Cape Town offers something for everyone

Cape Town, South Africa, is ranked third in Travel and Leisure Magazine’s 2008 World’s Best Cities, Top 10 Cities Overall.

And it’s no wonder. In and around the city, you will find some of the most amazing scenery and natural beauty the world has to offer. The town itself has something for everyone, from high-end stores to quaint eateries to funky art shops. The countryside surrounding Cape Town has activities for the wine lover to the adventure seeker and everything in between.

Arriving in Cape Town, you can’t help but look up at the monstrous, flat promontory of Table Mountain, which creates the city’s backdrop.

This is Cape Town’s landmark that is akin to Paris’ Eiffel Tower or Seattle’s Space Needle, the primary difference being that Table Mountain is a natural geologic formation which dominates the skyline from any angle in the city. It provides hiking and biking trails and is a popular day outing for residents and tourists alike. If you want to see the views from the top but are not inclined to take on the incline, perhaps a gondola ride would suit you better. Beware though, Table Mountain is known for foggy mornings and high winds – in both cases the gondola shuts down for safety reasons.

Other things to see in Cape Town proper include the Two Oceans Aquarium, where you can view the fish through glass, or throw on a wetsuit and get in the tank yourself. The aquarium offers fish-feeding activities, copper hat dives, and an opportunity to dive with ragged tooth sharks at the I&J Predator Exhibit.

For the less adventurous, head down to the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront in the harbor. This is a shoppers’ wonderland where you will find American stores like The Body Shop and Victoria’s Secret next to European favorites Mango and Dunhill, as well as South African-based shops such as the REI-like Cape Union Mart Travel and Safari.

You can find numerous craft shops carrying African-made wares from beads to batik to wooden carvings. There’s even a Masai Mara store in case you need to load up on their superior wool blankets or kikoys (sarongs made specifically in East Africa). While taking a break from shopping, stop and eat at any one of the numerous waterfront cafes, offering a variety of fare and prices.

If you like shopping but prefer dealing directly with the artisans, be sure to cross the street and visit the outdoor craft market. Here you can find that elusive piece that will tie your living room together, or simply become your “I’ve been to Africa” conversation starter. Unlike the V&A Waterfront, prices here are flexible, so you can hone your bargaining skills while enjoying an afternoon admiring unique works of art. There are artisans of all mediums, from silver to teak, banana leaves to textiles.

No trip to Cape Town in complete without a ferry ride to Robben Island, the location of Nelson Mandela’s long imprisonment. Now a museum open to the public to showcase the effects of apartheid, it is well worth a visit. When I was last in the city, artwork created by Mandela himself, during his prison sentence, was on display. Often, the guides who show you around the island and prison were held prisoner there.

Cape Town is also known as a party town. Big on the safari and backpacking circuits, budget hotels abound. Long Street is the place to go for inexpensive restaurants, late-night bar hopping, and a cosmopolitan mix of tourist and local flair.

For the mid- to high-end traveler, there are plenty of upscale hotels and eateries dotted around the city, from international chains to quaint but pricy bed and breakfasts. African and international fare is available, as well as vegetarian and game.

If you’re going to spend a fair amount of time here, you’ll want to check out the environs around the city. There are plenty of adventure activities, including cage diving with the great whites, whale watching, skydiving, and parasailing. The beaches in and around Cape Town are beautiful, and each one offers a slightly different flavor. If you go north of the city, the beaches expand and become more desolate. The high winds that can blow through drive many people away, affording a quiet atmosphere. If you prefer crowds, go west to the beaches across from Lion’s Head. With a few extra days, you can rent a car and head south towards Cape Point, where you can visit the lighthouse, hang out with baboons, and snag an incredible view where the Atlantic meets the Indian Ocean.

Back up the coast from Cape Point, stop in any of the towns along the way. Each town has its own unique history and sights to see. Near Simon’s Town is a colony of African penguins. Seals can be found close to Hout Bay. The water in False Bay tends to be warmer than elsewhere along the coast. Ostrich farms, which tourists can visit, are located near Cape Point. Not to mention the breathtaking landscapes you encounter as you make your way along. Hotels and B&Bs are easy to find, so touring your way up and down the peninsula is feasible and more enjoyable than shooting down to the point and back in one day.

For wine lovers, Stellenbosch is a must visit. Wine tours leave daily out of Cape Town, or you can opt to stay in the area overnight. If you don’t jump on a tour bus, you will need to rent a car as the wineries are fairly spread out. South African wine is delicious, and each winery deserves time and tasting.

While making your way along the circuit, be sure to stop at the Spier Wine Estate. You can spend an afternoon lounging on the intricately manicured grounds with a picnic box and a bottle of wine, and then stop to pet a cheetah on your way out.

Regardless of your budget, tastes or activity level, everyone can find something to entertain and intrigue them in Cape Town. It truly does deserve its place in the World’s Best Cities list.