Cape Town is one of the world's most dramatically situated cities. Table Mountain rises from the city centre to 1,086 metres; the Atlantic ocean laps at beaches barely a kilometre from the mountain's base; and the Cape Peninsula extends southward to the Cape of Good Hope in a landscape of extraordinary wild beauty. The city has serious issues – inequality, crime in certain areas – that responsible visitors should understand. But within this context, it is extraordinary.
Table Mountain
Take the cable car to the summit on a clear day and you'll understand immediately why Table Mountain is Africa's most recognisable natural landmark. The views extend from the Cape Winelands to Robben Island to the Hottentots Holland mountains. Cloud "tablecloth" – the famous orographic cloud that spills over the mountain's edge – is a meteorological event worth photographing from the city below.
The Cape Winelands
Stellenbosch, Franschhoek, and Paarl are all within an hour of Cape Town, and their combination of Dutch colonial architecture, vine-covered valleys, and world-class wine and food rivals Tuscany for sheer aesthetic pleasure. The MCC (Méthode Cap Classique, South Africa's champagne equivalent) from Graham Beck Wines is particularly excellent.
The V&A Waterfront
Cape Town's historic working harbour is the city's most visited area – justifiably, for the combination of restaurants, shops, the Two Oceans Aquarium, and boat trips to Robben Island. The Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa (MOCAA), housed in a converted grain silo, is one of the world's finest spaces for African contemporary art.
Safety
Cape Town's crime statistics are real and should not be dismissed. Certain areas of the city are genuinely unsafe, particularly after dark. The City Bowl, V&A Waterfront, De Waterkant, Atlantic Seaboard, and Southern Suburbs are generally safe for tourists. Book reputable accommodation, follow local advice, and use Uber rather than street taxis. The vast majority of visitors experience no problems whatsoever.