Katherine Alex Beaven

There’s no shortage of choice when it comes to finding a bed in Cape Town, and that perfect trinity of comfort, charm and location can be dialled up or down according to the depth of your pockets. If you’re watching your budget, you’ll want to start with our guide to the Best Affordable Hotels in Cape Town, which is filled with pocket-friendly picks. But if you’re splurging a little? Well then, you’ve come to the right place. From glorious urban hideaways that could have been plucked from the streets of Paris or Amsterdam, to seaside escapes with the most unforgettable views, you’ll be spoilt for choice for luxury hotels in Cape Town. There are historic charmers and contemporary creations, and if you’ve been dreaming of a room with a view, you’ve come to the right city. RECOMMENDED:📍 The best things to do in Cape Town😋 The best restaurants in Cape Town🏄‍♀️ The best beaches in Cape Town🛍 The best markets in Cape Town🖼 The best museums and galleries in Cape Town Planning your next trip? Check out our latest travel guides, written by local experts. Time Out makes a small commission from the affiliate links included in this article. These links have no influence on our editorial content, but they do allow us to bring you more recommendations every week. For more information, see our affiliate guidelines.

Of all the things to see and do in Cape Town, submitting to beach life has to be one of the city’s most essential experiences. Despite water temperatures often ranging from chilly to frigid, you’ll see plenty of surfers riding waves, divers exploring underwater wonders and curious snorkellers. And then there’s all the sand-based stuff, too. From beaches within easy distance of restaurants, hotels and markets to those that are a bit more isolated and better-preserved, Cape Town has a stretch of sea and sand for every kind of beachgoer. No matter where you throw down your towel, prepare to be dazzled with spectacular mountain views, picture-worthy turquoise waters and dramatic beachfronts boasting tide pools, marble boulders, insane sunsets and much, much more.  And, did you know that Cape Town is home to a host of Blue Flag-accredited beaches? In 2024 48 beaches around South Africa’s coastline made the cut, including eight in the city of Cape Town! Most of them cracked the nod for our list of local favourites... RECOMMENDED: 🇿🇦 Where to stay in Cape Town📍 The best things to do in Cape Town😋 The best restaurants in Cape Town🛏 The best Airbnbs in Cape Town Planning your next trip? Check out our latest travel guides, written by local experts.

Across its 350-plus years as a port city – and a few thousand more as the home of semi-nomadic indigenous tribes and pastoralists – the Western Cape has a rich and colourful history to discover. From the unadorned beauty of ancient rock art to the arrival of colonial settlers, and right through to the city’s vibrant art scene of today, Cape Town’s galleries and museums paint an expansive picture of the city’s complex cultural history. Here are the venues in which to start your journey, selected by two local writers. RECOMMENDED: ☕️ The best cafés and coffee shops in Cape Town📍 The best things to do in Cape Town🥣 The best breakfast and brunch spots in Cape Town🏨 The best hotels in Cape Town This article was recently updated by Richard Holmes, a travel writer based in Cape Town. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines and check out our latest travel guides written by local experts.