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Where to Stay in CAPE TOWN • City Center vs V&A Waterfront vs Stellenbosch

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By continuing to read this article, you agree to double-check with the concerned establishments for the latest updates.

Cape Town. The city where you’ll instantly fall in love with the views, the food, and the occasional dose of adrenaline. But while this city is a total charmer, it’s also got a bit of a rep for being, well, let’s say, ‘exciting’ in ways you don’t always want after dark. But is it true? Should you be worried? And which area should you stay?

THEPOORTRAVELERKLOOKTHEPOORTRAVELERKLOOK

To say that Cape Town is complicated is an understatement. It’s where the mountains are epic, the seascapes are majestic, and figuring out where to stay is harder than choosing between wine and more wine. But don’t worry, in this article, we’ll help you figure out where to stay based on our personal experience.

Will it be the affordability and easy access to key attractions of the city center? Maybe the V&A Waterfront, where you can shop, eat, and take Instagram-worthy photos every five steps? Or, perhaps Stellenbosch, which is technically outside Cape Town, but hey, nothing says secure like being surrounded by endless vineyards and the worst that can happen is maxing out your credit card?

WHAT’S COVERED IN THIS GUIDE?

Cape Town City Center (aka City Bowl)

Cape Town City CenterCape Town City Center

City center, City Bowl, downtown. Don’t be confused. They all refer to the same thing. The Cape Town city center is called the City Bowl because of its unique geographic shape, like a bowl surrounded by mountains. But whatever you want to call it, one thing is true: it is the heart of the city — vibrant and full of life.

Staying here gives you quick access to some of the best restaurants, museums, and shops. By day, it’s a fun place to explore, and you’ll find yourself bouncing between coffee shops, snapping pics of Table Mountain, and maybe catching a quirky street performance. Plus, you’re close to public transport, making it super easy to get around.

Cape Town Bo-KaapCape Town Bo-Kaap
Bo-Kaap is located in the Cape Town city center.
Cape Town Long StreetCape Town Long Street
Long Street is one of the city center’s main arteries.
Castle of Good HopeCastle of Good Hope
Castle of Good Hope
Cape Town Greenmarket SquareCape Town Greenmarket Square
Greenmarket Square is where to find souvenir items.

But here’s the catch—once the sun goes down, it gets a little… well, complicated. Cape Town is consistently among the most dangerous cities on earth.

We intentionally spent some nights in the city center to debunk its reputation for being unsafe. The locals we met told us much of it is overblown because most crimes are concentrated in certain areas — areas that tourists don’t normally go to anyway. But they also discouraged us from roaming the streets downtown after dark,…

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