As a backpacker coming to Cape Town, one of the most often-asked questions, is how to get around the city. We have compiled a list of the most common used options so when you are choosing where to stay in Cape Town, make sure that they also know about all of these!
Cape Town generic pic

1. Uber

Probably one of the most easys ways to get around in with Uber. Just download the app, register youself & start using it. When choosing where to stay in Cape Town, install the address of your Cape Town backpackers hostel as your home address so that you can get going immediately.

https://www.uber.com/

Uber pic

2. Rikki

Save money, time and the environment by sharing your journey with anyone heading your direction.

People love Rikkisā€™ social side ā€“ the fact that you can enjoy a ride with anyone heading your direction. But we also offer a private taxi service, delivering you right to the door of your destination. You can also choose the Rikkis Share Ride – this is a door-to-door taxi service that takes groups of 2 to 22 people to and from multiple destinations in Cape Town.
You can book your ride on the website:
http://www.rikkis.co.za/

Rikki pic

3. Mini-bus taxi

Minibus taxis service most areas on dedicated routes and are frequently available and inexpensive. Loading and offloading happens on demand pretty much anywhere en route. Payment is made on board (make sure you have change as the driver may not always be able to assist.) Prices start from approximately R5 per trip with amounts increasing according to the distance travelled.

Please always check with reception at your backpackers lodge in Cape Town to determine that the route is safe.

Minibus taxi pic

4. On foot

Cape Town is the perfect city to walk arround. Just walk to your destination or go for a free city walk with Nielsontours. They have 3 tours daily. The travel desk at Ashanti has brochures on all of these.
The Historic Tour – The Cape Town tour of heroes and villains, political violence and peaceful revolutions, drama and harmony and a great deal of personal insight in living and being a real Capetonian.
(Every day at 8.50, 11.00 & 14.00)
The Bo-Kaap – See the colourful houses, smell the spices of the East, hear the mosques calling for prayer, let the Cape Malay food tempt your taste buds and get a feel of what else to do in Cape Town. They might even show you a hidden place to get a local beer.
(Every day at 11.00, 14.00 & 16.20)
Distict Six Tour – Walk the partly rebuild slopes of the world famous District Six and relive the colourful and dramatic history of the place that affected so many people, caused a world to protest and inspired Hollywood Blockbusters.
(Every day at 16.20)
http://www.nielsentours.co.za/

On foot pic

5. By bicycle

Go through Cape Town by bike is an easy and fast way to move around. There are multiple places where you can rent good quality citybikes or mountainbikes.
Before deciding where to stay in Cape Town, it might be a good idea to see if the Cape Town Hostel is on a hill or not ā€“ hehe.
You can also dicide to do a cycle tour. For example CapeTown city cycle tour. Leaving daily at 10am from the V&A Waterfront Information Centre. The city cycle tours, led by experienced local guides, make cycling the perfect way to really experience this incredible city.
https://www.awoltours.co.za/bicycle-tours/cape-town-city-cycle-tours/
http://www.rentabicycle.co.za

Bicycle pic

6. Meter taxi

Various fleets of metered taxis are available in Cape Town and fall under the jurisdiction of the City. All legitimate operators use the taxameter and fares are clearly displayed on the outside of the taxi per metered kilometre.
As metered taxis in Cape Town are theoretically not allowed to stop for customers on the streets, they should be ordered in advance, or found in one of the Cityā€™s designated taxi ranks. Taxi ranks can be found, for example, in Bloem Street, Adderley Street, opposite the Civic Centre MyCiTi station and outside most large hotels in the CBD.
Most backpacker hostels in Cape Town will have an arrangement with a reputable taxi company so check with reception.

 

Meter taxi pic

7. Miciti bus

MyCiTi is Cape Townā€™s modern, scheduled bus service. It is an easy and cheap way to go around Cape Town.
MyCiTi does not accept cash on the buses. Each passenger needs their own myconnect card to travel. Get yours from MyCiTi stations our select retailers and load your card with money for travel.
When you leave Cape Town, keep your card for your next visit to the city.
We sell the cards and do cash uploads at our reception. It might be a good idea to check out the closest bus stop when choosing which backpackers in Cape Town to book.
Current routes link the tourist playground of the central city with major landmarks, such as the V&A Waterfront, Table Mountain Cableway, Sea Point Promenade and pristine beaches of Camps Bay and Clifton, with the seaside fishing village of Hout Bay along the Atlantic Seaboard. The MyCiTi service also travels north from the central city, to the west Coast suburbs around Table View and along the Blouberg coastline, with its picture-postcard views of Table Mountain and Robben Island in Table Bay.

MyCiti bus

8. Hop on hop off City Sightseein Bus

Explore Cape Town at your own pace. Buy one ticket and hop on and off at any of our exciting stops. Your ticket is valid all day, so you can take your time to explore your favourite attractions.
The City Sightseeing open-top bus tour is the best way to go sightseeing in Cape Town. They run in Cape Town seven days a week, 365 days a year and arrive at each stop at regular scheduled intervals. Guests are encouraged to hop off the bus throughout the tour and explore the surrounding areas.
With informative audio commentary about all the major attractions in 15 different languages (and a special kids channel), City Sightseeing tours are the easiest way to see the sights.
Your ticket gives you access to all the bus tours in Cape Town.
It might be a good idea to check out Cit the closest bus stop when choosing which backpackers in Cape Town to book.

Hop-on hop off bus pic

9. Rental Car

Hiring a car directly after you land is the easiest way to cruise around Cape Town. By renting a car you can ensure that you get to see all of her major attractions at your leisure. It also means that you can afford to be more relaxed about your holiday planning.
You can use the offerings from the car rental agency of your choice for the entirety of your stay and you are also given the option of picking up your chosen vehicle at the airport and dropping it off at a corresponding outlet in the Cape Town. Our you can go for ā€œThe one-way car rental optionā€ this allows you to pick up a car from Cape Town and drop it off in another part of the country (e.g. Johannesburg). This is the perfect opportunity for a roadtrip!
http://www.southafrica.to/transport/carrentals/car-rentals-capetown/car-rentals-Cape-Town-airport.php5

Rental car pic

10. Skateboard

Another option to get around in cape town is with your board. Skateboarding is pretty populair in Cape Town, so it is not difficult to find a skateshop(for example on longstreet) to buy a board or bring your own.

Skateboard pic
So make sure that your backpackers lodge in Cape Town is suitable so that you can use all of these transport facilities.