{"id":77425,"date":"2020-09-21T14:47:18","date_gmt":"2020-09-21T14:47:18","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/staging.expatinfodesk.com\/?page_id=77425"},"modified":"2024-05-24T15:52:29","modified_gmt":"2024-05-24T15:52:29","slug":"cape-town","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.expatinfodesk.com\/destinations\/cape-town\/","title":{"rendered":"Cape Town"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wpb-content-wrapper\"><p>[vc_row type=&#8221;container&#8221; padding_top=&#8221;&#8221; padding_bottom=&#8221;&#8221; el_class=&#8221;three-top-tips&#8221; css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1599875304748{margin-left: 0px !important;border-right-width: 0px !important;padding-right: 0px !important;padding-left: 0px !important;border-right-color: #ffffff !important;}&#8221;][vc_column width=&#8221;2\/3&#8243;][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<div class=\"page-header\" style=\"margin-top: 0px;\">\n<h2 class=\"lead\">The Cosmopolitan Centre of South Africa<\/h2>\n<p>Often referred to as the African Riviera, Cape Town is South Africa\u2019s most urbane city. It offers expatriates a cosmopolitan lifestyle in a city that seamlessly pairs natural beauty with vibrant multiculturalism.<\/p>\n<p>Cape Town offers a life that is rich in culture, entertainment, and history. The city combines heart-stopping beauty, a well-developed infrastructure, and historical gravitas so effortlessly that expatriates benefit from the best of both worlds in a diverse, enthralling, and engaging environment.<\/p>\n<p>The more adventurous expats will be strongly attracted to the city by the outdoor lifestyle. Daredevils can participate in a whole host of mind-blowing activities, from kite-surfing, rock-climbing, and wake-boarding through to shark-cage-diving, hang-gliding, and sky-diving. Simultaneously, the more subdued residents will have an equally enjoyable\u2014but less daring\u2014time exploring the unique scenery and stunning beaches.<\/p>\n<p>Cape Town is the culinary capital of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.expatinfodesk.com\/expat-guide\/deciding-on-the-right-country\/top-expatriate-destinations\/south-africa\/\">South Africa<\/a>. Nowhere else in the country is the populace so discerning about food, and nowhere else is there such a wide selection of restaurants and dining opportunities on offer. Aficionado expatriates will be in culinary heaven.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h3>What\u2019s the draw?<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Stunningly beautiful beaches and amazing surf-spots within a stone\u2019s throw of the city.<\/li>\n<li>Beautiful natural scenery and a picture-perfect coastline generate the feeling of an island getaway with all the conveniences of a modern city.<\/li>\n<li>A lively cultural and art scene that is continually evolving to reflect the city&#8217;s efforts to work its way towards unity.<\/li>\n<li>Fantastic weather with average temperatures of around 26&#8217;C and up to 10 hours of sunshine a day in summer.<\/li>\n<li>An exchange rate that favors <a href=\"https:\/\/www.expatinfodesk.com\/news\/2012\/01\/04\/americans-who-retire-overseas-can-retire-ten-years-earlier\/\">Americans<\/a> and Europeans and offers expatriates access to a great standard of living.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr \/>\n<h3>Live there:<\/h3>\n<p>For the majority of expats, Cape Town is a place of contrasts and challenges. The varied mix of Cape Town culture and lifestyle means that the average expatriate will take time to adjust to life here, and insider knowledge is a must. Our expatriate guide to living in Cape Town contains indispensable advice about enjoying and acclimatizing to life in this exciting and vibrant African gem:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Being a foreigner in Cape Town by no means needs to be a lonely business. An average night out in Long Street, the center of local nightlife, will put you in the company of no end of German, French, Italian and Portuguese expatriates and backpackers. We tell you where to go to meet like-minded people and find a community that will welcome you with open arms.<\/li>\n<li>Finding somewhere to live will be a top priority. From the affluent suburb of Newlands to the downtown \u201ccity bowl\u201d district to Bo-Kaap and Woodstock&#8217;s emerging areas, our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.expatinfodesk.com\/destinations\/cape-town\/accommodation\/where-to-live\/\">guide to living in Cape Town<\/a> will give you the insights you need to find a location that suits your needs.<\/li>\n<li>Don\u2019t be intimidated by the rumors. Cape Town can be a safe place to live provided you are fully prepared and stay vigilant. Our guide to crime, safety, and healthcare provides you with all the information you need to avoid Cape Town\u2019s crime from impacting your daily life.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Our Cape Town destination guide will put you in firmly in the picture when it comes to getting the best out of your life in this buzzing city.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=&#8221;1\/3&#8243; el_class=&#8221;city-side-bar&#8221;][vc_row_inner el_class=&#8221;sidebar-section-one&#8221;][vc_column_inner][vc_custom_heading text=&#8221;Top Tips&#8221; font_container=&#8221;tag:h4|font_size:24|text_align:left|color:%23ffffff&#8221; google_fonts=&#8221;font_family:Open%20Sans%3A300%2C300italic%2Cregular%2Citalic%2C600%2C600italic%2C700%2C700italic%2C800%2C800italic|font_style:400%20regular%3A400%3Anormal&#8221;][vc_separator color=&#8221;#ffffff&#8221; type=&#8221;full_width&#8221; thickness=&#8221;1&#8243; up=&#8221;&#8221; down=&#8221;&#8221;][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<table class=\"table table-condensed sidebar-section-one-table \">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td class=\"number\">01<\/td>\n<td>It is critical to ensure you have the correct visa before you arrive as you will need to return home to make changes if you have the wrong visa.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td class=\"number\">02<\/td>\n<td>Safety should be a top priority. Sign up with a good security company and ensure your home is fitted with the latest security equipment.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td class=\"number\">03<\/td>\n<td>Wear sunglasses and sunscreen throughout the year. The UV rays in South Africa are powerful.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td class=\"number\">04<\/td>\n<td>Be adventurous, not stupid. Whenever you go on a new hike or nature walk, do it with a local who knows the route, and it&#8217;s time to get back.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td class=\"number\">05<\/td>\n<td>Follow the networking process. Join a few expatriate clubs. It\u2019s a lot easier to travel the grapevine between social scenes than to jump into on<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner el_class=&#8221;sidebar-section-two&#8221;][vc_column_inner][vc_custom_heading text=&#8221;Useful links&#8221; font_container=&#8221;tag:h4|font_size:24|text_align:left&#8221; google_fonts=&#8221;font_family:Open%20Sans%3A300%2C300italic%2Cregular%2Citalic%2C600%2C600italic%2C700%2C700italic%2C800%2C800italic|font_style:400%20regular%3A400%3Anormal&#8221; el_class=&#8221;useful-links&#8221;][vc_separator color=&#8221;#ffffff&#8221; type=&#8221;full_width&#8221; thickness=&#8221;1&#8243; up=&#8221;&#8221; down=&#8221;&#8221;][vc_column_text el_class=&#8221;useful-links&#8221;]<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/thoughtleader.co.za\/\">https:\/\/thoughtleader.co.za\/<\/a><br \/>\nSouth Africa\u2019s most visited blog. It features daily updates with opinion pieces on current affairs.<\/li>\n<li><a title=\"http:\/\/www.hellkom.co.za\" href=\"http:\/\/www.hellkom.co.za\/\">http:\/\/www.hellkom.co.za<\/a><br \/>\nThe site offers up-to-the-minute comparisons of bundles and packages from all the major and minor South African phone providers.<\/li>\n<li><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner el_class=&#8221;sidebar-section-three&#8221;][vc_column_inner][vc_custom_heading text=&#8221;Interesting fact&#8221; font_container=&#8221;tag:h4|font_size:24|text_align:left|color:%23333333&#8243; google_fonts=&#8221;font_family:Open%20Sans%3A300%2C300italic%2Cregular%2Citalic%2C600%2C600italic%2C700%2C700italic%2C800%2C800italic|font_style:400%20regular%3A400%3Anormal&#8221;][vc_separator color=&#8221;#eeeeee&#8221; type=&#8221;full_width&#8221; thickness=&#8221;1&#8243; up=&#8221;&#8221; down=&#8221;&#8221;][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<table class=\"table table-condensed sidebar-section-three-table\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<div class=\"fa fa-snowflake-o\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<td>The median age in the city of Cape Town is 26 years old, with almost half the population less than 24 years old.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row type=&#8221;container&#8221; padding_top=&#8221;&#8221; padding_bottom=&#8221;&#8221;][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]<\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[vc_row type=&#8221;container&#8221; padding_top=&#8221;&#8221; padding_bottom=&#8221;&#8221; el_class=&#8221;three-top-tips&#8221; css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1599875304748{margin-left: 0px !important;border-right-width: 0px !important;padding-right: 0px !important;padding-left: 0px !important;border-right-color: #ffffff !important;}&#8221;][vc_column width=&#8221;2\/3&#8243;][vc_column_text] The Cosmopolitan Centre of South Africa Often referred to as the African Riviera, Cape Town is South Africa\u2019s most urbane city. It offers expatriates a cosmopolitan lifestyle in a city that seamlessly pairs natural beauty with vibrant multiculturalism. [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":109466,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"page-capetown.php","meta":{"_bbp_topic_count":0,"_bbp_reply_count":0,"_bbp_total_topic_count":0,"_bbp_total_reply_count":0,"_bbp_voice_count":0,"_bbp_anonymous_reply_count":0,"_bbp_topic_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_reply_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_forum_subforum_count":0,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-77425","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v23.9 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>A Guide to Expat Life in Cape Town | Expat Info Desk<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"A guide for Expats and Global Nomads planning on relocating to Cape Town, South Africa. 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