I will be in Cape Town over christmas, alone, and need to know what I can do to pass time.
I am staying in the downtown area, close to long street. What are good places to go eat / drink and meet other travelers?
What are the best tourist attractions? Sightseeing?
Can I hike up the Table Mountain alone?
Do I need a car to travel outside of Cape Town? Or do they have public transportation?
I guess that’s 4 questions. Thanks for helping out!
Perry
Hi Perry,
Thanks for posting your questions here. Here are my thoughts:
1. On long street you will find a lot of bars, backpackers and restaurants. Some of them better than others for meeting people. Personally I usually find backpackers and hostels to be the easiest place to meet other travelers. Check out these ones on Long Street:
http://maps.google.com/maps?oe=utf-8&client=firefox-a&ie=UTF8&q=backpackers&fb=1&gl=us&view=map&ei=NhUXS6j4Mo3EsQOyl4yoDg&ved=0CCcQtQMwAA&hl=en&radius=0.38&sll=-33.922308,18.418461&sspn=0.006588,0.013154&rq=1&ev=p&hq=backpackers&hnear=&ll=-33.924284,18.417603&spn=0.006588,0.013154&t=h&z=17
Some bars that I liked when I was there a year ago: Zula, Living Room, Neighborhood and you should check out the new lounge at the Grand Daddy.
2. Good attractions are Table Mountain, Waterfront, District 6 museum, Robben Island, Wine country, Camps Bay, Cape Point, +++.
3. Yes, you can, but it’s not really adviced, so be careful. People get mugged there, and stay on the trails to be safe. Start early to make sure you get to the top before dark. Walking with a group is naturally much safer. An easy option is the cable car.
4. Public transportation is not great, so a rental car is recommended. Though, there are minibus taxis for the adventurous. There is also a train system, which can take you to Stellenbosch for example. Also look into the Baz Bus, which is an easy way to travel and great way to meet people.
Good luck with your planning!! I hope some readers here will give you more advice!
Here are some articles on The Africa Travel Blog that I think you will find interesting / helpful!
Ten Tips to a Successfull Cape Town Vacation:
http://www.theafricatravelblog.com/tips-advice/ten-tips-to-a-succesfull-capetown-vacation/
The Garden Route vs. The Cape Peninsula:
http://www.theafricatravelblog.com/tips-advice/itinerary-planning-the-cape-peninsula-vs-the-garden-route/
Where to see Penguins?
http://www.theafricatravelblog.com/tips-advice/where-to-see-penguins-in-south-africa-of-course/
Why Cape Town is the Perfect Travel Destination City:
http://www.theafricatravelblog.com/african-travel-destinations/why-cape-town-is-the-perfect-travel-destination-city/