EXPLORE Cape Town

Cape Town arrival: gorgeous mountains, serious route planning

You landed at Cape Town International Airport, where Table Mountain may be visible and the route into town deserves more attention than the scenery. Arrange authorized transport before leaving arrivals. The airport lists approved taxis, app-based rides, shuttles and rental cars, and explicitly warns passengers not to accept rides from unsolicited drivers. Confirm the vehicle, driver and pickup zone inside the terminal or through the official app. If someone is meeting you, share the flight and pickup details before landing. Cape Town is spectacular, but this is not the airport for following a cheerful stranger toward an unmarked car because they said the word official confidently.

Cape Town transport: verify the driver and control the route

Use an airport-authorized taxi or shuttle, a verified app booking or a prearranged hotel transfer. Rental cars are available across from the terminal, but plan the route before driving. Current official travel advice warns of targeted attacks on roads to and from the airport and recommends staying on Airport Approach Road and the N2, avoiding Borcherds Quarry Road and routes that divert through less secure areas. Do not blindly accept a navigation shortcut. Once in the central city and Atlantic Seaboard, walking and the MyCiTi bus can cover selected journeys, while a verified ride is preferable after dark or for unfamiliar areas. Rail from the airport is not a dependable visitor option, so do not construct the itinerary around a train that is not there.

Cape Town safety: stay alert because the postcard has blind spots

Cape Town’s established visitor districts can be enjoyed safely with planning, but violent crime, carjacking, robbery and theft are real risks, including on airport routes and at some outdoor sites. Keep doors locked, windows closed and valuables out of sight. Avoid isolated beaches, informal shortcuts and walking alone after dark. Hike Table Mountain, Lion’s Head and Signal Hill on busy marked routes with a group, and avoid quiet early or late periods because visitors have been attacked there. Check local conditions, tell someone your route and turn back for fire, severe weather or poor visibility. The city is worth exploring, but treating every beautiful viewpoint as automatically safe is how a vacation becomes a police statement.

Sources

• Cape Town International Airport official authorized-transport guide
• Cape Town International Airport official rental-car guide
• United Kingdom government South Africa safety and airport-road advice
• United Kingdom government South Africa emergency contacts

Last verified: September 8, 2026