The Mother City is the place to be

Cape Town is often regarded as the creative heart of the country

The Mother City is on everyone’s radar at the moment, and for good reason. It’s a vibey, growing city that has its finger on the creative pulse of the world, with a bustling nightlife, dynamic young population, and dramatic natural beauty that regularly places it at the top of even the most respected global must-visit lists. Here's a quick refresher on everything that Cape Town offers, whether you're a seasoned fan, or a soon-to-be visitor.

Events

These days it seems as if there’s a large event every weekend in Cape Town. The world-class Cape Town Stadium, built for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, attracts regular big-name musical acts and high-profile sporting events, all of which tap into the recreational soul of the city as its residents take the party to the designated Fan Walk between the city and the stadium. Cape Town is fast becoming the events capital of South Africa, with a range of internationally celebrated annual events on the calendar, including the Design Indaba, Cape Town Jazz Festival, the Cape Argus Cycle Tour, and the Two Oceans Marathon, among many others.

Arts and Culture

Cape Town is often regarded as the creative heart of the country, and with the accolade of World Design Capital 2014, the city continues to ignite passion and excitement amongst lovers of arts and culture. Rather than focus on high-profile galleries and exhibitions, organic exhibits and cultural showcases have popped up throughout the city, including the incredible First Thursdays concept that takes place in the Cape Town City Centre on the first Thursday of each month.

What to See & Do

It would be impossible to list everything that there is to see and do in Cape Town, as the sheer number and diversity eludes even the most dedicated locals. Many, however choose to start with its natural splendour, by exploring the iconic Table Mountain, dramatic Cape Point, and its dozens of sublime beaches. The shopping mecca of the V&A Waterfront continues to draw crowds from around the world, and as the starting point for the historically significant tour of Robben Island, it’s often the highest destination on the to do list.

Where to Stay

Most tourists tend to stay in the general Cape Town City Bowl region, which offers a variety of accommodation options and easy access to most major tourism attractions, including Table Mountain, the V&A Waterfront, the Constantia Winelands, and a number of spectacular beaches. The City Bowl is the heart of the action, with numerous popular restaurants, coffee shops, bars and attractions. Nearby regions such as Green Point, the V&A Waterfront and Camps Bay continue to attract crowds looking for more exclusive suburban, but equally convenient and beautiful, surroundings. Outlying areas are also popular for overnight stays, including the winelands towns of Franschhoek and Stellenbosch.

Where to Eat

Cape Town is full of culinary marvels. The City Bowl has the greatest concentration of restaurants and eateries, and attracts much of the trendy, urban crowd looking for good value, original venues. The V&A Waterfront offers convenient dining in a more contained and touristy environment, with restaurants priced accordingly. The true triumph of the Cape Town culinary scene, however, is in the winelands, where the likes of The Tasting Room, the Greenhouse and many of the spectacular wine estates have made a name for themselves as must-visit culinary destinations.

Family

The greater Cape Town region is a family-friendly paradise. Natural attractions such as Table Mountain, the beaches and Cape Point feature high on the list.