Arrival & Transport

Airport

The Cape Town International Airport (CPT) is located about 20 kilometers east of the City Bowl and is modern, efficient, and well-organized. It is South Africa's second-largest airport and offers all services: currency exchange, SIM cards, car rental counters, and a reliable Uber pickup area.

Direct Flights from German-speaking Regions

• Eurowings Discover: Direct flights from Frankfurt (approx. 11.5 hours). Affordable option from Germany.
• Condor: Seasonal direct flights from Frankfurt.
• South African Airways (SAA): Connections via Johannesburg.
• Lufthansa: Via Frankfurt to Johannesburg, then onward flight to Cape Town (approx. 2-hour domestic flight).
• Emirates: Via Dubai — often the cheapest and most comfortable connection.
• Qatar Airways: Via Doha — excellent service, competitive prices.

Flight Time: Nonstop approx. 11–12 hours. Time difference: +1 hour (CET) or no difference (CEST) — practically no jet lag!

From the Airport to the City

• Uber: The best option — affordable, safe, reliable. To the city center approx. 150–250 ZAR (8–12€), to Camps Bay approx. 200–350 ZAR (10–18€). Pickup zone clearly marked.
• MyCiTi Bus: The cheapest option: Line A01 to the Civic Centre (City Bowl). Approx. 100 ZAR (5€). Requires a MyCiTi card (buy at the airport).
• Rental Car: All major providers at the airport (Hertz, Avis, Europcar, Budget). From 400 ZAR (20€) per day. Note the left-hand traffic!
• Hotel Shuttle: Many hotels offer transfers — inquire in advance.

Uber & Bolt — The Cape Town Standard

Uber and Bolt are ubiquitous in Cape Town, safe, and extremely affordable. Most tourists and many Capetonians use them as their main mode of transport. Prices: about a third to a quarter of European taxi prices. City Bowl → Camps Bay: approx. 60–100 ZAR (3–5€). City Bowl → Stellenbosch: approx. 350–500 ZAR (18–25€). Always choose the UberX category — affordable and reliable.

Rental Car

For the Cape Peninsula, the Winelands, and the Garden Route, a rental car is ideal. The roads are well-developed and driving in Cape Town is straightforward — only the left-hand traffic requires half a day of adjustment.

• Prices: From 400 ZAR (20€) per day with local providers.
• Left-hand Traffic: South Africa drives on the left. Roundabouts clockwise, overtaking on the right. After half a day, it's routine.
• Refueling: At gas stations, attendants fill up the tank (not self-service). A small tip (5–10 ZAR) is customary.
• Parking: In the City Bowl, there are parking attendants (recognizable by safety vests). Give 5–10 ZAR when parking, another 5–10 ZAR when picking up. NEVER leave valuables visible in the car!

MyCiTi Bus

The MyCiTi bus system connects the City Bowl with the suburbs, the airport, and some beaches. Modern, safe, and affordable. You need a rechargeable MyCiTi card (buy at stations or the airport). Ideal for the route Airport → City Bowl and City Bowl → Table View / Blouberg.

Hop-on-Hop-off Bus

The City Sightseeing Cape Town buses run two routes (red: City Bowl & Camps Bay, blue: Constantia & Kirstenbosch) and are a stress-free way to reach the main attractions. Day ticket: approx. 350 ZAR (18€).