Where to Stay in Cape Town: Our Hotel Tips by Neighborhood

Where to Stay in Cape Town? The Best Neighborhoods!

When you’re visiting Cape Town for the first time, figuring out where to stay can feel pretty overwhelming.

Which neighborhoods are safe? Where should you start looking for a hotel? Safety in South Africa is a serious topic when planning a trip to South Africa, which means choosing the right accommodation in the major cities isn’t quite as straightforward as it is for other destinations.

But that’s exactly what we’re here for. We’ll walk you through which neighborhoods you can confidently book your hotel in.

In our opinion, these are the best areas to stay in Cape Town:

• Sea Point and Green Point: hip and safe neighborhoods right by the sea. These are the areas where we’d most want to book our own place to stay.
• V&A Waterfront: the tourist hub. A great choice especially for first-time visitors who want things to be safe and hassle-free.
• Cape Peninsula and Hout Bay: the best option for families looking to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city.

By the way, finding a hotel along the Garden Route is generally much more relaxed. The region has a very European feel.

Map of Neighborhoods to Stay in Cape Town

To give you a better sense of where Cape Town’s neighborhoods are located, we’ve marked them on a map.

We’ll now give you a closer look at each of the three neighborhoods and share our Cape Town hotel recommendations for every budget.

By the Sea: Staying in Green Point and Sea Point

Green Point and Sea Point are two of the most popular places to stay in Cape Town — and for good reason. We stayed in Sea Point ourselves for the first few days and would happily book a hotel in either neighborhood again without hesitation.

These areas have everything you could ask for: they’re safe, there are loads of great restaurants and hip shops, and the ocean is often just a short walk away.

Plus, many of Cape Town’s top attractions are easy to reach, and there’s a wide selection of hotels at different price points.

Both neighborhoods sit directly next to each other and essentially blend together. Green Point is closer to the V&A Waterfront — sometimes even within walking distance. Sea Point is a bit farther along the coast, but even trendier and more laid-back.

Advantages of staying in Green Point and Sea Point:

• Both neighborhoods are safe
• Great restaurants, charming shops, solid hotel options
• Right by the sea

Disadvantages of staying in Green Point and Sea Point:

• Compared to the V&A Waterfront, you will encounter some poverty here — but significantly less than in many other parts of the city

Our Hotel Recommendations in Sea Point and Green Point

We stayed at the Latitude Aparthotel ourselves and can highly recommend it. The rooms are spacious and even come with a kitchen. For families, there are also rooms with two bedrooms. The walls feature original artworks by South African artists — seriously cool!

On the rooftop terrace, there’s a great restaurant serving an excellent breakfast, and for hot days there are even two small pools up on the roof.

The location is perfect — right on Regent Road, where you’ll find plenty of shops and restaurants. And the views are spectacular: the sea on one side, Lion’s Head on the other.

Safe and Convenient: Staying at the V&A Waterfront

The V&A Waterfront is the former harbor district, which after extensive renovations has become a major tourist hotspot.

Restaurants and shopping centers line the waterfront one after another. Street musicians and performers entertain the crowds, and the whole atmosphere is cheerful and carefree.

It’s a classic entertainment district. The inequality and challenges of Cape Town feel very far away here.

If you want things to be as safe and hassle-free as possible, this is where to stay in Cape Town. You’ll have everything you need right on your doorstep, and getting to the city’s top sights is easy with the hop-on hop-off bus.

Advantages of staying at the V&A Waterfront:

• Safe and super convenient
• Wide selection of restaurants and shops
• Lots of high-quality hotels

Disadvantages of staying at the V&A Waterfront:

• No truly budget-friendly hotels in this area
• Very touristy. There are good restaurants, but few that are truly special.

Our Hotel Recommendations at the V&A Waterfront

We recommend the Garden Court Victoria Junction. You’ll be in a super central location right at the Waterfront, and there’s even a pool!

For Families: Staying in Hout Bay or on the Cape Peninsula

Especially when visiting Cape Town with kids, a hotel right in the thick of the city isn’t always the best call. It’s loud, busy, and simply not that relaxing when you’ve got children in tow.

That’s why we recommend staying a bit outside the city center with kids. The suburb of Hout Bay and the Cape Peninsula are the best options for this.

Advantages of staying in Hout Bay or on the Cape Peninsula:

• Much quieter than the city center
• Lots of great beaches
• Accommodation is cheaper than right in the city

Disadvantages of staying in Hout Bay or on the Cape Peninsula:

• It takes longer to get to Cape Town’s main attractions
• If you want a big-city vibe, this isn’t the right fit for you

The difference between Hout Bay and the Cape Peninsula:

If you don’t want to be completely out of the city but still want to be relatively close to the center, Hout Bay is the right choice.

Hout Bay is the last suburb of Cape Town before the road continues over Chapman’s Peak Drive onto the Cape Peninsula.

There are great beaches for families here, like Llandudno Beach, as well as some nice playgrounds.

Within ten to fifteen minutes, you’ll reach most of Cape Town’s attractions — so you’re still almost right in the mix. Hout Bay also doesn’t feel quite as “village-like” as the Cape Peninsula. There’s still a bit of an urban feel to it.

If you want things as peaceful and green as possible, we recommend booking accommodation on the Cape Peninsula. There are lots of great options for kids, such as the Imhof Farm in Kommetjie.

Even though you’re staying a bit out of the way, you can still get into the city relatively quickly — most of Cape Town’s highlights are within twenty to thirty minutes.

Some attractions, like the penguins at Boulders Beach and the Cape of Good Hope, are also located right on the Cape Peninsula — so you’re actually closer to those than guests staying in the city.

Staying on the Cape Peninsula is also a really great option for longer trips.

Our Hotel Recommendations in Hout Bay and on the Cape Peninsula

There are hardly any classic hotels on the peninsula and in Hout Bay that are also suitable for families with kids. That’s why we recommend renting a vacation home there instead. Especially for a vacation with kids, that’s usually the better choice anyway.

We’ve linked to an overview of vacation rentals in the most suitable spots on the Cape Peninsula in the table below.

General Tips for Staying in Cape Town

Hotel vs. Apartment/Vacation Home: Which Is the Better Choice?

In Cape Town, there’s not only a huge number of hotels but also a wide range of apartments and vacation rentals.

The pros and cons are much the same as in other cities: apartments are often larger and offer a kitchen for those who prefer to self-cater. Hotels are more convenient, get cleaned daily, and you don’t have to worry about breakfast yourself.

But in Cape Town, there are two extra advantages that speak in favor of a hotel: load shedding and air conditioning.

Almost all hotels have a generator, so you’ll barely notice the power outages during load shedding. In private apartments, this is virtually unheard of — meaning you could be without power for several hours a day.

Better hotels also have air conditioning, which you’ll rarely find in apartments. On hot summer nights, that makes a really big difference.

How Much Do Hotels in Cape Town Cost?

Accommodation prices in South Africa have risen sharply in recent years and are now barely different from hotel prices in Europe.

You can find a budget hotel with a private bathroom from around 60–70 euros per night. Mid-range hotels cost between 100 and 200 euros per night. For luxury hotels, prices in Cape Town are open-ended — just like anywhere else.

Prices also fluctuate significantly by season. Hotel rooms are most expensive in December and January, while prices hit their lowest during the South African winter.

How Far in Advance Should You Book a Hotel in Cape Town?

It depends on when you want to travel. If you’re coming to Cape Town in December or January, you should book your hotel as early as possible. During these months, not only do many international tourists visit, but lots of locals also travel to Cape Town during the South African summer vacation.

If you have a specific hotel in mind, it’s generally better to book early. Prices almost never drop closer to the date.

That said, during the off-season from May to September, you’ll often find great last-minute deals.