Brace yourselves, boils and ghouls. Cape Town has been named among the World’s Top 50 Halloween Travel Destinations for 2026 by the global travel trade platform Travel and Tour World (TTW), ranking at #48.
Not bad for a city where Halloween falls in spring, the jacarandas are in bloom, and the sun sets well after dinner. Turns out, the Mother City has a few tricks up her sleeve.
Cape Town’s spooky credentials go back centuries:
The Flying Dutchman: The legendary ghost ship, doomed to sail endlessly off the Cape of Good Hope, never making port. Talk about long-haul.
The Castle of Good Hope: South Africa’s oldest surviving colonial building is widely regarded as one of the country’s most haunted addresses. Its resident spirits have yet to leave a bad review.
Devil’s Peak: Named after the legend of Jan van Hunks, who challenged the Devil to a pipe-smoking contest. The legend has it they’re still at it, puffing away beneath Table Mountain’s famous cloud tablecloth.
The Cape Doctor: Our notorious south-easter howls free and round-the-clock. No sound effects required.
And for anyone who prefers their frights with a date and time, Halloween in Cape Town has plenty to offer. Here are a few highlights:
Cape Town Zombie Walk (Saturday, 31 October, 5pm): Zombies shuffle out of the Company’s Garden and into the CBD for a gloriously ghoulish takeover. It’s free, family-friendly, and supports the Lucky Lucy Foundation’s animal rescue work. The oaks have seen worse.
Dracula at Artscape (28 October to 1 November): Cape Town City Ballet revives David Nixon’s gothic Dracula after a sold-out run earlier this year. Tickets range from R250 to R500. For those who prefer their vampires on pointe.
FAUST at the Labia (Saturday, 31 October, 8.45pm): HORRORFEST celebrates the centenary of F.W. Murnau’s 1926 silent classic with a new live score from the Makabra Ensemble. Costumes are encouraged, with prizes for the best looks. Selling your soul is optional.
The Manor of Mischief (Saturday, 31 October, Glenhof Manor, Newlands): Ten rooms of Halloween surprises across two floors. Daytime sessions cater for children up to 12, followed by a darker, scarier experience for teens and adults. Enter if you dare.
“We’ve always known Cape Town has a dark side. It’s mostly the shade under the oaks in the Company’s Garden, but still,” says Briony Brookes, Chief Marketing Officer at Cape Town Tourism.
“From ghost ships to a mountain hosting a long-running smoking contest with the Devil, our stories are part of what makes Cape Town so special. And #48? That feels about right. We like to make an entrance, and we never rush. Come for the ghost stories, stay for the sunsets. And if something taps you on the shoulder at the Castle, smile and say howzit.”
Whether it’s chasing ghosts, exploring old legends or simply finding an excuse to wear a cape in a city named after one, Cape Town has Halloween covered. Just don’t blame us if you hear something go bump in the night.
