Cape Town Tourism

Cape Town

Cape Town is the provincial capital of the Western Cape and is famous for its harbour and well-known landmarks such as Table Mountain and Cape Point. The city of Cape Town is Africa’s most popular destination for tourists. Cape Town’s good climate, natural setting and its well-developed infrastructure are some of the features that also attract the tourists.

Cape Town’s Climate
The city is known for its Mediterranean Climate and well-defined seasons. Mountain areas can average as much as 1500 mm of rain per annum while valleys and coastal plains average 515 mm per annum.

Winters
May to September are the winter months in Cape Town. Cape Town winters are known for large fronts, heavy precipitation and strong north-westerly winds. It is a cool season with average minimum temperatures of 7 °C. It is also the time of the year for most of the city’s annual rainfall.

Summers
Summers in Cape Town are warm and dry and lasts from November to March. Cape Town becomes uncomfortably hot in February and March when the Berg Wind (mountain wind) blows from the Karoo interior.

Flights
Visitors can get cheap Cape Town flights by booking online at flights South Africa.

Attractions

Beaches
Cape Town’s beaches are popular with local residents as well as many tourists. Several different beaches can be visited in the same day due to the city’s unique geography. Water at False Bay beaches tend to be warmer by up to 10 °C than the colder water of the beaches located on the Atlantic Coast.

Table Mountain
Table Mountain forms a large part of the Table Mountain National Park and is the back end of the City Bowl. A thin strip of cloud sometimes forms over the mountain and is called the “tablecloth”. The top of the mountain can be reached either by taking the Table Mountain Cableway or by hiking up.

Victoria & Alfred Waterfront
The V&A Waterfront is built on top of part of the docks of the Port of Cape Town. This is one of the city’s most popular shopping venues, featuring hundreds of shops and the Two Oceans Aquarium. Ferries depart for Robben Island through the Nelson Mandela Gateway at the waterfront.

Cape Malay Bo-Kaap
One of the most visited areas in Cape Town is the Cape Malay Bo-Kaap. On January 2, also known as “Tweede Nuwe Jaar”, the Cape Town Minstrel Carnival or “Kaapse Klopse” is annually held. The Kaapse Klopse are dressed in bright coloured costumes and entertains the people with lively music and dancing.

Streets and Buildings
The city’s historical streets and buildings are a major draw for tourists. The city has the highest density of Cape Dutch style buildings in the world and is noted for its architectural heritage. These Cape Dutch style buildings are most visible along Long Street, the old government buildings and in Constantia.

Wine Tasting
The Cape Winelands and in particular the towns of Paarl, Franschhoek, Stellenbosch and Worcester are popular day trips from the city for wine tasting and sightseeing.

Whale Watching
Tourists are attracted by whale watching. The nearby town of Hermanus is known for its Whale Festival, but whales can also be seen in False Bay. The Southern Right Whales and Humpback Whales can be seen off the coast in the breeding season, from August to November. Throughout the year the Bryde’s Whales and Killer whales can be seen.

Places to Stay
The most popular areas for visitors to stay include Camps Bay, Sea Point, the V&A Waterfront, the City Bowl, Hout Bay, Constantia, Rondebosch, Newlands, Somerset West, Hermanus and Stellenbosch.