AT A GLANCE Cape Town or the Mother City offers something for everyone.

Whether you want to stay in luxurious surroundings or go backpacking on a budget, this South African gem is guaranteed to provide a holiday youll never forget. The diverse range of attractions from - mountains to museums - means theres always something to do in Cape Town, while anyone feeling adventurous will be able to go out and explore this beautiful country. WHEN TO GO The best time to visit Cape Town depends on what you actually want to do there. Its worth remembering that the seasons in the southern hemisphere are opposite to those in the UK, as summer in Cape Town starts in October and ends in April, while the rainy season is between June and July. Weather Summer: With temperatures reaching up to 30C during the day, Cape Town really comes alive during the summer months, between October and April. Autumn: Temperatures can vary between March and August and youll have to prepare for some heavy downpours in June and July. Winter: Expect a wet, yet mild winter from August until October, which is one of the most cost effective times to travel. Spring: The weather starts to heat up in September and October as the sun comes out.

Image: Cape Town Sunset, by Jacky W

THINGS TO DO Cape Town is home to some of the most famous sights and landmarks in the world. Whether youre looking to experience spectacular scenery and nature or see some of the worlds most famous historical sites, Cape Town is full of amazing things to do that are sure to live long in the memory. Attractions Table Mountain: Take a cable car to the top of the mountain for breathtaking panoramic views of Cape Town Robben Island: One of the worlds most famous places, where Nelson Mandela once spent 18 years in prison

Boulders Beach: Home to a huge population of African Penguins in their natural environment District Six Museum: A fascinating museum and memorial to remember the events of the apartheid era V&A Waterfront: From shopping and dining to music and boat trips, a range of fun attractions can be found in the harbour here Two Oceans Aquarium: Offers a variety of tanks, interactive experiences and a touch pool with fish, sharks and turtles Castle of Good Hope: The oldest building in South Africa, this castle boasts a combination of military and cultural history Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens: Celebrating South African flora, the beautiful gardens here cover an area of 528 hectares Rhodes Memorial: Situated on the northern slope of Table Mountain and provides spectacular panoramic views out towards Table Bay and False Bay

Nightlife Cape Town has a variety of excellent bars and nightclubs that create a vibrant atmosphere every evening in the city. Bars and clubs that cater for all tastes - from trendy to more laid back - stay open long into the early hours of the morning, whether you want to enjoy a couple of quiet drinks or party all night. V&A Waterfront: A mix of bars and restaurants with great atmospheres can be found here Camps Bay: The place to be in Cape Town with a trendy strip of bars and restaurants Long Street: A wide range of venues to suit everyone. Try Po Na Na Bar on Heritage Square Grand West Casino: Offers a glitzy night of entertainment with card games, food and drink Kloof Street: Another trendy area to hang out with various sophisticated lounge bars Greenpoint: A vibrant area with clubs such as Opium, plus a range of other lively bars De Waterkant: The traditional gay scene in the city with a mix of clubs including Chilli 'n Lime

Day Trips From Cape Town Experience even more of South Africa by leaving Cape Town behind for the day. A number of day trips are available allowing you to enjoy anything from diving with sharks to wine tasting workshops in extraordinary surroundings. Shark Cage Diving: Enjoy one of the most amazing experiences in the waters around Geyser and Dyer islands as you get to dive (safely in a cage) with deadly, yet graceful Great White sharks swimming all around you. Travel Time: 2 hours

Cape Winelands: A number of wine estates can be found here with spectacular mountains in the background. Wine tasting workshops are available in the most beautiful of settings. Travel Time: 45 minutes

Safari: Several wildlife parks and nature reserves such as the Aquila Private Game Reserve can be found just a short distance away from Cape Town, where youll find lions, zebras, cheetahs, wildebeests and much more. Travel Time: 2 hours

Cape Peninsula: Travel through the beautiful area of the city to the famous Cape Point with its rugged rocks and cliffs. Discover the penguins at Boulders Beach, the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve and experience some of the most amazing views in the world. Travel Time: 1 hour
Images: Table Mountain by Joseph Ferris III / Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, by Randy OHC / Shark Cage Diving by Amy Morris / Cape Winelands by Chris Eason / Safari in Cape Town by Pepe Pont / Cape Point by Bas Leenders

SHOPPING A wide selection of shopping facilities can be found in Cape Town whether youre looking for designer clothes from world famous brands, arts and crafts from traditional markets or precious diamonds and stones. Spend hours wandering around large shopping malls or finding a bargain or two in one of the various markets in the city. Shopping Malls: V&A Waterfront: One of the busiest shopping malls in Cape Town with designer shops, art galleries and restaurants Cavendish Square: A stylish shopping centre on over three floors that include a range of shops, restaurants and even a cinema Canal Walk: A majestic shopping centre with over 400 stores selling everything imaginable and attracting millions of visitors Willowbridge Lifestyle Centre: A world-class open-air lifestyle centre that allows you to shop whilst the sun shines down

Markets: Greenmarket Square: Set on a cobbled square, this is one of the oldest markets in Cape Town selling everything from arts and crafts to jewellery The Red Shed Craft Workshop: Located on the V&A Waterfront, this popular indoor market is great for presents and souvenirs with jewellery, arts and crafts and clothing Greenpoint Flea Market: Over 400 stalls can be found here selling a range of antiques, clothing and books, as well as a number of food stalls
Image: Market in Cape Town by SA-Venues

FOOD & DRINK Food in Cape Town is all about variety. Known as the Rainbow cuisine, foodstuff can be anything from international delights from all around the world to traditional African fare. Locally caught seafood is incredibly popular and many restaurants along the coast specialise in fresh fish. Some of the top restaurants or places in more touristy areas can be pricey, so take a look around to find somewhere that suits your budget. Meat dishes are also popular in almost every meal and youll be able to try a range of the most loved food in Cape Town including biltong - a salty dried meat, usually beef - and sosaties, a type of South African kebab and ostrich.
Image: Ostrich in Cape Town by yosoynuts

Popular Cape Town Hotspots: V&A Waterfront: One of the main tourist hotspots with a wide range of restaurants Long Street: Attracts a multi-ethnic clientele with its numerous cafs and restaurants Camps Bay: A cool place to hang out and eat with a great view of the beach along Victoria Road De Waterkant: A vibrant atmosphere in the trendy area between Bo Kaap and Green Point Kalk Bay: A variety of restaurants serving fresh fish on the east side of the Cape Peninsula CULTURE & ETIQUETTE Cape Town is the oldest city in South Africa and has a rich colonial history with some of the most famous places in the world. The city now has a cosmopolitan cultural mix with people from a variety of different religions and cultures living there from all around the world. The main language used in Cape Town is known as Afrikaans and is a mixture of English and Dutch, although English is understood by almost everyone. Useful Phrases Robots - Often what South Africans call traffic lights Goeie more - Good morning Dankie - Thank you Springboks - What the South African rugby team are commonly known as Bafana Bafana - The South Africa football team, meaning the boys, the boys

Dos and Donts DO keep valuables such as cameras and watches out of sight whilst walking around DO take a cable car to the top of Table Mountain DONT leave belongings unattended on the beach while you swim DO try traditional a range of South African food such as biltong DONT give money to the children on the street DO try and see as much of Cape Town as possible by taking advantage of various day trips

Tipping Just like in the UK, its very common to tip a range of services in South Africa. Usually 10% is the standard amount to tip in restaurants, while petrol station attendants should be given a few rand for filling your vehicle up with petrol or cleaning windscreens. Its also common to tip hotel porters, taxi drivers and tour guides.
Image: Bafana Bafana Supporters by Patrick de Laive

TRANSPORT Its easy to get around Cape Town using public transport such as buses, taxis and trains, while sightseeing tour buses are also available. If youre looking to see more of Cape Town, hiring a car is a good idea, although buses are available to take you to all the major sights if you dont fancy driving. Getting Around Buses: A large network of buses run mostly during the day offering cheap connections Rikkis Taxis : Bright vehicles that offers a door-to-door taxi service at a reasonable price Car: Many car rental companies can be found around Cape Town giving you the freedom to discover this beautiful city at your own pace Airports: The main airport in the city is Cape Town International Airport

Image: Bus Stop in Cape Town by trendscout

Fare Information Taxis: Cost between R4 and R10 depending on the length of the journey

HEALTH & SAFETY British Embassy: UK in South Africa Emergency Services Number: 107

CAPE TOWN BLOGGERS: TOP TIPS

Karisa Nicholls - My Love Affair with Cape Town

Cape Town will have you totally hooked thanks to its melting pot of cultures and many diverse things to do & see. Whether youre an outdoorsy, adventurous type or a livin the lux life individual, youll find plenty of things to keep you wanting more. Soak up some rays on our beautiful Clifton & Camps Bay beaches followed by some cocktails while watching the sunset. Then head out to the winelands for a day of wine tasting & sinful eating. Ditch the big shopping centres & do your shopping in quirky Long St or one of the citys many markets (my top picks would be the Neighbourgoods Market in Woodstock, the City Bowl market in Gardens & the Hout Bay Market). Skip the cable car & climb Table Mountain! Head out to Mzolis for some local flavour If you cant get to everything in one trip, dont stress, because I guarantee youll be back again soon.

Scarlet Nguni

Stroll through the Company Gardens, sneak into St Georges Cathedral to walk the labyrinth then wander the Bo-Kaap streets for a cuppa black gold at Haas. Woodstocks fast becoming the hippest new part of old Cape Town with a host of galleries, shops and eateries: check out the Foundrys retro elegance before elevens at Lady Bonins Tea Parlour. Catch the train to Kalk Bay for bohemian cool, lunch at Cape to Cuba followed by decadent chocolate tart at The Annex. Take the coastal road around Cape Point to the lighthouse at Kommetjie before settling down for unforgettable sundowners at Twelve Apostles. (WC 101).

Molly Smit - C is for Cape Town

Cape Towns famous for its beaches, but there are ways of interacting with them other than just baking on the sand. Take a walk along the South Peninsula Cat Walk, starting in Muizenberg and winding along beside the railway track past beaches and coves to Kalk Bay Harbour. Along the way you can look out for whales, watch surfers and fishermen, stop to swim in the St James tidal pool, pop up to Main Rd for lunch, coffee or a spot of shopping and interact with the friendliest Cape Tonians youll meet. This is our number ONE favourite thing to do in Cape Town this summer!