Cape Town is South Africa’s legislative capital and the country’s oldest city, founded in 1652 at the foot of Table Mountain. Between the Atlantic and False Bay, the main things to do in Cape Town are its mountain, Robben Island, its historic districts, the peninsula down to Cape Point and the penguins of Boulders Beach. This guide brings together the sights, the official safety advice place by place and the climate month by month, based on official normals.
One point before you go: the UK FCDO and the U.S. Department of State both describe crime in South Africa as high, and GOV.UK gives specific advice for Cape Town (airport road, Table Mountain National Park). We have grouped it in a table further down, next to each site concerned.
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Cape Town: key facts
- Location: south-western tip of South Africa, capital of the Western Cape province
- Languages: Afrikaans, Xhosa and English are the most widely spoken
- Currency: South African rand; see our currency converter
- Time zone: UTC+2 all year: 2 hours ahead of London in winter (1 hour during UK summer time), 7 hours ahead of New York in the northern winter
- Entry: UK citizens visa-free for up to 90 days; US citizens should check with the South African embassy; passport valid 30 days after departure with 2 blank pages (GOV.UK, travel.state.gov)
- Safety: crime rates are very high (travel.state.gov); see our table below
- Best time: November to March (dry, sunny season)
- Recommended length: 3 to 5 days for the city and the peninsula
Cape Town is often one stop on a longer trip: see also our South Africa travel guide.
What to see in Cape Town: the highlights
Table Mountain
The flat-topped mountain that towers over the city rises about 1,000 m (3,281 ft) above the centre. You go up by the Table Mountain Aerial Cableway or on foot, on trails that are often steep and rocky and require fitness and proper gear. It is home to 2,285 plant species, about 80% of them fynbos, the Cape’s typical vegetation. Table Mountain National Park is the most visited park in South Africa. With Devil’s Peak and Lion’s Head on either side, it forms the « City Bowl », the amphitheatre that holds the city centre. The UK FCDO reports recent violent attacks and muggings against hikers in the park, including on Lion’s Head and Signal Hill: hike in groups of 4 or more, on busy, marked trails.
Robben Island
In Table Bay, north of Cape Town, this flat island served as a political prison: Nelson Mandela, Kgalema Motlanthe and Jacob Zuma, all future presidents, were held there. It has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1999. Tours leave by ferry from the Nelson Mandela Gateway at the V&A Waterfront. Book ahead on the official Robben Island Museum website and check departures, which depend on sea conditions.
The V&A Waterfront and Zeitz MOCAA
Built on part of the harbour docks, the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront is the city’s most visited site: several hundred shops, the Two Oceans Aquarium and Nobel Square, with statues of South Africa’s four Nobel Peace Prize laureates (Albert Luthuli, Desmond Tutu, F. W. de Klerk and Nelson Mandela). In the Silo District, Zeitz MOCAA, opened on 22 September 2017 in former grain silos, is presented as the largest museum of contemporary art from Africa and its diaspora. Boats also leave for Hout Bay, Simon’s Town and the seal colonies.
The historic centre: Company’s Garden and the Castle of Good Hope
The city centre (CBD) is home to Parliament, the Iziko museums, the South African National Gallery and the Company’s Garden, the country’s oldest park. The Castle of Good Hope replaced the first fort built by Jan van Riebeeck’s settlers. The District Six Museum tells the story of this neighbourhood under apartheid. The UK FCDO notes that violent crime also occurs in some city centres and transport hubs: keep valuables out of sight.
Bo-Kaap
On the slopes of Signal Hill, above the centre, the former « Malay Quarter » is known for its brightly coloured houses and cobbled streets. It is the birthplace of Cape Malay culture; the Nurul Islam mosque was founded here in 1844. According to the South African Heritage Resources Agency (SAHRA), the district has the country’s highest concentration of pre-1850 architecture. Visiting with a local guide is the easiest way to understand its history.
Kirstenbosch
At the foot of Table Mountain’s eastern slopes, Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden, founded in 1913, was the first in the world devoted to its own country’s indigenous flora. It mainly shows Cape plants, including large protea collections, and a conservatory devoted to South African habitats (savanna, fynbos, Karoo).
The peninsula: Chapman’s Peak, Boulders Beach and Cape Point
The narrow Chapman’s Peak Drive links Noordhoek and Hout Bay above the Atlantic. On the False Bay side, at Simon’s Town, Boulders Beach is a sheltered beach between granite boulders where a colony of African penguins, a critically endangered species, has lived since 1982, within Table Mountain National Park. At the end of the peninsula, Cape Point is about 2.3 km (1 mi) from the Cape of Good Hope; contrary to popular belief, neither is the southernmost point of Africa, which is Cape Agulhas. Currents are strong around the Cape: rip tides are common and very dangerous, according to the U.S. Department of State.
The beaches
Clifton and Camps Bay, on the Atlantic Seaboard, are the best-known beaches; Muizenberg, on False Bay, is watched by the Shark Spotters network (warning flags). The U.S. Department of State advises watching out for sharks when swimming and not swimming alone in remote areas; GOV.UK recommends swimming between the red and yellow flags and following lifeguards’ instructions.
Official safety advice, place by place
The UK FCDO (GOV.UK, updated 8 July 2026, read on 26 October 2026) and the U.S. Department of State (travel.state.gov, last updated August 11, 2025) give advice that applies directly to Cape Town. This table links it to the places you will visit. It does not replace the official pages, which you should reread before you leave.
| Place or situation | Official advice (summary) |
|---|---|
| Airport road | GOV.UK reports an increase in violent crime and targeted attacks on journeys to and from Cape Town airport, including against visitors in hire cars: stay on the M3 and N2 (rather than the R300), use the airport approach road (exit 16 on the N2), plan your journey in advance and do not follow GPS routes away from main roads |
| Driving | carjacking and robbery are common, particularly after dark and at traffic lights, junctions and petrol stations; if carjacked, do not resist (GOV.UK) |
| Table Mountain, Lion’s Head, Signal Hill | avoid quieter areas, especially early morning and evening; stay on busy, marked trails; go on popular days such as weekends; hike in groups of 4 or more (GOV.UK) |
| Evenings | do not walk around after dark; use safe and reliable transport (GOV.UK) |
| Public transport | GOV.UK lists the MyCiTi bus (CBD and Atlantic Seaboard) among the safer options; minibus taxis are minimally regulated |
| Beaches | swim between the red and yellow flags; watch out for sharks and rip tides (GOV.UK, travel.state.gov) |
| Townships | most violent crime occurs in townships, informal settlements and other high-density areas; visit townships only with a reliable guide (GOV.UK) |
| Water | there have been water shortages in parts of the country: follow any local restrictions (GOV.UK) |
Itinerary: Cape Town in 3 to 5 days
| Day | Plan |
|---|---|
| 1 | Historic centre (Company’s Garden, Castle of Good Hope, District Six Museum), then the V&A Waterfront |
| 2 | Table Mountain (cableway or a group hike) and Kirstenbosch |
| 3 | Robben Island in the morning, Zeitz MOCAA in the afternoon |
| 4 | The peninsula: Chapman’s Peak, Boulders Beach, Cape Point (by car, in daylight) |
| 5 | Bo-Kaap with a guide, Atlantic Seaboard beaches |
When to go to Cape Town
From November to March. Cape Town has a Mediterranean-type climate, with the seasons reversed compared with Europe and North America: the southern summer is dry and sunny (less than 12 mm, or 0.5 in, a month from December to March, more than 9 hours of sunshine a day), while the southern winter is wet and cool. June is the wettest month (92 mm, or 3.6 in, and 10.1 rain days) and July the coolest (17.9 °C, or 64 °F, in the afternoon, 7.4 °C, or 45 °F, at night). April and October-November are good compromises. In spring and summer a strong south-easterly wind blows, the « Cape Doctor ».
| Month | Max | Min | Rain | Rain days | Sunshine / day | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 27.0 °C (81 °F) | 16.6 °C (62 °F) | 9.4 mm (0.4 in) | 1.8 | 11.4 h | ✅ High summer, dry |
| February | 27.3 °C (81 °F) | 16.5 °C (62 °F) | 9.6 mm (0.4 in) | 1.8 | 10.9 h | ✅ Hottest, dry |
| March | 26.0 °C (79 °F) | 15.0 °C (59 °F) | 12.5 mm (0.5 in) | 2.5 | 9.3 h | ✅ Excellent |
| April | 23.6 °C (74 °F) | 12.2 °C (54 °F) | 40.1 mm (1.6 in) | 5.0 | 8.0 h | ✅ Mild, rain returning |
| May | 20.6 °C (69 °F) | 10.2 °C (50 °F) | 61.1 mm (2.4 in) | 7.4 | 6.3 h | ⚠️ Cool, wetter |
| June | 18.2 °C (65 °F) | 8.1 °C (47 °F) | 92.3 mm (3.6 in) | 10.1 | 5.9 h | ❌ Wettest |
| July | 17.9 °C (64 °F) | 7.4 °C (45 °F) | 84.8 mm (3.3 in) | 9.1 | 6.4 h | ⚠️ Coolest, wet |
| August | 18.0 °C (64 °F) | 7.9 °C (46 °F) | 72.4 mm (2.9 in) | 9.3 | 6.7 h | ⚠️ Still wet |
| September | 19.6 °C (67 °F) | 9.4 °C (49 °F) | 44.3 mm (1.7 in) | 6.8 | 7.6 h | ⚠️ Spring, showers |
| October | 22.2 °C (72 °F) | 11.5 °C (53 °F) | 28.4 mm (1.1 in) | 4.2 | 9.1 h | ✅ Mild, sunny |
| November | 23.7 °C (75 °F) | 13.4 °C (56 °F) | 25.3 mm (1.0 in) | 4.0 | 10.1 h | ✅ Very sunny, windy |
| December | 25.8 °C (78 °F) | 15.6 °C (60 °F) | 12.8 mm (0.5 in) | 2.6 | 10.9 h | ✅ Summer, dry |
These figures are the same as on our page on the best time to visit South Africa, which compares Cape Town with Kruger National Park, Johannesburg and Durban.
How many rain days in a week?
Scaling the average number of precipitation days in each month to a 7-day stay, you can expect about 0.4 rain days in January, against 2.4 in June. From December to March, less than one rain day a week; from June to August, more than two. Destination de Voyage calculation based on the 1991-2020 normals.
| Month | Rain days / month | Expected rain days in 7 days |
|---|---|---|
| January | 1.8 | 0.4 |
| February | 1.8 | 0.5 |
| March | 2.5 | 0.6 |
| April | 5.0 | 1.2 |
| May | 7.4 | 1.7 |
| June | 10.1 | 2.4 |
| July | 9.1 | 2.1 |
| August | 9.3 | 2.1 |
| September | 6.8 | 1.6 |
| October | 4.2 | 0.9 |
| November | 4.0 | 0.9 |
| December | 2.6 | 0.6 |
If you… then…: choosing your trip
| If you… | Then… |
|---|---|
| want sunshine and beaches | go from December to March, the heart of the dry season |
| are combining Cape Town with a safari | look at April-May or September-October, detailed in the best time to visit South Africa |
| arrive at night | pre-book your transfer and stay on the main roads from the airport (GOV.UK), and start sightseeing the next day |
| love hiking | Table Mountain and Lion’s Head, always in a group of 4 or more; check the weather, the summit clouds over quickly |
| only have two days | historic centre, Waterfront, Table Mountain cableway and Kirstenbosch |
| travel in June-July | favour museums, the Waterfront and Kirstenbosch; pack warm and waterproof clothing |
Getting there and getting around
- By air: Cape Town International Airport (CPT) serves the city. Check current routes with the airport and the airlines; many itineraries connect via Johannesburg or another hub.
- From the airport: follow the GOV.UK advice: a transfer arranged in advance or an internationally recognised e-hailing app with an in-app booking, main roads only (M3, N2).
- In town: the MyCiTi bus network serves the centre and the Atlantic Seaboard; GOV.UK lists it among the safer, more reliable options, unlike minibus taxis, which are minimally regulated.
- By car: handy for the peninsula. Keep valuables out of sight, as thieves break car windows at junctions, and be extra vigilant at night (GOV.UK). UK citizens can drive with a UK photocard licence for up to 12 months (GOV.UK).
Where to stay
The V&A Waterfront, the City Bowl (centre and slopes of Table Mountain) and the Atlantic Seaboard (Sea Point, Camps Bay) are the most convenient areas for sightseeing. If you arrive late, a night near the airport saves a drive after dark. Compare offers: we do not give prices without an official source.
Entry requirements, health and safety
- US citizens: according to the U.S. Department of State (travel.state.gov, last updated August 11, 2025), South Africa strictly enforces its entry rules: check current visa information with the South African embassy. Your passport must be valid for 30 days after you leave South Africa and have 2 consecutive completely blank visa pages.
- UK citizens: according to the UK FCDO (GOV.UK, updated 8 July 2026), you can visit without a visa for up to 90 days; your passport must be valid at least 30 days after you leave and have at least 2 blank pages.
- Health: a yellow fever vaccination certificate is required if you arrive from a country listed as a transmission risk (GOV.UK; travel.state.gov). See a doctor or travel clinic before you leave.
- Safety: crime rates are very high (travel.state.gov); see the table of advice above.
- Emergencies: 112 from a mobile or 10177 for an ambulance (GOV.UK); 10111 for the police (travel.state.gov).
Entry requirements checked on 26 October 2026; check them again before you travel.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best time to visit Cape Town?
November to March: this is the dry season, with less than 12 mm (0.5 in) of rain a month from December to March and more than 9 hours of sunshine a day, according to the 1991-2020 normals for Cape Town airport.
How many days do you need in Cape Town?
Three days for the centre, Table Mountain, the Waterfront and Robben Island; four to five days to add the peninsula (Chapman’s Peak, Boulders Beach, Cape Point).
Is Cape Town safe?
Crime rates are very high in South Africa (U.S. Department of State). The UK FCDO advises staying on the M3 and N2 to and from the airport, not walking around after dark, hiking in groups of 4 or more in Table Mountain National Park and visiting townships only with a reliable guide.
Do you need a visa for Cape Town?
UK citizens can visit visa-free for up to 90 days (GOV.UK); US citizens should check current rules with the South African embassy (travel.state.gov). The passport must be valid 30 days after departure and have 2 blank pages. Details in our South Africa visa guide.
What is the time difference with Cape Town?
Cape Town is on UTC+2 all year: 2 hours ahead of London in winter and 1 hour ahead during UK summer time.
Where can you see penguins near Cape Town?
At Boulders Beach, near Simon’s Town on the peninsula: a colony of African penguins settled there in 1982.
Our sources
- NOAA, WMO Climate Normals 1991-2020, Cape Town International Airport station (68816), South African Weather Service data, consulted on 23 October 2026
- Entry, health and safety information read on 26 October 2026: U.S. Department of State, South Africa country information (travel.state.gov, last updated August 11, 2025) and UK FCDO, foreign travel advice for South Africa (GOV.UK, updated 8 July 2026)
- Wikipedia: « Cape Town », « Table Mountain », « Robben Island », « Boulders Beach », « Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden », « Bo-Kaap », « Cape Point », « Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa », « Cape Town International Airport », consulted on 23 October 2026
- Destination de Voyage calculations: sunshine per day, rain days over 7 days
- Our methodology
Updated October 2026.
To extend your trip: our South Africa travel guide and our destinations in Africa.
