Compare Cape Town flights

Giving you access to beautiful beaches, dramatic natural beauty spots, famous wineries and varied culture, Cape Town is both a city destination in its own right and a gateway to the wider attractions of South Africa's Western Cape.

However, while more and more Brits are considering this iconic city for their holidays, the choice of Cape Town flights is not as wide as it could be. Direct flights to Cape Town are limited to the British Airways service from London Heathrow; there is much more scope to shop around for cheap flight deals if you go for an indirect service.

Book early. Last-minute return flights to Cape Town can cost well into four figures, particularly if you want to fly direct from Heathrow. If you’re willing to take an indirect route, your flights to Cape Town are likely to be substantially cheaper, though how much you save depends on where you stop and for how long.

The less straightforward routes will sometimes cost less. In terms of seasonality, for the best flight prices try to avoid December and the school holiday period in late July and August (when Cape Town's weather can be sketchy in any case).

A direct flight from London Heathrow to Cape Town will take roughly 11 hours and 30 minutes. However, if you’re travelling from elsewhere in the country – or travelling from London, but hoping to make some savings – you’ll have at least one stop in your route, which will push up the journey time. Your stopover location will depend on which airline you fly with.

Lack of competition for direct flights keeps prices fairly high, so the best option for making substantial savings it to add a stop. Your flight could end up costing hundreds of pounds less than the direct alternative.

Popular stopover locations for Cape Town include:

• Amsterdam: If you fly with KLM, you’ll stop in Amsterdam, splitting your journey into a flight of 1 hour 30 minutes and one of 11 hours 20 minutes. Amsterdam, with its historic canals and lively nightlife, is a popular city break destination in itself, so you could consider booking a couple of nights in a hotel here to break up your journey.
• Johannesburg: South African Airways flights will often stop in Johannesburg, giving you an 11-hour flight followed by a 2-hour-10-minute flight to Cape Town. Johannesburg is South Africa’s largest city, and this sprawling metropolis is well worth exploring if you have the time.

You’ll find lots of options for filling your time in Cape Town. Keen walkers can hike up iconic Table Mountain for spectacular views of the city and its setting; less keen walkers can get them too, via the cable car. It's also worth exploring Bo-Kaap, the famous residential neighbourhood characterised by cobbled streets and boxy, brightly coloured houses. For a sobering insight into South African history, visit Robben Island, where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned during the apartheid era.

Surfers can hit Glen Beach, Long Beach at Kommetjie, or one of countless other spots for good times on the waves. You'll find it easier to reach these with a rental car – and a set of wheels will also allow you to head out into the Stellenbosch wine country, or to take a Garden Route road trip.

In terms of accommodation, there's a really wide range of places to stay in and around Cape Town, from upscale beach resorts with views of the Atlantic Ocean to quirky guesthouses in the heart of the city. To get an idea of what’s available, search the flight and hotel package deals on our Cape Town holidays page.