my spirits soar as I take in the breathtakingly beautiful vistas. You don’t need to break a sweat: sipping wine on a historic farm in Constantia or...” Read More

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Simon Richmond
Writer

Top experiences in Cape Town

Amazing hotels and hostels

We've pre-picked the best hotels, hostels and bed and breakfasts to make your stay as enjoyable as possible.

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Food and drink

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  1. Flagship in Simon's Town & Southern Peninsula
    International
  2. Chef's Warehouse & Canteen in City Bowl, Foreshore, Bo-Kaap & De Waterkant
    Tapas
  3. Plant in City Bowl, Foreshore, Bo-Kaap & De Waterkant
    Vegan
  4. Clifford & Sandra's in Cape Flats & Northern Suburbs
    African
  5. Mzoli’s in Cape Flats & Northern Suburbs
    Braai
  6. Nobu in Green Point & ­Waterfront
    Japanese
  7. Aubergine in Gardens & Surrounds
    International
  8. Kitchen in East City, District Six, Woodstock & Observatory
    Sandwiches Salads
  9. Moyo in Cape Flats & Northern Suburbs
    African
  10. Pot Luck Club in East City, District Six, Woodstock & Observatory
    International
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Recent articles

Craft beer rising: finding an inner city pint in South Africa

Sipping a chilled glass of chenin blanc at a whitewashed winery backed by rolling mountains – it’s a quintessential South African travel experience. But in recent years, beer has started to give wine a run for its money.

Pints of local ale don’t always come paired with an idyllic view, but they do come with something more befitting craft beer’s cool image – the chance to explore up-and-coming neighbourhoods in the most bustling cities of South Africa.
Lucy Corne
Lonely Planet Writer

Top free things to do in Cape Town

A relatively weak rand makes Cape Town a more affordable destination to visit, and the city certainly provides value for money when it comes to eating and accommodation. However, everyone likes to get something for free, and in this respect the Mother City is overflowing with options.

Attracting 24 million visitors a year – more than Cairo’s pyramids – to its glitzy mix of retail and tourist entertainment, the V&A Waterfront remains a working harbour with much of its historic fabric intact. One of the best ways to get an insight into its past, as well as make sense of this sprawling site, is to follow the self-guided historical walking tour; pick up a free map detailing the route at the visitor information centre on Dock Rd.
Simon Richmond
Lonely Planet Writer

Cape Town's hybrid culture

The bookshop-café combo is nothing new and a shrewd move in a world where a cappuccino and the new Deon Meyer (a top Capetonian crime novelist) make smart commercial bedfellows. Cape Town, however, has taken the concept of such hybrid businesses to new levels with laundries in which you can buy art and sip wine, cafés that double as boutiques and galleries, and cocktail bars that also serve up customize motorbikes.

Among the pioneers of this hybrid-business trend in the Mother City is I Love My Laundry, which opened its first laundry-café-wine shop-art and gift gallery at 59 Buitengracht St in 2013 with the aim of making a mundane weekly chore more fun. It has since been joined by branches at 14 Bree St and 50 Buitenkant, each stocking a slightly different range of products – a mixture of original art pieces, interior design goods, kitschy gifts, Western Cape wines and foods – as well as a full range of laundry services, including dry cleaning, ironing and alternations.
Simon Richmond
Lonely Planet Writer
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Travel guides

Starting at $21.99

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Cape Town adventures

$462.27 Small group tours

6-Day Garden Route and Addo South African Adventure from Cape Town

Experience the road trip of a lifetime along South Africa's stunning Garden Route. Visit incredible locations such as the Cape Agulhas, ride a canoe in the Wilderness National Park, enjoy a craft beer and local wine tasting, hike in the Tsitsikamma National Park, relax in South Africa's amazing beaches and participate in a real safari at the Addo Elephant National Park.
$430.93 Small group tours

5-Day Garden Route and Addo Adventure from Cape Town to Port Elizabeth

Experience the road trip of a lifetime along South Africa's stunning Garden Route. Visit incredible locations such as the Cape Agulhas, ride a canoe in the Wilderness National Park, enjoy a craft beer and local wine tasting, hike in the Tsitsikamma National Park, relax on South Africa's amazing beaches and participate in a real safari at the Addo Elephant National Park. Tour is one way from Cape Town to Port Elizabeth.
$712.29 Small group tours

Private 3- Day Cape Town Highlights Tour

Enjoy a 3-day private tour incorporating the highlights of the Cape comprising of the following: a full day city tour, Table Mountain and Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden, a full day tour of the Winelands of the Cape and a full day tour of the Cape Peninsula, Cape Point and the Cape of Good Hope. Since this is a private tour you are able to rearrange the days according to weather conditions, especially with regards to getting up Table Mountain. This tour does not include hotel accommodation.
$991.86 Small group tours

4-Day Classic Garden Route Tour from Cape Town

The fabulous Garden Route is a highlight of any trip to South Africa and if you would like somebody else to take care of the driving while you concentrate on enjoying the scenery, this small group tour is ideal!
$3766.85 Small group tours

15-Day Picturesque South Africa Journey from Cape Town

Embark on a 15-day tour which exposes the beauty of South Africa. Highlights of this tour include a few days in the Mother City which boasts some of the world's best scenic drives, the awe-inspiring Garden Route, the bustling city of Johannesburg and the magnificence of the landscapes and wildlife experiences that this varied country has to offer.
$3244.82 Small group tours

14-Day Grand South Africa Journey from Cape Town

A 14-day tour showcasing the splendour of South Africa. Start in the Mother City, the birthplace of South Africa which boasts some of the world's best scenic drives. Continue along the most beautiful stretch of coastline - the Garden Route to Port Elizabeth. Spend a few days in the bustling city of Johannesburg which is in a major urban revival and transformation - a metaphor of the socio-political advances being made in South Africa. The latter part of the tour concentrates on the magnificence of the landscapes and wildlife experiences that this varied country has to offer.
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