Cape Town Cruise Guide
Overview
In and around what is affectionately nicknamed the Mother City, there's a great variety of attractions, plus excellent shopping in the glitzy malls and lively craft markets, and world-class cuisine in the trendy restaurant districts. In summer, it's difficult to escape the glitz of the rich and the fabulous who holiday here, and the international media - film crews for fashion shoots, music videos and commercials are lured to the city by exotic backdrops, a world-class infrastructure and the seemingly endless supply of drop-dead gorgeous models and extras.
Sightseeing
Away from the centre, the dizzying cableway ride to the top of Table Mountain is a highlight for any visitor, while the jagged mountains, sweeping beaches and breathtaking views in the Table Mountain National Park encompass most of the Cape Peninsula as far as Cape Point.
Less than an hour's drive away are the impossibly pretty historical wine estates where you can sample the best of South African wine and gourmet food. Cape Town's cultural and historical wealth can be explored on a tour of the friendly townships, a thought-provoking visit to Robben Island, or at the variety of top-notch contemporary museums.
Highlights
• Table Mountain
• Bo-Kaap (Top Cape, also known as the Malay Quarter)
• Robben Island
• Victoria & Alfred Waterfront
• Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens
• Cape Winelands
• Boulders Beach
• District Six Museum
• Two Oceans Aquarium
Tourist Information
Pinnacle Building, corner of Burg Street and Castle Street, Cape Town, South Africa
Tel: +27 (0) 21 426 4260.
Website: www.tourismcapetown.com
Shopping
Where? Greenmarket Square, Church Street, Long Street, Victoria & Albert Waterfront, Waterfront Craft Market, Green Point Fleamarket, Canal Walk Shopping Mall.
What? African art, local jewellery, handmade clothing, music, books and antiques.
Eating Out
Cape Town specialities
• Bobotie (a curried mince dish).
• Bredie (meat, tomato and vegetable casserole).
• Biltong (seasoned dried meat) is a savoury speciality.
• Potjiekos (a casserole cooked for hours in a cast-iron pot) is excellent.
• Pap (a sort of polenta made with white maize) is widely eaten with meat.
When To Go
Hotels
Getting There
By Water
Port of Cape Town
PO Box 4245, Cape Town
Website: www.transnetnationalportsauthority.net
By Rail
By Air
Airports Company South Africa, Private Bag X9002, Cape Town International Airport, 7525
Website: www.airports.co.za
Transfer Times
Nearest Destination
Transfer Distance
Transfer Time
Key Facts
Region
Time Zone
Currency
Language
Location
Population
Government
Religion
Social Conventions
Tipping: It is customary to tip 10% for good service.
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