Cape Town is like a city from a dream. Picture ocean vistas, lush gardens, sandy beaches, and colorful houses, all guarded by majestic Table Mountain. It’s no wonder that some call Cape Town the world’s most beautiful city.

On land originally inhabited by the Khoisan people, Cape Town was established by Dutch colonists who brought enslaved people from Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and elsewhere to labor on local farms. Today, Cape Town is a vibrant blend of cultural traditions.

Perched at the southern tip of Africa, Cape Town’s seasons are the opposite of those in the northern hemisphere. The hottest months are November through February, perfect for surfing and sunbathing.

We’ll take you on a quick tour of Cape Town: what to see, where to stay, and where to eat.

3 reasons to buy travel insurance for South Africa

1. U.S. travelers need emergency medical and medical transportation benefits. Don’t expect your domestic health insurance to cover you abroad. In South Africa, “healthcare providers, including ambulances, require payment in cash before services are performed,” the U.S. Department of State says.¹ Emergency medical and dental benefits can cover your care following a medical emergency while traveling. Emergency transportation benefits can pay for a medically necessary, approved evacuation or medical repatriation following a covered illness or injury.
2. Travel insurance protects your vacation investment. While Cape Town is a fairly affordable destination for U.S. visitors, the long flight can be expensive. If you end up having to cancel or interrupt your trip for a covered reason, travel insurance with trip cancellation and trip interruption benefits can reimburse you for nonrefundable trip costs.
3. Rental car insurance is a really good idea. One recent study named South Africa the world’s most dangerous country to drive in, with a high prevalence of crashes involving alcohol. If you plan to rent a car in Cape Town, save money on insurance with the OneTrip Rental Car Protector. Get primary coverage for covered collision, loss and damage up to $50,000, along with 24-hour emergency assistance.

When you’re searching for the best travel insurance for South Africa, choose a plan that includes all these benefits and more. OneTrip Prime is our most popular pick for vacations and international travel, and it covers kids 17 and under for free when traveling with a parent or grandparent (not available on policies issued to Pennsylvania residents). If you’re planning two or more trips in the next 365 days, you could save money with an AllTrips annual travel insurance plan.

3 of the best things to do in Cape Town

1. Ascend Table Mountain. This massive, flat-topped mountain has to top any list of Cape Town attractions. You can hike to the top or take the cableway for a speedier trip. The views from the top are spectacular, unless heavy clouds suddenly roll in (locals call this phenomenon “the tablecloth”).
2. Pay a visit to some penguins. Boulders Beach, just outside Cape Town, is billed as the only place in the world where you can see African penguins up close. Pay a small fee (which helps protect the penguins) to access the boardwalk. There are usually penguins present year-round, although their numbers thin in September and October as they go out to sea to feed.²
3. Tour Robben Island. This notorious penal colony, where anti-apartheid activist Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for 18 years, is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Board a ferry to reach the island and take a tour, which is led by guides who were once political prisoners.

3 of the best boutique hotels in Cape Town

You’ve got to love the name: Gorgeous George is a high-end boutique hotel in downtown Cape Town with 32 rooms that combine an industrial aesthetic with modern Victorian design elements. There’s a rooftop bar and pool, too.

The Tree House Boutique Hotel, located in the trendy Green Point district, offers a warm welcome for a reasonable rate. Guests praise the attentive staff, the lavish breakfasts, understated but elegant décor, and the serene setting.

Looking for a luxury resort feeling? Compass House in Bantry Bay promises “the best views in South Africa.” This high-end hotel is perched on the heights of Kloof Road, from which you can see the blue Atlantic and stunning sunsets. When you tire of the infinity pool, the beaches are just a few minutes away.  

3 of the best restaurants in Cape Town

While you’re in Cape Town, try its uniquely delicious cuisine. Cape Malay food is a swirl of flavors and Islamic, Dutch, Indian, Asian and African traditions. It’s aromatic, fragrant with spices such as turmeric, cumin, coriander and paprika.³

Biesmiellah Restaurant is widely considered one of the best Cape Malay restaurants, known for its tomato bredie (lamb cooked in a sweet-and-sour tomato sauce) and denning vleis (lamb chops in a sweet-sour brown onion tamarind sauce).

Bo-Kaap Kombuis is another favorite. Get the boboti (a mild curry with yellow rice) or one of the many other curries, and enjoy the view of Table Mountain.

Definitely don’t skip dessert: sweets are an essential part of Cape Malay cuisine. Koesisters are deep-fried dough that’s flavored with spices, soaked in sweet syrup and dusted with coconut. Koeksisters are similar, but plaited. Farieda’s Koeksisters is one local favorite.

Ready for a delicious adventure? When you have Allianz Travel Insurance, you never travel alone. 24-hour assistance — which can be accessed from the Allianz TravelSmart app — is there anytime to help solve travel problems big and small.

Don’t wait to buy travel protection! See affordable plan options from Allianz Travel Insurance.

What Do I Need to Travel to South Africa?

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