Cheap city break Cape Town

When is the best time to go?

October to April (southern hemisphere summer): 20-28 degrees, dry. December to January is high season, expensive and busy. May to September is winter (15°C, rain) but whale season.

The best neighborhoods in Cape Town

• V&A Waterfront Touristy harbour, restaurants, departure point for Robben Island.
• Bo-Kaap Colourful Malay neighborhood.
• Camps Bay Beach district, trendy bars.
• Sea Point Promenade along the sea, affordable hotels.
• Constantia Vineyard neighborhood near the city.

Top 5 things to do in Cape Town

• Table Mountain cable car R355 online (R395 at the gate), weather-dependent: go early and check the website on the day. Cashless payment only.
• Robben Island Nelson Mandela's prison, R650 (~€35) incl. boat, guided by former prisoners. Book weeks in advance.
• Cape Point + Boulders Beach Penguins and Cape of Good Hope, R515 pp (international visitors), cashless payment required.
• Vineyards Stellenbosch Tasting €5 per winery.
• Bo-Kaap walk Free, colourful facades.
• Beta Beach (Bantry Bay) Cape Town's hidden beach: no parking, only reachable via a 10-minute walk down, which keeps it quiet. Ideal for sunset, free entry.

Flights + transport from the Netherlands

Direct from Amsterdam Schiphol to Cape Town (CPT) in 11 hours. KLM flies daily, return from €1,049. Locally: the MyCiti A01 bus runs from the airport to the V&A Waterfront for R80 (approx. €4.50), handy if you're heading to the centre. Uber is safe and cheap. Car rental is practical (from €25/day) if you want to visit the vineyards or Cape Point.

What costs a trip to Cape Town?

Hostels from €15, mid-range hotels €80 to 150, vacation rentals €100 per night. Food: lunch €10, dinner €20 to 35, a glass of wine €3. A strong euro = great value.