Flights to Cape Town — What to Expect
Cape Town is served by Cape Town International Airport (CPT), located about 20 kilometres east of the city centre. Most flights from Europe are long-haul, typically ranging from 11 to 13 hours depending on your departure city. Direct flights to Cape Town are available from London Heathrow with British Airways and Virgin Atlantic, while most other European carriers — including Lufthansa, KLM, Air France, and Turkish Airlines — route through their respective hubs in Frankfurt, Amsterdam, Paris, or Istanbul. Emirates flies via Dubai, which is a popular option if you're picking up a cheap connection from a regional UK or European airport. South African Airways has historically operated Johannesburg–Cape Town connections if you're transiting through OR Tambo, though their schedule remains variable, so always check current status before booking.
When it comes to price, flights from Europe to Cape Town vary significantly by season. Expect to pay roughly €450–€650 round-trip in the low season (June through September) if you book 6–8 weeks ahead. Peak season flights — December through January — can push €800–€1,100 or more, especially over the Christmas and New Year period. The sweet spot for cheap flights to Cape Town is typically April through June, when demand drops sharply after the summer rush. Set fare alerts on Google Flights or Skyscanner and watch for Cape Town flight deals, which do appear, particularly on indirect routings through Middle Eastern hubs.
Best Time to Visit Cape Town
Cape Town follows a Mediterranean climate pattern, which means summer is dry and winter is wet — essentially the opposite of northern Europe. The best months to visit are October through April, with the shoulder months of October–November and March–April being the real hidden gems for savvy travellers. During these months, temperatures sit comfortably between 18°C and 25°C, the wind is more manageable than in the height of summer, crowds are thinner, and accommodation rates drop noticeably compared to December–January peak.
December through February is peak summer: sunny, warm (often 28–32°C), and ideal for beaches at Clifton and Camps Bay. The Cape Doctor — a strong south-easterly wind — can make beach days unpredictable in January and February, but it also keeps the air crystal clear. March is arguably the best single month to visit: the heat softens, the crowds begin to thin, and wine harvest season kicks off in Stellenbosch and Franschhoek. May through August is Cape Town's rainy season. It's not relentlessly grey — you'll still get good sunny days — but expect rain, cooler temperatures (around 14–18°C), and rougher seas. The upside: whale watching along the Western Cape coast peaks in August and September, hotel rates are at their lowest, and the city feels genuinely local. If your priority is beaches and hiking up Table Mountain, avoid June and July.
Getting Around Cape Town
From the airport, the most practical options are the MyCiTi Bus (the Airport Express route runs to the city centre and the Atlantic Seaboard for around R100–R120) or a metered taxi. Uber operates reliably in Cape Town and is significantly cheaper than traditional taxis — expect to pay R180–R250 from the airport to the City Bowl or Sea Point. Rideshares are genuinely the easiest way to get around the city day-to-day, particularly if you're staying in tourist-heavy areas like the Waterfront or Camps Bay. Renting a car is worth considering if you plan to explore beyond the city — the Garden Route, Cape Winelands, and Cape Point all reward self-driving. The MyCiTi bus network covers the Atlantic Seaboard and City Bowl reasonably well, but it doesn't reach many suburbs. Avoid minibus taxis unless you're familiar with local routes — they're cheap but chaotic for first-time visitors.
Where to Stay in Cape Town
The City Bowl — including De Waterkant and Gardens — is the most central base, well-connected and full of restaurants, cafes, and nightlife. It suits mid-range and budget travellers well. Sea Point is a great choice for longer stays: it's a proper residential neighbourhood with a seafront promenade, excellent coffee shops, and more competitive apartment rates than Camps Bay. Camps Bay is glamorous and beautiful, right on the beach with the Twelve Apostles mountain backdrop — but it's pricey and you'll need Uber for most errands. The V&A Waterfront area is convenient and polished, ideal if you want a hotel with security and easy access to restaurants and shops, though it can feel a little sanitised. For budget travellers, Long Street in the City Bowl has the highest concentration of hostels and affordable guesthouses, and it puts you within walking distance of most central attractions.
Top Things to Do in Cape Town
- Table Mountain: Take the aerial cableway or hike up via Platteklip Gorge — the views over the city, the Twelve Apostles, and both coastlines are simply extraordinary. Book cableway tickets online to avoid the queue.
- Cape Peninsula Drive: The road from Cape Town to Cape Point via Chapman's Peak is one of the world's great coastal drives. Stop at Boulders Beach near Simon's Town for the African penguin colony.
- Cape Winelands: Stellenbosch is 45 minutes from the city and worth a full day. Franschhoek is smaller and more boutique. Both offer exceptional wine, food, and mountain scenery that genuinely competes with Tuscany or Provence.
- Robben Island: The ferry from the V&A Waterfront takes you to the island where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned. Tours are led by former political prisoners — it's sobering, important, and not to be skipped.
- Clifton and Camps Bay Beaches: Four sheltered coves at Clifton offer the finest beach experience in the city. The water is cold (Atlantic side runs about 14–16°C), but the scenery is stunning and the atmosphere is electric in summer.
- Bo-Kaap and the Company's Garden: The Bo-Kaap neighbourhood with its brightly painted houses is one of the most photographed spots in South Africa. Pair it with a walk through the Company's Garden and the surrounding museums for a half-day of culture.
Practical Travel Tips
Visas: Citizens of the EU and UK do not require a visa to visit South Africa for stays up to 90 days. You'll need a valid passport with at least 30 days validity beyond your return date and at least two blank pages. If travelling with children, carry a birth certificate — South African border officials can and do ask for one.
Currency: The South African Rand (ZAR) is the local currency. As of 2025, the exchange rate makes Cape Town excellent value for European visitors — €1 buys roughly R20–R22. Draw cash at airport ATMs (Absa and FNB are reliable) rather than exchanging at bureaux. Card payments are widely accepted in restaurants, shops, and hotels.
Tipping: Tipping is expected and important — service industry wages are low. The standard is 10–15% at restaurants, R10–R20 for petrol station attendants (they pump your fuel), and R20–R50 for car guards in parking areas.
Safety: Cape Town requires the same awareness you'd apply in any major city — more so in certain areas. The tourist zones (Waterfront, City Bowl, Sea Point, Camps Bay, Stellenbosch) are generally safe during daylight. Avoid walking with visible electronics after dark, particularly around Long Street late at night. Use Uber rather than hailing cabs from the street. Don't drive through Khayelitsha or Langa without local guidance. Crime exists and shouldn't be dismissed, but hundreds of thousands of tourists visit Cape Town every year without incident by applying basic common sense.
FAQ — Flights to Cape Town
How much do flights to Cape Town cost?
Round-trip flights to Cape Town from Europe typically cost between €450 and €800, depending on the season and how far in advance you book. Low season (May–September) offers the best value, with fares from London or Amsterdam sometimes dropping below €450 on indirect routings. Peak season flights over Christmas and New Year regularly exceed €900–€1,100. Booking 8–12 weeks in advance and being flexible on travel dates by even a day or two can save €100–€200 on a return ticket.
Which airlines fly to Cape Town?
British Airways and Virgin Atlantic offer direct flights to Cape Town from London Heathrow — the only non-stop European option. From other European cities, you'll connect through major hubs: Lufthansa via Frankfurt, KLM via Amsterdam, Air France via Paris, Turkish Airlines via Istanbul, and Emirates via Dubai. Qatar Airways via Doha is another popular and often competitively priced option. South African Airways operates domestically and regionally, useful if you're connecting from Johannesburg (JNB).
What is the cheapest month to fly to Cape Town?
May and June are consistently the cheapest months to fly to Cape Town from Europe. Demand drops sharply after the Easter holiday period, and Cape Town's winter season means hotels and airlines alike reduce prices. You won't get beach weather, but if your goal is the Winelands, Robben Island, whale watching, or simply experiencing the city without tourist-season prices and crowds, late May through July offers genuine value. Set fare alerts on Google Flights for Cape Town flight deals — this period produces the most frequent price drops.
How long is the flight to Cape Town from London?
A direct flight to Cape Town from London Heathrow takes approximately 11 hours 30 minutes southbound. Return flights to London run slightly longer at around 12–13 hours due to wind patterns. Indirect flights via Istanbul, Dubai, or Doha add 3–5 hours to your total travel time depending on the layover, but they often come with significantly lower price tags — worth considering if you can sleep on planes or want a short stopover in a hub city.