Holidays to Cape Town
Eye-popping natural beauty, intense history, smokin’ hot restaurants, penguins to visit and whales to spot: yep, one Cape Town holiday is never enough!
City trails
Table Mountain, sometimes with its cloudy tablecloth, frames central Cape Town to create one of the world’s most iconic cityscapes – and a network of trails (or a cable car) right on your doorstep!
Part of Table Mountain National Park, Lion’s Head – a little pointy peak between the city and the ocean – is epic for sunrise and sunset views.
Kelp me!
Cape Town’s ocean may look inviting – but prepare for a frigid reception! Wriggle gracelessly (there’s no other way) into a wetsuit to avoid immediate blue lips.
Jokes aside (kinda), you should waste no time exploring the beachside kelp forests, home to shoals of fish, rays and octopuses (if you can spot ‘em!). While the Atlantic waters can be chilly, the city’s eastern coastline fronts the warmer Indian Ocean.
Cape Malay, all day
Cape Malay food is the city’s homegrown cuisine, a blend of influences from south-east Asia (from where many indentured servants and enslaved people came during the colonial era), Africa and Europe.
The city-centre neighbourhood of Bo-Kaap – a hillside cobble-streeted area with sugary-coloured houses – is the perfect place to try Cape Malay food, like curries, samosas, stews and dangerously moreish koesisters (spiced deep-fried dough balls).
Urban winelands
Yes, that’s right – Cape Town even has vineyards! The Constantia wine region is the oldest in South Africa and convenient if you don’t fancy driving out to the famous wine regions of Stellenbosch or Franschhoek.
With Table Mountain and vineyard scenery, a charcuterie board and vino at Constantia Glen is nothing to wine about! Beau Constantia has an excellent restaurant – glass-sided, for a view as you chew!
Seismic history
Cape Town has a complex history, from colonialism to apartheid. Pop into the incredible District Six Museum to learn about forced displacement during apartheid and the ongoing fight to return to the area.
On Robben Island, you can visit the prison where Nelson Mandela and other anti-apartheid activists were held, with tours often led by former inmates.
Sneak Peek
Best for... Scenic eye candy and top-notch, top-value grub 📸
Go... Visit in spring or autumn for sunny days without the crowds 🍂
You have to... Try a koesister – but know it’s never just one 🔎
Cape Town holiday deals
Use the filters to narrow down by price, star rating, board basis, departure airport and more.
Prices and availability may change, confirm with the provider before booking. Mandatory fees may not be included in all prices.
Radisson Collection Hotel, Waterfront Cape Town
9.5
Excellent
- 23 Nov 2026
- 7 nights
- Bed & breakfast
- From Manchester
Prices from
Lagoon Beach Hotel & Spa
- 23 Nov 2026
- 7 nights
- Room only
- From Manchester
Prices from
Waterfront Village
9
Excellent
- 23 Nov 2026
- 7 nights
- Room only
- From Manchester
Prices from
Victoria & Alfred Hotel by Newmark
9.3
Excellent
- 23 Nov 2026
- 7 nights
- Bed & breakfast
- From Manchester
Prices from
Key facts
Currency
South African Rand (R)
Language
Multiple
Time difference
GMT+2
Cost of a beer
R30-70
3-course meal
R149-450
Flight time
11.5h
Things to explore
Culture and history: Past and present
The Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa (MOCAA) at the V&A Waterfront is a must-visit. The art is incredible and so is the building itself – a restored grain silo with gigantic convex windows and a colossal atrium. The Iziko Slave Lodge in the city centre is an important museum detailing slavery in South Africa. Nearby, the Iziko South African Museum has 1.5 million-odd scientific specimens from millions-year-old fossils (how we feel after an overnight long haul) to last week’s fishy catch of the day.
Food and drink: Melting pot
Cape Town gets a new restaurant what seems like every week – the scene is diverse and dynamic and ridiculously good value when you’re spending pounds! The city centre and neighbouring suburb The Gardens get a lot of the new hotspots, from Japanese–Peruvian fusion to margarita-fuelled Mexican. For a taste of – well – everything, head to the V&A Waterfront’s Time Out Market, which showcases some of the city’s best grub from posh Cape Malay to pizza and burgers. Down in Hout Bay, you’ll get your proper fish ‘n’ chips to chow on by the harbour.
Family friendly: Pottering (and) penguins
Wildlife-loving wee ones will have a field day in Cape Town – from the African penguin colony at Boulders Beach to turtles at the Two Oceans Aquarium, there are loads of ways to get up close to South Africa’s animals. At Artjamming, you all get to fling some paint around. Or visit the Clay Café for pottery with a pot of tea – ideal if the weather’s rubbish! A short drive outside Cape Town there’s sandboarding on the dunes – guaranteed fun (and sandy pants)!
When to go to Cape Town
Summer is prime time in Cape Town – December is the start of the season and everyone’s here for it! Johannesburg folks come to party, and Europeans, to escape the winter – it’s busy and fun! Things calm down a bit at the end of January, when schools go back. February and March are still hot, but it’s less windy (the summer wind is a whole thing!) and a touch quieter.
Winter (June to August) can be pretty rainy, but it’s the best time for cheap Cape Town holidays and snuggling up by the fire at a winery! May and June strike a good balance of weather, prices and crowds – as do September and October, which is also whale watching season!
