One of the world's most beautiful cities, at the foot of Table Mountain where two oceans meet: the Table Mountain cableway, Boulders Beach penguins, the Cape of Good Hope, Robben Island, the Stellenbosch and Franschhoek winelands, Hermanus whales. For nature, adventure, food and wine lovers; a safari is possible at a nearby private reserve. No direct flights — connect via Istanbul, Dubai or Doha. Mongolian citizens need a visa (VFS in Ulaanbaatar or the new ETA). Crime is high, so care is needed.
NatureCableway R475 return (online; child R230); free on foot≈8:00–18:00 (later in summer); stops in strong wind
A 1,085 m flat summit above the city; the rotating cable car gets you up in 5 minutes. On foot, the Platteklip Gorge trail takes 2–3 hours and is steep. Go early on a clear morning; cloud (the 'tablecloth') rolls in later.
The African penguin colony at Simon's Town: watch from boardwalks up close, or swim with them in a small cove. A family favourite; combine with Cape Point on the same day.
Adult return fare: $1500–$2600Turkish Airlines' Istanbul connection is ~12 hours, so the total is about 30 hours. When connecting in China, Korea or the UAE check that country's transit rules. Fares peak in high summer (mid-December – January). Transiting more than 12 hours at an airport in a yellow-fever-risk country (Ethiopia, Kenya etc.) means you need a vaccination certificate.
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Visa and documents
Visa required · 90 days · $176 · language, safety, medical, SIM
Visa required · 90 days · $176
Mongolian ordinary passport holders need a South African visa — Mongolia is not on DHA's visa-exempt list (checked Oct 2026); there is no visa on arrival. Main route: the VFS Global South Africa Visa Application Centre in Ulaanbaatar (Embassy One Tower, 11th floor) — decided by the embassy in Beijing, 45–60 days. Fee ~88,953₮ + VFS service ~549,100₮ (incl. international courier). New route: the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA, eta.dha.gov.za) launched officially on 12 Aug 2026 and is being opened to all visa-required countries from September 2026 — fee R500 + R425 visa fee, decision within 24 hours; entry only via Cape Town, Johannesburg (OR Tambo) or Lanseria. Check on the portal whether Mongolian passports are accepted; if not, apply via VFS. Up to 90 days. Passport valid 30+ days beyond the stay with 2 blank pages. Under-18s need a birth certificate naming both parents (with English translation) and consent from any parent not travelling.
Visa rules can change — confirm with the embassy or an official source before you travel.
Language:English (one of 12 official languages) is spoken everywhere; also Afrikaans and Xhosa. Signs and menus are all in English — virtually no language barrier
Safety:Crime is high: don't walk alone at night, leave nothing in the car (windows get smashed), beware of 'helpful' strangers at ATMs, don't flash your phone in the street. Use Uber/Bolt at night. Hike Table Mountain and Lion's Head in groups at busy times. Visit townships only on a guided tour. No load-shedding (power cuts) since May 2025. The Atlantic is cold with strong currents — swim only at lifeguarded beaches.
Healthcare:Private hospitals are excellent: Netcare Christiaan Barnard Memorial (city centre), Mediclinic Cape Town; the public Groote Schuur is overloaded for emergencies. Private care is expensive, so insurance is a must. Tap water is safe; no malaria around Cape Town.
Phone:Vodacom, MTN and Cell C have counters in the arrivals hall; buying a SIM requires RICA registration (passport + address where you stay). An eSIM (Airalo, Holafly etc.) can be bought before you go. Good coverage in the city, weak on mountain roads and around Cape Point.
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Travel guide
Arrival, SIM, transport, money, customs — step by step
Like a well-travelled friend for a first-timer: before you go, landing, SIM, transport, money, food, safety, manners, apps, leaving — step by step.
🧳Before you goThe visa takes the longest — start it before you buy tickets.+
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Visa: VFS Ulaanbaatar or the ETA
Mongolian citizens need a South African visa and none is issued at the border. The VFS Global South Africa Visa Application Centre in Ulaanbaatar (Embassy One Tower, 11th floor) accepts applications and forwards them to the embassy in Beijing — allow 45–60 days. The new Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) launched in August 2026 and is being opened to visa-required countries: fee R500 plus the R425 visa fee, decision within 24 hours, entry via Cape Town or Johannesburg airports. Check on the portal whether Mongolian passports are covered.
Tip: If the ETA doesn't accept you, apply through VFS at least 3 months before the trip.
Under-18s need a birth certificate naming both parents (with English translation) and notarised consent from any parent not travelling — attach them to the visa application and carry copies on the trip. Transiting more than 12 hours at an airport in a yellow-fever-risk country such as Ethiopia or Kenya means you need a yellow fever vaccination certificate.
Private hospitals are very expensive, so medical insurance is a must. For a safari, choose Aquila private reserve about two hours from the city (full-day trips from R2,895) or fly via Johannesburg to Kruger National Park.
Tip: For peak summer (December – January) book hotels and car hire 3–4 months ahead.
🛬Landing and getting to the cityCape Town International Airport (CPT) lies east of the city centre along the N2.+
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Uber or a hotel pickup — the safest
Leave arrivals and head to the dedicated Uber/Bolt pickup zone, then book in the app. A pre-booked hotel transfer is also reliable. Don't go with strangers offering rides. If you land at night, stick to the main roads (N2, M3).
MyCiTi's A01 airport route runs to the Civic Centre in the city centre. You need a myconnect card — R40 in 2026/27, bought and loaded at the MyCiTi kiosk in the airport. A cheap option if your hotel is in the centre.
A car is best for exploring the Cape Peninsula loop, the winelands and Hermanus yourself. Driving is on the left and you need an International Driving Permit. Leave nothing visible in the car, close windows at traffic lights and avoid driving on the city's outskirts after dark.
Vodacom, MTN and Cell C have counters in the arrivals hall. By law every SIM is registered under RICA, so have your passport and your hotel's address ready; the SIM won't work until it is registered. Data packages are called 'bundles'.
If your phone supports eSIM, buy one in advance from Airalo, Holafly or similar so you are online on landing and can call an Uber straight away. Coverage can be weak at Cape Point, on mountain roads and in the wine valleys, so download Google Maps offline.
Tip: Install Uber and Bolt and link your card before you land.
🚇Getting aroundPublic transport is limited, so visitors mostly use Uber, hire cars and tour buses.+
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Uber and Bolt
The safest and cheapest option around town, especially in the evening and at night. Check the plate and driver's name against the app before getting in. Street minibus taxis are not suitable for visitors.
Links the city centre, V&A Waterfront, Camps Bay, Hout Bay and Table View. Pay with a myconnect card; a 1-day pass is R130, a 7-day pass R420. Safe and clean by day.
City Sightseeing's red buses cover Table Mountain, Kirstenbosch, Camps Bay, the V&A and wine routes — safe and easy for families without a car. Without a car, a booked day tour is the easiest way to see the Cape Peninsula, Boulders and Cape Point.
The currency is the South African rand (ZAR). Cards work almost everywhere (restaurants, shops, national parks); Boulders and Kirstenbosch don't take cash at all. Use ATMs inside banks and malls; turn away anyone offering to 'help' and never hand over your card.
Tipping 10–20% of the bill in restaurants is customary (a service charge is added for tables of more than six). Give a little change to car guards who watched your car and to petrol attendants.
Visitors buying goods worth more than R250 in total can reclaim the 15% VAT. Keep the tax invoices and show them with the goods at the VAT Refund Administrator office at Cape Town airport when you leave.
🍜FoodCape Town is Africa's best food city: seafood, Cape Malay cooking, wine-farm restaurants. Prices are well below Europe.+
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What to eat
Braai (South African barbecue), boerewors sausage, bobotie (spiced Cape Malay mince bake), Bo-Kaap curries and samosas, fish and chips (Kalk Bay, Hout Bay), biltong (dried meat). With children, the V&A Food Market has plenty of choice.
Wine farms in Stellenbosch, Franschhoek and Constantia offer tastings, lunch and children's play areas. On Saturdays the Neighbourgoods Market at the Old Biscuit Mill and the V&A Food Market are great for tasting local food.
Tip: In summer book popular restaurants and wine-farm lunches a few weeks ahead.
Police 10111, ambulance 10177, 112 from a mobile. Private ambulances (ER24, Netcare 911) arrive faster — call your insurer's assistance line first. The Namola app sends your location straight to the police.
Crime is high. Don't walk alone after dark — use Uber. Keep phones, cameras and jewellery out of sight. Hike Table Mountain and Lion's Head in groups of four or more at busy times. Visit townships only on a guided tour. Criminals sometimes follow arrivals from the airport, so stay on main roads.
The sun is fierce — sunscreen and a hat are essential. The 'Cape Doctor' wind can stop the cableway and boat trips. The Atlantic is cold with dangerous currents, so swim only at lifeguarded beaches. Never show food to baboons; keep car windows shut. There has been no load-shedding since May 2025.
People are friendly and chatty: 'Howzit' is the usual greeting. It's a multi-ethnic, multilingual society, so treat race and apartheid seriously and don't joke about them. 'Just now' means 'at some point' — timekeeping can be relaxed.
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Neighbourhoods and places of worship
Bo-Kaap is a lived-in neighbourhood — don't photograph doorways or people without permission, and dress modestly near mosques. For township visits, choose tours run by local residents so the money stays in the community.
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In nature
In national parks stay on marked paths, don't pick plants and leave no litter. Don't touch or feed penguins. Since the drought years, saving water is part of city culture — keep showers short.
📱Useful apps+
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Rides and maps
Uber and Bolt are the apps you will use most. Download Google Maps offline. The MyCiTi app shows bus routes and your card balance.
Check wind strength on Windy before planning the cableway, hikes and boat trips. Namola is South Africa's free emergency app. Buy tickets online at Webtickets (Kirstenbosch, Zeitz MOCAA) and on the Table Mountain site.
Be at the airport in good time before an international flight. The N2 is congested at rush hour, so leave the centre early by Uber. If connecting east or via Johannesburg, check your bags are checked through to the final destination.
Before check-in, show the goods, invoices and passport at the VAT Refund Administrator office; commission is 1.5% of the price (R10–R250). Pack wine well in checked luggage and check alcohol limits in your transit countries.
Harbour-front shops, restaurants, a food market, seals and the Two Oceans Aquarium (great for families). The city's safest, well-guarded area; Robben Island ferries leave from here.
CultureR600 (under-18 R310)Ferries 9:00, 11:00, 13:00 (15:00 in summer); tour ~3.5 h
The prison island where Nelson Mandela was held for 18 years, a UNESCO site. Former prisoners guide the tours. Ferries leave from the Nelson Mandela Gateway at the V&A; weather cancellations happen, so book online several days ahead.
Africa's south-western tip: the lighthouse (funicular or on foot), the famous sign, baboons and eland. Get there via Chapman's Peak Drive (toll), one of the world's great coastal roads. Never show food to baboons.
One of the world's great botanical gardens on Table Mountain's eastern slope: proteas, the 'Boomslang' tree-canopy walkway, summer Sunday concerts. Buy tickets online at Webtickets; no cash accepted.
The Cape Malay Muslim quarter of brightly painted houses: cobbled streets, the Bo-Kaap Museum, Cape Malay curry cooking classes. Be respectful taking photos in front of residents' homes; leave before dark.
The city's favourite sunset hike: 1–1.5 hours to the top, with chains and ladders near the summit. Driving up Signal Hill for the sunset is the easy alternative. Don't come down alone in the dark.
White sand and palms below the Twelve Apostles, lined with cafés. The Atlantic is very cold (12–16°C), so most people sunbathe; the four Clifton beaches next door are sheltered from the wind. Never leave belongings unattended.
Food≈R400–500 (tastings extra)≈9:00–17:00, book ahead
An hour from the city, hop on and off open trams and tram-buses between wine estates in the Franschhoek valley. Nearby Stellenbosch is a 17th-century Dutch town with a university and 150+ wine farms; with children, some farms offer juice and chocolate pairings.
NatureFree from the cliff path; boat R1,580 (child R790)Whales Jun–Nov (peak Sep–Oct); boats 6:30, 9:00, 12:00, 15:00
1.5 hours from the city, the world's best land-based whale watching: southern right whales come within tens of metres of shore. A 12 km cliff path and a whale crier. Stop at the Betty's Bay penguins on the way.
The world's largest museum of contemporary African art, carved out of an old grain silo at the V&A. The building itself is a sight; free guided tour on weekdays at 12:30.
