The lure of a holiday in Cape Town lies in its spectacular setting and the beauty of its natural environment, as well as the rich cultural diversity of its people.

It has had a long and turbulent history, and the effects of Apartheid still linger in the minds and hearts of the people. Transformation, however, has led to a feeling of hope in this new 'Rainbow Nation', which can be experienced in the cosmopolitan city centre of Cape Town. Flower sellers, business executives, parking attendants, office workers and shoppers all rub shoulders in a setting of both historical and modern buildings, backed by the city's most famous landmark, Table Mountain. The colourful Malay Quarter, the remains of District Six, St George's Cathedral, Government Avenue and the old Castle are historically significant, while world-class African and international restaurants tempt travellers with their culinary delights. Although an African city, Cape Town has a marked European influence and visitors can experience the excitement of Africa from the comforts of First World surroundings.

Cape Town's unique setting means that it can be enjoyed from various vantage points: Table Mountain, Lion's Head, and Signal Hill provide breathtaking vistas over the city bowl and the Cape peninsula with its beautiful beaches; trips to Robben Island offer a dramatic sweep of scenery across to Table Bay; and harbour tours and old buildings await exploration at the cosmopolitan Waterfront. Many scenic routes meander along magnificent stretches of coastline and inland terrain leading to special places like Cape Point, the meeting place of the cold Benguela and warm Mozambique currents; and Chapman's Peak, which boasts one of the most picturesque drives in the country.

It is a city with four distinct seasons, each working its particular magic on Cape Town and bringing with it a flood of associations - summer and white sandy beaches, autumn's crisp colours, the ferocity of stormy seas in winter, and spring's show of Cape flowers.

This vast combination of culture, history and scenery leads to an unforgettable experience. This is a special place with much to contribute towards its growing reputation as a favoured travel destination.

Table Mountain

Address: Tafelberg Road Cape Town

Admission: Cable car: R180 return, R95 one way (adults); R90 return, R45 one way (children under 18). Other concessions available. Bookings are not available due to changeable weather conditions Cable car operates daily (weather permitting) every 10-15 minutes from 8am to 8pm (November); 8am to 10pm (December to January); 8am to 8.30pm (February); 8am to 7.30pm (March); 8am to 6.30pm (April); 8.30am to 6pm (May to mid-September); 8.30am to 7pm (16 September to October). Closed for annual maintenance for about three weeks in July and August

Telephone: 021 424 8181 (weatherline) or 021 424 0015

Castle of Good Hope

Address: Buitenkant Street, opposite the Grand Parade Cape Town

Admission: R25 (adults), R10 (children); half-price on Sundays. Concessions available Daily 9am to 4pm, with tours at 11am, 12pm and 2pm from Monday to Saturday. Self guided tours are possible with the aid of a map, provided by the Castle

Telephone: 021 787 1260

South African Museum and Planetarium

Address: 25 Queen Victoria Street, Gardens Cape Town

Admission: Museum: R15 (adults), R5 (children); Planetarium: R20 (adults), R6 (children) Daily 10am to 5pm. Planetarium shows at 9am, 10:15am, 11:30am and 12:45pm.

Telephone: 021 481 3800 (museum), 021 481 3900 (planetarium)

Greenmarket Square

Address: Cape Town

Admission: Greenmarket Square open daily till 3pm, closed Sundays. Old Town House open Monday to Saturday from 10am to 5pm

St George's Cathedral

Address: Wale Street Cape Town

Telephone: 021 424 7360 (Cathedral office)

Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens

Address: Rhodes Drive, Newlands Cape Town

Admission: R37 (adults), R10 (children 6-18). Concessions available. Concert fees are applicable on Sunday afternoons during the Summer Sunset Concert series Daily 8am to 6pm (April to August); 8am to 7pm (September to March); Conservatory 9am to 5pm

Telephone: 021 799 8783

Beaches

Address: Cape Town

Robben Island

Address: Cape Town

Admission: Tours are R200 (adults), R100 (children 4-17), which includes the return boat trip across Table Bay Boats leave at 9am, 11am, 1pm, 3pm (weather dependent)

Telephone: Museum 021 413 4220; Bookings 021 413 4263

District Six Museum

Address: 25A Buitenkant Street Cape Town

Admission: R15 (adults), R5 (children) Monday 9am-2pm, Tuesday to Saturday 9am-4pm.

Telephone: 021 466 7200

Chapman's Peak

Address: Cape Town

Admission: Chapman's Peak Drive is operated as a toll-road. Light motor vehicles cost R23 Open 24 hours; the road closes occasionally due to heavy rainfall, or rockfalls

Telephone: 021 791 8222

Victoria & Alfred (V&A) Waterfront

Address: Cape Town

Admission: Aquarium: R96 (adults), R74 (children 14-17), R46 (children 4-13). Concessions available Aquarium: daily 9:30am to 6pm

Telephone: 021 408 7600, or 021 418 3823 (aquarium)

Simonstown and Boulders Beach

Address: Cape Town

Admission: Boulders Beach Penguin Colony: R15 (adults), R5 (scholars)

Cape Point

Address: Cape Town

Admission: R80 (adults), R20 children. Funicular: R35 one way (adults) or R45 return, concessions available Daily 6am to 6pm (October to March), 7am to 5pm (April to September). Funicular: 9am to 6pm (summer), 9am to 5:30pm (winter).

Telephone: 021 780 9010/11

Bo-Kaap

Address: Museum: 71 Wale Street, Bo-Kaap, Cape Town Cape Town

Admission: Museum: R10 (adults over 16) Museum: Monday to Saturday 10am-5pm

Telephone: Bo-Kaap Museum (021) 481 3939

Township Tours

Address: Cape Town

Telephone: Cape Town Tourism Visitor Information Centre: 021 487 6800, or Sivuyile Tourism Centre: 021 637 8449

Two Oceans Aquarium

Address: V&A Waterfront Cape Town

Admission: R96 (adults), R74 (children 14-17), R46 (children 4-13). Tickets valid for the day. Shark/Kelp forest dive: R570 (R445 with own equipment) Daily 9.30am to 6pm

Telephone: 021 418 3823

West Coast Ostrich Ranch

Address: Van Schoorsdrif Road, Philadelphia Cape Town

Admission: R55 (adults), R45 (children 6-16) Tours are run daily, every half an hour on the hour

Telephone: 021 972 1955

Muizenberg

Address: Cape Town

Ratanga Junction

Address: Century City on the N1 highway Cape Town

Admission: R142 (adult Adventurer Rider); R70 (child Adventure rider); Concessions available Open 10am–5pm, operational dates vary according to season, detailed schedules are available on the website.

Telephone: 021 550 8504

Butterfly World

Address: Just off the N1 highway, Exit 47, Route 44 on the Stellenbosch and Wellington Wine Routes Cape Town

Admission: R43 (adults); R25 (children); concessions available Open daily from 9am to 5pm. Closed Christmas Day

Telephone: 021 875 5628

Scratch Patch

Address: Dido Valley Rd, Simonstown Cape Town

Admission: Small plastic bag or container ranging from R14 to R85 for a large container Open Monday to Friday 8:30am-4:45pm; Weekends and Public Holidays 9am-5:30pm

Telephone: 021 786 2020

World of Birds and Monkey Park

Address: Valley Road, Hout Bay Cape Town

Admission: R70 (adults); R40 (children) Open daily 9am to 5pm

Telephone: 021 790 2730

Seal Island

Address: Hout Bay Harbour Cape Town

Admission: R65, concessions available Operates daily from 8:30am, 9:15am, 10am, and 10:45am

Telephone: 021 791 4441

Hermanus

Address: Cape Town

Cape Town Minstrel Carnival

Where: Streets of Cape Town and Greenpoint Stadium,Cape Town

When: 2 January 2012

Mother City Queer Project (MCQP) Costume Party

Where: Cape Town, TBA,Cape Town

When: 17 December 2011

J&B Met

Where: Kenilworth Race Course,Cape Town

When: 28 January 2012

Kirstenbosch Summer Sunset Concerts

Where: Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens,Cape Town

When: 20 November 2011 to 1 April 2012

Cape Times Waterfront Wine Affair

Where: Market Square, V&A Waterfront,Cape Town

When: 2 - 6 May 2011

Hermanus Whale Festival

Where: Hermanus,Cape Town

When: 30 September - 4 October 2011

Cape Gourmet Festival

Where: Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC),Cape Town

When: Good Food & Wine Show: 26 - 29 May 2011

Shakespeare at Maynardville Open-Air Theatre

Where: Maynardville Open-Air Theatre,Cape Town

When: 10 January - 18 February 2012

Absa Cape Epic

Where: Start: Gordons Bay; Finish: Lourensford Wine Estate, Somerset West,Cape Town

When: 25 March to 1 April 2012

Kirstenbosch Winter Concert Series

Where: Silvertree Restaurant, Kirstenbosch Gardens,Cape Town

When: May to October 2011

Cape Argus Pick 'n Pay Cycle Tour

Where: Start: City Centre; Finish: Greenpoint Stadium,Cape Town

When: 11 March 2011

Two Oceans Marathon

Where: Start: Main Road, Newlands. Finish: UCT sports fields, Upper Campus,Cape Town

When: 23 April 2011

Cape Town International Jazz Festival

Where: Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC),Cape Town

When: 25 - 26 March 2011

Wakame

Address: Beach Road, Mouille Point Cape Town

Food Type: Japanese

Constantia Uitsig

Address: Constantia Uitsig Farm, Spaanschemat River Road, Constantia Cape Town

Food Type: French

Blues

Address: The Promenade, Victoria Road, Camps Bay Cape Town

Food Type: Modern Eclectic

Millers Thumb

Address: 10b Kloofnek Road, Tamboerskloof Cape Town

Food Type: Seafood

Five Flies

Address: 14-16 Keerom Street, Cape Town Cape Town

Food Type: Modern Eclectic

The Codfather

Address: 37 The Drive, Camps Bay Cape Town

Food Type: Seafood

Beluga

Address: The Foundry, Prestwich Street, Green Point Cape Town

Food Type: Modern Eclectic

Café Royale

Address: 273 Long Street Cape Town

Food Type: American

Pigalle

Address: 57A Somerset Rd, Greenpoint Cape Town

Food Type: Modern Eclectic

Café Mozart

Address: 37 Church Street Cape Town

Food Type: Café

Kyoto Garden Sushi

Address: 11 Lower Kloofnek Road, Tamboerskloof Cape Town

Food Type: Japanese

Tobago's

Address: Beach Road, Granger Bay Cape Town

Food Type: International

Myoga

Address: Colinton Road, Newlands Cape Town

Food Type: Fusion

Rafikis

Address: 13 Kloof Nek Road, Tamboerskloof Cape Town

Food Type: Pizzeria