Getting To Cape Town

Cape Town sits at the southern tip of Africa, acting as a gateway destination that travelers can reach in a bunch of different ways. Cape Town International Airport is the most common entry point, with direct flights from all over, but you can get here by land or sea if you're feeling adventurous.

The airport is about a 20-minute drive from the city center. That means you’re quickly connected to one of the world’s most scenic cities almost as soon as you arrive.

Some travelers skip the usual flights and try overland journeys through neighboring countries, or even arrive by sea at Cape Town’s busy harbor. Each way in has its own perks, depending on your budget, schedule, and how much adventure you want.

Once you get to Cape Town, ground transportation is pretty solid. There are plenty of ways to get from your arrival point to wherever you’re headed.

Flying to Cape Town

Cape Town International Airport is the main gateway to South Africa’s Mother City, just 12 miles from downtown. Most people fly in with a connection through a big hub, but there are a few direct flights from select cities.

Major International Airports Serving Cape Town

Cape Town International Airport (CPT) is the city’s primary airport. It’s South Africa’s second busiest and the fourth busiest on the continent.

The airport’s about 18 kilometers from the city center, so you’re not far from the action once you land. Getting downtown or to nearby attractions is easy enough.

CPT handles both domestic and international flights. A lot of visitors use it as their jumping-off point for exploring the whole Western Cape.

The airport’s got modern facilities—restaurants, shops, car rentals, the works. It’s not hard to get what you need before heading out.

Popular International Flight Routes

There are several major cities with flights to Cape Town. London is the shortest direct flight, clocking in at around 11 hours and 35 minutes.

From Paris, it’s about 13 hours and 45 minutes with a connection. Most European flights will have at least one stop, usually in Africa or the Middle East.

If you’re coming from North America, brace yourself for a long haul. New York to Cape Town takes about 18 hours and 5 minutes with a connection, and Los Angeles is even longer at 21 hours and 15 minutes.

Toronto is roughly 18 hours and 20 minutes, which isn’t too bad compared to the others. From Sydney, expect around 18 hours and 15 minutes with a layover.

Direct and Connecting Flights from Major Cities

Direct flights to Cape Town are rare, but they exist. London is your best bet for a direct hop to CPT.

Most routes mean connecting through a hub city. Johannesburg is the main domestic connection for folks coming from other South African cities.

Dubai and Doha are popular Middle Eastern hubs, with good connections from both Europe and Asia.

Domestic flights within South Africa are frequent. Johannesburg and Durban each have multiple daily flights to Cape Town, and it’s about two hours from Joburg.

Some African cities—like Nairobi and Lagos—also have regional flights to Cape Town. Handy if you’re already on the continent.

Tips for Booking Flights to Cape Town

Book as early as you can if you want a decent price. December to March is peak season, so prices climb fast then.

The shoulder seasons (April–May and September–November) tend to have better deals and weather that’s still pretty nice.

Compare those connections—sometimes going through the Middle East is cheaper than Europe. Not always, but worth checking.

Baggage policies can be all over the place. International flights usually include checked bags, but budget airlines might charge extra.

T

hink about when you’ll land. Arriving late at night can make getting into the city a bit more of a hassle.

Flight prices can really jump around depending on where you start. Toronto sometimes has surprisingly good rates for North America.

Overland Travel to Cape Town

You can reach Cape Town by land with intercity buses, trains, or driving from other South African cities. Buses and rental cars give you more freedom, while the train is a slower, scenic way to see the country.

Intercity Bus and Coach Services

Intercity and Greyhound run regular buses to Cape Town from all over South Africa. Coaches are pretty comfortable, with AC and onboard amenities.

The Johannesburg to Cape Town bus takes about 18–20 hours, often overnight. Buses leave several times a day from Park Station and OR Tambo Airport in Joburg.

Durban to Cape Town buses run three times a week, taking roughly 21 hours. The route hugs the coast for a while—great if you want ocean views.

Tickets are usually between R400-800, depending on how fancy you want to go and when you book. Premium options come with meals, WiFi, and seats you can actually sleep in.

Baz Bus is aimed at backpackers and tourists, letting you hop on and off between Cape Town, Joburg, Durban, and popular spots along the way.

Travel by Train Across South Africa

Shosholoza Meyl runs passenger trains between Cape Town and the big cities. The Trans-Karoo connects Cape Town to Johannesburg twice a week.

That journey is a long one—about 27 hours—and goes through the semi-desert Karoo. You can pick economy, sleeper, or first-class cabins.

The Trans-Oranje train runs from Cape Town to Durban via Kimberley, once a week, and it takes around 30 hours.

Train fares range from R200-1,500 depending on the class. Sleeper compartments include bedding and basic meals, which is a nice touch.

Once you’re in Cape Town, Metrobus gets you around locally. There’s also a hop-on-hop-off bus for checking out the city’s sights.

Driving Routes from Johannesburg and Durban

The N1 highway links Johannesburg to Cape Town—about 1,400 kilometers. The route goes through Bloemfontein and usually takes 14–16 hours behind the wheel.

Most people break it up with a night in Kimberley or Beaufort West. The Karoo stretch is long and kind of empty, so plan your fuel stops.

The N3 to N1 route from Durban is about 1,600 kilometers, taking 16–18 hours. You’ll pass Pietermaritzburg and Bloemfontein before hitting the main Cape Town highway.

Alternatively, you can take the N2 highway from Durban through Port Elizabeth for a more scenic (but longer) drive, passing through Oudtshoorn in the Klein Karoo.

Rental cars are easy to find at airports and in cities. Just make sure your license is valid and be ready for some long stretches between gas stations in rural areas.

Arriving in Cape Town by Sea

Cape Town is a major port for cruise ships and cargo vessels coming from all corners of the globe. Its harbors see travelers from all sorts of international routes, and some cruises even stop at remote islands like Saint Helena along the way.

Cruise Ship Routes and Schedules

Several cruise lines have regular routes to Cape Town, departing from Europe, the Americas, and other African ports. The peak season is October to March, which lines up with South Africa’s summer.

Major departure ports include:

• Southampton, England
• Barcelona, Spain
• Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
• Buenos Aires, Argentina

Transatlantic cruises generally take 14–21 days to reach Cape Town. European routes last around 16–18 days, while South American departures are usually 7–10 days at sea.

Cruise ships dock at the V&A Waterfront or Duncan Dock in Cape Town Harbor. Both are pretty close to the city center and make it easy to get to the main attractions.

Ports of Entry for Sea Travelers

Cape Town Harbor is South Africa’s main western port for international arrivals. The port complex has several terminals for different types of ships.

The V&A Waterfront Cruise Terminal handles most passenger ships, with immigration, customs, and ground transport all available.

Duncan Dock is where bigger cruise ships and cargo vessels with passengers come in. Both terminals have shuttles and taxis into the city center.

If you’re sailing in on a private yacht or small boat, you can dock at the Royal Cape Yacht Club or nearby marinas. Just make sure to book ahead and have your paperwork sorted.

Traveling via Saint Helena and Other Islands

Some cruises to Cape Town stop at Saint Helena, that remote British island in the South Atlantic. It’s a quirky waypoint on longer trips from Europe or South America.

Saint Helena is famous for being Napoleon’s place of exile. Ships usually spend a day or two there before heading on to Cape Town.

Other island stops might include Ascension Island or the Canary Islands if you’re coming from the north. These stops add a bit of time, but hey, more places to explore.

If you’re lucky and the season’s right, you might spot whales as you approach Cape Town by sea. Southern right whales and humpbacks show up around the Cape Peninsula from June to November.

Domestic Transportation Connections

South Africa has plenty of domestic flights connecting major cities to Cape Town, with Johannesburg being the busiest. There are also lots of bus and shuttle services for overland trips from all over the country.

Flights Within South Africa to Cape Town

Major domestic routes link Cape Town to cities all across South Africa. Johannesburg is the main hub, with the most frequent flights.

Airlines on these routes include:

• South African Airways (Star Alliance)
• Airlink
• CemAir
• FlexFlight
• Safair

Key domestic connections:

• Johannesburg: Multiple daily flights on several airlines
• Durban: Direct flights with CemAir, FlexFlight, Safair, and TransAsia
• Bloemfontein: Non-stop flights via Airlink and Safair
• Port Elizabeth: Direct services from Airlink and Safair

Other cities with direct flights include George, East London, Nelspruit, and Kimberley. So, Cape Town’s pretty easy to reach from anywhere in South Africa.