Cape Town is the legislative capital of South Africa, a coastal city beneath Table Mountain known for dramatic scenery, beaches, the Cape Winelands, the Cape Peninsula, a Cape Malay food heritage and the history of Robben Island and apartheid-era District Six.
Best souvenirs
Authentic items worth bringing home.
Rooibos tea
Caffeine-free red bush tea grown in the Cederberg, sold in tins and boxes.
Price: R40-120 (approx $2.42-7.27 USD)
Where: Supermarkets, Greenmarket Square, V&A Waterfront
Biltong
Dried cured meat (beef, game or ostrich) in vacuum packs; check import rules for the home country.
Price: R80-250 (approx $4.85-15.15 USD)
Where: Biltong shops in the CBD, supermarkets, V&A Waterfront
Cape wine
Western Cape wines from Constantia, Stellenbosch and Franschhoek; look for Pinotage and Chenin Blanc.
Price: R80-600 (approx $4.85-36 USD)
Where: Wine shops, V&A Waterfront, Constantia estates
Zulu and Ndebele beadwork
Hand-strung beaded jewellery, dolls and wire bowls.
Price: R50-600 (approx $3.03-36 USD)
Where: Greenmarket Square, Pan African Market
African masks and sculptures
Wood and soapstone carvings from across Africa.
Price: R100-2,500 (approx $6.06-152 USD)
Where: Pan African Market, Greenmarket Square
Cape Malay spice blends
Masala and curry blends sold by weight.
Price: R30-150 (approx $1.82-9.09 USD)
Where: Atlas Trading Company, Wale Street, Bo-Kaap
Shweshwe fabric
Printed indigo and coloured cotton used in dresses and homeware.
Price: R100-700 (approx $6.06-42 USD)
Where: Fabric shops on Long Street and Cape Quarter boutiques
Local books and maps
South African fiction, history and wildlife guides.
Price: R150-500 (approx $9.09-30 USD)
Where: The Book Lounge, 71 Roeland Street; Clarke's Bookshop, 199 Long Street
Penguin and Table Mountain souvenirs
Tea towels, magnets and prints; avoid items made from ivory or protected species.
Price: R50-300 (approx $3.03-18.18 USD)
Where: V&A Waterfront, Table Mountain cableway station shop
Traditional markets
Where locals shop and travellers find treasures.
Greenmarket Square
A cobbled public square with roughly 150 stalls selling African crafts and curios, surrounded by Art Deco buildings.
Where: City Bowl, Central Cape Town
Hours: Monday-Saturday approx 9AM-4PM; Sunday limited; confirm
Pan African Market
A multi-storey indoor market on Long Street with craft stalls from many African countries and a cafe.
Where: Long Street, Central Cape Town
Hours: Monday-Saturday approx 9AM-5PM; Sunday approx 10AM-4PM; confirm
Neighbourgoods Market
A weekly Saturday food-and-design market in the Old Biscuit Mill complex, very busy by mid-morning.
Where: Woodstock, Central-East Cape Town
Hours: Saturdays approx 9AM-3PM per the Old Biscuit Mill; confirm because third-party sources list different hours
Oranjezicht City Farm Market
A community-run farmers market with produce from the Oranjezicht City Farm and local growers.
Where: Granger Bay, Waterfront area
Hours: Saturdays approx 9AM-2PM and some weekday evenings seasonally; confirm at ozcf.co.za
Bay Harbour Market
A converted warehouse at Hout Bay harbour with food stalls, craft and live bands.
Where: Hout Bay, Atlantic Seaboard
Hours: Friday approx 5PM-9PM; Saturday and Sunday approx 9:30AM-4PM; confirm
Green Point Flea Market
An open-air flea market on the Green Point stadium parking area.
Where: Green Point, Atlantic Seaboard
Hours: Sundays and some Wednesdays approx 9AM-4PM; confirm
Milnerton Flea Market
A large weekend flea market on the Milnerton racecourse grounds, popular with bargain hunters.
Where: Milnerton, northern Cape Town
Hours: Saturdays and Sundays approx 8AM-3PM; confirm
Atlas Trading Company
A long-running Bo-Kaap spice shop selling Cape Malay masala blends by weight.
Where: Bo-Kaap, Central Cape Town
Hours: Monday-Friday approx 8:30AM-5PM; Saturday approx 8:30AM-1PM; closed Sunday; confirm
Shopping districts
Neighbourhoods known for retail.
Long Street and Bree Street
Victorian-balconied Long Street has secondhand bookshops, antique and curio shops and backpacker gear; Bree Street has design boutiques, coffee roasters and restaurants.
Best for: Antiques, books, design, fashion and coffee
Bo-Kaap
Historic Cape Malay quarter with painted houses; spice shops on Wale Street sell Cape Malay spice blends, and small shops sell local art.
Best for: Spices, Cape Malay cookbooks and crafts
Woodstock Design District
Warehouse studios, furniture and fashion makers and the Old Biscuit Mill at 373-375 Albert Road; Saturdays are best.
Best for: Contemporary design, fashion and gifts
Kloof Street and Gardens
Tree-lined street of independent fashion, homeware and lifestyle shops and cafes.
Best for: Fashion, homeware and cafes
Cape Quarter and De Waterkant
Cobbled lanes of boutiques and delis around the Cape Quarter lifestyle centre at 72 Waterkant Street.
Best for: Boutiques, interiors and art
Kalk Bay Main Road
Antique shops, art galleries and bookshops along Main Road, next to the working harbour.
Best for: Antiques, art and secondhand books
Malls & modern shopping
Air-conditioned, international brands, and food courts.
V&A Waterfront
South Africa's most visited shopping and entertainment precinct on the working harbour, with the Watershed craft hall and Victoria Wharf mall.
Hours: Daily approx 9AM-9PM; store hours vary; waterfront.co.za; tel +27 21 408 7600
Canal Walk Shopping Centre
One of the largest malls in Africa, about 15 km from the city centre; reach it by Uber, Bolt or MyCiTi bus.
Hours: Daily approx 9AM-9PM; confirm; canalwalk.co.za
Cavendish Square
A mall in the southern suburbs next to Claremont station.
Hours: Monday-Saturday approx 9AM-7PM; Sunday approx 9AM-5PM; confirm
Gardens Centre
A convenient neighbourhood mall in the city bowl, useful for groceries and pharmacies.
Hours: Monday-Saturday approx 9AM-6PM; Sunday approx 9AM-4PM; confirm
Cape Quarter Lifestyle Village
A courtyard village mall of boutiques and restaurants in De Waterkant.
Hours: Daily approx 9AM-6PM; confirm
Blue Route Mall
A large mall in the southern suburbs on the route to Muizenberg and Cape Point.
Hours: Monday-Saturday approx 9AM-7PM; Sunday approx 9AM-5PM; confirm
Bargaining tips
Negotiate like a local.
Bargain politely at Greenmarket Square and the Pan African Market; start at roughly 60-70 percent of the asking price and settle near 75-85 percent.
Do not bargain in malls, supermarkets or boutiques; prices are fixed.
Bundle several items from the same stall for a better discount.
Carry small notes (R20, R50, R100) for markets; vendors often cannot change R200 notes.
Compare prices at two or three stalls before buying; many sell identical beadwork and masks.
Decline unsolicited offers from street vendors politely and walk away if pressured.
Claim the VAT refund at the Cape Town International Airport VAT desk for purchases over R250 (approx $15 USD); keep receipts and goods for inspection.
Check customs rules for biltong, wine and wooden items before flying home.
Customs & restrictions
What you can and can't take home.
Payment: Cards are accepted in malls, restaurants and most shops; markets prefer cash. Use ATMs inside shopping centres.
Opening Days: Neighbourgoods Market runs on Saturday; shops in the CBD close early on Sunday; malls open daily.
Haggling Etiquette: Haggling at craft markets is expected but should be friendly and brief.
Touts And Commissions: Street sellers near the Waterfront and Long Street may approach visitors; decline politely.
Taxes And Refunds: VAT of 15 percent is included in prices; foreign visitors can reclaim VAT on goods over R250 (approx $15 USD) at the airport VAT refund office with receipts and passport.
Shipping: Craft vendors at Greenmarket Square and the Pan African Market can arrange shipping; compare with DHL or the South African Post Office.
Export Restrictions: Do not buy ivory, rhino horn, unpermitted plants or protected shells; CITES rules apply. Wine and biltong may be subject to import limits.
Footwear And Dress: Wear comfortable shoes for cobbled Greenmarket Square and the Bo-Kaap hills; bring a hat and sun protection.