The Perfect Time to Visit Cape Town
4 November 2021
This is the perfect time of year to visit Cape Town. Summer starts in November and lasts until February, bringing with it clear skies, long days and warm evenings.
The Mother City, with its beautiful scenery, has something for everyone. Locals, tourists and families can hike, visit iconic tourist attractions, swim and tan on the beaches, tour a wine route or enjoy other adventures. Don’t let the impressive South Easter wind, nicknamed the Cape Doctor, put you off. Rather use the opportunity to try something new – like kite surfing perhaps!
Cape Town’s iconic tourist attractions
Cape Town’s Big Six tourist attractions decorate the front of postcards and for good reason. Be sure to visit these iconic spots during your stay in the Mother City.
- Table Mountain aerial cableway: Instead of hiking up Table Mountain, take a cable car to the summit. It is open daily, depending on the weather. The cars rotate, giving passengers stunning 360˚ views on the way up and down. Enjoy a sunset from the top of the mountain or take a picnic along.
- Cape Point Nature Reserve: Cape Point, with its rugged cliffs, magnificent views, and beautiful fynbos vegetation, forms part of the Table Mountain National Park. Do a hike, ride the Flying Dutchman funicular to the viewing point below the lighthouse, visit the monuments, or go diving while you’re there.
- Robben Island: Take a ferry from the V&A Waterfront to this UNESCO World Heritage Site. It’s best known for being the place where Nelson Mandela and many other political prisoners were incarcerated during Apartheid.
- Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens: Hike, picnic, enjoy summer concerts, or wander along the 130m Boomslang – a tree canopy walkway, while at Kirstenbosch. This gorgeous botanical garden lies on the slopes of Table Mountain and is a must-visit.
- Groot Constantia: This is the oldest wine farm in South Africa and part of the famous Cape Winelands wine route. Drink fine wine, eat delectable food, and visit the museum in the old Manor House while there.
- V&A Waterfront: The popular V&A Waterfront offers shopping, restaurants, bars, entertainment, and harbour views. The Two Oceans Aquarium and The Cape Wheel are located here. Enjoy the several water activities in the new Canal District.
The best beaches in Cape Town
It’s difficult to say which is the best beach in Cape Town because all of them have something special to offer.
The False Bay side of Cape Town offers slightly warmer water. Muizenberg Beach is a top option for families and surfers. Don’t worry if you’re a beginner – there are a bunch of surf schools in ‘Muizies’ which offer lessons and board hire. Muizenberg beach is lined with colourful beach huts, which make the perfect spot to take photos.
The nearby St James beach is great for families as it is sheltered from the wind and has shallow rock pools for children to play in. Meanwhile, you’ll be able to swim fairly close to endangered African penguins in the crystal-clear water at Boulder’s Beach.
Despite the icy-cold water at Clifton’s fourth beach and Camp’s Bay, on the Atlantic Coast side of Cape Town, locals and tourists still flock there to bask in the sun and admire the mountain views. Clifton is more sheltered from the wind, while a strip of restaurants and bars line Camps Bay’s beach – making it a great spot for sundowners.
A bit further from the city centre is Blouberg Beach which boasts magnificent views of Table Mountain and Robben Island on a clear day. Kite surfers congregate here to take advantage of the wind and waves. Kommetjie’s Long Beach stretches for 8 km and is perfect for long strolls, walking the dogs and even horse riding.
Muizenberg, Clifton’s fourth beach, and Camp’s Bay are all Blue Flag beaches.
Cape Town’s idyllic summer spots
Summer and spring are the best times to visit Cape Town and there are several places in and around the mother city that are worth exploring while you’re there.
- Lion’s Head: This peak, next to Table Mountain, is worth hiking up for the marvellous, panoramic views of the city, Table Mountain, the sea, and the Twelve Apostles. Locals often tackle the peak during full moon – hiking up in time to watch the sunset and rising full moon, before walking back down in the moonlight. Be aware that there are some ladders and chains that need to be navigated towards the top of the peak.
- Sea Point Promenade: Families, walkers, runners, cyclists love the paved promenade that stretches from Mouille Point to Bantry Bay. Get splashed by crashing waves during high tide, picnic on the grass alongside the path, admire the art installations, or visit one of the bars or restaurants adjacent to the strip.
- Music festivals: Several music festivals happen in and around Cape Town during summer. These include the Cape Town International Jazz Festival, Rocking the Daisies, Up the Creek, and summer concerts at Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens featuring top South African artists.
- Markets: Cape Town is home to several artisan and food markets. The Neighbourgoods Market at the Old Biscuit Mill and the Oranjezicht City Farm Market are worth checking out.
Getting around Cape Town safely
Getting to and around Cape Town is relatively easy as the city has well-developed transport systems like most big international cities.
Domestic and international flights fly to and from the award-winning Cape Town International Airport. Visitors can hire a car, use metered taxi cabs, or even e-hailing services such as Uber and Bolt. Much of the city is covered by the efficient MyCiti bus while the train can be used to travel from the city centre along the southern line, as far as Simon’s Town.
Cycling has also become a popular way to experience the city. Bicycles can be hired from one of several bike hire companies and much of the city has dedicated bike lanes.
It is safe to travel to Cape Town provided tourists stay aware of their surroundings and travel in groups, as far as possible. The city has also put several measures in place to ensure that tourists and locals can enjoy themselves safely amidst the Covid-19 pandemic.
