South AfricaVisited Oct 2023 · 2 months
The world's most scenic remote working hub?
This guide was written 3 years ago
Prices, opening hours and recommendations may have changed since my visit, so double-check anything important before you book.
The distinct landscape is formed by the imposing presence of Table Mountain National Park and the rugged beauty of the Cape Peninsula, providing panoramic views in every direction.
Without a doubt, worth the journey. It's a long way to travel, but there's something for everyone, making it a good gamble for a month-long stay.
Great · #10 of 62
8.5/10
Plan ahead and avoid peak season in December and you should find an array of high-quality accommodations on Airbnb at reasonable prices.
Prices tend to rise sharply during the summer months, particularly in popular tourist areas like Camp Bay. Excellent deals can be found in the CBD, especially when booking for extended periods of a month or more.
Great · #2 of 62
9.2/10
Cape Town stands out among other cities with its vast array of coworking spaces, offering an unparalleled variety of options. Throughout the city, you'll find numerous high-quality spaces at affordable prices.
Great · #18 of 62
8.3/10
With a favorable exchange rate against the rand, Cape Town offers exceptional value for travellers coming from abroad. The cost of food and drink is roughly half of what you would typically encounter in Western Europe for comparable meals and drinks.
Great · #9 of 62
8.4/10
It’s challenging to provide a definitive verdict on Cape Town, as the experience can vary greatly depending on where you stay. The city undeniably offers a range of experiences, with enough restaurants, events, and world-class scenery to explore over several months. If I were to offer any advice, it would be to choose an area that aligns with your risk appetite.
The CBD bears little resemblance to a typical urban centre, with its omnipresent security being both intriguing and somewhat concerning. Areas such as the V&A Waterfront and Camps Bay are exceptionally safe and pleasant, though they lack some of the city's distinctive character and vibrancy.
A significant drawback is that, regardless of your location in the city, the streets become remarkably quiet after sunset. With most journeys undertaken by taxi, there’s a notable lack of nighttime ambience.
A friend's upcoming wedding in late October presented the ideal opportunity for an extended visit to a city that had always piqued my curiosity, yet never found its way into my plans.
$1,083a month, before rent
Basic living costs, rent not included
Day-to-day spending for a month: two meals out and a coffee every day, three taxis and two nights out a week, a gym and a coworking desk. Add your rent on top.
AffordablePrices as of Oct 2026. Confidence: medium (gym & coworking verified; other prices restated at 2026-10-07 exchange rates). Sources: numbeo.com, workshop17.co.za, onecoworking.com. Always check locally before planning around them.
Cape Town reaches its peak season after December, when the weather starts to heat up and accommodation prices follow accordingly. I found November to strike a great balance between pleasant warmth and affordability.
If you wish to fully enjoy outdoor activities, I would advise against arriving before October, as the unpredictable weather may hinder your plans to hike up Table Mountain and its surrounding peaks. Similarly, when temperatures soar close to 30 degrees, midday hikes can become quite strenuous.
I stayed for ten weeks in total which felt like a good duration, with most of the items I wanted to get done having been completed.
| Month | Low °C | High °C | Rain mm | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 17 | 32 | 8 | peak season |
| February | 17 | 31 | 6 | peak season |
| March | 15 | 27 | 26 | peak season |
| April | 13 | 25 | 58 | |
| May | 11 | 23 | 47 | |
| June | 11 | 18 | 109 | wet month |
| July | 10 | 15 | 216 | wet month |
| August | 9 | 16 | 106 | wet month |
| September | 9 | 21 | 21 | |
| October | 12 | 25 | 16 | |
| November | 14 | 26 | 9 | peak season |
| December | 16 | 28 | 19 | peak season |
Typical daytime highs and overnight lows, from the last two years of observations (Open-Meteo). Rain icons mark the wettest months.
Digital nomad visa coming soon
In April 2022, South Africa announced plans for a digital nomad visa to attract more foreign visitors and boost its economy following the impacts of COVID-19 travel restrictions. The proposed visa will allow remote workers, freelancers for foreign companies, and business owners to stay in South Africa for an extended period, initially one year with the possibility of renewal.
While foreigners can currently stay for 90 days, the digital nomad visa aims to enable longer stays. It will also include attractive provisions for dependents of visa applicants. However, full details are still forthcoming as the visa is not yet available. Updates will be provided once more information is released by South African authorities.
South Africa is two hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT+2); South Africa doesn't operate daylight saving time, so there's no time difference between the summer and winter months.
Your choice of accommodation in Cape Town can greatly influence your overall experience. Unlike many European destinations, being in the city center does not offer significant advantages.
Given the importance of security, i would suggest being more thorough in your research than you may otherwise be.
Places like Hout Bay, Muizenberg and Constantia are all great areas but without access to a car you'll be somewhat restricted.
Super safe if somewhat sterile area. Huge shopping mall and plush harbourside restaurants. Good if with family or want to be extra precautious.
You are likely to get even better value accommodation in Woodstock but you would be highly reliant on Ubers, not the best area to be walking unaccompanied.
Combining the long promenade walk with plentiful food, coffee and nightlife options, Sea Point is a more relaxing alternative to being in the CBD whilst still maintaining a good buzz.
Cape Town stands out among other cities with its vast array of coworking spaces, offering an unparalleled variety of options. Throughout the city, you'll find numerous high-quality spaces at affordable prices.
However, when it comes to coffee shops, few create an ideal serious work environment, with their early closing times and the possibility of power outages due to loadshedding.
Split over the 2nd and 4th floors of The Harrington office block, Roamwork has a spacious relaxed working environment with an on site cafe and super friendly staff. Each floor has a number of focus rooms that are readily available for private calls and there is an outdoor balcony with fantastic views of Devils's Peak.
Within a 2 minute walk of the property there's a number of great of food and drink options, including New York Bagels, Simple Bru Coffee & Nude Foods (would highly recommend the Chipotle falafel wrap). District 6 is a 'lively' area but there is a solid police presence until into the evening.
Members 24/7 access and the building and it has it's own power generator reducing any downtime as a result of loadshedding. Internet is quick and reliable. They currently run an offer of 2 days free working which I'd suggest checking out if in town.
2nd floor, 50 Harrington St, District Six
Stand out speciality coffee, with a couple of different bean varities on offer also.
Top quality speciality coffee with a light snacks also served.
Traditional South African food isn't actually too prevalent across the city - the rotating lunch menu here is well worth a visit.
Korean BBQ available sitting in and available via Uber Eats. Would highly recommend the Dak Galbi.
If heading up or coming back from Devil's Peak, well worth popping in here for a great breakfast. Good quality coffee on offer also.
Great fresh bagels to eat in or take away, the breakfast bagel is excellent. Turns into an informal wine bar in the evening.
Speciality Gin cocktails served in a unique setting
Locally sourced produce, handcrafted goods and street food options make this a popular weekend brunch spot. On Wednesday nights there's a night market too.
Located just outside Simon's Town, a short drive from the heart of Cape Town (depending on traffic), this beach is one of the rare habitats for African Penguins in South Africa.
A hub of artisanal street food, design, and vintage boutiques. Visit over the weekend for the full of availability of outlets.
Accessible in under an hours drive from the centre of Cape Town, the area is home to beautiful rolling hills and numerous wine producers. Stellenbosch, the largest town is a great base to explore from. Babylonstoren makes for a great day trip.
This scenic route is best experienced via a bike or car, offering unparalleled views of the Atlantic coastline with the road etched into the cliff face.
Over 200 sq km of hikes and trail runs to explore, with an endless variety of paths taking you to the ascent. If you're not feeling too active, theres a cable car to take you to the summit with a cafe/bar at the view point.
There is no better place to run in the city; this coastal path takes you down to the V&A. There's a constant stream of people around this area at all times of the day, making it a safe option.
This is a great route which takes you up to the lakes on top of table mountain and then back across the cable car. Quite a demanding climb in places.
The lion's head sits aadjacent to Table Mountain and provides a slightly shorter climb with arguably better views from the top. Easily accessile from all parts of town. Would not attempt on a wet day.
South of the city is the Cape peninsula which makes for an amazing place to cycle. Lots of elevation and coffee stops along the way. 'The Roost' at Noordhoek is a great place to stop midway.
The term 'melting pot' is often bandied around in reference to many destinations - Cape Town is feels like the truest representation of that. Even after two months in the city I am still trying to accurately piece together the demographic make up of the city. Coloured, Black, White (Afrikaans), White (English), Indian and Jewish communities are all well represented in the city, complemented by seasonal influx of visitors to the region.
The people of Cape Town, regardless of their backgrounds, displayed remarkable warmth and hospitality, particularly when discussing their country's recent sporting triumphs (albeit, recently at the expense of the English). The city has a thriving community of expats and remote workers, with numerous Facebook groups and meet up communities if you are looking to connect with others.
Partners I recommend. Some of these links give you a discount, and I may receive a referral reward.
SafetyWing
For trips exceeding 30 continuous days, seek dedicated travel insurance. Most holiday policies or credit card offerings become invalid after 30 days, despite advertising year-round protection. SafetyWing provides medical and travel coverage specifically designed for remote workers.
Having successfully claimed through their platform with impressive speed, I confidently recommend their service.
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