6+ Hours at Cape Town International Airport - Header image

6+ Hours at Cape Town International Airport

Maeve Power
Spend your 6+ hour layover exploring the city or the surrounding area instead of sitting in the terminal. Check out these options for a longer layover at Cape Town International Airport.
Spend your 6+ hour layover exploring the city or the surrounding area instead of sitting in the terminal. Check out these options for a longer layover at Cape Town International Airport.

Head downtown

Don’t spend your airport downtime sitting in the terminal, take advantage of the time and go explore Cape Town. The airport is located 11.6 miles from the city center. Cape Town is a port city that sits on the southwest coastline of South Africa. Well known for its busy harbor, the notorious Robben Island and its slowly rotating cable cars that climb up to the top of the iconic Table Mountain. Bustling with history and culture, there is so much to see and do in the city. For more details on what to do during your layover in Cape Town, visit the Lonely Planet guide to Cape Town.

Avoid downtown

If you have a longer layover at CPT but don’t want to spend it in the city center, head to Table Mountain National Park instead and enjoy the beautiful natural landscape of South Africa. This expansive nature reserve encompasses the iconic mountain, has a resident a penguin colony and sprawling forests, beaches & walking trails for your to explore. The Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden is also located in the national park and features spectacular mountain views and walking trails. Located 15.2 miles from the airport. Get the bus into Cape Town city center and then a taxi out to the national park.

Transport Options

Bus:  MyCiti Bus number A01 runs between the airport and the city center. For more details on fares and schedules visit the website.

Overnight Layover?

If you have an overnight layover at CPT, rent a room at one of the nearby hotels so you can get a good night’s sleep. The Road Lodge Cape Town International Airport is a standard hotel located on the airport grounds, perfect for travelers that arrive late at night. If you want hotel with more amenities, head to the Hotel Verde Cape Town Airport. This hotel is located just 400m from the terminal building and features a pool, spa and fitness center for guests to enjoy.
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