Getting Around Cape Town: Drivers, Uber, Car Hire and Buses

Private chauffeur

• A driver collects you at the door, waits while you visit, and handles parking, which matters at Kirstenbosch, Boulders and the Waterfront in December.
• It is the natural choice for wine tasting in Constantia, Stellenbosch or Franschhoek, because nobody in your group has to stay sober to drive.
• Full-day routes such as Cape Point are easier with a driver who knows where to stop, how the wind affects each stretch and which roads are open that day.
• Book a few days ahead in December and January, and ask for child seats when you book if you are travelling with young children.

Uber and Bolt

• Uber and Bolt both operate in Cape Town and are the easy option for short trips between the City Bowl, Atlantic Seaboard and V&A Waterfront.
• Before you get in, check that the driver's name, face and number plate match the app, and share your trip with someone using the in-app feature.
• At Cape Town International Airport, follow the signs to the designated e-hailing pick-up area, and ignore anyone in the terminal offering a ride.
• Prices surge and waits lengthen at peak times, such as after concerts, at stadium events and on New Year's Eve.
• For longer outings, such as to Cape Point or the Winelands, a ride home can be hard to find, so a pre-booked driver is more reliable.

Hiring a car

• South Africa drives on the left; a licence in English with your photo is generally accepted, but many rental companies also ask for an International Driving Permit, which you must get before you travel.
• Petrol stations are full service: an attendant fills the tank and will often check oil and tyres, and a small tip is customary.
• Informal car guards in bright vests watch parked cars in many areas; a few rand when you leave is usual if they have been helpful.
• Chapman's Peak Drive, the toll road between Hout Bay and Noordhoek, closes at short notice for wind, rain and rockfall and was shut for months after a rockfall in April 2026, so check chapmanspeakdrive.co.za on the day; the usual alternative is Ou Kaapse Weg, or the M3 towards Muizenberg.
• Keep the car empty of visible bags and phones, and pack the boot before you set off rather than at your destination.

MyCiTi and the hop-on hop-off bus

• MyCiTi buses link the city centre with Sea Point, Camps Bay and Hout Bay; you pay with a myconnect card, and the MyCiTi app has routes and live updates.
• The MyCiTi airport route is currently listed as temporarily suspended, so check myciti.org.za before relying on it.
• City Sightseeing's red route takes about 90 minutes and covers the city centre, Table Mountain's lower cable station, Camps Bay and the Waterfront.
• Its blue route goes on past Kirstenbosch and Hout Bay, with a wine loop into the Constantia valley, and a ticket covers all routes.

Sensible habits

• Keep phones, cameras and bags out of sight in parked cars and at outdoor tables, as you would in any large city.
• After dark, go door to door by car rather than walking between neighbourhoods, even for short distances.
• Hike and walk mountain trails in daylight and in company, and avoid isolated beaches and viewpoints at night.
• Use ATMs inside shopping centres or hotels, and take official transport from the airport rather than offers made in the terminal.

Which option suits which day

• Dinner in the City Bowl, Sea Point or the Waterfront: ride-hailing works well, or a driver if you want a car waiting.
• Cape Point and Boulders: a chauffeur or a hired car, starting early to beat the crowds.
• A Winelands tasting day: a chauffeur, so everyone can enjoy the wine and you go home safely.
• Arriving with family and luggage: a pre-booked airport transfer; Cohen Concierge arranges transfers and chauffeurs, quoted first with the full cost shown before anything is booked.

Related guides

• Airport to Camps Bay and beyond: Realistic drive times from Cape Town International to Camps Bay, Clifton, the V&A Waterfront, Stellenbosch and Franschhoek, and how to make arrival easy.
• Cape Town Private Arrival Planning: Plan a smoother Cape Town arrival with a transfer brief, timing checklist and connected concierge arrangements.
• A week in Cape Town: A realistic seven-day Cape Town plan: sunsets, Table Mountain, the Peninsula and penguins, the Winelands, a boat day, a villa day and windy-day swaps.

Related services

• Private chauffeur
• Airport transfers
• Plan my day