Dominated by the a backdrop of the majestic Table Mountain Cape Town boasts a vast range of shopping styles and opportunities, from the haggling between stall holders and shoppers at the Grand Parades and Greenmarket Squares flea markets, to smooth, hassle-free self-service at countless sophisticated and stylish malls.

Cape Town city boasts a wide variety of accommodation for the visitor and traveller alike, from bed and breakfast, guest house and five star hotels.

Many of the world’s scenic wonders are within a day’s drive of the Cape Town city centre. Magnificent seascapes and panoramic vistas abound on drives marrying the sea to the mountains accross the Peninsula. An endless coastline studded with white, sandy beaches lures swimmers, sunbathers and anglers to an appreciation of a life lived in wide-open spaces and fresh, blue air. “South Africa at its best”.

Accommodation in Cape Town ranges from standard family friendly to luxury accommodation.

Actually, there are so many Cape Town hotels, B&Bs and guesthouses that it can be difficult to decide where to stay! Try searching the www.stayinsa.co.za website for your budget, dates, and desired rating. It's a user friendly website where many listings have received internationally standard star ratings (1 to 5 star), so you can trust what you see.

Consider sleeping in one of the suburbs. It is normally much quieter and there is less traffic than in Central Cape Town. The suburbs in the south, like Camps Bay or Simon`s Town or near the winelands (see Cape Winelands listings) which may offer better quality for a lower price.

When traveling from Cape Town down to the Cape of Good Hope via Simonstown the traveller can visit the penguin colony at Boulders, Cape Point and perhaps have lunch there. On your return trip back along the atlantic seaboard through the exclusive suburbs of Camps Bay and Llandudno.

Why not take a wine tour along the Constantia Valley wine estates, Groot Constantia, Buitenverwagting, Klein Constantia and Constantia Uitsig before checking out the Cape Winelands around Stellenbosch, Paarl and Franschhoek. Go to some of the vineyards for wine-tastings and enjoy a break at the beautiful old cities.

Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, View the hugely diverse and beautiful plants and flowers of the Cape flora in one of the most stunning botanical gardens in the world. Plants from all of the regions of South Africa are on display, including rare succulents from the Richtersveld, a giant baobob tree, and interesting medicinal plants. Numerous paths wander through the grounds situated on the back side of Table Mountain. Several restaurants, a gift shop and indigenous nursery are also available. At various times of the year concerts are performed in the open air amphitheater. Art is frequently on display, including large Shona stone sculptures from Zimbabwe. The gardens are also home to the National Biodiversity Institute.