Cape Town makes two of the world’s top city lists

Cape Town has once again earned a place among the world’s top cities, with international travellers naming the Mother City one of the best and friendliest cities on the planet.

The city ranked 15th among the world’s best cities and 10th among the friendliest, according to the latest Condé Nast Traveller Readers’ Choice Awards.

It was also the only African city to appear on either list.

The awards were based on almost 800 000 responses from readers in the United Kingdom, who rated their travel experiences around the world.

Cape Town makes two global lists

Cape Town scored 88.33 in the best cities category, placing it 15th overall.

The magazine highlighted the city’s combination of beaches, mountains, vineyards and nightlife, describing it as a place that offers visitors “the best of both worlds”.

Its position on the friendliness list was even stronger.

Cape Town scored 96.00, placing it 10th among the world’s friendliest cities.

That is a drop from third place in 2025, but the Mother City remains firmly inside the global top 10.

Condé Nast Traveller pointed to attractions including Table Mountain and Boulders Beach, while also highlighting the South African braai as an important part of the city’s social culture.

Why Cape Town keeps attracting visitors

Cape Town’s appeal stretches well beyond its famous scenery.

Visitors can spend the morning on one of the city’s beaches, head into the Winelands in the afternoon and finish the day at a rooftop bar or restaurant. The city’s cultural diversity and food scene are also major attractions.

Alderman James Vos, the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Economic Growth, said Cape Town’s friendly reputation is closely connected to what makes the city such a popular destination.

“Yes, the beaches and mountains are beautiful beyond compare, but it’s Capetonians who are so welcoming to visitors.”

Vos said Cape Town’s cuisine was likely part of the reason for the country’s strong showing.

“Cuisine is one of the most remarkable aspects of Cape Town and South Africa,” he said, adding that the country’s food reflects its history and mix of cultures.

Tourism is big business for Cape Town

The rankings come as Cape Town heads into its peak visitor period. Tourism generated R24.5 billion in direct spending in Cape Town during 2025, while the sector supported more than 106 000 jobs.

The City has set ambitious targets for the years ahead, aiming to reach R35 billion in tourism spending and 234 041 tourism jobs by 2030.

It plans to pursue this through increased destination marketing, stronger airline partnerships and efforts to turn visitor interest into more bookings, longer stays and higher spending.