Cheap Flights to Cape Town

Beneath the towering beauty of Table Mountain, Cape Town’s diverse population of Christians, Muslims, Jews and many traditional African tribes offer visitors an endless variety of cuisines, building styles and sights.

It’s not just cultural wonders here though, wildlife and nature can be explored in the mountains and the National Park that surround the city.

Cape Town is where you can try your hand at surfing from the golden beaches, spot whales on a cruise, hike through entrancing scenery and paraglide off Lion’s Head. Or its where you can lounge in the cafes of the Waterfront, admire the architecture, stroll through the excellent museums and galleries and dine out in Afro-chic restaurants.

Let’s find you a cheap flight to Cape Town, shall we?

When to book cheap flights to Cape Town

Cape Town benefits from a mild climate all year-round, so with a little flexibility you can always find cheap flights to Cape Town.

The best times to gain from lower-priced airfares are in September and October or in February and March. During these times you’ll enjoy many crisp, sunny days which are ideal for sightseeing. You’ll also avoid the crowds of Cape Town’s peak season.

The busiest times are November until January when flight prices rise. During this time the South African summer is in full swing, and festivals and parades can often be seen in the city, such as the Second New Year Parade at the beginning of January.

How to find the best flight deals to Cape Town

Outside of the peak season there are many cheap flights to Cape Town available, but during it you’ll need to book early and search a little harder.

Thankfully, Expedia makes it easy to search out the best-priced flight tickets to Cape Town.

You can use our ‘Show flexible dates’ feature when you search for flights to quickly reveal when the cheapest flights are.

You can also filter your results by direct and connecting flights to see if making a stop will reduce your airfare without greatly increasing your flight time. And, you never know, it may offer you the chance to visit somewhere on your bucket list on the way to South Africa.

Cape Town Airport

Cape Town International Airport serves the city of Cape Town. It is the second-busiest airport in South Africa and the third-busiest in Africa. Located 12 miles away from the city, you have a number of options for onward travel.

You can take a metered taxi to the city centre for around R300 and R400, but the most cost-effective way to travel is the MyCiti bus that runs every 20 minutes early in the morning until 22:00. It costs R50 per person and the trip takes around 35 minutes.

There is also the option to hire a car from the airport, which is especially useful if you are intending to explore the area around the city.

Which airlines fly to Cape Town?

The carriers offering cheap, but not always direct, flights to Cape Town include:

• Condor
• Turkish Airlines
• Ethiopian
• Air France
• British Airways
• Etihad
• Lufthansa
• KLM
• Virgin Atlantic
• Finnair
• Iberia
• Thomas Cook
• South African Airways
• Emirates
• Qatar Airways

How to get around in Cape Town

If you fancy feeling fit and going green Cape Town has become a very bike-friendly city, with dedicated bike lanes in most areas.

Taxis are widely available for short trips, as are car hire options for longer drives.

Within the city a number of private bus companies and the MyCiti service make most attractions accessible, and there’s the City Sightseeing bus that lets you jump on and off whenever you fancy.

Trains mainly run basic commuter routes, but they also stretch out, along the scenic Southern line, as far as Simon’s Town.

If you’re travelling from Cape Town within South Africa it’s easy to catch a cheap domestic flight in South Africa. Apart from the national carrier, South African Airways, low-cost carriers such as Mango, Kulula, 1time, and Fly Safari offer routes.

What are the must-sees in Cape Town?

Some of the sights that may not be on every tourist’s list of places to visit, but are well worth considering, include:

• Bo-Kaap – Just southwest of downtown, this Muslim area was first inhabited by descendants of slaves from Southeast Asia. Today its colourful buildings, atmospheric streets, magnificent mosques, fantastic street food snacks make it an enchanting area.
• Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens – Cecil Rhodes donated the land to the South African people and Kirstenbosch’s hugely diverse plants and flowers from the Cape ensure his gift has been made the most of.
• Robben Island – Located just off the coast from Cape Town this is the island where political prisoners, including Nelson Mandela and Walter Sisulu, were held during the dark days of apartheid.