Holiday Inn Express Cape Town City-Centre by IHG
Cape Town, ZA
8.64,051 reviews
US$63
per night
Destination guide
Cape Town
South Africa · Africa
Search all hotels in Cape Town 2026-08-28 → 2026-08-31 · 2 · 1
About Cape Town
Cape Town sits under Table Mountain where two oceans meet — a cosmopolitan city of Cape-Dutch architecture, wine estates 40 min inland, penguin colonies at Boulders Beach, and the Cape Peninsula drive to the Cape of Good Hope. The V&A Waterfront + Bo-Kaap + Camps Bay + Constantia wine valley cover four days easily. Great for combining with Kruger safari (2h flight) or Winelands + Garden Route road trips.
At a glance
- Table Mountain + Cape Peninsula + Winelands + Robben Island in one compact city.
- MyCiTi bus from CPT to CBD 30 min R120; Uber/Bolt everywhere R60–150.
- Visa-free 90 days for US/UK/EU/Aus/NZ/Japan/GCC; others eVisa via visa.homeaffairs.gov.za.
- Nov–Mar summer 20–30°C; Apr–May + Sep–Oct shoulder gold; Jun–Aug wet + whales.
- Currency ZAR; Type M 230V plugs (bring adapter); tap water safe.
Featured stays in Cape Town — live rates
Prices are live from our licensed booking partner and may change.
The Rockefeller Hotel by NEWMARK
Cape Town, ZA
9.072 reviews
US$82
per night
ONOMO Hotel Cape Town – Inn On The Square
Cape Town, za
8.21,906 reviews
US$95
per night
Hyatt Regency Cape Town
Cape Town, za
8.81,679 reviews
US$96
per night
DoubleTree by Hilton Cape Town - Upper Eastside
Cape Town, ZA
8.6108 reviews
US$112
per night
StayEasy Cape Town City Bowl
Cape Town, za
8.33,635 reviews
US$115
per night
Southern Sun Cape Sun
Cape Town, za
8.43,082 reviews
US$142
per night
The Hyde All Suite Hotel
Cape Town, za
8.81,015 reviews
US$147
per night
When to visit
November–March is southern-hemisphere summer — 20–30°C, dry, table-top season for the Mountain (book cable car). December–January peaks with local holidays + higher prices. April–May + September–October are shoulder gold — 18–24°C, fewer crowds, whales (Hermanus, Jun–Nov). June–August is winter — 8–18°C, wet, cheapest hotels + off-season safari combos.
Getting around
Uber + Bolt run everywhere, ZAR60–150 across the Atlantic Seaboard (much safer than street taxis). MyCiTi bus reaches V&A, Camps Bay, airport (R120 to CBD, 30 min). Rent a car for the Peninsula loop, Winelands, Garden Route — driving is left-hand, roads excellent. Do not walk between neighbourhoods at night; day walking Sea Point promenade + V&A + Kirstenbosch is fine.
Where to stay
V&A Waterfront
Family-safe harbour with 450+ shops, Two Oceans Aquarium, Robben Island ferry — One&Only, Silo Hotel, Cape Grace.
Camps Bay / Clifton
Palm-lined beachfront + sunset restaurants — The Bay Hotel, Ellerman House, Bungalow Camps Bay.
City Bowl / Gardens
Under the Mountain — Kloof Street restaurants, Company's Garden, Table Mountain cableway base — Mount Nelson (grande dame), Cape Cadogan.
Bo-Kaap
Cape Malay quarter of pastel houses + spice-scented cooking classes — walk with a local guide only.
Constantia (Winelands in-city)
Groot Constantia + Klein Constantia estates + oak-shaded gardens — Cellars-Hohenort, Steenberg Hotel.
Sea Point / Green Point
Boardwalk promenade + urban park stadium legacy — walkable + lively at sunset.
Your Marhaba Trip Plan
Cape Town at a glance
- Recommended trip
- 5–7 days
- Best time to visit
- November–March is southern-hemisphere summer — 20–30°C, dry, table-top season for the Mountain (book cable car).
- Getting around
- Uber + Bolt run everywhere, ZAR60–150 across the Atlantic Seaboard (much safer than street taxis).
- Recommended areas
- V&A Waterfront · Camps Bay / Clifton · City Bowl / Gardens
Top experiences
- Table Mountain Cableway — 5-min rotating cable car to 1,086 m summit — ZAR450 return; book online to skip queues, close on wind days.
- Cape Point / Cape of Good Hope — Peninsula tip funicular + lighthouse walk; combine with Boulders penguins + Chapman's Peak drive.
- Robben Island — Nelson Mandela's prison cell — ferry from V&A 3.5h round-trip ZAR600, book weeks ahead.
- Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden — World's most beautiful botanical garden — boomslang canopy walk, Sunday sunset concerts summer.
Book your trip
Do I need a visa for Cape Town?
- Policy
- Varies by nationality
- Typical stay
- 90 days
US, UK, EU, Canadian, Australian, NZ, Japanese, Emirati, and 100+ passports enter visa-free 90 days. Passport valid 30 days beyond stay + 2 blank pages. Others eVisa or embassy. Under-18s need unabridged birth certificate.
Official government sourceHow do I get to Cape Town?
Airports
- CPT · Cape Town International · 20 km
MyCiTi bus to Civic Centre (V&A shuttle) 30 min R120; Uber R250–350; metered airport taxi R450 flat.
By rail
Shosholoza Meyl overnight Cape Town ↔ Johannesburg 27h (economy R690, tourist R1,540). Rovos Rail luxury Cape Town ↔ Pretoria 48h R30,000+.
Home Affairs immigration; e-gates for South Africans; expect 30–60 min queues.
How do I get around Cape Town?
- Uber / Bolt — Reliable + safe — R60–150 across Atlantic Seaboard; airport R250–350.
- MyCiTi bus — V&A, Camps Bay, airport, Table View — R11–120 depending on distance; Tap + Go card R35.
- Rental car — Essential for Peninsula loop, Winelands, Garden Route — left-hand driving, R400–700/day.
- Hop-on hop-off (City Sightseeing) — R280 day pass — Table Mountain, Camps Bay, V&A, Kirstenbosch routes.
Passes & tickets
MyCiTi Tap + Go card R35 + credit; contactless credit cards not yet accepted on buses.
Never walk between neighbourhoods after dark. Hide all valuables in cars. Load-shedding (rolling blackouts) affects hotels — check ESP app.
What should I eat and know about food culture in Cape Town?
Signature dishes
- Braai (BBQ) + boerewors + pap — National ritual — best at butchery-braai spots like Mzoli's Gugulethu (Sat lunch) or upmarket Karibu at V&A.
- Cape Malay bobotie + samoosas — Bo-Kaap cooking class or Bo-Kaap Kombuis — R400 tasting menu.
- Bunny chow + Durban curry — Indian-South African hollowed-bread curry — Eastern Food Bazaar CBD R80.
- Seafood + Cape Point rock lobster — Kalk Bay Harbour House, Lookout Deck Hout Bay, Wolfgat Paternoster (2h out, worth the drive).
Etiquette
- Tipping 10–15% at restaurants — not always included; check bill.
- 'Now-now' means 'in a while'; 'just now' means later; 'now' means later still.
- Photography of townships requires permission + preferably a guide.
Tap water excellent. Rooibos tea is national drink. Craft beer strong (Devil's Peak, Jack Black, Woodstock Brewery). Cape Winelands (Stellenbosch + Franschhoek + Constantia) 45 min out — Delaire Graff, Tokara, Rust en Vrede.
Is Cape Town safe for travelers?
Overall risk: ModerateEmergency: 10111
- Atlantic Seaboard (V&A, Camps Bay, Clifton, Sea Point, Green Point), City Bowl (day), Constantia, Winelands, Cape Point all safe.
- Avoid townships without licensed guide, no walking between neighbourhoods after dark.
- Never leave anything visible in parked cars — smash-and-grab is the #1 tourist issue.
- Emergency 10111 (police) / 10177 (medical).
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a visa for Cape Town / South Africa?
US, UK, EU, Canadian, Australian, NZ, Japanese, Emirati, and most European passports enter visa-free for 90 days. Two blank passport pages + 30-day validity beyond stay required. Others use eVisa via visa.homeaffairs.gov.za or embassy. New minor traveller rules: unabridged birth certificate for under-18s.
How do I combine Cape Town with a Morocco trip?
Cape Town ↔ Casablanca connects via Doha (Qatar Airways), Addis Ababa (Ethiopian), or Dubai (Emirates) in 14–18h; direct Marrakech–Cape Town does not exist. Marhaba's typical two-country itinerary is 7 nights Morocco (Marrakech + Fes + Sahara) + 6 nights South Africa (Cape Town + Winelands + Kruger).
Is Cape Town good for a family trip?
Yes — V&A Waterfront + Two Oceans Aquarium, Boulders Beach penguins, Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden, Table Mountain cableway (kids-free deals), Cape Point ostrich farms, World of Birds sanctuary. Stay V&A or Camps Bay for safest family bases.
What's the best luxury stay in Cape Town?
One&Only Cape Town (V&A island), Ellerman House (Bantry Bay estate, 13 rooms), Cape Grace (V&A marina), Mount Nelson (Belmond grande dame), Silo Hotel (grain silo icon), Cellars-Hohenort (Constantia gardens), Delaire Graff (Winelands escape 45 min out).
Can I visit Cape Town on a budget?
Yes — MyCiTi bus R11–20, backpackers R300, Kirstenbosch entry R100, Table Mountain hike free (cable car R450), Boulders penguins R190, Chapman's Peak drive R60 toll. Excellent budget destination — 1 USD ≈ 18 ZAR gives strong purchasing power.
How do I get from CPT airport to the city?
MyCiTi bus to Civic Centre (V&A shuttle) 30 min R120 (Tap + Go card). Uber R250–350 in 25–40 min. Metered airport taxi R450 flat. Do not use unlicensed touts inside terminals.
Is Cape Town safe for tourists?
Atlantic Seaboard (V&A, Camps Bay, Clifton, Sea Point, Green Point), City Bowl (day), Constantia, Winelands, Cape Point are all safe. Avoid townships without a licensed guide, don't walk between neighbourhoods after dark, hide valuables in cars. Emergency 10111 (police) / 10177 (medical).
When is the best time to visit Cape Town?
November–March for beach + Mountain + Winelands sunshine (peak Dec–Jan). October + April for shoulder value + wildflowers (Namaqualand August–September). June–August for whales (Hermanus 90 min), lowest rates, dramatic seas — bring rain layers.
You may also like
More ways to extend or combine your Cape Town trip.
Morocco ↔ Cape Town — Africa Grand Loop
Connect via Doha (Qatar 14h) or Addis (Ethiopian 18h) — Marhaba's flagship two-country Africa itinerary.
Cape Town ↔ Nairobi
4h30 direct — Kenya Airways, SAA; classic safari + urban pair.
Cape Town ↔ Zanzibar
Connect via Nairobi or Johannesburg — city + ocean 14-night classic.
Cape Town ↔ Mauritius
Air Mauritius direct 5h — city + honeymoon island pair.
