Cheap flights to Cape Town
Set your departure airport and maximum budget: SniperAir tracks prices to Cape Town and alerts you the moment a deal matching your criteria appears.
Quick summary
Country
South Africa
Continent
Africa
Airport
CPT
Currency
South African rand (ZAR)
Time zone
UTC+2 (SAST), no daylight saving
Deals already spotted to Cape Town
Real flight examples detected by SniperAir, with their reference price.
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Airport and getting into town
An airport about 20 km out, with no train link
Cape Town International (CPT)
Cape Town International lies about 20 km east of the centre, right on the N2 near Bellville, according to Wikivoyage (EN); Wikivoyage (DE) says roughly 20 km and about 30 minutes by road. It is South Africa's second-biggest airport after Johannesburg's O.R. Tambo and one of the busiest on the continent, per Wikivoyage (EN). It was called DF Malan Airport until 1995, according to Wikipedia (FR), and was rebuilt for the 2010 football World Cup. There is no rail link, says Wikivoyage (DE). Wikivoyage (EN) states that no public transit currently serves the airport, while Wikivoyage (ES) still describes a MyCiTi rapid bus to the centre, so sources disagree and you should check before you travel. Ride-hailing (Uber, Bolt) is the usual advice from Wikivoyage (EN, ES), rather than touts in vests offering unmetered rides.
Approximate distances, per Wikivoyage (EN, DE). Transport services change, so check them before you go. We do not quote fares.
Cape Town is South Africa's legislative capital and the capital of the Western Cape, according to Wikipedia (EN). It is the country's oldest city and sits on Table Bay in the Cape Floristic Region, per Wikipedia (EN), and Wikivoyage (EN) calls it the southernmost city on the African continent and the gateway to the Cape Winelands.
Table Mountain National Park lies within the city boundaries, per Wikipedia (EN), so wild mountain terrain begins almost at the doorstep of the centre. Wikipedia (EN) adds that numerous travel publications have named Cape Town among the world's best cities for visitors.
Landmarks
Table Mountain, Bo-Kaap, the Waterfront, Camps Bay and Boulders Beach
Cape Town is a city of mountain and sea. The places below are illustrated and follow one possible route from the city out to the peninsula.
Table Mountain
The flat-topped mountain is the city's emblem, with Signal Hill, Lion's Head and Devil's Peak beside it, according to Wikipedia (DE). The cable car runs only in good weather, since wind or cloud can close it, notes Wikivoyage (FR). On foot, Platteklip Gorge is the most accessible route: about 3 km, all uphill, and one to three hours, per Wikivoyage (EN). Wikivoyage (DE) says the cableway opened in 1929 and puts the plateau at 1,085 m.
Bo-Kaap
Bo-Kaap, the Malay Quarter, climbs the hill south-west of the centre. Wikivoyage (EN) describes it as the historic home of Malay Muslim descendants of slaves, with bright houses, mosques and views over the city, and suggests about an hour to explore. The Bo-Kaap Museum, in a house from the 1760s, explains the community's cultural life.
The V&A Waterfront
The Victoria and Alfred Waterfront is a working harbour turned into a district of shops, restaurants and attractions, according to Wikivoyage (EN). It holds the Two Oceans Aquarium and the Zeitz MOCAA, and harbour cruises and boats to Robben Island leave from here. Wikivoyage (EN) recommends a sunset cruise for the view back towards the town and Table Mountain.
Camps Bay and the Twelve Apostles
On the Atlantic side, Camps Bay, Clifton and Sea Point form a string of beaches under the Twelve Apostles ridge, per Wikipedia (FR). The Atlantic stays cold, roughly 10 to 15 °C on average according to Wikipedia (EN), while False Bay on the east side of the peninsula is considerably warmer.
Boulders Beach penguins
At Simon's Town, Boulders Beach hosts a colony of African penguins among granite boulders, according to Wikivoyage (EN, DE). Wikivoyage (EN) notes that Boulders and the Cape of Good Hope are among the few parts of Table Mountain National Park that charge an entry fee; we quote no amount. Wikivoyage (DE) places the beach about 42 km from the centre.
Kirstenbosch, Robben Island and the Cape of Good Hope
Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden on the mountain's slopes contains 5 of South Africa's 6 biomes, per Wikipedia (EN). The peninsula drive via Chapman's Peak leads to the Cape of Good Hope, per Wikivoyage (EN). Robben Island, where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned, has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1999, according to Wikipedia (DE); boats leave from the Waterfront.
Museums and culture
Apartheid memory, contemporary African art and summer concerts
History and memory
The District Six Museum tells the story of a neighbourhood that stayed multiracial into the 1960s before residents were evicted, per Wikivoyage (EN). The Slave Lodge, built in 1679 to house slaves of the Dutch East India Company, is now a social history museum, according to Wikipedia (FR) and Wikivoyage (EN). The Cape Town Holocaust Centre, opened in 1999, was the first museum on the subject in Africa, says Wikipedia (FR).
Art
The Zeitz MOCAA, built into a former grain silo at the Waterfront, opened in 2017 and bills itself as the world's largest museum of contemporary African art, per Wikivoyage (EN). The South African National Gallery in the Gardens area mixes temporary shows with a permanent collection of South African work.
The Castle and open-air music
The Castle of Good Hope, begun in 1666, is the oldest surviving building in South Africa, per Wikipedia (FR, DE). Kirstenbosch hosts picnic-style sunset concerts from late November to early April, says Wikivoyage (EN). Cape Town was World Design Capital in 2014, according to Wikipedia (ES). We do not quote ticket prices: hours and fees change.
Food and drink
Cape Malay cooking, line fish, Karoo lamb and wine
What to try
Wikivoyage (EN) praises local line fish such as yellowtail and kingklip, and Karoo lamb, widely regarded as excellent. Cape Malay cuisine is a signature of the city, and bobotie, a spiced mince dish, is described as the community's emblematic plate. Several restaurants in Bo-Kaap serve it.
Wine country
Constantia, Stellenbosch, Paarl and Franschhoek are all within about an hour, per Wikivoyage (EN, ES). Franschhoek is called the culinary heart of the Winelands, and Groot Constantia is among the oldest wine estates in the country.
Where to eat
Wikivoyage (EN) calls food in Cape Town generally high quality. The Waterfront concentrates restaurants with mountain views, while Bo-Kaap suits a cheaper, more local meal.
Getting around
Rapid bus, metered taxis and driving on the left
Buses and trains
MyCiTi is a bus rapid transit system with a smartcard and off-board fares, per Wikivoyage (EN), serving the centre and the Atlantic coast from 04:30 to 22:00. Golden Arrow buses cover the wider metro area. Metrorail suburban trains are used mainly by locals, and Wikivoyage (EN, ES) advises against carrying valuables on them.
Taxis and apps
Metered taxis are controlled by the city council and judged reliable, at about R8 to R10 per kilometre according to Wikivoyage (EN, ES). Uber and Bolt are widely used, and Wikivoyage (EN) suggests checking both apps because prices can differ.
Driving and caution
Traffic keeps left. Wikivoyage (FR) finds city driving easy and not too congested during the day, while Wikivoyage (ES) warns of car theft at night or when stopped at lights. Wikivoyage (DE) advises using licensed taxis for evenings out.
Day trips
The peninsula, the Winelands and the west coast are best reached by car or on an organised tour; West Coast National Park is about 120 km north, per Wikivoyage (DE).
Budget and precautions
Prices vary by neighbourhood; sensible precautions apply
Price level
Wikivoyage (FR) finds restaurant meals clearly cheaper than in France, with small gaps between types of venue. We do not quote figures, because we could not confirm them across two independent open sources.
Currency and payment
The currency is the South African rand. Wikivoyage (DE) says petrol stations rarely accept cards, so carry cash or a fuel card.
Flights
SniperAir monitors prices to CPT and compares them with the route's history, but it does not sell or book tickets. You can also watch Johannesburg (JNB) or Durban (DUR) to compare.
Safety
For entry rules and safety, check your own government's official advice. Wikivoyage (DE) urges caution after 18:00 and recommends licensed taxis, while Wikivoyage (FR) describes a relaxed atmosphere by day.
When to go
A Mediterranean climate: dry summers and wet winters
Summer (December to February)
Warm and dry: average highs around 26 °C per Wikipedia (EN), 24 to 25 °C per Wikipedia (DE). Wikivoyage (FR) rates October to March as the pleasant season but notes crowds in December and January. The Berg Wind can bring heat from the Karoo, per Wikipedia (EN).
Autumn (March to May)
A transition season: the heat eases and the days stay clear before the winter rain sets in. Wikipedia (EN) runs summer through March.
Winter (June to August)
Cooler and wetter, with highs around 17 to 18 °C per Wikipedia (DE, EN) and most rain in June and July. Skies can stay overcast for days, according to Wikivoyage (ES).
Spring (September to November)
Wikivoyage (FR) names August and September as the best time for the west coast, where winter rain brings wildflowers. From October the city enters its pleasant season.
Wikipedia (EN) gives about 515 mm of rain a year in the city but close to 1,000 mm in the Southern Suburbs near the mountain. Wikivoyage (DE) mentions roughly 300 sunny days a year. Sources disagree on some figures, so we give only orders of magnitude.
By length of stay
What to do in Cape Town depending on how long you stay
The essentials
Table Mountain by cable car on a clear day, Bo-Kaap and the Waterfront at sunset.
Peninsula and beaches
Chapman's Peak, Boulders Beach and the Cape of Good Hope, Kirstenbosch and Camps Bay.
Wine and memory
Constantia or Stellenbosch estates, Robben Island, the District Six Museum and the Zeitz MOCAA.
In pictures
Cape Town in pictures
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FAQ
Frequently asked questions about flights to Cape Town
How do I get from Cape Town airport to the centre?
The airport is about 20 km from the centre, roughly 30 minutes by road. Most visitors take a taxi or a ride-hailing app; there is no train. Check bus services before you travel.
When is the best time to visit Cape Town?
October to March for warm, dry weather; August and September for wildflowers on the west coast. Winter is cooler and wetter.
Is Cape Town expensive?
Wikivoyage describes meals as cheaper than in France, but we publish no figures because we could not confirm them on two sources.
How long should I stay in Cape Town?
Three to five days for the city, the mountain and the peninsula; more if you add the Winelands.
How do I get around Cape Town?
MyCiTi rapid bus, metered taxis, Uber or Bolt, and rental cars; traffic keeps left. Avoid carrying valuables on suburban trains.
What should I eat in Cape Town?
Cape Malay bobotie, local line fish, Karoo lamb and wines from Constantia, Stellenbosch or Franschhoek.
How much does a flight to Cape Town usually cost?
The price depends mainly on your departure city, the time of year and how far ahead you book. The "opportunities" section above shows real examples of prices SniperAir has already detected to this destination.
How do I get alerted when a flight to Cape Town drops below my budget?
Create an alert profile with your departure airport, Cape Town as the destination and your maximum budget. You are notified automatically as soon as a matching price is detected.
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