Holiday lettings in Cape Town

The City Centre is a good place to stay for the first time visitor, especially those without much time in the city. The district features some of Cape Towns best eateries and clubs, and it’s easy to reach the beaches, museums and national parks via public transport. Tamboerskloof and Gardens are adjacent suburbs between the centre and Table Mountain National Park. It’s a great spot for families as it’s close to the city but still retains a quiet, suburban feel. Beginning on the outskirts of Cape Town are the Cape Winelands, a sprawling region of lush countryside and woodland. It is home to many of South Africa’s famed wineries and organic farms, which is something the local towns take full advantage of with a selection of great restaurants and bars. It’s an excellent option for a few nights if you are intending to explore the Winelands as well as the city.

Surrounded by mountains, forest, beach and sea, Cape Town is undoubtedly one of the world’s great outdoor destinations. For an overarching view of the city and its environs, catch a cable car (or hike if you’re really keen!) to the top of Table Mountain. The panorama from the top is far-reaching and breathtaking: a spread of rocky hills, city neighbourhoods, forest, beaches and ocean as far as the eye can see. Water enthusiasts will find that Cape Town is their oyster - although the Atlantic can be chilly, there are excellent opportunities to swim, surf, scuba dive and kite surf at several beaches. Back on land, explore the wildflower saturated nature parks on the outskirts of the city, hike through the hills or join a safari for a day to search for South Africa’s famed wildlife. Finally, recover from all that exercise with a relaxing evening tasting local wines.

The lush farms and wineries just outside Cape Town supply some phenomenal produce to the city and a genuine foodie culture has developed. The are great upmarket restaurants serving multicultural fare in the city centre. Seafood lovers should try some of the local varieties, especially Kingklip, Kabeljou and Cape Salmon. Head to the V&A Waterfront for a good range of restaurants with a waterside view, or Long Street to mingle and eat where the locals do. South Africa is of course also a major wine producer, so don’t miss out on one of the daily wine tours to vineyards around the city, where you will get to taste local wines, and enjoy a delicious lunch in the countryside. There are various operators, so take a look online to see which will suit you best - some also give you the option to taste local cheeses, or take a cellar tour as well.

The city is served by Cape Town International Airport and MyCiti buses run from the airport into the centre of Cape Town every twenty minutes. The city isn’t ideal for pedestrians: signposting is not good and there are large motorways dividing the neighbourhoods. If you are able to rent a car for your stay - or even a scooter - then you will find getting around a lot easier. If this isn’t an option, there are bus and train networks that cover most of the city. The Golden Arrow Buses are good value for short trips around the city centre and inner suburbs while the City Sightseeing Bus is a good way to explore the peninsula. You can hop on and off at will. There are plenty of cab companies but Rikkis is one of the best. Their cabs look like London ones, are cheaper than normal Cape Town cabs and are very popular with locals.