Cape Town

The most beautiful city beneath Table Mountain, with the Cape of Good Hope, Boulders penguins and wine country; ranked No. 1 Best City in the World by Time Out in 2025.

Cape Town is at the southwestern tip of South Africa on the Cape Peninsula. It is the capital of the Western Cape and South Africa's legislative capital, with Table Mountain, Lion's Head and Signal Hill enclosing the city on three sides, and Table Bay and the Atlantic opening to the north. The sights fall into these areas: first, the city center and Table Mountain: the V&A Waterfront, the colorful Bo-Kaap neighborhood, Long Street, the Company's Garden and the Table Mountain Cableway; second, the Atlantic coastline: Camps Bay, Clifton Beach, Hout Bay and Chapman's Peak Drive; third, the southern Cape Peninsula: Boulders penguin beach, Simon's Town and the Cape of Good Hope/Cape Point, usually done as a one-day self-drive loop of the peninsula; fourth, the wine country of Constantia in the east, plus Stellenbosch and Franschhoek (1 hour by car); farther out you can go whale watching at Hermanus (2 hours, Jun–Nov) or head east along the Garden Route. The climate is Mediterranean: Nov–Mar is the Southern Hemisphere summer, sunny with little rain and daytime temperatures of 25–30°C, but the southeaster wind known as the "Cape Doctor" often blows in the afternoon, covering Table Mountain in its "tablecloth" cloud and halting the cableway; autumn (Apr–May) and spring (Sep–Oct) are comfortable with little wind, a good time for photography and hiking; Jun–Aug winter is rainy and cool (10–17°C) but is whale-watching season and low season in wine country. Getting there and around: Cape Town International Airport (CPT) requires a connection via Johannesburg, Addis Ababa, Dubai, Doha or Singapore from China; Chinese citizens must obtain a South African visa in advance. The airport is about 25 minutes from the city, an Uber costs about ZAR 250–350, and ordinary taxis are not recommended. Sights in the city are spread out, so renting a car is the most convenient (drive on the left); you can also use the MyCiTi bus rapid transit, the red City Sightseeing bus or Uber. Recommended stay: 4–5 days (1 day for Table Mountain and the city, 1 for the peninsula loop, 1 for wine country, 1 for beaches and Robben Island). Safety tips: do not walk after dark, especially outside the city center and Long Street; do not leave visible items in your car; hike Table Mountain and Lion's Head in a group and come down before dark; carry a little cash, though cards are widely accepted; tap water is safe to drink, and water-saving awareness remains strong after the 2018 drought.

Top sights

Where to eat

Itineraries