WHERE TO STAY IN CAPE TOWN AS A TOURIST

If you are interested in where to stay in Cape Town, you may also be interested in where to stay in Johannesburg and where to stay in Durban.

Gardens and Tamboerskloof, the best areas to stay in Cape Town

Gardens

Being so close to the city centre, the Gardens neighbourhood already has advantages that appeal to the masses in which is one of the most well-known areas of the city for its safety, excellent transport links and own attractions and therefore is a perfect place to stay in.

The main things to see in this part of the city include the South African Museum, which hosts a great number of artefacts that have been found in the city as well as around the country and the South African National Gallery, which is home to a huge amount of South African produced art and has a very interesting exhibition on the history of censorship of art during Apartheid.

The South African Jewish Museum is another brilliant museum to check out due to the religions help in society and taking apart the Apartheid. Another fascinating place is the Company Gardens, which is the oldest garden in the country and was created back in the 1650s. Here, you will see various memorials, historic trees, herbs, fish ponds and little art galleries and museums.

The trendy streets of Kloof and Orange are home to a number of shops, bars, restaurants, cafes and these areas are the most vibrant part of the district at night with the best hotels found here too.

Tamboerskloof

This neighbourhood is one of the oldest residential areas in Cape Town and again is very close to the city centre but has a much more laidback atmosphere and means that it is an excellent choice to stay in. The fact that it is a safe neighbourhood with great transport links to other parts of the city also mean that this area is very convenient to have as base.

Most of the neighbourhood is made up of Victorian style homes, which supply beautiful pictures with the main street for shops, bars, restaurants and clubs being Long Street, which is one of the closest streets to the city centre. As you are so close to Table Mountain, you can easily get to the summit by cable car or by climbing and there are frequent buses from the neighbourhood that take you to the start of both the cable car route and the climbing route.

Other neighbourhoods to stay in Cape Town

Camps Bay

This suburb is literally the other side of Table Mountain from Gardens and Tamboerskloof and backs onto the Twelve Apostles mountain range. This area feels like it has its own village community but does have buses linking it up with other parts of the city and the neighbourhood is very safe, which makes it a good place to stay in.

A lot of people flock here to relax on its sandy beaches, which offer some excellent surfing as well as many other water sports. All along the palm-tree lined promenade, you will find a great array of shops, restaurants, cafes, bars, clubs and hotels with luxury homes just behind this area. There are also numerous hikes and walks and provide spectacular scenery and ample photo opportunities.

Green Point

This popular residential area is known as the Soho of the city as it contains so much energy and vibrancy, which is driven by its young audience. It sits right in front of the sea, offering superb views of the city and ocean and is conveniently placed next to some of the most affluent neighbourhoods. From Green Point, everywhere is easily reachable and the district is known as a particularly safe area and these reasons are why it is a wise choice to stay in. There are lots of tourist attractions including the Cape Town football stadium, golf courses, Green Point Urban Park, Green Point Lighthouse and there are numerous stunning walks.

The walk to Lion’s Head offers panoramic views of the city and the promenade is a popular one to do at night, which is where you will find the main concentration of hotels, restaurants, shops, cafes and pubs.

Sea Point

Another safe neighbourhood to stay in, which is characterised by high-rise buildings as well as a variety of pubs, clubs, restaurants, shops and hotels all along its seafront. It is one of the main party spots in the city and this area has a decent amount of sport activities to do as well as visiting the beach and its parks, where you can take some time out. The area is close to the city centre, which makes it an ideal place to call home as you can visit the main attractions with ease.

City Bowl

This is where the heart of Cape Town lies, which is neatly nestled between the mountain and the harbour and is literally in the shape of a bowl. You can visit Table Mountain from here as well as visit one of its many museums, art galleries, restaurants, shops, bars, clubs, parks and beaches. It is known to be a safe area of the city and is a brilliant place to stay in due to its close proximity to the city centre.