Hotel Recommendations

Holiday Inn Express Cape Town City Centre

Protea Marriot Mowbray

Southern Sun Newlands

Where to stay near the Homecoming Centre

The Central Business District

Cape Town Travel provides recommendations on what to do and where to stay in the city centre (CBD). We advise staying in the city centre (including the suburbs Gardens, Vredehoek, De Waterkant, Tamboerskloof, and Oranjezicht), which are nearer to the Homecoming Centre than other surrounding suburbs like Greenpoint or Seapoint. The Gardens Centre Holiday Apartments are a convenient option if you are looking for self-contained, self-catering accommodation. Apartments sleep two or more. Prices begin at approximately R1200 per apartment per night. More options can be found on Lekkeslaap or Agoda.

The Southern Suburbs

Cape Town Travel provides recommendations on what to do and where to stay in the Southern Suburbs. This grouping of areas includes suburbs such as Rondebosch, Newlands, Claremont, Harfield Village, Kenilworth and Observatory, all of which boast a wide range of reasonably priced accommodation options. The Southern Suburbs offer good access to the city centre. The beautiful Upper Campus of the University of Cape Town ('the university on the Mountain') is located here, in the lush, leafy suburb of Rondebosch. Westbury House Guest House in Rondebosch offers rooms from R440 per person per night. Alternatively, the John Bauer Pottery Studio and Guest House offers rooms in Harfield Village from R750 per night. You can find more options on Lekkeslaap.

Uber

This will likely be your simplest option, if you aren't renting a car. When using Uber, we advise ordering the Uber Black option, as these drivers usually have more reliable cars and better ratings in South Africa. Always check whether the license plate of your car matches the license plate shown in-app before getting into the vehicle.

Download Uber on the App Store or Google Playstore. 

MyCiTi Bus

The MyCiTi Bus service is a safe, convenient mode of public transport for Cape Town central and surrounds. Some areas are not catered for by the MyCiti Buses. Find an overview of the areas the MyCiti buses service here. A guide to using the bus service (and a trip planner) can be found here. In short, however, you will need to buy a travel card at a MyCiTi bus station or participating retailer, which you use to tap in and out of stations. Your fare is calculated based on your travel distance and whether you are traveling during peak hours. You can either load credit onto the card, or choose to pay as you go.

Metrorail Train

Metrorail's Southern Line services a limited set of stations from Cape Town station to Fish Hoek station. It is unlikely you will need to use the train for conference-related activities, but you might want to during your downtime. Find a local's guide to taking the train (and other forms of public transport!) here. Find train timetables here. Please note that the trains do not run on Sundays or public holidays.

Getting around on foot

If you are staying in the city centre, it should be possible to walk between your accommodation and some of the conference venues. Walking around during the daytime is safe, but try to avoid walking around at night. Be sensible about your safety, as you would be anywhere else. Keep an eye on your personal belongings, and try to avoid flashing valuables or wearing especially expensive jewellery when walking around the centre. 

Cape Town International Airport 

Cape Town International Airport provides guidance on booking a transfer service or using the MyCiTi bus to get to your accommodation when you arrive. When leaving, you can either use the MyCiTi bus or book another transfer service, metered taxi, or Uber.

Find more travel advice from Cape Town Tourism here.

Mosques, Churches, Synagogues and Temples Near the Homecoming Centre

Mosques (Salaah Timetable):

• Auwal Masjid (43 Dorp St, Cape Town City Centre, Cape Town, 8001) 

The first mosque established in South Africa (1794)

• Jumu'a Mosque of Cape Town (Greys Pass, Cape Town City Centre, Cape Town, 8001)

Churches:

• St. Mary's Cathedral (16 Roeland St, Cape Town City Centre, Cape Town, 8000)

• Universal Church of the Kingdom of God (9 Buitenkant St, District Six, Cape Town, 7925)

Synagogues:

• The Gardens Shul (Cape Town Hebrew Congregation) (88 Hatfield St, Cape Town City Centre, Cape Town, 8000)

Temples

• Hare Krishna Temple (17 St Andrews Rd, Rondebosch, Cape Town, 7700)

Mosques, Churches, Synagogues and Temples Near UCT

Mosques (Salaah Timetable):

• Masjid Ar-Rashideen (9 Queen St, Mowbray, Cape Town, 7700)

• Masjid Al Jamia (Stegman Rd, Newlands, Cape Town, 7725)

Churches:

• Common Ground Church Rondebosch (23 Milner Rd, Rondebosch, Cape Town, 7701)

• St Paul's Anglican Church (9 Church St, Rondebosch, Cape Town, 7700)

Synagogues:

• Rondebosch Hebrew Congregation  (2 Ave De Mist, Rondebosch, Cape Town, 7700)

• Claremont Shul (55 Grove Ave, Claremont, Cape Town, 7708)

Temples

• Hare Krishna Temple (17 St Andrews Rd, Rondebosch, Cape Town, 7700)

Cafes 

Popular Coffee Shops:

• Vida É Caffe, Seattle Coffee, Bootlegger Coffee Company

These are found across most malls in Cape Town - notably, The Victoria and Alfred Mall and Cavendish Square (closest to UCT and The Homecoming Centre). They have a breakfast/brunch options if you're feeling peckish, however, not all branches may be fully Halaal or Kosher-friendly. 

Looking for More Than Just a Quick Sip? Try these Cafés:

• Starlings Cafe (94 Belvedere Rd, Claremont, Cape Town, 7708)

Nestled in a garden, nothing screams both comfort and heart-warming food like Starlings (Breakfast and Lunch options available). Situated close to Belvedere Square (a hub for local eateries and bakeries). 

• Shift Espresso Bar (9 Hemlock St, Newlands, Cape Town, 7700)

Fully-Halaal, with a good range of vegetarian options. Sophisticated, clean and welcoming atmosphere - rich coffee and some of the best Burgers that Cape Town can offer! 

• Woolworths Cafe (Palmyra Junction, 12, 1 Palmyra Rd)

Woolworths Cafes' can be found all across Cape Town (in most malls as well), and have a wide range of vegetarian and gluten-free friendly options. This particular branch is also Halaal. Woolworths Cafes are the good, old faithfuls of Cape Town - Woolworths boasts some of the best-quality food.

Restaurants 

• Col'Cacchio (Located in Cavendish Square, The Victoria & Alfred Mall)

A taste of Italy blended with Southern African flavour - offers some of the most well-loved pizza and pasta in Cape Town. Some branches are halal-friendly (The Victoria & Alfred Mall) - most will offer a "kosher cut" for food (upon request).

• Ciao Pizza (309 Long St, Cape Town City Centre, Cape Town, 8001)

Fully-Halaal. If you're looking for the best pizza Cape Town has to offer, look no further!

• Sabria's Restaurant (119 Ottery Road, Wynberg, 7800)

Fully-Halaal. Sabria's caters a wide variety of dishes, from curries to seafood platters - a clean and sophisticated dining experience, that at its core, holds a home-cooked Cape-Tonian charm.

Bookshops:

• The Book Lounge (Cnr Buitenkant &, 71 Roeland St, Cape Town City Centre, Cape Town, 8001)

An independent bookstore in the heart of Cape Town, mixing great coffee and fantastic books. They frequently host book launches and other book-related events, which are great for socialising and meeting new faces (with similar interests) around Cape Town. Find out more on their Instagram page. 

• Clarke's Bookshop (199 Long St, Cape Town City Centre, Cape Town, 8001)

The oldest surviving second-hand book store in Cape Town (established in 1956). Clarke's has an ambience that cannot be beaten for the book-lover - the smell of antiquated pages and rarities waiting to be explored. More than just a bookshop, Clarke's is an opportunity for you to bump into new faces and meet individuals with similar interests - you'll more than likely run into a fellow academic here! Just sitting in Clarke's / exploring their shelves is like a time-slice into the past, where new ideas shake hands with old texts. Find more about Clarke's on their website. 

Cinemas / Movie Theatres:

• The Labia Theatre (68 Orange St, Gardens, Cape Town, 8000)

Highly recommended. The Labia is a journey back into time, an independent theatre, showing the best of circuit, independent movies, foreign films, documentaries, classics and other alternative films. An Art Deco cinema that you won't find anywhere else in Cape Town, the Labia is perfect for an afternoon or night out. Find more about the Labia on their website. 

• The Galileo Open-Air Cinema (OA Rhodes Ave, Wynberg NU (2), Cape Town, 7800)

Enjoy a film under the stars at the Galileo - surrounded by the lush environment of the Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, it makes the perfect environment for screening classic films. Best of all, you can plan your day to explore the surrounding Kirstenbosch Gardens themselves (before watching a film) - boasting lush vegetation, fynbos, rivers and creatures. The very best of South Africa's indigenous fauna and flora. Find more about the Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens and the Galileo Open-Air Cinema on their website and Instagram page. 

Other Activities:

Check out Cape Town Travel's list of the "Best Things To Do In Cape Town for Under R50"  and Trip Advisor's "Things To Do In Cape Town Central". Some recommended options are:

• Take a cable-car up to Table Mountain - marvel at the best of Cape Town's sites (Table Mountain is one of the 7 Wonders of the New World) and a view of our indigenous fauna and flora. 

• Take a stroll down the Sea Point promenade - which features a range of nearby coffee shops, restaurants or even dip into the waters of our (multiple) beaches!

• Visit the Victoria & Alfred Mall - beyond the large number of shops in the mall itself, the Victoria & Alfred Mall (The Waterfront) offers a large number of outdoor activities, local markets and food stalls that boast Cape Town's rich cultural history. 

Check out Inside Guide's list for the "Best Museums in Cape Town" - notable picks include the Iziko South African Museum and Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa.