Best Time to Visit

Seasons are reversed in Cape Town as opposed to the Northern Hemisphere (i.e. Europe & the USA). The most popular time to visit is summer, from December to February, when prices are the highest and it's advisable to book in advance. These months are perfect for a beach holiday, and offer the hottest weather (around 22 °C). For lower prices, the shoulder seasons are also good. In March-May it's autumn, the wine season, when you can seize the opportunity to try out the best from Cape Town's wineries. In September-November it's spring, which is the perfect season for a hiking holiday, with flowers in bloom everywhere. Winter comes between June and August and is the low season, with colder temperatures (around 15 °C), but it still has something special to offer: from July to September, you can admire migratory whales on the coastline.

Passport / Visa

Citizens of multiple world countries do not require a visa for stays of up to 90 days. These include: Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Botswana, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malta, Monaco, Namibia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Portugal, Qatar, Russia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, São Tomé and Príncipe, Saudi Arabia, Seychelles, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tanzania, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay, Venezuela, Zambia, Zimbabwe. Citizens of a further 28 countries do not require a visa for stays of up to 30 days: Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Cape Verde, Costa Rica, Cyprus, Eswatini, Gabon, Guyana, Hong Kong, Hungary, Jordan, Lesotho, Macau, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritius, Mozambique, Peru, Poland, South Korea, Thailand, Turkey. For nationals of countries not listed above, visa requirements apply. Please contact your local consulate for further details on required documentation. Passport holders of Cameroon, China, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Iran, Kenya, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Uganda can apply for eVisas online provided they will land at O. R. Tambo International Airport. Travellers aged less than 18 years old must provide a birth certificate complete with both parents' details and, if flying with only one of the parents, a parental consent statement signed by the other parent.

• Web:

  www.dha.gov.za/index.php/applying-for-sa-visa

Cape Town International Airport (CPT)

Cape Town International Airport is located 20 kilometres (13 miles) from the city centre and is easily accessible from all parts of the city. Shuttle buses connect the airport with the city centre and the trip takes about 45 minutes. Tickets are sold at kiosks inside the terminal. Licensed taxis operate from a rank outside the terminal and take 25-30 minutes to central Cape Town. Luxury hotels also offer chauffeur-driven transfers to and from the airport, bookable through the hotel. Airport shuttle bus tickets are also available from the Cape Town Tourism Visitor Centre in the arrivals hall.

• Web:

  www.airports.co.za/airports/cape-town-international-airport

• Address:

  Private Bag X9002, Cape Town International Airport, Cape Town

• Phone:

  +27 21 937 1200

Public Transport

The safest and easiest way to get around town by public transport is the Cape Town Explorer, the city’s official sightseeing bus services, which stop at all the city’s main attractions. You can get on and off as often as you wish, and tickets can be bought on board or at the Cape Town Tourism Visitor Centres in the city centre and the V&A Waterfront. First bus leaves the V&A Waterfront at 9:30 am and buses then leave every 45 minutes until 3 pm. Public buses, privately-run minibuses and commuter trains operate in and around Cape Town but if you value your comfort, safety and security using them is not a good idea. Minibus safety standards are poor, petty theft is common on buses and trains and violent crime is not uncommon on trains.

• Web:

  www.citysightseeing.co.za

• E-mail:

  info@citysightseeing.co.za

• Phone:

  +27 21 511 6000

Taxi

Taxis are plentiful and affordable. They cannot be flagged down on the street, but operate from ranks at the V&A Waterfront and elsewhere in the city centre or can be booked by phone from any hotel, café, restaurant or bar. A list of recommended companies is available from all Cape Town Tourism Visitor Information Centres. Blacklane, Talixo, Bolt and Uber rideshare apps are used in Cape Town, too.

• Web:

  www.excitetaxis.co.za

• Address:

  Excite Taxis

• Phone:

  +27 21 448 4444

Electricity

You might encounter four types of power plugs in South Africa: types C, D, M and N. The power grid operates on a 230V supply voltage and 50Hz. Plug type C is the plug which has two round pins. Plug type D is the plug which has three round pins in a triangular pattern. Plug types M and N both have three round pins.