Airport
Cape Town International Airport
IATA Code: CPTLocation: The airport is situated 13 miles (20km) east of Cape Town.
Time: GMT +2.
Contacts: Tel: +27 (0)21 937 1200.
Transfer to the city: Door-to-door minibus services are available for the journey to the city, taking approximately half an hour costing US$15 (Tel: 021-713-2468). Many hotels and operate courtesy buses and a 24 hour backpacker bus is available hourly to many hostels for US$15 and US$17 after 5pm. Taxis are available in the arrivals parking lot but are expensive costing around US$20 to the city centre. A shared taxi, also called a Rikki, can be reserved and is slightly cheaper than a taxi (Tel: 0861 745 547). Car rentals can be made from the arrivals terminal or before hand at SouthAfriCar.
Taxis: A taxi to from Cape Town international Airport to the centre of Cape Town takes approximately 20 minutes and the cost may vary, depending on the time of day and number of passengers between R150 to R220 with fares up to 50% more at night. Only Touch Down Taxis, the authorised airport taxi company, is allowed to operate from the airport. You can call them on: +27 (0)21 919 4659 to reserve ahead. There are also many private taxis drivers and some hotels operate courtesy shuttles.
Car rental: Car rental companies represented at the airport include Hertz, Avis, National Alamo, Budget, Europcar and Tempest.
Facilities: ATMs, bars, restaurants and currency exchange facilities are available throughout the airport. There are several shops, including duty-free in the International Departures' section. A VAT refund service is available by the International check in desk. Hotels reservations and tourist information are available in the International Terminal. There is a Vodacom shop in International Arrivals where visitors can buy local SIM cards for their mobile phones.
Parking: There is short and long-term parking in a multilevel parking garage, connected to the terminal. Fees range from ZAR 16 for the first hour to ZAR 275 for five days in the long-term parking area. There is also a special pick-up area that offers 15 minutes' free parking.
Departure tax: None.
Website: www.airports.co.za
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Cape Town
The lure of a holiday in Cape Town lies in its spectacular setting and the beauty of its natural environment, as well as the rich cultural diversity of its people.
It has had a long and turbulent history, and the effects of Apartheid still linger in the minds and hearts of the people. Transformation, however, has led to a feeling of hope in this new 'Rainbow Nation', which can be experienced in the cosmopolitan city centre of Cape Town. Flower sellers, business executives, parking attendants, office workers and shoppers all rub shoulders in a setting of both historical and modern buildings, backed by the city's most famous landmark, Table Mountain. The colourful Malay Quarter, the remains of District Six, St George's Cathedral, Government Avenue and the old Castle are historically significant, while world-class African and international restaurants tempt travellers with their culinary delights. Although an African city, Cape Town has a marked European influence and visitors can experience the excitement of Africa from the comforts of First World surroundings.
Cape Town's unique setting means that it can be enjoyed from various vantage points: Table Mountain, Lion's Head, and Signal Hill provide breathtaking vistas over the city bowl and the Cape peninsula with its beautiful beaches; trips to Robben Island offer a dramatic sweep of scenery across to Table Bay; and harbour tours and old buildings await exploration at the cosmopolitan Waterfront. Many scenic routes meander along magnificent stretches of coastline and inland terrain leading to special places like Cape Point, the meeting place of the cold Benguela and warm Mozambique currents; and Chapman's Peak, which boasts one of the most picturesque drives in the country.
It is a city with four distinct seasons, each working its particular magic on Cape Town and bringing with it a flood of associations - summer and white sandy beaches, autumn's crisp colours, the ferocity of stormy seas in winter, and spring's show of Cape fynbosflowers.
This vast combination of culture, history and scenery leads to an unforgettable experience. This is a special place with much to contribute towards its growing reputation as a favoured travel destination.
