Cape Town

Fragrant and gently sweet, with spices brought to the Cape centuries ago.

Spiced minced meat baked under a savoury egg custard, often called South Africa's national dish.

Plaited dough fried and soaked in syrup, sticky and very sweet.

A large indoor food market at the V&A Waterfront, good for trying a little of everything.

Take the rotating cableway or hike to the flat summit for views across the city and the Atlantic.

Ferries from the V&A Waterfront take you to the prison, with tours led by former political prisoners.

Dramatic cliffs at the tip of the Cape Peninsula, inside Table Mountain National Park.

Walk the boardwalks among a colony of African penguins near Simon's Town.

World-famous gardens of South African plants on the eastern slopes of Table Mountain.

Drive up for a picnic and watch the sun drop into the Atlantic.

One of the world's great coastal roads, cut into the cliffs between Hout Bay and Noordhoek.

Stellenbosch and Franschhoek are about an hour's drive from the city.

Cape Town International Airport (CPT) is about 20 km from the city centre.

Summer, from November to March, is warm and dry. Whales can be seen along the coast from about June to November.

The currency is the South African rand (ZAR). Cards are widely accepted in the city.

The cableway closes in high wind, so keep your Table Mountain day flexible.