Areas of Cape Town...
Destination guide

One of the attractions of Cape Town is its ability to suit everyone, but the diversity means you need to make sure you choose the right location. Here's our guide to the main areas.

Fabulous beaches and loads of space mean that this a favourite for families and people looking for good value for money. Also a Surfing and Kite-surfing mecca for participants and spectators alike. Oh, and there's that famous view.

City Bowl/S. Suburbs

An increasingly popular place to stay are the apartments and hotels by the V&A Waterfront. These are a short stroll from the shops and restaurants of what has become Africa 's most popular tourist destination. You are only a few minutes drive from the city centre in one direction, and beaches of Clifton and Camps Bay in the other although this best place to stay if you don't want to rent a car as there is so much on your doorstep

Keep going inland around the East side of Table Mountain and you come to the peaceful rural district of the southern suburbs. Here you can rent beautiful houses that get you and your family away from the hustle and bustle of city living.

Atlantic Seaboard

South Africa 's "millionaires row" with villa's and apartments hanging on the cliffs above the four wind-protected beaches. Prices are the highest in Cape Town . Going towards the city the next areas are Sea Point and Bantry Bay . Only 5 minutes one way to Camps Bay and the same in the other direction to the city centre an apartment in Bantry Bay makes a great central holiday base, and prices are a bit lower than Camps Bay or Clifton .

Camps Bay

Camps Bay is the most popular place to stay in Cape Town and over half our clients chose to stay there. The reasons for this are good: stunning scenery, beautiful beaches and the famous run of restaurants - all only 10 minutes from the city centre. You are well positioned to see all the sights around Cape Town and it is an ideal area for couples of any age and extended families sharing a large villa. The downside is that it becomes more popular every year and prices are at a premium.

Hout Bay /Constantia

Going south from Camps Bay you first come to the village of Llandudno , with a gorgeous beach and peaceful environment. Then round the corner to Hout Bay , a small fishing town with a very different atmosphere to Cape Town . The safe beach is perfect for families and there is a great selection of restaurants and cafes. From Hout Bay you can hook back over the mountains towards the city through the vineyard slopes of Constantia. Here there are some super large villas with extensive grounds and stunning views.

False Bay

False Bay sweeps east from the Cape Peninsula into the Indian Ocean . The waters are warmer and calmer and provide some of the safest swimming around Cape Town . There are various accommodation options at either end of the Bay and it can be very good value.

At the Cape Point end you can stay in Simon's Town or Fish Hoek with their stunning scenery and proximity to Cape Point and the Penguins at Boulders Beach . At the eastern end is the village of Gordon 's Bay with its pretty harbour and just 15 minutes from the Winelands: some of the smartest villas in Cape Town are here and at a fraction of the Atlantic seaboard prices.

Winelands

You don't have to stay by the beach or in the city to enjoy Cape Town . Stretching out in an arc to the east of the city is Africa 's greatest winegrowing region. Here you can stay in a country estate or in one of the small winegrowing towns of Stellenbosch, Franschhoek (our favourite), Somerset West or Paarl. It is peaceful and quiet but you are still not more than 50 to 60 minutes from the centre of Cape Town.

How much to Pay....

With increasing popularity and the strong South African Rand, Cape Town accommodation is not the bargain it once was. For an apartment of good quality expect to pay US$ 700-1600 for one bedroom, depending on location in high season and $800-2000 for 2 bedrooms - most apartments have access to a pool. For a villa with its own pool, prices start from $1600 per week and the sky is the limit. There are some stunning properties a student of modern architecture would enjoy to visit.