Cape Town needs no introduction. Famous the world over as the city at the end of the African continent, bordered by the Indian and Atlantic Oceans and overlooked by Table Mountain, the iconic settlement has long been the destination to end all destinations and that popularity does not seem to be waning.

South Africans call it the Mother City and everything that is good about the country can be found here. From a lively arts culture and a thriving restaurant scene, to amazing adventure sports opportunities and a blistering music scene, Cape Town has it all. Surrounded by mountains and sea, the city is often the first port of call for travellers to South Africa – and with good reason – making it the most popular tourist destination in the country. Cape Town even has its own style of architecture, known as Cape Dutch, and one of the joys of a visit is simply wandering around the older parts of town seeking out architectural treasures. The city is also a sports hub, with cricket, football and rugby being popular spectator events.

If your stay is limited to a few days you can still fit in a large number of experiences. No visit should leave out a trip to Robben Island, where Nelson Mandela spent much of his imprisonment, a trip up Table Mountain and an exploration of the City Bowl, with its picturesque Victorian architecture and wonderful Company’s Gardens. If dining is what appeals it is no surprise that Cape Town has a huge range of options catering for every budget, ranging from unpretentious African fare and traditional Cape Malay food to glitzy French and Italian restaurants - and everything in between.

And given the proximity to the Garden Route it comes as no surprise that the local wines on offer are amongst the best in the world. What’s more, Cape Town is a great destination for a family holiday and has plenty of things to keep the kids amused from dawn until dusk. The Two Oceans Aquarium has ragged toothed sharks, seals, penguins and turtles, as well as its own kelp forest.

There are a host of other things that kids will enjoy as well, from a planetarium and pony riding to bowling and climbing. All in all a visit to Cape Town is an unforgettable experience and a must on any South Africa itinerary.