City in Western Cape, South Africa
Cape Town for solo travelers
Is Cape Town good for solo travel?
Africa's best all-round base for solo travelers and nomads: mountain, beaches, food, wine and reliable wifi. Violent crime outside the main tourist areas and winter rain are the trade-offs.
Solo travel at a glance
| Solo travel | 4/5 · Very good for solo travel |
|---|---|
| Locals | Friendly |
| English | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Safety | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Solo women | Many solo women travel here, but sexual violence is high nationally. Avoid walking alone at night, watch drinks, share your trip with someone and meet dates in public. |
How to meet people in Cape Town
Social hostels in the City Bowl and Sea Point, hiking meetups, parkrun on Saturdays, surf lessons in Muizenberg, coworking events and wine tours with group shuttles.
Good things to do alone
- Hike Lion's Head at sunrise in a group
- Take a Muizenberg surf lesson
- Cycle the Sea Point promenade
- Visit Kirstenbosch Gardens and picnic
- Join a Robben Island or Cape Point day tour
Where to stay in Cape Town
| Area | Good for |
|---|---|
| City Bowl (Gardens, Tamboerskloof, Bo-Kaap edge) | Cafés, hostels, walks to Table Mountain, easy Ubers |
| Sea Point | Seafront promenade, gyms, apartments; popular with nomads |
| V&A Waterfront–Green Point | Safe, polished, close to MyCiTi; pricier |
| Woodstock–Salt River | Creative scene, coworking and street art; stay on busy streets |
| Camps Bay–Clifton | Beach stays and sunsets; short-term and upmarket |
Solo travel across South Africa
| Place | Solo | English |
|---|---|---|
| Cape Town | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Kruger National Park | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Stellenbosch | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Hermanus | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Knysna | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Plettenberg Bay | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Jeffreys Bay | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Johannesburg | 3/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Durban | 3/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Pretoria | 3/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Port Elizabeth | 3/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Franschhoek | 3/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Umhlanga | 3/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
Quick answers
Is Cape Town good for solo travelers?
Very good for solo travel (4/5). Africa's best all-round base for solo travelers and nomads: mountain, beaches, food, wine and reliable wifi.
How do you meet people in Cape Town?
Social hostels in the City Bowl and Sea Point, hiking meetups, parkrun on Saturdays, surf lessons in Muizenberg, coworking events and wine tours with group shuttles. On SoloSquare you can also join small plans with other travelers who are there now.
Do people speak English in Cape Town?
Spoken almost everywhere.
Is Cape Town safe for solo female travelers?
Many solo women travel here, but sexual violence is high nationally. Avoid walking alone at night, watch drinks, share your trip with someone and meet dates in public.
More about Cape Town
Going to Cape Town solo?
SoloSquare is where travelers, nomads and locals in Cape Town meet up for small plans: coffee, dinners, walks and day trips. Join one, or start your own in a minute.
Sources
Ratings are SoloSquare's editorial judgment. Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.