Why Cape Town is the Perfect Travel Destination City

Cape Town is probably my favorite city in the world. I have traveled to more than 20 countries, and visited countless cities, several of them that I will always love, like Hanoi and Bangkok, but Cape Town is just special. The weird thing is that it’s almost impossible for me to describe why. It’s just something about the feeling of the city. I can’t put my finger on one specific thing that made it so great, but I think it has to do with the mixture of a totally amazing location and scenery, combined with a huge diversity in people, cultures, architecture, history and experiences.

1. Cape Town – Diversity between the mountains and the ocean

First of all, the location and scenery is unbeatable. It is something very special about knowing that this big city you are in, is based at the southern-most tip of the huge African continent. The city is surrounded by the ocean and three distinct and majestic mountains, Devil’s Peak, Table Mountain and Lion’s Head. These mountains are also very important for the personality of Cape Town, and a subject to a sort of obsession and pride by the locals. However, for you as a tourist, they are an excellent tourist attraction. All of them are ideal goals for a day’s trek (the very active traveler’s might prefer the popular challenge of climbing them all in one day), all with amazing views from the top. Table Mountain is for sure the most touristy one, while Devil’s Peak is more challenging, less crowded and there is a fair chance you’ll have the peak to yourself.

Another thing I like about Cape Town is it’s diversity. You can find all kinds of lifestyles in the city, and you should definitely see more parts of the city than just the neighborhood of your hotel. Good places to go are the Downtown and Waterfront Area, Clifton and Camps Bay, Observatory and Rondebosch, and, importantly, one of the townships of which Khayelitsha and Langa probably are the largest. And I also want to say that these are, in my opinion, better to visit on your own rather than as part of a organized group. The townships are not tourist attractions, hence no need for a guide. It is a culture, life, and home to millions of people. Either drive out there or take public transportation, then just stroll around for a couple of hours. This is an important part of experiencing the local cultures, meeting people, smiling, greeting, playing and learning. As an organized group there is a risk of feeling intruding and observing, rather than part-taking, sharing and experiencing. I only speak for myself, but I believe this is what a lot of the township locals feel about this issue as well.

And a note about safety: A lot of my friends were robbed/ mugged while they were in Cape Town. We all spent a lot of time in the townships. All the muggings and robberies I heard about happened downtown or close to home, never in the townships. But of course, you should always be aware of where you are moving, especially after dark.

Downtown, Waterfront and Camps Bay – Big City, Western Luxury

In the Downtown and Waterfront area you get more of a big city feeling. Very lively, a lot of people, good for shopping, eating, drinking and night life. This is also the part of Cape Town that probably reminds you the most of home. It is a very European like architecture and layout, and probably the most developed part of entire Africa. However, if your home is the Beverly Hills in California, you might actually find that Clifton and Camps Bay is more like your home. This is where the wealthiest people in Cape Town live, or have their vacation homes. Here you will find beautiful beaches, amazing houses, nice restaurants, bars and hotels. This is the posh part of Cape Town.

Observatory and Rondebosh – Mixed cultures, students, pubs and bars

Observatory and Rondebosh is more of a grungy part of Cape Town, and very popular for students. The University of Cape Town is based up on the hills in Rondebosch, just below Devil’s Peak. It’s a very nice campus with a great view all over the city, and actually worth a quick visit even if your not a student there. And after you’ve seen it and absorbed the view, then head down to the strip of bars in Observatory. This is not where you go for a fancy cocktail, but cheap beer, a game of pool and a concerts with local underground bands.

The interesting thing about Observatory and Rondebosch is that they were one of the very few mixed communities during the Apartheid, with black and white people living together. And this is something you can still feel when you are there, it gives this part of Cape Town a very relaxed, laid back and friendly vibe. Apart from all the crime, of course.

Around Cape Town – Travel to the Surfs and Wine Lands

If you are based in Cape Town for a while, there are some day trips you definitely should take, depending on your interests. If you are the sports kind of person, try the local surfs. In less than an hour you can reach enough great surf spots for you to go a new place every day during your entire vacation. The closes to the city are probably less than 15 minute drives.

If you are more into the sophisticated life, you have no choice but going to the wine lands (this is actually something you should do even if you don’t like wine). There are so many different vineyards and wineries to visit, and most of them have great wines and beautiful views. Either go there and stay at a winery resort over night, or just take a day trip. Preferably with a driver, so you can enjoy all the wine tasting without risking your (and other’s) safety.

Another compulsory place to go during you vacation in Cape Town is the Southern Cape and Cape of Good Hope. Rumored to be the southern tip of Africa, even though it’s not true. The real southern tip is a few miles away, but what the hell, who cares? The Cape of Good Hope has the coolest name.

Conclusion: Cape Town is the Best Travel Destination City

Yep, the conclusion is clear, Cape Town is my favorite city in the world. Not necessarily my favorite place, I haven’t thought enough about that yet. I tend to like smaller, not so urban places, a little bit more than cities for vacation destinations. So that will be another article on this blog, because I am fairly confident that it will be a small town or beach in Africa. But back to the point: Cape Town is a great travel destination, and definitely a place you should visit during your lifetime. It has a little bit of everything. A little taste of all the cultures in the world. All set at a beautiful location. Man, I can’t wait to go back.

Have you been to Cape Town? What do you think? Share your thoughts in the comment field below, or register to become an author and write your own articles on the Africa Travel Blog!