Cape Town is possibly one of the most beautiful cities we have ever seen, with the mountainous backdrop and the golden sandy beaches, it really does appeal for so many reasons. However, the question in the back of most people’s minds is, is visiting Cape Town safe?

Like most people, we did a bit of research before we headed off to South Africa and we saw mixed reviews and honestly we didn’t really know what to expect, so we are hoping in this post we will be able to answer some questions about safety and what we felt comfortable with and what we didn’t feel so comfortable with to help you make that decision on visiting Cape Town.

How safe we personally felt as a couple

Millions of tourists visit Cape Town every year, and of course each one has completely different experience depending on what you do, where you go and who you may come across. I guess that is the same for any big cities which are popular to visit, but there is a looming online opinion of Cape Town being one of the most dangerous cities in the world.

With one half of us growing up in Zimbabwe, I guess we have a slight advantage in knowing what behaviours to keep an eye on or look out for and avoid but it was still our first time in Cape Town so it was still our first genuine impressions that we can talk about. We personally never felt unsafe during our trip, we were aware of our surroundings and we ensured we took on board all the safety tips anyone would give you for a big city.

Areas we felt comfortable in and around Cape Town

The areas you visit when in Cape Town is highly dependent on what you want to experience on your trip. From the Wine Estates in Stellenbosch to the V&A Waterfront, both in different locations and both have different atmospheres but might not be the reason you are in Cape Town. Based on the areas we visited, we will tell you where we felt most comfortable:

V&A Waterfront– This shopping centre and area has one of the most beautiful backdrop and views across the harbours and the ocean and you can see why so many people visit every year. This is a highly populated area for tourists and we felt very safe walking around day and night.

Green Point– This is actually the area we stayed in, our AirBnB was located on the sea front in line with the stadium and we felt this was the perfect location for what we wanted to do in Cape Town. We didn’t feel unsafe once, despite arriving very late at night and we also walked to and from restaurants at night with no issues. We can’t comment on whether this changes when the stadium is in use, but we assume it’s a case of being slightly more aware with more people in the same area.

Boulders Beach/Simons Town– With the penguins being such a popular tourist attraction, we went to Boulders Beach first thing in the morning when they first opened. This worked really well, as it was very quiet and we could take our time without feeling overcrowded or unsafe at any point. As this is a paid attraction, you are mostly surrounded by fellow tourists who are there to see the penguins which added to a more relaxed and comfortable atmosphere.  

We then visited Simons Town on the way back, which felt like a very laid back and tourist friendly town. We stayed for breakfast and had a short wander around and at no point did we feel uncomfortable or on edge.  

Table Mountain– Table Mountain is the most famous landmark of Cape Town (and for good reason), so it attracts a huge amount of visitors every single day. There are several ways to experience Table Mountain, but we opted for the cable car. We arrived very early to avoid queues and ended up in the very first cable car up, so it didn’t feel overly crowded. Once at the top, it’s such a large open area but there are always other tourists and staff around so there wasn’t any point we felt unsafe during our visit.

Hiking is another popular option, which we were originally planning to do, so we had already done a lot of research on this. Although we didn’t hike in the end, common advice we came across included not hiking alone, sticking to the popular routes and avoiding hiking in the dark- all worth keeping in mind if you do choose to hike.  

Where we were a bit more cautious in Cape Town

CBD Area– We didn’t spend much time in this area, other than driving through and eating at a restaurant one evening but we did feel like we needed to be a bit more cautious here as it felt less tourist- focused. There was a higher visible presence of homelessness and people asking for money or food, so we were more mindful of our surroundings, particularly avoiding having phones or valuables on show.

When we left the restaurant and were waiting for our Uber, the atmosphere felt noticeably less comfortable, and we felt it was especially important to use Uber rather than anyone approaching and offering a ride.  

Airport– We read a lot of horror stories about driving around Cape Town, specifically to and from the airport so we did feel a little bit nervous when we realised our flight was late and we wouldn’t be arriving until dark. We did not have a bad experience with this at all but we were much more alert and aware as it’s an area that is often mentioned online in relation to car-related crimes.  

You also need to be very mindful of which roads you are taking as you don’t want to end up in the unknown areas, so it is incredibly important to have your route mapped out before you head off. Obviously, if you haven’t hired a car and you are getting an Uber or transfer, then they will know the roads well and which to take and avoid.

Getting around safely

Hiring a car in Cape Town is not a necessity, and it does depend on what your itinerary looks like. For us, as we were travelling around a bit and wanted to visit places like Boulders Beach and the Wine Estates, we felt it was ideal to have the freedom of hiring a car. It is important to do some research before you go on the routes you plan to take, stick to the main roads, and avoid wrong turns into areas you are unfamiliar with. It is also worth mentioning that no matter where you are and how safe you feel, you shouldn’t leave valuables, bags or belongings in the car when parked.

We also found car hire in Cape Town incredibly cheap compared to other places we’ve travelled. For a week, we paid £160 for a larger car, as there were four of us and we had a months’ worth of luggage.

If hiring a car doesn’t feel necessary for your trip, then you can definitely rely on Uber, which we used on a couple of occasions- especially when drinking, as there is zero tolerance for drink driving in South Africa. We found Uber to be cost effective, reliable and won’t break the bank even if you do want to be visiting places like Cape Point or Boulders Beach.

Another option is the Hop on Hop off Bus, while we didn’t personally use this, family and friends have and said it covers most major tourist attractions and is budget friendly. It could be a good option if you’re not keen on driving or using Ubers.

General Safety Tips

These are not specific to Cape Town, but things we kept in mind during our trip:

• Be aware of your surroundings at all times, especially in the less busy, less touristy areas
• Avoid having phones, cameras or valuables on display- especially in a parked car
• If you aren’t hiring a car, use Uber, we found it safe, reliable and affordable
• Avoid walking around alone at night- and if possible, avoid walking at night altogether
• Plan routes in advance to avoid getting lost while driving
• Avoid hiking alone or in the dark

Would we go back?

Without hesitation, absolutely!

Cape Town is an incredibly beautiful city with so much to offer, from the stunning scenery and beaches to amazing food and unforgettable experiences. While it’s important to be aware and take sensible precautions, our overall experience was very positive and we felt comfortable throughout our entire trip.

As with many large cities around the world, being informed and prepared makes all the difference. Based on our experience, we wouldn’t let safety concerns alone put you off from visiting Cape Town. We genuinely believe it deserves a place on everyone’s bucket list!

Have you visited Cape Town, or are you planning a trip? We’d love to hear about your experiences or answer any questions in the comments.

This post is based entirely on our personal experience as a couple travelling to Cape Town, and everyone’s trip may differ depending on itinerary and comfort levels.