Destination guide
Car hire in Cape Town for crew on a break
Cape Town's public transport doesn't cover the city especially well for visitors, and the region's best-known drive — Chapman's Peak and the route down to Cape Point — is exactly the kind of coastal scenery a car was made for.
Why bother with a car here
A car is genuinely useful even within Cape Town, since public transport options for tourists are limited compared to many other major cities. Beyond the city, the Cape Peninsula drive — via Chapman's Peak to Cape Point — and the Cape Winelands around Stellenbosch and Franschhoek are both built around having your own wheels.
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Search car hire →What to know about driving here
- Driving side: left-hand side.
- Chapman's Peak Drive is a toll road and occasionally closes in bad weather or rockfall risk — check it's open before planning around it.
- Don't leave valuables visible in the car, especially at viewpoints and trailheads — standard practice locally, not unique to any one spot.
- Cape Town Airport (CPT) has a straightforward rental centre a short distance from the terminal.
Good use of a day off
The full Cape Peninsula loop — Chapman's Peak, Cape Point, and back via Simon's Town's penguin colony — makes a spectacular full day. For something different, the Winelands around Stellenbosch and Franschhoek are under an hour away and make an easy, relaxed alternative.
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Search car hire →Frequently asked questions
Do I need a car in Cape Town?+
It genuinely helps — public transport for visitors is more limited than in many other major cities, and the best-known drives are just outside town.
Is Chapman's Peak Drive always open?+
Not always — it can close temporarily for bad weather or rockfall risk, and it's a toll road. Check conditions before planning your day around it.
How far is Stellenbosch from Cape Town?+
Under an hour by car, making the Winelands an easy day trip.