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12 Apostles Peaks, Table Mountain, Cape Town

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Travel to Cape Town

Flying to Cape Town

Airlines providing flights to Cape Town from the UK include South African Airways, British Airways, Virgin Atlantic Airways and United Airlines. Cheap flights to Cape Town are available during the off-peak season from March to October. Avoid travelling in the summer between December and March if you're looking for cheap flights to Cape Town.

Flight times: 

From London - 12 hours.

Travel by road

Summary:

The Cape's stunning scenery, good quality roads and dearth of public transport makes driving the best option. Just be careful- the country has a high accident rate, clueless drivers who flout the rules and a lax attitude to drink-driving.

The legal driving age is 18 years, though car hire companies often require drivers to be at least 23. Driving is on the left. The speed limit on highways is 120kph (75mph), 80-100kph (50-62mph) on national roads and 60kph (37mph) in urban areas. Foreign licences are valid if they are in English with a photograph of the holder, but the AA recommends an International Driving Permit to prevent potential complications. Licences must be carried at all times. Car theft and hijacking is a problem, so keep doors locked and avoid hitchhikers. Most petrol stations only accept cash, not credit cards.

Emergency breakdown service:

The AA (tel: 0838 4322). Yellow SOS telephones are available on major routes.

Routes:

Three main routes lead into Cape Town; the N1 from Johannesburg via the Winelands of Paarl and Franschhoek; the N2 weaving along the coastal Garden Route and from the airport, and the N7 from Namibia down the west coast.

Driving times:

From Johannesburg - 17 hours; from Durban - 6 hours and from Franschhoek - 1 hour.

Coaches:

Air-conditioned coaches run from Adderley Street station to cities including Johannesburg, Durban, Port Elizabeth, Pretoria and Upington, and internationally to Bulawayo and Harare in Zimbabwe, Maputo in Mozambique and Windhoek in Namibia.

Operators include Intercape (tel: 0861 287 287; www.intercape.co.za), Greyhound (tel: 0839 159 000; www.greyhound.co.za), and Translux (tel: 021 774 3333; www.translux.co.za). The Baz Bus (tel: 021 439 2323; www.bazbus.com) is aimed at backpackers and picks up from hostels en route. It runs along the coast between Cape Town and Durban, before heading to Johannesburg.

Travel by rail

Services:

South Africa’s lack of public transport is clearly apparent in its train services – or lack of them. On a positive note, plans are underway to modernise Adderley Street Station in the city centre, with the addition of shops, cafes, ticket sales points and information kiosks.

Standard trains (tel: 0860 008 888; www.shosholozameyl.co.za) run to Johannesburg four times a week (27 hours), and weekly to Durban (38 hours). They offer a sleeper service and dining cars.

Operators:

Of most interest for tourists is the Southern Line Tourism Route run by Metrorail Western Cape (tel: 0800 65 64 63; www.capemetrorail.co.za). This is as much about the journey as the destination, with a route along the rugged coastline from Cape Town's Adderley Street station to Observatory, Newlands, Muizenberg, Kalk Bay, Fish Hoek and Simon's Town. All those small towns offer various attractions within a couple of kilometres of each station. A Hop On, Hop Off daily pass lets you jump off at each station.

The luxurious Blue Train (tel: 021 449 2672; www.bluetrain.co.za) and its rival Rovos Rail (tel: 021 421 4020; www.rovosrail.co.za) both run two-night trips between Cape Town and Pretoria four to six times a month. Evoking a bygone era of rail travel, the experience of gently rocking through spectacular countryside and indulging in fine food and wine en route makes this a must for rail buffs.

Heading for Johannesburg? Metrorail's Premier Classe (tel: 086 000 8888; www.premierclasse.co.za) runs twice a week and takes 25 hours. As well as a fine dining service and luxury rail accommodation, guests can pamper themselves with an African Armani Spa treatment - the first spa on a train in Africa.

Travel over water

Summary:

If you fancy a cruise to Cape Town, arriving by ship is truly spectacular, with Table Mountain as the backdrop to the picturesque harbour.

Ferry services:

Smaller cruise liners dock at the city's Victoria and Albert Waterfront (tel: (021) 408 7600; www.waterfront.co.za), which is a major tourist playground as well as a working harbour.

Larger ships berth at the adjoining Duncan Dock, which is also very close to the city centre. Cruise operators such as P&O, Silversea and Princess Cruises are among those offering a cruise to Cape Town.

Nearest port:

Cape Town.

Transport to the city:

The V&A Waterfront is about 5km (3.1 miles) from the city centre and can be reached within 10-15 minutes by taxi.

Transfer distance:

5km (3.1 miles).

Transfer time:

10-15 minutes.

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