Why visit
Cape Town is Table Mountain rising from the sea, Cape Point's meeting of oceans, Bo-Kaap's painted houses, Cape Winelands at Stellenbosch, and Kalk Bay's fish.
How to use this result
Use it as a travel-city prompt
Cape Town is included because it has traveler appeal beyond being a dot on the map. Use the themes, neighborhoods, notes, and season guidance to decide whether it fits a weekend, longer route, or writing prompt.
Build a realistic route
For a real trip, check how Cape Town connects with nearby cities, airports, rail or bus routes, local costs, weather, and entry rules for South Africa.
Cape Town at a glance
City population
4.8 million
Elevation
25 m
82 ft
Time zone
UTC+2
Africa/Johannesburg
Airport
CPT
Cape Town International
Founded
1652
Getting around
MyCiti BRT + trains + Ubers; rental car recommended for region
Signature dish
Bobotie, braai, bunny chow, Cape Malay curry, biltong
Neighborhoods for travelers
Bo-KaapV&A WaterfrontSea PointCamps BayConstantia
South Africa at a glance
Country center
-29.0°, 24.0°
Coast
Has coastline
Country area
1,221,037 km²
471,445 mi²
Country population
63.2 million
52/km²
Subregion
Southern Africa
Currency
South African rand (R)
ZAR
Dial
+27
Languages
Afrikaans, English, Southern Ndebele
Demonym
South African
Internet
.za
UN
Member state
ISO code
ZA / ZAF
Where in the world
-29.0° - 24.0°
South Africa
Open in Google Maps
Click the map to open in Google Maps. Outline via svg-maps/world - CC BY 4.0
Did you know
- Table Mountain is 3× older than the Himalayas. The flat top is one of the oldest exposed landscapes on earth.
- Cape Town is one of three capital cities of South Africa (legislative).
- The city has two oceans meeting at its peninsula: Atlantic and Indian: with visibly different water.
- South Africa has three capital cities: Pretoria (executive), Cape Town (legislative), and Bloemfontein (judicial).
- Table Mountain is 3× older than the Himalayas, and its flat top is one of the oldest landscapes on earth.
Bordering South Africa
Traveler notes
- Table Mountain cableway book for morning
- Chapman's Peak Drive is one of the world's great coast roads
- V&A Waterfront is touristy but Zeitz Mocaa there is worth it
Plan checks
- Build a three-day plan before extending. Most travel cities are easy to undersell to yourself.
- Check seasonal timing: high season can triple costs on some coastal destinations.
- Verify swim safety, ocean conditions, and water-quality reports by month.
- Reserve top restaurants 2–4 weeks out and plan two standout meals per city.
Explore more
Facts last reviewed June 2026 against GeoNames and national statistics sources. See the editorial policy for how destination data is maintained.
Frequently asked about Cape Town
What currency is used in Cape Town?
Cape Town uses the South African rand (R), ISO code ZAR.
What languages are spoken in South Africa?
The primary languages are Afrikaans, English and Southern Ndebele.
What is the international calling code for South Africa?
The calling code is +27.
What airport serves Cape Town?
Cape Town International (IATA: CPT).
Other Africa destinations
Gabon
Gabon keeps almost 90 percent of its land under forest and made 13 national parks in one stroke in 2002. Loango is the famous one: forest elephants and buffalo walking ocean beaches, plus surfing hippos in the right season.
Gambia
The Gambia is a river with a country around it, and West Africa's easiest first stop. Atlantic beach resorts near Banjul, river trips past Kunta Kinteh Island, and more than 500 recorded bird species in a country smaller than Connecticut.
Ghana
Ghana is West Africa's most accessible introduction: the slave forts of Cape Coast and Elmina, Kakum's canopy walkway, Ashanti culture around Kumasi, and Accra's music and food scene.
Guinea
Guinea is the source of the Niger River and home to the Fouta Djallon highlands, a green plateau of waterfalls and hiking trails between Fulani villages. Almost no mass tourism reaches it.
Guinea-Bissau
Guinea-Bissau's Bijagós Archipelago is the draw: 88 islands with saltwater hippos, nesting turtles, and matriarchal island cultures, protected as a UNESCO biosphere reserve.
Kenya
Kenya is the safari benchmark. Maasai Mara, Amboseli with Kilimanjaro views, and Samburu in the north. And closes with Indian Ocean beaches at Diani and Lamu.