Guide to the best areas of Cape Town: tips for accommodation
Cape Town is a city enclosed between Table Mountain and the Atlantic Ocean. It was therefore built lengthwise and offers a succession of districts with different styles. The best is to book a hotel or an Air BnB in the district that best suits your needs. So we wrote an article on the best areas to stay in Cape Town in South Africa. He explains each district in detail so that you can choose where to stay according to your points of interest. You can rent an Air BnB apartment close to the beach in Camps Bay if you're more relaxed, a hostel close to Kloof Street if you're in Cape Town to go out and party, or a guest house in the colorful district of Bo Kaap which is in the city center and close to all The attractions from Cape Town. Whether you are traveling as a couple, as a family with children or with friends, Cape Town has a neighborhood that is made for you.
To discover the region:
- Discover the most beautiful areas of Cape Town in South Africa
- Cape Town's must-see excursions in South Africa
- Best things to do in cape town
Consulting : After having made your choice on the Cape district that suits you the most, you can find all our recommendations for hotels, youth hostels, guesthouses or boutique hotels and luxury hotels in our article: Best Cape Town Hotels in South Africa
NB : If you are doing a road trip in South Africa, then we advise you to read our articles on the best accommodation for each stage: Where to stay in South Africa?
And here you will find our articles on the different routes to visit the country if you are still unsure: The best routes to visit South Africa
Contents of the page
Tips for renting an apartment or a house on Air BnB in Cape Town, South Africa
Renting an apartment, a villa or a house on Air BnB in Cape Town in South Africa can be a good solution, but beware of the pitfalls. The most common that our friends and family members have encountered is to rent too far from the city center. If you come in a group and want to rent a house or a villa all together, there are much cheaper options on the other side of the bay in neighborhoods like Table View. But even if the announcements say that the city center is close, in reality the journey is long mainly because of the constant traffic jams. We strongly recommend that you look in one of the neighborhoods described below.
Camps Bay: the best area in Cape Town for accommodation near Clifton and Bakoven beaches
If for you vacancy = beach then there is only in Camps Bay or in the surroundings that you will find your happiness. Camps Bay, Bantry Bay, Clifton and Bakoven are the names of the places that surround the beaches of Cape Town. If you are more relaxed and want to have a sea view while staying at 5 minutes by car from the city center then the best area of Cape Town to stay is Camps Bay. In addition, its seafront offers many bars and restaurants. It's perfect for a drink at sunset.
If you prefer high-end hotels, we recommend in Camps Bay the boutique hotel Camps bay retreat which certainly has the most beautiful view of the sea.
There is also Under, the most designer hotel in Camps Bay.
Finally, if you are on a honeymoon, we recommend the best of the best in Cape Town: Ellerman House (there is nothing better in town).
Tamboerskloof: the best area of Cape Town near the lively Kloof Street
If you want to be close to Kloof Street, the busiest street in the city (in the evening) then the best area of Cape Town to stay is Tamboerskloof. Outside of this street, this downtown area is very quiet so don't worry: it's not a noisy place. If you want to get out just steps from your hotel then this is the area for you. You are close to restaurants and bars that come alive after dark.
If you prefer B&Bs near Kloof street to 5-star hotels in Camps Bay, then we recommend that you sleep at The Blue House Guesthouse which is the best B&B in Tamboerskloof.
In this same district, we also recommend Bergzicht Guesthouse which is the guest house with the best view of Table Mountain in Cape Town.
Located directly on Kloof Street, Once in Cape Town is the best hostel in Cape Town if you want to go out and party without spending too much on accommodation.
Finally, if you prefer the comfort of a boutique hotel, we advise you The Grenadine which is located in a very quiet cul de sac just 50m from Kloof Street.
You have been warned! : We do not recommend all hostels and other accommodation located on Long Street (in the CBD district). Often known for its bars, the street is not famous at night. Pickpockets (or worse) await tourists (but also locals) drunk at the exit of bars and clubs. During the day you can shop there (it's very nice) but we advise you to avoid the place at night. If you really want to go there, we recommend that you be dropped off by taxi in front of the bar and left by taxi from the bar. In short, avoid walking on this street at night. Especially if you have (too) drunk.
Bo Kaap: the best area of Cape Town for accommodation in the city center close to points of interest
Bo Kaap is the most beautiful district of Cape Town. It is also the most photogenic! The area is made up entirely of colorful little houses and is one of Cape Town's main attractions. It is from afar the best area of Cape Town to stay in the city center near points of interest.
If you want to sleep in the Bo Kaap district then we recommend you Red on Pink. It is the most chic boutique hotel in the district!
Sea point: the best area in Cape Town for family accommodation with children
Sea Point is known for its seaside promenade filled with families. This is the best area of Cape Town to stay with children. Locals and tourists alike come for a walk, cycle, rollerblade or even land in a paraglider from Lion's Head! Many go jogging there and even more people will enjoy the municipal swimming pool which overlooks the ocean at the end of the promenade. The good thing is that you are halfway between the city center and the beaches of Clifton and Camps Bay. In addition, you will find many bars, cafes and restaurants on the main axis of this district. We recommend the Mojo Market for a good evening atmosphere. They have many restaurant stands, often live music and a huge beer bar.
To stay in a B&B, The Villa Rosa is the best Sea Point Guest House in South Africa.
If you prefer hotels, Winchester Mansions is the most emblematic of the district and whether you stay there or not, we recommend you have a drink on their terrace to watch the sunset over the ocean.
Waterfront: Cape Town's best area for accommodation close to the city's best shops
The Waterfront is without a doubt the best area of Cape Town to stay close to the best shops in the city. It's an ultra-secure complex and sleeping in this area gives you pedestrian access to Cape Town's best shopping. The district is surrounded by a port of sailboats and yachts but also by a dry dock for repairing ships. Here you can walk safely day or night and enjoy all the shops, bars, restaurants and attractions (Ferris wheel, art & craft markets, aquarium, bay cruises, Springbok museum, the Cape Peninsula by helicopter, cinema etc…). However, to sleep at the Waterfront there are only luxury hotels ...
The most famous of them is the Cape Grace. This hotel is the ideal place if you are looking for luxury, shopping and security with a magnificent view of Table Mountain.
Green Point: the best area of Cape Town close to the Waterfront, the golf course and the stadium
Green Point is the best area of Cape Town near the Waterfront, golf and stadium. This is an extremely peaceful downtown area which is a good alternative to stay near the Waterfront if like many of us you can't afford a 5 star hotel! In addition, it is in this area that is the stadium of Cape Town and the golf course. So we recommend it if you are a golf fan or if you come to Cape Town to see a match or a concert in the stadium. Finally, many bars and restaurants are in this area such as Giovanni's (the best delicatessen in Cape Town).
To sleep at Green Point, we recommend The BIG Backpackers. This property offers hostel type accommodation on one side, and in the building opposite guesthouse type. Very well run, for us it is the best youth hostel in Cape Town in terms of comfort and very good value for money for family rooms on the B&B side!
Gardens and Oranjezicht: the best areas of Cape Town if you are looking for peace and quiet
Gardens and Oranjezicht are the best areas of Cape Town if you are looking for peace and quiet. These are the safest downtown residential areas. In addition, you are less than 5 minutes drive from all the main attractions and you are below Kloof Street: the busiest street in Cape Town, South Africa.
In the category of B&B, we recommend Villa Zeezicht. It is for us the best guest house in Gardens and Oranjezicht.
In the range of boutique hotels, well-located is the prettiest boutique hotel in Gardens and we highly recommend it. In addition, it is located on a street perpendicular to Kloof Street. We recommend that you go for a drink at the Bombay Bicycle club just up the street and book a table at The Black Sheep restaurant (2min walk) which is one of the best addresses in the city.
Finally, if you are on honeymoon or want to treat yourself, the Belmond Mount Nelson Hotel is the best luxury hotel in these areas but also the most iconic hotel in Cape Town. It offers pedestrian access to the Company Garden and direct access to Kloof Street. Its swimming pool is certainly the best in Cape Town with a beautiful view of Table Mountain and we advise you, even if you are not a resident, to enjoy their famous high tea (English tea) in the late afternoon. It is absolutely delicious.
Woodstock: Cape Town's Best Area to Stay in the Bohemian Side of Town
Woodstock is Cape Town's best neighborhood to stay in the bohemian part of town. A few years ago tourists did not come to this area. Today it's the coolest in Cape Town and it's impossible to park on Saturdays between 9am and 13pm. Indeed, it is the opening day of the famous market of The Old Biscuit Mill (we highly recommend it, however, have your breakfast there or you will regret it!). Woodstock is also home to the Pot Luck Club, one of South Africa's best restaurants. It is an adjacent district of the city center which is the territory of the artists. It used to be a popular place with low rents that attracted lots of painters' studios, craft beer factories and young independent designers but now gentrification is in full swing. Everyone wants to live in this trendy neighborhood whose graffiti you can explore.
Le Stock Exchange is the typical example of this gentrification. This Woodstock hotel is the hippest in Cape Town and we recommend it if you want to sleep in this area.
NB: despite the gentrification, in the evening the neighborhood is not yet as safe as the other sectors mentioned above. We do not recommend renting an apartment or a house on Air BnB in Woodstock for this reason and even less if you do not have secure parking for your rental car.
Our tips for a successful trip:
- Book your flight in advance to take advantage of the best prices
Airline ticket prices are cheaper when booked 6 to 3 months in advance. To be sure of getting the best price, we recommend using a flight comparator such as Skyscanner.
- Book your accommodation before departure to have access to the best offers
You will always find a room at the last minute, but the best located accommodations are necessarily those that are always full. That's why it's best to book your accommodations as soon as possible. We recommend going through Agoda which offers the best prices. In addition, this site allows you to be easily reimbursed in the event of cancellation.
- Skip the line to visit the most popular attractions
By booking your excursions in advance on Civitatis, you do not queue on site to get your tickets. Less time waiting = more time enjoying your vacation! Plus, their guided tours ensure you have a knowledgeable guide who speaks your language.
- Use a comparator to find a rental car at the lowest price
Save yourself hours of research with rentalcar.com ou discovercars.com. These comparators are the best for finding rental cars at the lowest prices.
- Don't leave without travel insurance
For us, it is unimaginable to leave without travel insurance. We recommend the one proposed by AXIS. This is the best guaranteed way to leave with peace of mind. However, consider taking out additional specialized insurance for activities not covered (such as skiing or scuba diving).
- Want more information about your destination?
Do not hesitate to complete the information present on this blog with a travel Guide. You can take it in your luggage and refer to it throughout your vacation.
To find out more about South Africa:
The itinéterre team
Itinéterre is a travel blog written by a team of expatriates and locals. They share their experiences so that you can enjoy the best tours in their countries. Their advice will help you plan your vacation easily as if a local is accompanying you!
