Cape Town

A bustling port city, Cape Town sits at the foot of the famous Table Mountain. Start your visit with a stroll around the vibrant Victoria & Albert Waterfront, then stop by the Malaysian district of Bo-Kaap. For an afternoon of shopping, you have a choice of the Old Biscuit Mill, the Woodstock Exchange Gardens Shopping Center or Canal Walk. The area’s most historic site is, without a doubt, Robben Island, the prison where Nelson Mandela spent many years. Among the museums, standouts include District Six and the South African Jewish Museum.

Relax in Kirstenbosch Garden, the setting for regular concerts from November to April. Those who love lazing about will enjoy the city’s two beaches: Clifton and Camps Bay. Don’t miss out on the Cape of Good Hope trail or, an hour from Cape Town, the Wine Route. Come evening, Long Street is the place to be for bars, restaurants and clubs. There are also major events throughout the year: Minstrel Carnival (a festival with roots in slavery, in January), the International Jazz Festival (March), Two Oceans Marathon (April) and the International Grand Arts Alive Festival (September).