Last Updated on April 7, 2026 by Hannah Stephenson
Let’s get straight to the point: you don’t need to rent a car in Cape Town.
Uber is cheap and easy to use here, so as long as you pick a central area to stay in, getting around is a breeze for the most part!
However, it’s not completely effortless. A few of Cape Town’s most iconic attractions require a longer drive, and so you’ll either need your own wheels or a guided tour to reach them.
I’ve lived in Cape Town since 2021, and I don’t have a car here! When friends and family come to visit, I either book tours or hire a car. So now, in this guide, I’ll break down exactly when you don’t need a car, when it actually helps, and how to get around Cape Town without one.
- Can You Visit Cape Town Without a Car?
- When You DON’T Need a Car
- When You DO Need a Car
- How to Get Around Cape Town Without a Car
- Best Areas to Stay Without a Car
- Sample 3-Day Cape Town Itinerary Without a Car
- Pros and Cons of Visiting Cape Town Without a Car
- Final Verdict: Is It Easy to Visit Cape Town Without a Car?
Can You Visit Cape Town Without a Car?
Yes, you can visit Cape Town without a car, especially if you stay in central areas like Sea Point, Camps Bay, or the City Bowl. Uber and Bolt are cheap and widely available, which makes it easy to get around the city.
However, public transport is limited, and having a car gives you a lot more flexibility when it comes to day trips to Boulders Beach or the Winelands. If you don’t want to drive, guided tours are a good alternative.
When You DON’T Need a Car
Staying in the right area
If you stay in one of Cape Town’s most central neighbourhoods then you won’t need a car. These areas are safe and walkable, with top attractions just a short Uber ride away:
- Sea Point (my favourite!)
- De Waterkant
- Green Point
- Gardens
- Tamboerskloof
- Camps Bay
- V&A Waterfront
- CBD
In fact, when I’m travelling around the city it’s very rare that I’m ever in an Uber for longer than 15-20 minutes at a time.
Using Uber and Bolt
Uber and Bolt are widely available in Cape Town. I personally prefer Uber over Bolt, but it’s a good idea to have both apps on your phone.
These apps are both affordable to use, which is a big reason why I haven’t bought a car! They work well for short trips around the city, although costs can rack up quickly if you’re going further afield.
I rarely have to wait more than 5 minutes for an Uber in Cape Town, and I feel safe using the app late at night.
Day trips to the Winelands
If you’re going on a day trip to Franschhoek or Stellenbosch, you obviously don’t want to be driving! Fortunately, there are a TON of fun wine tours you can book that handle all of the transport for you. My personal favourite is the wine tram explorer tour– in fact, I love it so much that I’ve done it three times!
Joining tours for major attractions
If you enjoy guided tours, then there’s really no need to rent a car in Cape Town! There are so many great tours available that can take you to top attractions, like Boulders Beach, Cape Point and Cape of Good Hope.
When You DO Need a Car
Exploring beyond the city
While tours can take you to popular attractions outside of the city, a car is necessary to reach a lot of my favourite hidden gems. For example, the Langebaan Lagoon is a 1.5-hour drive from Cape Town, and you’ll also need a car to go horse riding in Noordhoek or quad biking on the sand dunes.
Cape Town also has some seriously scenic drives. Chapman’s Peak Scenic Drive is the most famous, and tour buses can’t drive along here as the road is too narrow. When my mum and sister came to visit, I actually hired a car so that they wouldn’t miss out on this epic drive!
Flexibility and early starts
My favourite thing about hiring a car is the flexibility it offers. Having your own wheels gives you so much freedom, especially if you want to explore beyond the typical tourist spots. It’s also a lot easier to go catch the sunrise or sunset somewhere that’s not right in the city itself.
And personally, I love being able to change my mind about where I’m going or make spontaneous stops! You don’t get that same sense of freedom with an Uber or a tour.
If you do decide to rent a car, I’ve used DiscoverCars a few times in Cape Town and always found them really easy to book through. They compare prices across different rental companies, so it’s a good way to find a decent deal without spending ages searching
How to Get Around Cape Town Without a Car
It’s actually easy to get around Cape Town without a car. As I say, I’ve lived here for 5 years and I don’t own one! I mostly walk and use Uber, and then you can book a tour or two for day trips out of the city.
Uber (best option)
Uber is by far the easiest way to get around Cape Town, and it’s what I use 90% of the time. Bolt is also widely available, but I feel safer with Uber.
Rides here are also very affordable. I mostly make short trips between areas like Sea Point, the CBD, and the beaches, and it tends to cost between R60 and R120 per ride.
I don’t usually have to wait long, either – 5 minutes is actually a long time by Cape Town Uber standards! I also feel comfortable using Uber at night, and if you’re mostly staying in the city, it will work out cheaper than a car rental.
MyCiTi Bus
A lot of visitors are hesitant to use the MyCiTi bus, but it’s actually safe and reliable. However, you will need to sort out a myconnect bus card before you can use it. The card costs R40 and you can get one at a bus station or certain shops – check the full list of locations here.
The myconnect card basically works like an Oyster card. You just tap in and out of the system, and the fare is automatically calculated – easy, right?
However, the biggest downside of the MyCiTi bus is that the network isn’t that extensive, so there’s a limit to how far it can take you. To be honest, most tourists do just end up using Uber as it’s faster and more convenient, but I think the MyCiTi bus can be a great way to save money, especially if you’re going to be in Cape Town for a while.
Tours and organised trips
Cape Town is a popular destination, so rest assured that there are tons of great tours available to take you to famous spots like Cape Point and the Cape Winelands. In fact, I’ve tried a ton of them myself – check out my list of favourites here!
Guided tours not only solve the transport issue, they also mean you don’t have to worry about parking and having small change for car guards. And if you’re going to the Winelands, it means no-one has to assume the role of designated driver and miss out on the fun!
Walking
A lot of Cape Town is very walkable, and I easily rack up my 10,000 steps per day living here! In fact, I’d go as far to say that areas like Sea Point, Camps Bay, and the V&A Waterfront are best explored on foot. They’re all very safe, and have a lively indoor/outdoor vibe.
However, I don’t love walking around the CBD, as I’ve been cat-called and harassed quite often here. I also tend to use Uber at night, even for fairly short distances, as it’s not super safe to walk around in the dark. (For more safety tips, check out this guide.)
Best Areas to Stay Without a Car
Most of central Cape Town is fairly walkable, but I do think that choosing the right area is especially important if you don’t have a car.
In my opinion, Sea Point and Green Point are the best areas to stay in if you don’t have a car. I have lived in both of these areas, and they’re safe and walkable, with all-around good vibes.
Sea Point is a bit more lively with more bars and restaurants on offer, but Green Point still has a fair amount going on. It’s also super easy to walk from one area to the other!
Sea Point and Green Point are also both just a 10-15 minute Uber ride from the beaches, the CBD, and Table Mountain. You can also walk to the V&A Waterfront from either neighbourhood!
Camps Bay is another great option, especially if you want to be near the beach. It feels more touristy, but that’s not always a bad thing, and it’s still easy to get around using Uber.
I wouldn’t personally recommend staying in the CBD if you don’t have a car – or even if you do, actually. While it’s central, I don’t really like walking around most of this area, and the traffic and one-way streets can be annoying to navigate.
Sample 3-Day Cape Town Itinerary Without a Car
Alright, let’s get down to business. If you’re wondering how getting around Cape Town without a car will actually work, here’s a sample 3-day itinerary I’ve put together where you won’t need a car at all!
Day 1 – City Highlights
Head up Table Mountain in the cable car in the morning, and then spend your afternoon topping up your tan on the Clifton Beaches (or hiding under a parasol if you’re anything like me). Then, in the evening head up Kloof Corner to enjoy a spectacular sunset, and go for dinner at the legendary Kloof Street House.
Day 2 – Food and Culture
Explore Bo Kaap in the morning and then stuff your face on this top-rated food tour before heading off on a boozy sunset cruise in the evening.
Day 3 – Day Trip!
Either get tipsy on the wine tram, which would be my personal preference, or see Boulders Beach, Cape Point, and Cape of Good Hope on this peninsula tour.
If you want a full itinerary breakdown, including exact timing, booking links, and restaurant recommendations, be sure to check out my full 3-day Cape Town itinerary article here!
Pros and Cons of Visiting Cape Town Without a Car
Pros
- No driving stress (Cape Town drivers can be quite aggressive)
- Often cheaper
- Uber is safe and easy to use
- No need to worry about parking or car guards
Cons
- Less flexibility
- You’ll need to book tours for day trips
- Some places are hard to reach without a car
Final Verdict: Is It Easy to Visit Cape Town Without a Car?
For most travellers, yes, it’s easy to visit Cape Town without a car. As long as you stay in a central neighbourhood and are happy to book a couple of tours, you probably won’t even miss having a car.
However, if you are planning to get off-the-beaten track and visit less touristy places like Hermanus or West Coast National Park, then having a car will make things much easier.
For me, a car is a bonus, not an essential! I sometimes just rent one for a few days at a time when friends or family come to visit. I always use DiscoverCars to find the best prices, and I’m usually able to pick the vehicle up downtown.
Thanks so much for reading this article! I hope it has helped you make a decision when it comes to renting a car in Cape Town. If you need more advice, I’ve got a ton of in-depth resources, so be sure to check out the following: