Cape Town is hands down one of the most beautiful cities around the world, but just like many other travel destinations, there are some pitfalls first-timers are prone to stumble upon. That’s why I’ve compiled a list of things you need to be aware of in advance, adding some pro tips based on my recent personal experience.

Uber in Cape Town sucks but it’s your best option

The transportation system in Cape Town is not the best thing in the world, that’s why Uber is your better alternative. However, it’s not that great either. In fact, it’s not really reliable. Drivers will cancel rides a lot when they’re only one minute away (after you’ve waited for a driver for 7 minutes or so). I remember I had three drivers cancelling my ride in a row; I was hanging for about half an hour in the sun.

Uber, however, is your safest option. It’s not always bad though; just don’t have high expectations.

Pro Tip: Many drivers cancel rides if you choose cash as your payment method, worrying they’d be mugged. So, opt for the credit/debit card option if possible.

Everything closes relatively early

In summer, the sun starts to set around 7:30 pm, that’s why you’ll find yourself finishing your day activities at around 8 pm. Of course, you’ll go back to the hostel/hotel for a quick shower and to change, but by the time you’ll go out for dinner, kitchens might be closing! Many restaurants close as early as 11:30 pm and most bars close at 2 am.

Cape Town’s weather is unpredictable

I went to Cape Town in February, which is supposedly not just summer, but the hottest month of the year there. However, we’ve witnessed all four seasons in one day sometimes (not even exaggerating).

So, no matter what the weather forecast says, always be prepared when packing. You’ll sometimes need your sunscreen, shades, and hat, and other times you’ll need a jacket. Speaking of jackets, keep a hoodie or a light cardigan with you all the time; Cape Town can get super windy.

Pro Tip: Because you can’t predict the weather if you have intentions to hike the Table Mountains or Lions Head, the earlier you do it during your trip, the better. Nothing will go as planned in this city and one day you’ll find clouds covering the summits and believe me, going up there, in this case, can get really ugly.

Expect lots of load-shedding

As a result of a failure in meeting the supply of electricity with its demand, Cape Town witnesses scheduled power cuts as an attempt to save energy. That’s why you need to keep your mobile phones charged at all times, and preferably carry a power bank. ATMs and gas stations are also sometimes affected. Not to mention that meal preparation could sometimes be a problem.

Pro Tip: Luckily, there are mobile apps that can notify you before the power cuts. You can download the Load Shedding Notifier for Android or EskomSePush for iOS.

Exchanging currency is a bit of a hassle

Currency exchange offices aren’t scattered around the city, and even if you stumble upon one, your safest options are the ones in the V&A Waterfront or banks.

Other than the fact that you’ll have to go all the way there for a trusted source of money, you need to have your passport with you. If you don’t carry it around, make sure the first time you exchange money, you know the bank’s name and that your passport’s scan is clear enough. This way, you won’t have to carry it around every time you need to exchange currencies and a photo of your passport on your phone would do.

Another annoying thing is that to exchange Rands back to Dollars or Euros, you must have the receipts as well as your passport with you. The only place that’ll make the exchange for you without the receipts is the office at the airport.

Pro Tip: Using a debit card for transactions is a better option to avoid the hassle and save the administration and VAT fees.

Mobile data is expensive

Buying a sim card and mobile data can be pricey. Vodacom has some ridiculously expensive plans for “tourists”. That’s why I opted for Telkom; it was relatively cheap, but I ran out of data a day and a half later, so I had to double my choice.

Pro Tip: According to locals, MTN offers the best coverage.

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