South Africa
Cape Town combines natural scenery with an urban landscape, while Johannesburg feels like a vibrant big city. Pretoria and Durban differ in character, so your itinerary tends to lean either coastal or inland.
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South Africa currency guide — today's rate & payment tips
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Average temperature by month
Based on Cape Town · 5-year average
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Map and place data © OpenStreetMap contributors
Cape Town
The legislative capital of South Africa, with majestic Table Mountain rising behind the city. The nearby Cape of Good Hope makes it a popular destination combining nature and history.
87 sights 9 guides Cape Town International Airport (CPT)
Pretoria
Pretoria is South Africa's administrative capital, home to the country's major government institutions. With many languages spoken side by side, the city offers a rich cultural mix.
29 sights 9 guides OR Tambo International Airport (JNB)
Johannesburg
Johannesburg is South Africa's largest city, which grew from its roots as a gold-mining town. Chemical, textile, and leather industries have also flourished here, making it a vibrant economic hub.
45 sights 9 guides OR Tambo International Airport (JNB)
Bloemfontein
Bloemfontein is South Africa's judicial capital and the central city of the Free State province. Sitting on a plateau 1,400 meters above sea level, it offers a distinctive landscape.
6 sights 9 guides Bloemfontein Airport (BFN)
Durban
Durban is South Africa's leading port city and the largest in KwaZulu-Natal province. Thanks to its warm climate and beautiful beaches, it is beloved as one of the country's top tourist destinations.
15 sights 9 guides King Shaka International Airport (DUR)
Top sights in South Africa
Nature
Table Mountain
Table Mountain rises over the Cape Peninsula near Cape Town, standing more than 1,000 meters above sea level. It's the city's signature natural landmark and well worth a visit.
Nature
Table Bay
Table Bay lies off the coast of Cape Town, framed by the flat-topped Table Mountain. From here you can also take in the coastline stretching all the way to the Cape of Good Hope.
Shopping & districts
Bo-Kaap
A neighborhood at the foot of Signal Hill in Cape Town that has long been a center of Cape Malay culture. Strolling its streets, you'll come across distinctive sights such as the Nurul Islam Mosque, built in 1844.
Parks & gardens
Table Mountain National Park
This national park protects the Table Mountain range in Cape Town, home to the rare fynbos plant life native to the area. It's a great place for hiking amid dramatic natural scenery.
Views & landmarks
Carlton Centre
A skyscraper and shopping complex in Johannesburg. At 223 meters tall, it was long regarded as Africa's tallest building.
Views & landmarks
Ponte City Apartments
A cylindrical 55-story apartment building near Hillbrow in Johannesburg, which was Africa's tallest residential skyscraper when completed in 1975. The large neon sign atop the building is known as the largest outdoor advertisement in the Southern Hemisphere.
Heritage & monuments
Voortrekker Monument
The Voortrekker Monument is a granite monument set on a hill south of Pretoria. It was built to honor the settlers who left the Cape Colony in the 19th century, and the view from the hill is striking.
Attraction
South African Astronomical Observatory
The South African Astronomical Observatory is the country's national astronomy research institute, located in the Observatory neighborhood of Cape Town. Its actual observing telescopes are in Sutherland, 370 km away, so it's worth knowing about both sites.
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Local data
Get an eSIM for South Africa before you go
Activate mobile data with a QR code instead of swapping SIM cards. Buy it before departure and switch it on the moment you land.
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