Centered between the beaches and the winelands, the cultural hub of Cape Town harbors most of the city’s best eats and plenty of nightlife, namely along Long Street.
Bo-Kaap
At the edge of the bowl is Bo-Kaap, a colorful, mosque-filled enclave nestled on the lower slopes of Signal Hill that makes up the Cape’s Malay quarter.
Victoria & Alfred Waterfront
Reinvented in the early ‘90s, this always-bustling, very touristy area caters to first-timers with its massive dining and shopping complex and pretty yacht-filled harbor on Table Bay.
De Waterkant
Just outside the city, this trendy suburb borders the waterfront. A fashionable crowd comes to stroll the cobbled streets and shop the designer stores and bohemian boutiques.
Cape Flats
The largest population of “coloureds” (the apartheid named for those who speak Afrikaans is still used here) lives in the poverty-stricken shantytowns of the flats and outlying townships. Best visited with a knowledgeable guide.
Atlantic Seaboard
The two must-see beach villages along the Atlantic are Clifton, for its sandy sections separated by rocky outcrops, and Camps Bay, for its palm-lined stretch backed by cocktail bars and cafes.
