Booking a trip to one of South Africa’s most vibrant cities, Cape town, calls for some attention to details particularly when deciding on a place to sleep. Indeed, making a correct choice of a district increases an interest in a city several times and provides different impressions. Starting from the colorful harbor area up to the quiet beaches and artists’ districts, the piece gives detailed information on the certain districts of Cape Town that are safe to stay in and have lots to offer.
Cape Town
Cape town is enormous city that has combined with the natural endowment with urbanization. It stretches from the atlantic coast inland with the Table Mountain in the middle of the city . These factors make Cape Town to be a city with neighborhoods, and each of these neighborhoods has its own lifestyle. Still, like any other large city of the world, this city also contains some quarters that can be considered rather dangerous. At least the general direction of the city and finding out which areas could be recommendable to tour around is very vital in what one wants to achieve while in the city.
Security is always an issue and more so for first time travellers to South Africa, this can be attributed to high crime rates in the country. All in all, it is relatively safe to visit Cape Town for tourists, although certain districts are considered rather dangerous, particularly during the night. The neighborhoods that are recommended within this guide are safe havens with varied hosts that include affordable and pricey lodging, and other enjoyable activities. These areas are most guarded so they have solid infrastructures and hence the most recommended for tourists.
1. Camps Bay: Living in Space 1984: A Beachside Haven
Camps Bay is one of the most stylish areas in Cape Town with its Camps Bay beach, fashion shops, good restaurants and active night clubs. Camps Bay is located along the Atlantic Seaboard; this makes the area scenic with beautiful sights of the ocean and the Twelve Apostles mountain range. These are some of the attractions that make it be considered as one of the best areas for locals and tourist to lay back, sunbathe or engage in other leisure activities.
The climate of the area is very recreational, inclusive of a popular broad walk done with coconut trees, vogue café’s and boutique shops. The beach itself is beautiful; it is sandy with blue water that you can easily spend your time splashing and swimming in. The sea at the end of the beach is shallow and ideal swimming area is found in the tidal pool that shields the swimmers from strong ocean currents. Camps Bay also boasts of such activities as the volley ball on the beach, surfing, and walks within the beach.
As attractive as is the area, that portion of Cape Town knows its fair share of disadvantages as well. The nature of most of the establishment found along the strip is that they are rated and thereby the accommodation prices tend to be on the high side. However, the conditions of rooms and the whole stay are usually justified by the prices asked. There are all categories of the places for living starting from the expensive suites located near the coastline and ending with the opening guest houses. Like other parts of the city the nightlife in Camps Bay is active but does not go on as late into the night like other parts of the city.
Camps Bay indeed can be considered as a perfect place for rest for those who value the natural surrounding and at the same time want to enjoy all the facilities of the modern hotel. Because of the position, there are other sights within the Atlantic Seaboard that can be easily accessed such as Clifton beach and the famed Chapman’s Peak Drive. When it comes to eating out, Camps Bay has got it covered in terms of variety, ranging from chic restaurants as well as café style dining, right down to seashore dining, with the provisions of professional looking meals accompanied by sea-side scenery.
The other positive aspect that can be also mentioned regarding the life in Camps Bay is the community feeling. It is frequented not just by locals but also other people living in the kingdom, thus, it is diverse. The atmosphere of the surrounding is friendly; many people bring their children here to enjoy the clean sand and the sea, as well as numerous outdoor activities. Similar to the rest of the Italian regions, it does get quite crowded especially during the main seasons of tourism, summer in particular, however it does not feel nearly as congested as some of the major cities.
Those who care about the exploring the picturesque of the region, Camps Bay stays as a perfect starting point to different attractions. The Table Mountain Aerial Cableway is almost next door, which takes one on a breathtaking tour of the site and the environs. The nearby Lion’s Head also give people with a spirit of climbing a good chance to hike around. At evening, Camps Bay offers some fondest sights with the sun setting over the Atlantic ocean on the beach and the mountains.
Recommended Hotels in Camps Bay:
1.Stone Cottage: Location here provides delicious meal, comfortable apartments close to the pool zone, perfect for a quiet stay.
Camps Bay Forest Pods: Off beat accommodation with most of it surrounded by vegetation that is ideal for the nature lovers.
Lemon Tree Cottage: A nice and cosy guesthouse, room service more intimate than in hotel.
2. V&A Waterfront: Cape Town: The Rainbow Nation’s Beating Centre
The Victoria & Alfred Waterfront is one of the tremendous attractive points for visiting in Cape Town with complex of shops, restaurants and other facilities. Situated near the signal hill at the shore of the harbor and approximately one kilometer from the downtown area is now commonly known as the Waterfront which is always crowded with activity. Over the years it has enjoyed a complete facelift and now comprises of business and recreational importance making it a perfect destination for tourists as well as the locals.
This area is packed with stores that range from global designers to growing artists and designers from South Africa. Here are some of the attractions that one will find around; The Watershed, a market made of the local products in terms of crafts, arts, and fashion. The area also has a variety of eating places ranging from traditional south African foods to world foods. The food market is a ‘do not miss’ place especially for those, who are interested in tasty and exotic street food.
To a large extent, the Waterfront is both a place for shopping and a center of culinary. In it are the several museums such as the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa (MOCAA) that focuses on the contemporary African art and culture. The region is also the starting point to the Robben Island – a famous UNESCO world heritage site which was a prison where Mandela was imprisoned among other political prisoners. Another aspect that makes Waterfront attractive is the surrounding view of the harbor/sea, Table Mountain etc.
The concept of interest when it comes to the V&A Waterfront does not end with the structures and services in the area but goes further with the ambiance. The area is quite active with pedestrian performances, music and loud thumping, and various frequent events boosting the carnival-like atmosphere. The Waterfront is more or less busy most often during weekends and the public holidays because many people grab the opportunities to visit fun places such as the Waterfront. Families should find it very interesting as there are kids’ zones and you can get close to the sea creatures at the Two Oceans Aquarium.
Security is one of the major benefits of accommodation at V&A Waterfront. It is a highly policed area and enjoys a hefty security sector thus regarded as one of the relatively secure areas in Cape Town. This freedom of mind enable the visitors to come and tour the area at any time of the day or night. But this makes it a busy area and therefore, it is not easy to find a hotel and particularly during tourist periods gets very expensive. Still, the aspect of comfort and food as well as a range of things to do and places to eat makes it worth it to spend the money.
There is all kinds of lodging ranging from up market hotels to basic guesthouse to serviced apartments. Most of the hotels are situate with pleasing views of the harbor or Table Mountain or both which give the guest friendly scenery. The location is also appropriate: the house is near bus stops and main highways; therefore, it would be easy to get to the remaining districts of Cape Town.
Recommended Hotels in V&A Waterfront:
Old Foundry Hotel: A combination of the old and the new coupled with an opportunity to have a lovely stay.
The Charles – Guesthouse: Can be described as a comfortable and rather private to share, especially for two.
Urban Elephant. The Docklands: Relatively hip bedrooms and baths which are equipped with lots of fine and fancy features.
3. Green Point:
That allows to get closer to the nature and at the same time feel the spirit of the city.
Green Point is a rather diverse neighborhood in terms of its functionality and availability of nature references. Green Point lies between the Impressions area and the coastal areas of the Atlantic Seaboard; it is an excellent location for those who plan to tour around Cape Town and its surroundings. The social life is active throughout the area owing to the presence of several bars, restaurants, and cafes that are opened to the public.
The climax of Green Point is the Green Point Urban Park; an aesthetically pleasing park that has many recreational facilities. The park gets used frequently for jogging; families come here to have picnics and spend time in nature. There is also an outdoor gym, a framed garden with plants ranked according to their biological importance, and several child plies. This means that is a good place to visit when one wants to enjoy the natural environment away from the busy cities.
Besides, Green Point is situated in an advantageous area for tourists. It is just within walking distance from the Cape town stadium where events such as sports and concerts occur. The neighborhood also has the Sea Point Promenade that acts as a coastal belt where one can take a leisurely walk. The type of foods sold in various restaurants present in this region covers the South African meals and other meals from across the world.
It might be argued that Green Point is one of the most diverse areas of Cape Town because it contains a little of everything that is loved of the city. The atmosphere of the neighbourhood can be described as a combination of landscape and city and historic/cultural sites, thus, it can be attractive for all types of tourists. If you want to get out and about, explore the city and find the active nightlife, Green Point is the place to be.
Just like the type of food available, the setting also offers equally varied choices in the places to stay. For the uptown travellers, there are stylish hotels that provide spectacular views of the Atlantic Ocean and the table mountain, to the mid-range and the low-scale travellers there are guest houses, hostels that will comfortably accommodate you. This area proves to be popular with youth, party goers and guests who are eager to immerse in the social life found in Cape Town. Although it is staggering with many different bars, club and restaurant there is always something going on in Green Point.
Green Point’s location relative to large complexes is still another advantage. Adjacent to it is the water’s edge which is the V&A Waterfront, with shopping, eating and entertainment facilities. The area also has access to public transport hence, it is easy to explore the rest part of the city. Cape Town has quite a few parks and for the nature lovers and the photo hunters Green Point has the sea side promenade and the Cape Town stadion.
Recommended Hotels in Green Point:
Villa Marina Guest House: An inviting native inn providing cosy and homely with a personal touch.
Altona Lodge: An affordable type of hotel with clean and rather comfortable rooms.
A Sunflower Stop Backpackers: Recommended for any traveler who is a backpacker seeking social interactive places.
4. Sea Point:
In the coastal areas, there is beauty and the ease of access to some of the most important amenities in the country.
Sea Point is one of the prestigious and trending areas along the coastal line of South Africa. Sea Point is positioned along the Atlantic Seaboard pleasure and is in proximity of some of the best beaches in Cape Town. It is one of the busy zones of the city where the people of the town as well as tourists love to hang out along with the typical market and residential areas.
Among the communities in Cape Town, the Sea Point is remarkably popular and one of the features that boost the area’s popularity is the sea point promenade which is a long walkway that follows the coastline. The promenade is a common place people go for jogging, cycling, and walking early morning, and in the evening while enjoying the cool breeze coming from the ocean. This area is also characterized by the presence of the outdoor-gym equipment and therefore people jostling to work out.
There are also restaurants and shops that line up the area; however, the Sea Point natural attraction is more prominent. As for the dining, there are various fast food outlets and restaurants in the region and they range from the informal ones all the way to classy. A similar cross section of the population, therefore, is in evidence in the shopping scene with local shops, markets for groceries and other articles and the large departmental stores for comparable products. Some of the lively areas for entertainment at night in Sea Point are the restaurants and bars and clubs; hence, it is an excellent place for those who want to explore the nightlife in Cape Town.
Sea Point is also famous for its proximity to the sea whilst at the same time it’s in close proximity to the commercial centers and bustle of the city. The area is laid back and reminiscent of a beach community which adequately prepares one for the fact that the comfort of a big city is never too far away. This makes it a perfect choice for people who would wish to get the best out of a shire and modern facilities.
There are many choices of where to stay in Sea Point from high end hotels with sea views to guest houses and B & B’s to semi-self-catering apartments. This means that the accommodation is fairly comprehensive so that it is suitable for a wide range of tourists including family travelers, couples and lone wolf travelers. Cultural and social activities within the neighborhood and the convenient location for taking outdoor physical exercises might make it favorite especially for the young persons and those who prefer an active leisure.
The location of Sea Point is one more trump card. It is well located just a few kilometres from famous locations such as the V&A Waterfront, Table Mountain as well as the CBD. Also for mobility, the place is served by good networks of public transport hence access to the various destinations is not a problem. Even though the arrangement of Sea Point is often crowded and bustling especially during the high travel periods, it is compared to the city center is more of a leisure.
Recommended Hotels in Sea Point:
Leeuwenzee Guesthouse: Affords good and rather elegant premises and is a fourth class place from the service standpoint.
Spring Tide Inn by CTHA: A cozy inn and the people are very friendly.
Albatross Guest House: A home-style or small hotel where many facilities are provided needed for the comfortable living.
5. Woodstock: A Center for Arts and Cultuality
Woodstock is a relatively new community characterized by the arts and more so there is quite a lot of artistic talents. Woodstock is situated in the Eastern part of the city and has the recent trend of sprucing up from an industrialized neighborhood into an art, café, and boutique territory. Essentially it taps into a community of artists and designers combined with the young and creative working lot Its one of the most vibrant and expressive regions in Cape Town.
Street art is one of Woodstock primary selling points; this area has more murals and other pieces of street art than one can fathom, making it the open-air art gallery. Another is the Old Biscuit Mill; a former factory/biscuit manufacturing hub that has been turned into shops, dining establishments, and the renowned Neighbourgoods Market. This market is a food lovers’ market with lots of fancy foods, fresh foods and specialty foods and other special creations.
Given the type of people found in Woodstock, what can be said of its eating places? They range from traditional meals from South Africa to meals from all over the world. Most cafés and restaurants in the neighborhood are quite unique and new-age, and thus, Woodstock is a beautiful place for food lovers. It also has an emerging night life; in the bars and night clubs which offer live music and other treats.
What makes it attractive for the travelers is that now the town of Woodstock is in process of turning into the art and cultural center of Cape Town. It must be recognized that the combination of old and new buildings, industrial climate and the area of artistic youth give it a different feeling from other parts of the city. If one is inclined to art, design, to the contemporary culture, Woodstock itself presents a myriad of things to explore and to see.
Regarding accommodation, the options are more limited than in other neighborhoods, although there are some good options. It has various accommodations ranging from local and international hotels, guest house, and apartments that offer self-catering services. As in any other place, burglaries happen and it is wise to know the present security status of the place, and do not wander to unknown areas especially at night.
The location of Woodstock does in the convenient proximity to the downtown and main tourist sights. The area is well serviced by public transport, hence one cannot be stuck when it comes to movement. Of course, laid-back Woodstock may seem less luxurious and centrally located compared to other districts of Cape Town; however, enterprising tourists will appreciate the atmosphere of the artsy district.
Recommended Hotels in Woodstock:
DoubleTree by Hilton Cape Town Upper Eastside: Providing for comfortable and up to date lodging with exceptional customer care.
Urban Artisan Luxury Suites by Totalstay: A modern hotel with a suitable furniture and accommodation for the guests.
The Mountains: A special type of hotel that is precisely designed to be artistic.
Certain Areas That Are Avoided in Cape Town
Like any other city, Cape Town boasts of having numerous wonderful areas; however, some of the parts are considered no-go zones because of security issues. These include:
- Cape Flats
- Kraaifontein
- Nyanga
- Langa
- Gugulethu
- Khayelitsha
These are some of the region considered to have high incidences of crime and hence should be avoided by the tourist. Concerning the locations they select for their stay, it is preferable to target neighborhoods in contact with the coast and central zones frequented by tourists to avoid experiencing malicious interventions.
Final Thoughts
Well-developed tourism infrastructure and possible attractions of Cape Town vary from beautiful nature and wildlife to modern African city life. This way or that, city slickers to beach bums, sports fans to foodies, and culture vultures to Francophiles, there is an area of Cape Town for you. Of course, if you are careful when selecting the appropriate district and dwelling, you will have a safe, comfortable, and interesting stay in this marvelous city. Therefore let us prepare our luggage and book and prepare for make the best out of your time in Cape Town.