Introduction

Already in the enviable position of being both a fantastic city to visit, and a great city to live in, Cape Town is gearing up to stake our claim as Africa’s cultural and creative centre.

Cape Town’s reputation of being a free-spirited, cosmopolitan, creolised port city precedes it, making every single person’s experience of our colourful city a unique one. Cape Town is iconic – a city of breathtaking natural beauty, creative freedom of expression and change, a melting pot of cultures and a modern history reflected in its characters, architecture and stories.

It is an exciting time for Cape Town. One of the Host Cities of the 2010 FIFA World Cup™, we are positioning Cape Town as the Party and Lifestyle Capital of the event. Check out our exciting new 2010 mini-site!

The City is undergoing some exciting changes. A series of events are being staged in the Mother City in the run-up to the World Cup and we invite you to share in the excitement as we prepare the stage for the biggest party Cape Town has ever thrown. In December 2009, we will host the Final Draw with thousands of international media and broadcasters descending upon Cape Town for this spectacle, the size of which our city has not yet seen.

Visitors to Cape Town can join in the excitement and enjoy the legacy of this event in the run-up to and beyond 2010 – from the great public open spaces and newly created venues, to improved infrastructure and public transport.

Our history is not squeaky clean. Cape Town does, after all, epitomise the first and arguably the most significant colonial outpost in southern Africa.

The Portuguese caravels of Bartholomeu Dias took anchor on our shores in the late 15th Century. And it was here that a permanent European settlement was achieved 150 years later.

The city can credit its charming mix of culture, language, architecture and first-rate vineyards to this legacy. But this legacy is also one of centuries-long exploitation and oppression.

Cape Town is a city of contrasts and tells a tale of two cities: one that boasts a thriving creative economy, premier tourist destination status and incredible natural beauty, juxtaposed with social problems and poverty that are directly related to our colourful past and troubled history. But, when walking the streets of Cape Town and meeting its people, you will fall in love with a city of hope, creative freedom and incredible spirit.

Back in 2002, Newsweek voted Cape Town one of the world’s new creative meccas:

“The new centres of culture and vitality are far from New York, Paris and London. Driven out by the high rent of world cities like Paris and New York, and aided by technology and a greater ease of travel, more artists and thinkers are congregating in smaller, far-flung communities around the world. These funky towns can be found in the most unlikely places … People come to live life to the fullest, to be a ‘player’, to be where the action is, to walk the streets and feel what it is like to be on the edge of what’s possible …”

Cape Town is such a place.

Cape Town can be beguiling and confusing, as bright as day or as clear as mud. So whether you’re trying to figure out on which side of the road to drive or exactly how many seasons there are in one day. Look no further than this indispensable website of insider information and tips.

If you can't find what you are looking for or would like to know more about anything at all, our team of well trained, friendly and helpful travel consultants are happy to assist.

We would love to help you plan your visit to our incredible city.

Please Contact us to find out more about accommodation, tours and experiences, maps and transport, top attractions, restaurants and more.

Our friendly team is waiting to help.

GENERAL INFORMATION

Longitude: E 18 º 28.8
Latitude: S 33 º 56.4
City surface area 2,500 km2 (967 sq miles)
Population (2001 census) 2,893,251
Density: 1,158/km (2,999.2/sq miles)
Time zone SAST (UTC+2)
Note: There are no time-zone differences within South Africa and the country has not adopted a daylight saving system in summer.

We invite you to come and find your soul, lose your heart and linger for as long as you want. You will discover a city like no other.