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Cape Town City Centre, Cape Town, 8001, South Africa

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Cape Town Central

The city centre and the city bowl are the practical Cape Town: Table Mountain above the streets, museums, markets, and the restaurants people fly down for.

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Cape Town City Centre, Cape Town, 8001, South Africa
Sideroxylon inerme. Indigenous White Milkwood Trees used for city landscaping in Cape Town.
South Africa , view of Cape Town from the top of table mountain.
Cape Point, South Africa
Dias Beach, Cape Point, South Africa
Cape Point, South Africa

Visiting Cape Town Central

South Africa , view of Cape Town from the top of table mountain.

Not for nothing is Cape Town’s city centre called the ‘city bowl’ by locals. The heart of Africa’s favourite city sits in a shallow basin hemmed in by the dramatic backdrop of Table Mountain, Signal Hill and the harbour. Head for Table Mountain for the best city views but you don’t even have to go up to the top: the views from the lower cable car station are amazing enough.

It’s a small city centre but it’s safe, busy and there's plenty to do. Indeed, one of the major advantages of staying in central Cape Town is your proximity to Cape Town's best-loved institutions. Chat to the flower sellers of Adderley Street and the market stall holders of Greenmarket Square; grab a coffee on bustling Long Street and then wander down to the museums (the District Six museum is especially good) or simply take a stroll around the Company’s Garden. Central Cape Town is also just a few minutes drive away from the ever-popular V&A Waterfront.

The city’s small size has another advantage: in just fifteen minutes you could be on one side of the mountain sunning yourself on one of the city's famous beaches or on the other, enjoying wine tasting in the Constantia winelands. A hike or cable car ride to the top of Table Mountain is a must on any visitor's holiday checklist – from the city centre it’s a mere 10-minute drive to the cable car station.

That's the beauty of Cape Town – no matter where you choose to stay, you'll always be close to its major attractions. And with city centre accommodation ranging from several of South Africa’s finest five-star hotels to exclusive boutique hotels, family apartments and private villas, Cape Town Central is a destination that is as suitable for families with young children as it is for honeymooners and romantics.

  • What travellers most enjoyed about Cape Town Central

    • Cultural interactions

    • Food and wine

Cape Town Central - Where to Go

Sideroxylon inerme. Indigenous White Milkwood Trees used for city landscaping in Cape Town.

A well-known advantage of staying in central Cape Town (also known as the city centre or City Bowl) is its proximity to Table Mountain, Signal Hill, the V&A Waterfront, and some of the best beaches in the world. Enjoy high tea at the world-famous Mount Nelson Hotel, take a stroll through the Company's Gardens and National Gallery, or visit some of the famed restaurants and eateries that are spearheading the city's acclaimed food and wine culture.

  • Cape Town City Centre

    Cape Town City Centre, Cape Town, 8001, South Africa

    Cape Town’s city centre reflects what this vibrant city is all about youthful energy, an eclectic mix of people, excellent food and drink, and every opportunity to party.

    The city centre also showcases some of Cape Town's oldest buildings and reveals a variety of architectural styles that are a testament to the various influences in its unique history. Here you can find beautifully restored Cape Dutch buildings flanked by high-rise office blocks and some of Cape Town's best hotels, all with spectacular views over the city.

    Home to a mixture of corporate giants and small independent businesses, Cape Town’s city centre is characterized by a constant buzz, no more so than at lunchtime when its narrow streets are full of networking business people, market stall owners and lively entertainers. It’s also home to most of Cape Town’s nightclubs and late-night eateries – head for Long Street to be at the centre of it all.

  • Gardens

    The suburb of Gardens lies next to Cape Town’s city centre at the foot of Table Mountain. This affluent area is a creative hub – home to art galleries, modelling agencies and film studios – and boasts many chic shops, restaurants and vibrant bars where Cape Town's young and beautiful go to mingle.

    Immerse yourself in the Gardens lifestyle and take a wander down fashionable Kloof Street or treat yourself to high tea at the world-famous Mount Nelson Hotel after a visit to the nearby National Art Gallery and the Company’s Garden.

  • Oranjezicht

    Oranjezicht (meaning Orange View) is a quiet suburb with a charming character that places it on many people’s list of favourite places to live within the city. Set between the edge of the city centre and the lower slopes of Table Mountain, this former farmstead is now home to a range of upmarket and luxurious accommodation with expansive views over the city bowl and Table Bay.

    Popular with international visitors, expatriates and the fashionable crowd, Oranjezicht boasts a number of stylish eateries, bars and delis where you can grab a gourmet sandwich and a cappuccino before heading off to explore the rest of the Cape Peninsula.

  • Higgovale

    Higgovale is a small, leafy suburb tucked away on the slopes of Table Mountain at the edge of Cape Town's city centre. This exclusive residential area is home to some of Cape Town's most stately homes and beautiful gardens and, because of the incline of the mountainside, houses are often multi-storied, providing wonderful views of the city below.

    Its elevated position and dense thickets of trees provide Higgovale with an atmosphere of tranquillity far removed from the daily grind of city living. Largely free of the summer’s notorious south-east wind, Higgovale is the ideal location for those seeking a secluded and sheltered base from which to explore the city centre and beaches of Cape Town, both of which are a mere 10-minute drive away.

  • Tamboerskloof

    Lying on the slopes of Lion’s Head and Signal Hill, the suburb of Tamboerskloof has amazing views of Cape Town. The generous size and elegant style of the houses here hint at the special nature of Tamboerskloof and indeed this suburb has long held a reputation for some of the most sought-after addresses in the city.

    Gracious and often beautifully restored Victorian villas line the quiet streets of Tamboerskloof and it’s a short walk to tucked-away bars and delis. Table Mountain and Lion’s Head are just a 5-minute drive away while another five minutes will take you to Camps Bay beach. Popular among locals and international visitors alike, Tamboerskloof is home to some of the city centre’s most exclusive boutique hotels.

When to go

  • Cape Town City Centre, Cape Town, 8001, South Africa

    November to March

    Summer, long evenings, and the busy festive weeks. The mountain is usually clear, and the beaches are the reason to be in Camps Bay instead.

  • Cape Point, South Africa

    May to September

    Cooler, wetter, and the better match for a Kruger winter. The cable car closes in high wind. Have a second plan.

Travel advice

  • Cape Point, South Africa

    Safety

    Ask the hotel which streets to walk after dark, and do not leave a bag in a parked car at a viewpoint.

  • Dias Beach, Cape Point, South Africa

    The mountain

    Wind shuts the cable car. The walk is a real hike, not a stroll in new shoes.

Popular tours and safaris in Cape Town Central

Priced itineraries that pass through this place. Nights can still change when the quote is drawn up. Nothing is paid until you accept it.

Browse all tours
  • From KSh307,072 to KSh448,597 pps

    Sustainable Cape Luxury
    Cape Cadogan Residence Bedroom Landscape 44 days

    Highlights

    A visit with a local community.

    Destinations visited

    Cape Town | South Africa

  • From KSh369,395 to KSh510,271 pps

    Eco-Retreat: The Grootbos Experience
    Garden Lodge Lounge4 days

    Highlights

    Morning and afternoon game drives on each full day on safari. Park and permit fees for the places on this route.

    Destinations visited

    South Africa | Western Cape

  • From KSh523,904 pps

    Train Journey to Vic Falls
    Day1 BoardRovos54 days

    Highlights

    Morning and afternoon game drives.

    Destinations visited

    Botswana | South Africa | Zimbabwe

  • Rovos Rail RVR KimberleyStation HRes4 days

    Highlights

    Morning and afternoon game drives on each full day on safari. Park and permit fees for the places on this route.

    Destinations visited

    Cape Town | South Africa

  • From KSh523,904 pps

    Train Journey to Vic Falls
    Day1 BoardRovos54 days

    Highlights

    Morning and afternoon game drives on each full day on safari. Park and permit fees for the places on this route.

    Destinations visited

    Botswana | South Africa | Zimbabwe

  • From KSh557,014 to KSh603,107 pps

    5-Day Essential Kruger Park Safari
    Simbavati River Lodge 15 days

    Highlights

    Morning and afternoon game drives on each full day on safari. Park and permit fees for the places on this route.

    Destinations visited

    Kruger Private Reserves | South Africa

  • From KSh810,851 to KSh814,097 pps

    Mid-Range 5-Day Essential Kruger Park Safari
    Savanna private game reserve5 days

    Highlights

    Morning and afternoon game drives.

    Destinations visited

    Sabi Sands Game Reserve | South Africa

  • From KSh1,470,438 to KSh1,663,900 pps

    Luxury 5-Day Essential Kruger Safari
    Sabi Sabi Earth Lodge5 days

    Highlights

    Morning and afternoon game drives.

    Destinations visited

    Sabi Sands Game Reserve | South Africa

Cape Town City Centre Accommodation

Victoria Road, Camps Bay , near Cape Town , South Africa.

Accommodation in the Cape Town city centre ranges from luxury city hotels to quiet guesthouses and B&Bs – enough to suit all tastes, budgets and trip types. If you’re looking for a convenient spot to experience the best of the Mother City, our selection of Cape Town central accommodation is sure to inspire you and will make planning your Cape Town holiday so much simpler.

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Cape Town Central stays

5 stays. The rate is per person sharing.

  • From KSh307,072 to KSh2,269,603 pps

    Cape Cadogan Boutique Hotel

    Hotel front entranceCape Town Central, South Africa

    Activities travellers enjoyed

    Bush dining | Bird watching | Boat excursions | Fishing | Canoeing | Spa treatments

  • Cape Town Table Mountain cable station ashim d silva qfOa6ERLrVs unsplashCape Town Central, South Africa

    Activities travellers enjoyed

    Picnics | Helicopter flights | Boat excursions | Canoeing | Spa treatments

  • From KSh902,388 to KSh1,943,056 pps

    Kensington Place

    Kensington Place 18Cape Town Central, South Africa

    Activities travellers enjoyed

    Bush dining | Bird watching | Wine tasting | Picnics | Hiking | Horse riding

  • From KSh1,437,978 to KSh3,053,188 pps

    Mount Nelson, A Belmond Hotel, Cape Town

    BelmondMountNelsonHotel ExteriorCape Town Central, South Africa

    Activities travellers enjoyed

    Conservation projects | Bird watching | Boat excursions | Hiking | Yoga | Spa treatments

  • From KSh486,900 to KSh1,474,982 pps

    Welgelegen House

    Welgelegen HouseCape Town Central, South Africa

    Activities travellers enjoyed

    Cultural visits | Historical tours | Bird watching | Scenic flights | Fishing | Horse riding

Costs

A city hotel and meals move the bill more than the cable car or a peninsula tour.

Sample trips that include the Cape show the guide price. International flights are outside it.