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Getting Around

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The unique topography of the Cape Town region makes it easy to orientate oneself as long as you remember that with Table Mountain behind you and Robben Island before you, you are facing north, looking across Table Bay and up the west coast of Africa.

To help you find your way around the Cape Town region, the area is divided into eight tourism areas - City Centre, Atlantic Seaboard, Peninsula, Southern Suburbs, Cape Flats, Helderberg, Northern Suburbs and Blaauwberg Coast. These areas are included in our Maps and Info section

Please Contact us to assit you to book a car, motorbike, campervan or any other form of transport. We are very happy to answer any of your questions about the best ways to get around.

We can also assit you to book accommodation and tours and experiences as well as provide information on top attractions, restaurants and more.

AIRPORT SHUTTLE

A shuttle bus operates between Cape Town International Airport and the Civic Centre station in Hertzog Boulevard, between 04h00 and 23h30 every day.

A one-way ticket costs R50.

The one-way journey takes approximately 25 minutes. Allow up to 60 minutes during peak traffic (07h00 - 09h00 and 16h00 - 18h00).

The bus is wheelchair-friendly.

Call the 24/7 public transport call centre on 0800 656 463 or email .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) should you have any transport queries.

Download the MyCiTi Airport Shuttle information brochure.

GETTING AROUND BY CAR AND TAXI

Our road infrastructure is excellent. There are three arterial routes leading into Cape Town from the interior:

  • The N1 from Johannesburg via the Karoo and the Cape Winelands;
  • The N2 from the Garden Route and Overberg via Somerset West and Cape Town International Airport.
  • The N7 from the West Coast and Namibia.

We drive on the left-hand side of the road, and our cars – rental cars included – are right-hand drive vehicles. All distances, speed limits (and speedometers) are in kilometres. Wearing of seat belts is compulsory. Using hand-held phones while driving is against the law.

The general speed limit on major routes is 120km/h (75mph). On secondary roads it is 100km/h (60mph). In built-up areas it is usually 60km/h (35mph) unless otherwise indicated.

Any valid driver’s licence is accepted provided it bears the photograph and signature of the holder and is printed in English.

Our public transport system is limited so you'll need to make sure that you either hire a car, a taxi or take a tour.

  • All major car hire companies operate from the airport and have city depots. Several small car hire companies offer very competitive rates. Make car hire booking contacting .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address). You can also call Cape Town Tourism on +27 (0)21 487 6800 or make a booking at any Cape Town Tourism Visitor Information Centre.
  • Minibus taxis operate across the city and offer convenient but sometimes hair-raisingly fast public transport along major routes. Boarding points are whenever and wherever you can get the driver to stop – usually with no warning! The upside is that minibus taxis are frequently available and inexpensive. There are no route maps for these services but you can't miss the network across the city. For more information, ask us by email on.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).
  • If you are not feeling that adventurous, call for a metered taxi; ask about fares beforehand. Contact Cape Town Tourism to ask about accredited companies or to make a booking.
  • Rikkis are mid-priced taxis that operate in and around the Central City. Yellow Rikki phones are situated in a number of spots in the city, allowing you to place a free call to book a Rikkis. Contact them on +27 (0)861 745 547 or contact Cape Town Tourism to make a booking.
  • Various companies run guided tours of the city and surrounds. Book one of the 400 assessed tour operator that are accredited by Cape Town Tourism. We will match you to an excellent operator that suits your needs. Email us now: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

GETTING AROUND BY BUS

  • A bus service operates across the main areas of the city. However, this is mainly focussed on commuter transport. For more information visit www.gabs.co.za
  • A great way to see the city is on the City Sightseeing bus. You can buy your ticket from the Cape Town Tourism Visitor Information Centre in the city centre and hop on and off as you wish en route between many of the city’s main attractions. Tickets purchased on the bus include discount vouchers for a variety of stops along the way.
  • Greyhound, Intercape Mainliner and Translux are the three major long haul bus companies in the Cape. Their main departure and arrival points are at Cape Town train station in the city centre.
  • There is also a convenient bus aimed at backpackers, called the Baz Bus. This service offers hop-on, hop-off fares between Cape Town and the Cape Garden Route as well as the rest of South Africa. Bookings can also be made by contacting Cape Town Tourism.

GETTING AROUND BY RAIL

  • A train service operates across the main areas of the city. However, this is mainly focussed on commuter transport. For more information visit www.capemetrorail.co.za
  • The best tourism route is the Southern Line Rail Route, stretching from Cape Town to Simon’s Town. From Muizenberg the train travels along the coast and is very scenic. Hop-on-hop-off tickets cost R12.00 for a one-way ticket and R25.00 for a return. Tickets are available for purchase from any station along the Southern Line. Pick up a useful map from Cape Town Tourism.

GETTING AROUND BY BY AIR

Cape Town International Airport is situated only 20km from the Cape Town city centre and easily accessible from the eight areas of Cape Town. There are regular scheduled flights to most parts of the country and the airport is serviced by a wide range of carriers, including various low-cost airlines.

Contact Cape Town Tourism to find out about private air and helicopter charters.