When I first visited Cape Town solo I had a very limited view on how safe it is to travel alone in South Africa. Much of what I read online discouraged solo travellers, however since living in Cape Town I can certainly say it safe to be solo in Cape Town.
Now that I’m living in the heart of Cape Town, I have seen first hand how safe it is to visit this city on your own. For the most part, Cape Town is safe. There are isolated incidences of course, as there are in all cities. We’ve put together a complete guide to help you plan your solo visit to Cape Town to make sure you feel safe and make the most of your stay.
Where to stay: neighbourhoods
Whether you’re here for a few days or a few weeks, Cape Town rewards time: it’s an active, adventurous city with hiking, running, and mountain bike trails all close to the centre. The more time you can give it, the better.
Sea Point
One of the best choices for where to stay, Sea Point is a walk from the beach, well-patrolled, and has everything you need close by, shops, restaurants, and grocery stores included. If you stay here, look for a small one-bedroom Airbnb; there are plenty to choose from.
Tamboerskloof
If you’d rather be closer to the action, Tamboerskloof is full of great Airbnbs for solo travellers and sits right next to Kloof Street, home to most of Cape Town’s best restaurants, bars, and cafés. It’s the heart of the action and a great base.
De Waterkant / Green Point
This is a nice middle ground between the best of Sea Point and the best of Tamboerskloof: close to the city, close enough to the beach to walk, and the suburb I lived in when I was based in Cape Town. It feels incredibly safe, especially during the day; of an evening, I’d still recommend not walking around alone.
V&A Waterfront
Consistently rated one of the safest and most tourist-friendly bases in the city, the Waterfront is well-patrolled, walkable, and a good option if you’d rather have restaurants, shopping, and harbour views right on your doorstep, even if it feels a little less “local” than the other options here.
What to do: solo in Cape Town
There’s enough here to easily fill a week alone. These are my handpicked favourites for solo travellers.
Clifton Beach
If you want a central beach full of locals, Clifton is our favourite, really a series of four beaches. Clifton 1, closest to town, is the quietest; Clifton 2 is my personal favourite; Clifton 4 is the famed “see and be seen” spot.
Llandudno Beach
My favourite beach in Cape Town is only possible to visit if you have a car or transport. Llandudno is 15-20 minutes out of town, but it is undeniably the most beautiful beach in Cape Town.
Hike Lion’s Head
My favourite short hike in the city, timed to summit for sunset. It’s a safe hike to do solo since there are always other people on the trail, and it only takes about 45 minutes to reach the top.
Take the cable car up Table Mountain
Table Mountain itself is another great hike, but given ongoing reports of muggings targeting hikers on the trail, especially those alone or in small groups, I’d recommend skipping the hike and taking the cable car instead. The views over Cape Town at sunset are just as spectacular either way.
Day trip to Boulders Beach
If you’re comfortable renting a car, Boulders Beach rewards you with one of the most memorable days on the Cape. It’s under an hour’s drive out of the city and is the famous “penguin beach” you’ve likely already seen photos of. If driving alone isn’t for you, hiring a driver for the day or joining an organised tour is an easy alternative.
Walk around Bo-Kaap
One of the hot spots to visit while in Cape Town is the colourful and quirky Bo-Kaap, a neighbourhood that has plenty of history behind it. Bo-Kaap is the centre of Cape Malay culture and a beautiful display of how vibrant, fun and full of life Cape Town can be.
Tips to stay safe
Cape Town is an incredible city to explore, solo travel included, and a few sensible habits go a long way here, the same as they would in any major city.
Rideshares are cheap and easy. Uber and Bolt both operate widely in Cape Town and are inexpensive, often just a couple of dollars to cross town, so there’s rarely a reason to walk somewhere you’re unsure about.
Use ATMs inside shopping centres. If you need cash, withdraw it from a machine inside a shopping centre rather than one on the street, some street-facing machines have been tampered with.
Stay in after sunset, unless you’re meeting people you already know. As in most cities, the risk profile changes after dark.
Experience the townships through a local guide. Areas like the Cape Flats townships are a meaningful part of Cape Town’s history and culture, but they’re best explored through a reputable local guide or organised tour rather than independently.
Check your government’s current travel advisory before you go, standard practice for any trip, and a good way to get area-specific, up-to-date guidance beyond any single blog post.
A quick 2026 update: load shedding, the rolling power outages that were a genuine daily planning concern for visitors here for years, has largely stopped. South Africa passed 300 consecutive days without load shedding in March 2026, thanks to improved plant performance at Eskom. Localised outages can still happen occasionally, but it’s a meaningfully different situation to plan around than even a couple of years ago.
FAQ
Is Cape Town safe for solo female travellers? Generally yes, especially in well-patrolled areas like Sea Point, the V&A Waterfront, and De Waterkant during the day. The main precautions are avoiding walking alone after dark and being cautious hiking Table Mountain alone.
What’s the best neighbourhood to stay in Cape Town solo? Sea Point and De Waterkant/Green Point are the most commonly recommended for solo travellers wanting a walkable, well-patrolled base close to the beach; Tamboerskloof if you want to be closer to the restaurant and bar scene on Kloof Street.
Is load shedding still an issue in Cape Town? Not currently. As of early 2026, South Africa has gone hundreds of consecutive days without load shedding, though it’s worth checking the latest status closer to your trip since localised outages can still occur.
For more on staying safe as a solo traveller, see 21 expert solo travel tips for your first trip.
NEW NOW! SOLO TRAVEL GUIDE
Solo travel must haves
Brooke Saward founded World of Wanderlust as a place to share inspiration from her travels and to inspire others to see our world. She now divides her time between adventures abroad and adventures in the kitchen, with a particular weakness for French pastries.
