Best Areas to Stay in Cape Town, South Africa

City Bowl is the central area of Cape Town formed by the CBD (Central Business District) and surrounded by the mountains of Signal Hill, Lion’s Head, Table Mountain and Devil’s Peak.

City Bowl is known to be the heart and one of the historical treasures of Cape Town.

The district has some of the most exclusive residential areas such as Devil’s Peak Estate, District Six, Zonnebloem, Higgovale, Oranjezicht, Schotten Kloof and University Estate.

To admire the skyscrapers and modern buildings of the metropolis, you can visit the Central Business District, where you’ll find the venues of Parliament.

One of the biggest advantages of the City Bowl is the proximity to the attractions, and that you can reach any corner of the City Centre on foot.

City Bowl is recommended as the best area to stay in Cape Town for tourists and lovers of cultural activity. It also has many accommodation options, including luxury hotels.

Woodstock is a near central district, located to the southwest of the City Bowl and the CBD, in the coastal area.

It is called the “Soho of Cape Town” for its hipster vibe, restaurants, modern art murals, bars and stores.

Woodstock is divided into two areas: Upper Woodstock, characterized by its Victorian architecture, and Lower Woodstock, where you’ll see the smaller houses and hostels of the city.

The district’s largest avenues are Victoria’s Rd and Alberta’s Rd, home to most bus stops, the best shops, restaurants and famous galleries such as Ruth Prowse School of Art.

Woodstock is, par excellence, the best area to stay in Cape Town for young travellers as the most charming hotels are in Upper Woodstock and on the Victoria’s Rd.

Woodstock is an excellent place to stay in Cape Town for lovers of gastronomy and for those who want to know the most alternative side of the city.

Bo’Kaap is a historic neighbourhood located on the slopes of Signal Hill, above the centre of Cape Town.

Its name translates into the expression “above the cape” because of its location and height compared to the other districts.

It is an essential place to see in Cape Town, with brightly coloured houses, souvenir shops and traditional architecture, typical of the South African culture.

Some of its most popular attractions are the Green Market, Victoria & Albert Waterfront, the Cathedral and the Museum of Slavery.

Near Strand Street, you can rent cars or connect with other suburbs, thanks to the different bus stops that allow you to move in a few minutes to other areas of the city.

Bo’Kaap is a treasure and historical heritage of the country, so it is a great option when deciding where to stay in Cape Town.

Gardens is located towards the southern end of Cape Town, near Table Mountain and Lion’s Head.

It is one of the luxury areas of Cape Town, with elegant restaurants, shops and hotels such as the world-famous Mount Nelson.

Gardens, which used to be just a botanical garden in the past, is now one of the most popular districts of the city, with tourist attractions such as the Labia Theatre and the monument of Sir George Gray

Here, there is also The Gardens Shul Synagogue, the Planetarium, the Izico Museum and the Michaelis School of Fine Arts.

The Gardens area is well-supported by the Golden Arrow bus system, with stops in different corners of the district.

The accommodation in Gardens is mixed, with luxury hotels, apartments with swimming pools and hostels located in the limits of the district.

Gardens is one of the best areas to stay in Cape Town, away from the hustle and bustle of the central area and near the botanical gardens.

Camps Bay is an attractive bay that is located on the west coast of the Cape Peninsula.

Camps Bay is, par excellence, the best area to stay in Cape Town during summer vacations, thanks to its varied collection of beaches such as Oudekraal, Lui Bay, Bakoven, Camps Bay Beach and Glen Beach.

Each beach offers an ideal environment for diving, picnicking, romantic walks in the afternoon, tasting seafood, buying beach items and a great variety of activities.

Victoria Rd. is where most bus stops in the area are, which connect to the central area of Cape Town.

The resort and boutique-type hotels stand out in Camps Bay for being close to the beaches of the district.

Camps Bay is an excellent area where to stay in Cape Town for those seeking luxury by the sea.

De Waterkant is one of the areas north of Cape Town’s City Centre that borders Bo’Kaap and the CBD.

It stands out as one of the largest in the north end of the city.

The district is the epicentre of the LGBT community, the setting for festivals, activities and events that make it the gay neighbourhood of Cape Town par excellence.

On Somerset Road, the great avenue in the area, is the Cape Quarter shopping centre and the Vega’s Cape Town campus.

Walking through De Waterkant is an unforgettable experience in Cape Town, as you get a better idea of its many attractions.

De Waterkant stands out as one of the best areas to stay in Cape Town for its location and for offering central and cheap hotels.

Tamboerskloof is a neighbourhood located on the slope of Table Mountain, close to Gardens and other attractions of southern Cape Town.

It is a remote area of the centre that preserves a peaceful, residential and ideal environment for family enjoyment.

Tamboerskloof is near Tablet Mountain, where you can take a cable car ride to reach the top of the mountain and see the best views of Cape Town.

It is necessary to use public transport to move to the centre and its attractions since the district is 20 minutes by bus from the CBD.

The hotels, apartments and hostels in Tamboerskloof are a good alternative to stay in Cape Town and know the Tablet Mountain.

For these reasons, Tamboerskloof is one of the best neighbourhoods to stay in Cape Town and enjoy its natural attractions.

Cape Town International Airport is located 20 kilometres east of Cape Town, away from the City Centre.

It is the main airport in Cape Town and the second largest in the country, just behind the Johannesburg Airport.

It serves as the main hub of the national airline South African Airways, with flights to the entire continent and some outside of it, serving more than 6 million visitors a year.

The surroundings of the airport have a large number of car rental companies and taxi services.

Staying near the airport is ideal for weekend holidays or business travellers, its distance from the centre makes it a cheap area to stay in Cape Town.