Cape Town International airport (CPT) is the third largest airport on the continent of Africa, and it’s a compact, efficient hub that punches well above its weight. Located approximately 12 miles from Cape Town’s city center (locally called the CBD), this airport serves both the city and the surrounding wine country with surprising efficiency. As a South African with a home in Cape Town, I’ve used CPT more than any other airport in my life.
A major highway leads directly to the city, and it’s easy to navigate. If you’re heading to the winelands, Stellenbosch is approximately 30 minutes away, while Franschhoek is about 75 minutes from CPT.
Flying in or out, you’ll catch impressive views of the famed Table Mountain and the beautiful Atlantic Ocean. I’ve used this airport to get to Europe, Asia and the United States (with direct flights on United Airlines to Newark/Washington and Delta to Atlanta), but it’s also a great gateway to safaris with direct connections to Kruger National Park destinations like Skukuza and Hoedspruit, plus Maun in Botswana.
Terminals and check-in
CPT has a Central Terminal Building (CTB) that links the International Terminal (North) and Domestic Terminal (South), and navigation is straightforward despite the airport being built in the 1950s. The building is modern with all the facilities you’ll need as a traveler coming to South Africa.
CPT is a multi-level building with departures check-in on the upper level of the Central Terminal Building and arrivals on the ground floor. All passenger check-in takes place in the Central Terminal Building before proceeding to the respective security points.
The International Terminal is located on the northern side of the airport precinct and the Domestic Terminal is on the southern side, with passengers proceeding through security screening located within the Central Terminal Building to access airside departures.
Public transport at the airport
Getting to and from CPT is straightforward with three main options: shuttles, taxis and rideshare services. Shuttle services operate from the international inner lane to Cape Town CBD and other Western Cape destinations. You can use authorized airport taxis with walk-in service from transport kiosks and the domestic arrivals desk in the Central Terminal Building, while rideshare pick-ups and e-hailing have moved to Parkade 2.
Whichever option you choose, my advice is to not use unauthorized vehicles. Make sure you’ve booked with a reputable company to start your trip off right.
Parking
There’s ample parking available at CPT, with Shade Parking P3 and P4 located on either side of the centralised car rental facility adjacent to the Transport Plaza (accessed via pedestrian subways). You can choose from Parkade parking for short-stay needs, Shade Parking (P3/P4) for covered options, or Long Stay (P5) for extended trips. There’s also a pick-up area in Parkade 2 that provides a 20-minute free grace period for passenger collection.
Renting a car at the airport
I go to Cape Town several times every year and I rent a car every time. I find this to be the most convenient way to leave the airport and get around the city while I’m in town. To pick up your rental, exit the terminal and access the car-rental facility via one of two pedestrian subways on either side of the terminal (no road crossing required). Nine rental agencies operate here, with many offering 24/7 service, though some have more limited hours like 07:30–23:00 or 05:00–23:00.
Some frank advice, though. I recommend not renting a flashy car. For safety reasons, it’s better to stick with a simple, ordinary car, and there are always plenty of these available.
Lounges
CPT offers several lounge options depending on your terminal. On the domestic side, you’ll find the SLOW lounge, which is my favorite. There are only a few beautifully designed airport lounges in the world, and this is one of them. It’s stunning, but access is exclusive to qualifying FNB/RMB cardholders and select partners (day passes are not sold). SAA’s “The Lounge” is in Domestic Departures on the 4th floor, while the British Airways Galleries Lounge is located in the International Departures terminal.
Food and drink at the airport
The main food court and several restaurants are located on the Mezzanine Level (Level 3) of the Central Terminal Building, above the departures level, with views overlooking the airside of the terminal. You’ll find Soaring Hawk Spur for big meat selections and their standard salad bar, Ocean Basket for casual seafood, and Primi for classic Italian options.
If you want the biggest muffin of your life, try the Mugg and Bean, where they also have coffee and tea, additional hot drinks and full meals (they are a favorite for panini sandwiches).
My go-to is Vida e Caffè, a Portuguese-inspired spot with delicious pasteis de nata and excellent coffee, with locations in International Arrivals and Domestic Departures. The airport terminal is open 24 hours, but retail and dining hours vary, with many landside outlets closing by 21:00 or 22:00.
Retail selections at the airport
Retail is available across Domestic Departures, International Departures, and Domestic Arrivals areas. There’s a shop called Woolworths where you can get a solid flat white coffee and some grocery items. I often pick up groceries right here upon arriving from the US to take home to my place in Cape Town. You can even find household items like cleaning materials and toiletries.
There’s also a Link Pharmacy in the Central Terminal Building (Landside) if you need anything medical.
Books & Things in the Central Terminal Building (Landside) and International Departures sells the latest South African magazines (I always pick up the design magazine VISI to check out the latest local styles) and books, of course. There are also a few snack shops, clothing stores and a big souvenir selection for last-minute gifts. After security, duty-free and additional retail are available airside in International Departures, along with even more souvenirs.
Hotels at Cape Town International Airport
There are two hotels right at Cape Town International Airport: Hotel Verde Cape Town Airport, which is a 4-star property located approximately 400m from the terminal with a complimentary shuttle, and Road Lodge Cape Town International Airport within walking distance of the terminal. Note that City Lodge Hotel GrandWest is located approximately 4 miles away. Authorized shuttles operate from the international inner lane where passengers are met from the arrivals terminals.
But here’s my take. There are a host of really great hotels in the city, and it’s approximately 12 miles from the city center (typically 20–30 minutes depending on traffic) in a taxi (and very inexpensive), so I always recommend checking in at a hotel in the city instead. I highly recommend staying at the iconic Cape Grace directly on the V&A Waterfront. From there, you can easily walk to a great dinner and many shops.
Other services at CPT
For a smaller airport, CPT is well-appointed with anything you may need. You’ll find banking services (ABSA, Nedbank, Standard Bank) and foreign exchange (Bidvest Bank, Master Currency) available in the terminals (although South Africa is now well-equipped with tap-to-pay credit card functionality pretty much everywhere).
There’s also a Tax Refund for Tourists office at CPT, located in the International Departures area (both landside and airside), where you can get tax back on purchases you made while shopping in South Africa. It can be a little complicated, and you’ll need paperwork prepared by each store where you made the purchases, so plan ahead with a bit of research if you want to take advantage of this. There’s also a Post Office in the Central Terminal Building, where I sometimes stop to send postcards.
If you need Wi-Fi, you can take advantage of the free Wi-Fi networks available for up to 4 hours or 1GB of data per user. You can connect easily by following the prompts, and there’s no password or additional information required.
Because you can only take a small bag with you on to most safari lodges, I’ve often used the bag storage at CPT. Bagport (formerly A-Teck/Bag Wrap), which is located in Parkade 2 (P2), will store your larger bags for a fee (or anything else you want to leave behind).
This KAYAK-commissioned article is presented as-is, for general informational purposes only, and may not be up-to-date. The opinions contained in the article are original to the author and reflect their authentic experience, which may vary significantly from the experience of others.
