Tourism In Cape Town

Cape Town is South Africa 's most popular tourist destination. Its warm climate, unique and beautiful natural surroundings and good transport links all help to attract visitors to the area.

Among the most popular attractions are Cape Town 's unique beaches, which are popular with local residents too. Beaches located on the Atlantic Coast tend to have cold waters caused by the Benguela current. But the water at False Bay can be warmer by up to 10 ° C. Surfing is popular around Cape Town , and the Red Bull Big Wave Africa surf contest is hosted here every year. The Camps Bay beach located in the Clifton area is particularly affluent and is home to busy bars and restaurants, while Boulders beach is famed for its colony of beautiful African penguins.

But of course, Cape Town 's most famous natural tourist attraction is Table Mountain . This breathtaking natural structure forms the back end of the world-renowned City Bowl, and part of the Table Mountain National Park . Table Mountain can be reached by the Table Mountain cableway, or on foot. For fantastic views of the City Bowl and Table Mountains , many tourists choose to visit Signal Hill, which can be reached by foot or by car. And for dramatic views of the Atlantic Ocean and surrounding mountains, head for Cape Point, the headland that forms the end of the Cape Peninsula.

Besides its stunning natural attractions, the city of Cape Town is also home to several cultural attractions. The Victoria and Alfred Waterfront is amongst the most popular. Located at the Port of Cape Town it is home to several hundred shops, as well as the Two Oceans Aquarium. Built on top of part of the docks, the port at the V&A is still used to this day, so visitors can enjoy the sight of ships entering and leaving the docks.

The city's architecture is another cultural attraction in itself. Cape Town is full to the brim with beautiful Cape Dutch-style buildings, which combines the architectural stylings of France , Germany and the Netherlands . Tourists love to experience this unique architectural heritage which can be seen at its best along Long Street and in Constantia. Tourists should also watch out for the annual Cape Town Minstrel Carnival. This cultural celebration occurs every year on the 2nd January and sees competing teams of brightly-costumed minstrels singing and dancing through the streets.