Cape Town climbs the slopes of Table Mountain, spreads out under the Cape Peninsula, and spills out into the surrounding flatlands, making it a great city to explore.
The city center is reasonably compact and walkable, but many highlights lie outside its boundaries. The best forms of transportation are rental cars, Uber, and MyCiTi buses. Unfortunately, Cape Town has a high crime rate, but staying safe is easy if you follow a few simple rules.
Copy and drive locals.
The safest mode of travel is by road, which also allows you to take a road trip through the beautiful Cape Town area. The region has a good road system, with South Africans driving on the left. Parking is readily available, and you will likely encounter car guards, who should tip you around the R5 to see your vehicle.
Drivers have to be confident and alert, as locals are often aggressive and erratic behind the wheel. Cape Town has a notorious rush hour from 7am to 9am and from 4pm to 6.30pm.
Rent a car by choice About the cars is affordable. Major car rental companies have desks at the airport and town offices, offering everything from 4WD vehicles to motorbikes, although the latter are only recommended for experienced riders.
Tips for driving around town: When it comes to driving, the basic local idiom is the four-way stop at junctions. It works on first come first served basis.
Take Uber or hire a taxi.
Uber is a popular option, but you may prefer UberX to the cheaper Uber Go options, which are sometimes smelly and barely roadworthy.
Taxis wait around the city centre, including hotels and backpacker hostels, although fares are likely to be higher from popular tourist spots such as the V&A Waterfront. If the taxi has a meter, ask the driver to use it, as it will be cheaper than agreeing to a fare in advance.
Negotiating a price for the duration of your stay is an easy option, providing you with both wheels during the day and a designated driver at night.
Tips for taking a taxi: As with most forms of transport in Cape Town, it is best to avoid traveling alone in a taxi after dark.
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Cape Town has two main bus networks. Golden Arrowwhich has been operating here for over 160 years and serves thriving neighborhoods in the Cape Flats and owns a modern bus fleet. MyCiti.
MyCiTi’s modern buses are a good option for traveling between the city center and the Atlantic suburbs. They cover the center to the gardens and out to the waterfront. along the Atlantic coast to Camps Bay and Hout Bay; Along Kloof Nek Rd to Tamboerskloof, with a Shuttle service to the cableway; to Woodstock and Salt River; to Blaubergstrand and Table View; to Khayelitsha; And at the airport.
Tips for Catching MyCiTi Buses: Fares have to be paid with the stored value”myconnect” card (a non-refundable R35), purchased from station kiosks and participating retailers.
Go sightseeing by bike.
If you’re up for long distances between lots of hills and sights, the Cape Peninsula is a great place to explore by bicycle. Dedicated cycle lanes include one running north towards Table View, and the other along the Walk of Remembrance from Cape Town Railway Station to Green Point.
However, careless Cape Town drivers can make things difficult for cyclists. Bicycles are also prohibited (although permitted) on suburban trains. MyCiti buses). There are bike rental organizations around the city, while Up cycles Allows you to pedal one-way between its Sea Point, V&A Waterfront, and Campus Bay stations.
Walking around the city during the day
Walking is a wonderful way to see the city center during the day with its many shops and street life. Note that drivers often don’t stop at pedestrian crossings, and taking a taxi is a safer option after dark.
Get to Simonstown by train and Uber.
Metrorail trains are generally considered unreliable and unsafe, with pickpocketing, looting, and poorly maintained stations well reported in the local media. There is one exception: the Southern Line between Central Cape Town Railway Station and Fishhook, which traverses the middle-class southern suburbs and skirts False Bay. From Fish Hoek, take an Uber to charming Simonstown, where you can get close to some beautiful beaches and nature reserves. It can be an enjoyable excursion, especially traveling with a group, but is not recommended as a regular mode of transportation.
New trains have been added to the network, but unfortunately many are still dilapidated. Where possible, try to travel in Metro Plus (First Class) carriages: Buy your ticket at the station before boarding the train.
See the peninsula by boat
Mellow Yellow Water Taxi An hourly shuttle runs between Kalk Bay and Simons Town, a scenic drive along the Cape Peninsula’s mountainous False Bay coast.
Minibus taxis are a cheap but overcrowded way to travel.
Shared minibus taxis ply the town, ferrying locals between the Cape Flats and the city centre. These white minibuses are usually very expensive (in other words: dangerous), and there is fierce competition between rival firms. Some have little regard for traffic lights (“robots”) and therefore passenger safety.
Although minibus taxis are not a safe option on the open road, these versatile vehicles can be a convenient and exclusive way to travel short distances in the city center. Locals from all neighborhoods use them as a cheap form of public transport.
Taxis often stop to pick up and drop off passengers. Say hello to one and ask the driver or conductor where they are going. The rent must be negligible; Give it to the passenger in front of you, who will return the same with your change. Take coins and R10 or R20 notes, as the driver cannot break R100 or R200.
Tips for using minibus taxis: Taxi ranks are often located near train stations, such as the main rank on the upper deck of Cape Town Railway Station.
Cape Town has some accessible transport.
Apart from rental cars and tour companies, there are great options for people living with disabilities. MyCitiIn which there are facilities including boarding bridges on buses. Visit the Lonely Planet Accessible Travel Resources page for more information.
This article was first published on October 23, 2022 and was updated on April 21, 2023.