Where is Cape Town, South Africa?

Written and Fact-checked by | Updated On: June 18, 2026, 14:20 ET

As shown in the given Cape Town location map that Cape Town is located in the south-western region of the country. Cape Town is located at latitude 33.55° S and longitude 18.25° E.

Location Map of Cape Town

Where is Cape Town Located?

Cape Town is the oldest and second largest city in South Africa. It is coastal city situated on the shore of Table Bay of Atlantic Ocean. Cape Town is the capital city of province Western Cape. It is also the legislative capital city of South Africa; so, it homes National Parliament and various other government offices.

Interestingly, Cape Town is more popular for its harbor along with the natural setting in the Cape floral kingdom i.e. Table Mountain and Cape Point. By virtue of having such a nice natural landscape, coastal location and well developed infrastructure, Cape Town is one of the most popular tourist destinations.

Located on the shore of Table Bay, Cape Town was originally developed by the Dutch East India Company as a victualling (supply) station for Dutch ships sailing to Eastern Africa, India, and the Far East.
Today it is one of the most multicultural cities in the world, reflecting its role as a major destination for immigrants and expatriates to South Africa.

Cape Town, Western Cape Quick Facts

FactDetails
CityCape Town
MunicipalityCity of Cape Town Metropolitan Municipality
CountrySouth Africa
Legislative CapitalCape Town
RegionSouthwestern South Africa
Latitude33.9249° S
Longitude18.4241° E
Elevation82 ft (25 m)
Land Area948 sq mi
Water AreaIncludes Table Bay, False Bay and coastal waters
Total Area948 sq mi
Population (Latest Estimate)Approximately 4.9 million (metro area)
Population DensityApproximately 5,200 per sq mi
Postal Codes8000-8099
Area Code+27 21
Time Zone StandardSouth Africa Standard Time (UTC+2)
Time Zone DaylightNo daylight saving time observed
CurrencySouth African Rand (ZAR)
Administrative CodeCity of Cape Town
National RepresentationNational Assembly Constituencies

Nearby Cities to Cape Town, South Africa

  • Bellville, South Africa - 15 mi Northeast
  • Parow, South Africa - 12 mi Northeast
  • Somerset West, South Africa - 29 mi Southeast
  • Stellenbosch, South Africa - 31 mi East
  • Paarl, South Africa - 37 mi Northeast
  • Wellington, South Africa - 46 mi Northeast
  • Atlantis, South Africa - 28 mi North
  • Malmesbury, South Africa - 40 mi North
  • Hermanus, South Africa - 76 mi Southeast
  • Saldanha, South Africa - 83 mi North

Cape Town, South Africa Climate and Weather Overview

MonthAvg High (°F)Avg Low (°F)Avg Rainfall (in)
January79610.6
April73541.8
July64463.8
October71521.5
Annual725420.0
Climate AttributeDetails
Climate Classification (Köppen)Csb - Warm-Summer Mediterranean
Annual RainfallApproximately 20 inches
Annual Sunshine DaysMore than 3,000 sunshine hours
Hurricane/Tornado RiskVery Low
SnowfallNo snowfall in the city

Driving Distances from Cape Town, South Africa

CityProvinceDistance (mi)Approx. Drive Time
ParowWestern Cape1220 min
BellvilleWestern Cape1525 min
AtlantisWestern Cape2835 min
Somerset WestWestern Cape2935 min
StellenboschWestern Cape3140 min
PaarlWestern Cape3745 min
MalmesburyWestern Cape4050 min
WellingtonWestern Cape4655 min
HermanusWestern Cape761 hr 30 min
SaldanhaWestern Cape831 hr 40 min

Transportation and Connectivity in Cape Town, South Africa

Airport NameCape Town International Airport
IATA CodeCPT
PortPort of Cape Town
Major HighwaysN1, N2, M3, M5
Train ServiceMetrorail Western Cape and Long-Distance Rail
Local Transit ServiceMyCiTi Bus Service, Rail, Taxis and Ride-Hailing Services
  • N1 Highway - Connects Cape Town with Paarl, Worcester and inland South Africa.
  • N2 Highway - Coastal route linking the city with the Garden Route and Eastern Cape.
  • M3 Route - Connects the city center with southern suburbs.
  • M5 Route - Major north-south commuter corridor.
  • MyCiTi Bus Network - Integrated public transport system serving key urban areas.

Key Landmarks and Places to Visit in Cape Town, South Africa

Landmark NameType
Table MountainNatural Landmark
Robben IslandUNESCO Site
V&A WaterfrontEntertainment District
Cape PointNature Reserve
Kirstenbosch National Botanical GardenBotanical Garden
Boulders BeachBeach
Castle of Good HopeHistoric Fort
Two Oceans AquariumAquarium
Bo-KaapHistoric Neighborhood
Signal HillScenic Viewpoint

Places to Visit in Cape Town, South Africa

Landmark NameType
Table MountainNatural Landmark
Robben IslandUNESCO Site
V&A WaterfrontEntertainment District
Cape PointNature Reserve
Kirstenbosch National Botanical GardenBotanical Garden
Boulders BeachBeach
Castle of Good HopeHistoric Fort
Two Oceans AquariumAquarium
Bo-KaapHistoric Neighborhood
Signal HillScenic Viewpoint

Colleges and Universities in Cape Town, South Africa

Institution NameTypeLevelNotable For
University of Cape TownPublicUniversityResearch excellence
Cape Peninsula University of TechnologyPublicUniversityApplied sciences
University of the Western CapePublicUniversityLaw and social sciences
False Bay CollegePublicCollegeTechnical education
Damelin Cape TownPrivateHigher EducationBusiness studies

Waterbodies in Cape Town, South Africa

Atlantic Ocean, False Bay, Table Bay, Milnerton Lagoon, Zeekoevlei, Rietvlei, Diep River, Eerste River, Silvermine Reservoir, Hout Bay

Golf Courses in Cape Town, South Africa

Royal Cape Golf Club, Metropolitan Golf Club, Clovelly Country Club, Milnerton Golf Club, Steenberg Golf Club, Atlantic Beach Golf Club, Pearl Valley Golf Course, Erinvale Golf Club, Westlake Golf Club, De Zalze Golf Club

Cape Town, South Africa - Key Historical Facts

  • Cape Town was established by the Dutch East India Company in 1652 as a supply station for ships traveling between Europe and Asia.
  • The city became an important colonial settlement due to its strategic location near the Cape of Good Hope.
  • Robben Island, located off the coast, was used as a prison and held Nelson Mandela for many years.
  • Cape Town played a significant role in South Africa's political transformation during the twentieth century.
  • The city is home to the country's Parliament and serves as South Africa's legislative capital.
  • Today, Cape Town is one of Africa's leading tourism destinations, known for its natural scenery, cultural heritage and coastal attractions.

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