How to Get Around Cape Town

Author: DirectRooms1 | Posted: 28.11.2011

On foot

Exploring the city of Cape Town on foot can be a pleasant experience as many of the main tourist attractions are located within walking distance of each other. Visitors should be able to pick up a map of the city from their Cape Town hotel and use in to explore the centre. However, some form of transportation is needed for exploring other areas of Cape Town.

By bus

Buses run regularly throughout Cape Town, covering the entire central region of the city and heading to areas such as the Waterfront. Travelling by bus is extremely cheap, although services are only available during the daytime. One of the tricky things about travelling by bus in Cape Town is that they don’t always have destination sign in the front, making it necessary to stop the driver and ask where he is going.

By minibus/Rikki

Also known as a Rikki, this form of minibus taxi is the most popular and economical form of public transportation in South Africa. Ideal for exploring the city suburbs and out of the way destinations, Rikkis can be hailed as they pass by and are available to take visitors to a wide range of destinations on their routes for a fraction of the cost of a private taxi. However, Rikkis do not operate after dark and the constant stopping and starting to pick up and drop off passengers can make the going much slower than travelling by taxi or private transportation.

By train

This form of public transport is mainly used by local people as it has a reputation for being unsafe. Pickpockets often roam Cape Town’s trains and tourists make for easy targets. Although Metrorail have taken measures to increase the safety on board in recent years, those who decide to travel by train should take care.

By taxi

Although certainly not the cheapest way to travel, hiring a taxi is extremely safe, especially after dark when most forms of transport stop running. The standard rate for taxi journeys is R4.50 for each kilometer and although taxis cannot be hailed from the street as in many countries, visitors can ask the staff at Cape Town hotels to phone for a taxi on their behalf or walk to one of the city’s taxi ranks.

Car hire

Cars can be hired at the airport and at a range of offices throughout Cape Town. The city is blessed with excellent roads, making private car a great way to explore the city and surrounding area. Those who love the convenience of traveling at their own pace and going wherever the moods strikes will probably want to opt for car hire in Cape Town.

Hiring motorbikes and bicycles

Visitors can hire a small motorbike or a bicycle at a number of places around Cape Town and this is a great way to travel independently without having to shell out for car hire. The average cost of hiring a scooter or a motorbike is between R100 and R170 each day, depending on how many days you rent the vehicle for as well as the time of year.

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