South Africa Guide
Cape Town
Getting around
Although Cape Town's city centre is compact enough to get around on foot, many of the attractions are spread along the considerable length of the peninsula. To make the most of your visit the best option by far is to rent a car. Otherwise, Rikkis are cheaper than taxis, or you could take a tour, or make do with the pretty skeletal public transport system.
Inner-city areas west of the centre are better served by buses than other central suburbs, but transport north along the Atlantic coast is negligible. There is, however, a train service cutting through the southern suburbs and continuing all the way down to Simon's Town. It's fairly reliable and well used, though the rolling stock, which is gradually being upgraded, is looking a little battered.
Note that using public transport after dark is potentially risky. If you're forced to do so, take sensible precautions, such as travelling in a group (especially women) and avoiding third-class carriages on trains; otherwise, make every effort to take metered taxis at night.