Where to stay · Cape Town · South Africa
Where to stay in Cape Town
8 neighbourhoods compared, with the trade-offs hotel listings don't tell you.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Daniel Case, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
For a first visit, stay in City Bowl and Gardens. Central streets below Table Mountain, from Bree Street restaurants to Kloof Street cafés. Best alternatives — families: V&A Waterfront; budget: Sea Point.
Key facts
- First visit
- City Bowl and Gardens
- Families
- V&A Waterfront
- Budget
- Sea Point
- Nightlife
- City Bowl and Gardens
Best area for each kind of trip
| Trip type | Area | Why |
|---|---|---|
| First-timers | City Bowl and Gardens | Central streets below Table Mountain, from Bree Street restaurants to Kloof Street cafés |
| Families | V&A Waterfront | Working harbour with hotels, the aquarium, Zeitz MOCAA and the Robben Island ferry |
| Couples | De Waterkant and Green Point | Cobbled lanes of pastel cottages, Cape Town Stadium and the city's LGBTQ+ quarter |
| Budget | Sea Point | Apartment blocks along a seafront promenade with a public pool and ocean sunsets |
| Luxury | V&A Waterfront | Working harbour with hotels, the aquarium, Zeitz MOCAA and the Robben Island ferry |
| Nightlife | City Bowl and Gardens | Central streets below Table Mountain, from Bree Street restaurants to Kloof Street cafés |
| Food lovers | City Bowl and Gardens | Central streets below Table Mountain, from Bree Street restaurants to Kloof Street cafés |
| Solo travellers | City Bowl and Gardens | Central streets below Table Mountain, from Bree Street restaurants to Kloof Street cafés |
| Shopping | V&A Waterfront | Working harbour with hotels, the aquarium, Zeitz MOCAA and the Robben Island ferry |
| Quiet stays | Sea Point | Apartment blocks along a seafront promenade with a public pool and ocean sunsets |
| Beach | Camps Bay | Palm-lined beach under the Twelve Apostles with sundowner terraces on Victoria Road |
Cape Town neighbourhoods in detail
$$ · Best for first-timers, food lovers, nightlife and solo travellers
City Bowl and Gardens
The City Bowl is the amphitheatre between Table Mountain, Lion's Head and Devil's Peak. The CBD around Bree, Long and Loop streets holds many of the city's best restaurants and bars, while Gardens and Tamboerskloof uphill around Kloof Street are leafier, with guesthouses and the lower cableway station a short ride away. The Company's Garden and the South African Museum are on the doorstep.
- Good
- Walkable to restaurants, bars and museums; Wide range of guesthouses and hotels; Quick ride to the cableway
- Watch out
- Long Street is noisy at night; Some CBD streets feel empty after dark
- Nearby
- Company's Garden, Bo-Kaap, Table Mountain Cableway, District Six Museum
$$$$ · Best for families, luxury, first-timers and shopping
V&A Waterfront
The redeveloped Victoria & Alfred harbour is the city's most polished and patrolled area, with large hotels, a shopping mall, the Two Oceans Aquarium, the Watershed craft market and Zeitz MOCAA in a converted grain silo. Robben Island ferries leave from the Nelson Mandela Gateway. It is convenient for families and first-time visitors but feels more like a resort than a neighbourhood.
- Good
- Easy to walk around at night; Robben Island departures on site; Plenty of family attractions
- Watch out
- Expensive hotels and restaurants; Tourist-focused rather than local
- Nearby
- Robben Island ferry, Two Oceans Aquarium, Zeitz MOCAA, Green Point Park
$$$ · Best for couples, nightlife and first-timers
De Waterkant and Green Point
De Waterkant is a small grid of restored cottages on the slope above the Waterfront, with boutiques, cafés and the city's main LGBTQ+ bars. Green Point next door has Green Point Park, the stadium and the start of the Sea Point Promenade. Both sit between the CBD and the Waterfront, so most sights are a short ride away.
- Good
- Central between city and coast; Good self-catering cottages; Lively bar scene
- Watch out
- Can be noisy on weekend nights; Limited parking
- Nearby
- V&A Waterfront, Green Point Park, Sea Point Promenade, Bo-Kaap
$$ · Best for budget, solo travellers, families and quiet stays
Sea Point
Sea Point stretches along the Atlantic between Green Point and Bantry Bay. Its main draw is the long, flat promenade used by runners, walkers and families, plus the Sea Point Pavilion saltwater pool. Main Road and Regent Road are lined with cafés, sushi bars and grocery stores, and MyCiTi buses run to the CBD and Camps Bay.
- Good
- Sunset views over the Atlantic; Good-value apartments; Flat promenade for walking and running
- Watch out
- Rocky shore rather than sandy beach; Traffic on Main Road
- Nearby
- Sea Point Promenade, Sea Point Pavilion, Signal Hill, Clifton beaches
$$$$ · Best for luxury, couples and beach
Camps Bay
Camps Bay is a wide white-sand beach backed by the Twelve Apostles ridge, about 15 minutes' drive from the city. Victoria Road facing the sand is lined with restaurants and cocktail terraces that fill at sunset. Hotels and villas here are among the most expensive in Cape Town, and the Atlantic water is cold even in summer.
- Good
- Beach on the doorstep; Sunset views; Many restaurants within walking distance
- Watch out
- Expensive; Heavy weekend traffic in summer; Cold sea water
- Nearby
- Clifton beaches, Lion's Head, Bakoven, Twelve Apostles
$$ · Best for food lovers, shopping and culture
Woodstock
East of the CBD, Woodstock mixes old Victorian terraces with converted warehouses, galleries and murals. The Old Biscuit Mill on Albert Road hosts the Saturday Neighbourgoods Market and several well-known restaurants. It is a place to visit by day rather than a common base; streets can feel deserted at night.
- Good
- Street art and design shops; Saturday food market; Close to the CBD
- Watch out
- Fewer places to stay; Uneven feel after dark
- Nearby
- Old Biscuit Mill, District Six Museum, Salt River
$$ · Best for beach, budget, families and quiet stays
Muizenberg and Kalk Bay
On the False Bay side, about 30–40 minutes south of the city, Muizenberg has a long, gently shelving surf beach with colourful bathing huts and surf schools. Kalk Bay next door has a working harbour, fish restaurants, second-hand bookshops and tidal pools. The water is warmer than on the Atlantic side, and the Southern Line train runs along the shore.
- Good
- Warmer water and beginner surf; Village atmosphere; Closer to Boulders and Cape Point
- Watch out
- Far from the City Bowl; Main Road traffic on weekends
- Nearby
- Muizenberg Beach, Kalk Bay harbour, Boulders Beach, Simon's Town
$$$ · Best for couples, luxury, quiet stays and food lovers
Constantia
Constantia is South Africa's oldest wine-growing area, with estates such as Groot Constantia, Klein Constantia and Steenberg within the city limits. Accommodation is mostly country-house hotels and guesthouses set in gardens. Kirstenbosch is a short drive away, and the area suits travellers with a car who want quiet nights.
- Good
- Wine tasting without a long drive; Peaceful garden settings; Close to Kirstenbosch
- Watch out
- A car is essential; Few restaurants within walking distance
- Nearby
- Groot Constantia, Kirstenbosch, Hout Bay
Areas compared
| Area | Price | Nearby |
|---|---|---|
| City Bowl and Gardens | $$ | Company's Garden, Bo-Kaap, Table Mountain Cableway, District Six Museum |
| V&A Waterfront | $$$$ | Robben Island ferry, Two Oceans Aquarium, Zeitz MOCAA, Green Point Park |
| De Waterkant and Green Point | $$$ | V&A Waterfront, Green Point Park, Sea Point Promenade, Bo-Kaap |
| Sea Point | $$ | Sea Point Promenade, Sea Point Pavilion, Signal Hill, Clifton beaches |
| Camps Bay | $$$$ | Clifton beaches, Lion's Head, Bakoven, Twelve Apostles |
| Woodstock | $$ | Old Biscuit Mill, District Six Museum, Salt River |
| Muizenberg and Kalk Bay | $$ | Muizenberg Beach, Kalk Bay harbour, Boulders Beach, Simon's Town |
| Constantia | $$$ | Groot Constantia, Kirstenbosch, Hout Bay |
Getting to your hotel
Cape Town International Airport (CPT) is about 20 km east of the city centre, typically 20–30 minutes by car outside rush hour. Ride-hailing pick-ups and taxis operate from the terminal, and the MyCiTi airport bus runs to the Civic Centre station in the CBD.
Questions travellers ask
+What is the best area to stay in Cape Town for first-time visitors?
City Bowl and Gardens. The City Bowl is the amphitheatre between Table Mountain, Lion's Head and Devil's Peak.
+Where should families stay in Cape Town?
V&A Waterfront: Easy to walk around at night.
+Which area of Cape Town is best for a budget stay?
Sea Point ($$): Apartment blocks along a seafront promenade with a public pool and ocean sunsets.