Cape Town has done it again. CNN has released a ranking of the best cities in the world and the Mother City made the cut by finishing up in ninth place.
We have received love from TripAdvisor and National Geographic in recent times, but now international news house CNN and international travel giant Travel + Leisure have joined our fan club:
Forget everything you thought you knew about Africa.
Cape Town is cutting-edge, artsy and buzzing with energy.
There are few places in the world where you can exercise your shopping skills (Woodstock’s Neighbourgoods Market on Saturday mornings is the place to go for Afrikaans jerky and silk-and-leather sandals), take off on a safari, or enjoy world-famous cuisine all in one weekend.
Atlantic-facing Clifton Beaches are the South Beach of South Africa, known for enormous natural boulders tumbling into the sea, pristine sunbathing conditions and the capoeira dancers that entertain crowds with fire and African drums on Monday nights.
Taking first place was once the imperial capital of Japan – Kyoto. The ancient city is a zen seekers paradise with shrines, temples and gardens. Throw in the marvel of modern architecture with the allure of artisan shops and you have a deserved winner.
The next one was a bit of a shocker for me, that the city of Charleston, South Carolina finished in second place. Not that I’m hating on the historic city famed for its Southern hospitality and old-world charm (I’d love to visit it), but it’s a city not often in the limelight, as opposed to other major U.S. cities like New York, Chicago and Los Angeles.
Well done Cape Town! Keep doing us proud. Read the list here.
Photography Travel + Leisure
Funny we in Cape Town rank NYC as 10th..
BiaNca van Zyl
Obviously don’t know about the violent crime, power cuts, and high unemployment
go cape town go you are no 1 not no.9
Because they see the good things. There are cities in America that have problems like us too. There is poverty in certain areas as well. Not everyone lives at the same level
@Spencer Bullard. maan!!! Look at brighter side of things! Why not thank God about 2oceans surrounding us….table mountain, lots of good stuff about this place.
Ninth???
Keep it out of the hands of the ANC!!
Yeah but i think that Cape-Town should be well with-in the first 5 in the world. But you go “Cape-TOWN” you can improve easily.
I am appreciative of all of those things, but saying it is a top 10 city in the world is based on the wrong thing. We have hundreds of thousands of our fellow citizens living in abject poverty and while this is great for tourism it is a slap in the face to the suffering masses
What about Vancouver and Sydney? Both gorgeous. Cape Town is my number one!
CAPE TOWN Rocks!!!!!!
Fantastic Well done Cape Town
Hahaha GOOD ONE!!
Mother city
Go Cape town
You go CapeTown!
I love Cape Town!
Sooooo …. what happened to the idiots that said that Durban was better than Cape Town??
well….no 9 ?
Yes the no 1 is Mecca Saudi Arabia,watch ITV then you will agree,4 million people,no crime
…they wouldn’t have lived in poverty if all the trillions the government is wasting were spend on them – it’s NOT Cape Town’s “fault” – make Nkandla a tourist destination and theme park for the “masses”
Awesomeness! 🙂
We lived in poverty way before Nkandla. .. not much has changed but only for the rich who got richer
Only ninth?! What’s their problem?
Gotta. Paint. This.
Cape Town is really, really beautiful. Just a pity that you cannot enjoy this beauty, as you are always thinking about avoiding the crime.
So lucky to live in this great city X
Yip we’re the best!!! You can even bring your spouse here, have them killed and be in your merry way!! BEST!!!
Ninth REALY WHATS WRONG WITH THE BEST OR CANT THEY SPELL THE BEST CAPE TOWN IS THE NO ONE CITY IN THE WORLD
Cape Town Wellcome ‘s U
Only 9? We r best!!!
Who gave them ranking tools?#askin4aFriend#
Not so fast… If you are being reckless in any city in the world you expose yourself to crime. Cape Town does a hellava lot to keep you safe when you are here..
Great proude to live 12 yers cpt
we were number 1 for quite a few polls. Can’t argue with Cape Town really.
Brent Aly Shaista Bahaar Brian David Walter – Camps Bay real estate…coming soon?!?!
Put that in Van Hunk’s pipe and smoke it !!! (if you are not a local, or clueless about this legend… Google ‘van hunks and the devil’ )
Cape Town has been in the Top 10 since the days of the NP…so nothing to do with DA really
That’s a stupid answer. You’re saying the DA has nothing to do with it cos you’re an ANC supporter. I bet if this city was run by the ANC it would be as pathetic as South Africas other cities.
lol..no im not an ANC supporter..why would you ASSume that?
Its probably because of what they saw as they landed at Cape Town Intl.
Where in Cape Town do you live, that you feel so safe.
9th my foot …I think cape town is the most beautiful city in the world for sure
It has everything to do with the DA and our City Council, who are continuously striving to make Cape Town competitive with other major cities in the world!
That’s funny!
Go CT, my favourite city in the world will always be Berlin…
Ok. So how come its still the violent city in South Africa? And still one of the cities with the highest murder rates in the world? What has the DA done to reverse this? Its now worse than when it was under ANC control http://businesstech.co.za/news/general/53824/south-africas-most-violent-city/
I also want to know
Gov must work hard to keep it safe!
Should be no 1 in my opinion.
Ninth? Why we excited?
CAPE TOWN FOREVER
Cape Town
Debbie Morley
Only 9th???????????
Who is CNN anyway? C.T. Is No 1
Well, Mrs M was mugged by the Station when we visited 8 years ago!
Only 9th? 😉
Only city in southern hemisphere
Nastasha Geyser
NO. 1 !!!
Glad I dont know any of them idiots Lol
The station mugged Mrs M?
And for us who lives here..it is the NO1 City and always will be
Berlin is amazing. Love it.
I am sure they don’t know that Cape Town is heven for racists people.
I almost never think of avoiding crime here. I’ve been the victim of crime far more often living and traveling abroad then here.
Ps: I live on the Southern Peninsula.
Jeepers it’s all doom and gloom with you people..I am proudly Capetonian, I love my city with its beautiful spaces and places U0001f497
Dear Ms Sampoza, your comments are unfounded.
We all knew that- except we think it’s no1!
Ahhhh, poor Mandisi. I think the tokolosi is racist. Remove it from under your bed.
Desmond, a good question but a better one would be, what have YOU done to reverse it.
Try to aim for lower figures…she deserves it.
Many would not live in poverty if they used birth control. Too many mouths to feed. Only have the amount of children you can afford.
Ok that explains.
Look Jen Jengo Star lyf agaaaaiiinnn
Realy
Don’t know why, then they have a picture of the fishing boats, of which they are trying to get rid of, don’t see baboons anymore one of these days the things that make Cape Town interesting will all be gone and filled with complexes & yachts
If the ANC were running Cape Town you wouldnt be saying that!
Yeah but they aren’t. Cape Town is also a haven for those South Africans who know the difference between racism and stupidity. Of which you have expressed both Mandisi.
Pity about all the innocent people being murdered in “Beautiful Cape Town”…..
Good question! A lot of people commenting here are part of the problem but sadly not part of the solution!
I live in ct and never experienced any crime
rubbish CNN, its the best !!
Pity about the crime as it is beautiful
BIG smile
What’s the list from top to bottom? Link CNN article please.
WOW, I feel so proud.
Naturally!
Got it wrong we are, and always will be, number one. Oh yeh!
Thank you! Crime in Cape Town is bad. Take a look at all the smashed glass on side walks, road signs warning you of crime hotspots. Oh, not to mention Cape Town’s gang problem. Please, it’s laughable to defend Cape Town, it’s as bad as any other metro in South Africa.
How is this so? Cape Town is SA’s smash and grab AND gangster capital of SA. There is far too much smashed glass (the shattered window type) lying on pavements all over the city. It’s disgusting that some Cape Town citizens would ignore all the crime plaguing this city in an attempt to defend it.
Agreed! But it would seem some CT citizens are totally ignorant of that as well.
Why ONLY NINTH? I think it should be No 1
well done cape town, no the ANC will fight harder for something they will never have!!!
Yay for our city
Lilian Looney I am not an expert on crime management, I am a VOTER who vote parties n power who promise to provide a city that works for you. THEY are the ones that should come up with the solution. If they don’t then they don’t deserve to be in power. Elaine Ridgway How am I part of the problem exactly?
Wondered how long it would be before the racist trolls got started.
They seriously tough on crime, something we should be.
CapeTownEtc well done Cape Town!
My City | isixeko saseKapa | Zilleville | phantsi kweNtaba yeTafile…the good outweighs the bad, aint that really matter!
Squatter camps are all over SA, but I havent seen any province doing better than WC in terms of relocating people to better houses, im not sure about stats.
Only the DA could achieve this
Go CapeTown…Whoop whoop!!!
Lol, I guess they didn’t take into account that Cape Town is the most dangerous city in South Africa, 20th most dangerous city on the planet and the most dangerous city for black people anywhere in the world, period. And that’s not even taking into account the wind that blows up your gat 360 days of the year: http://businesstech.co.za/news/general/53824/south-africas-most-violent-city/
lol… what a pathetic answer. I guess Cape Flats was built because people had children???
@Christelle Buys, Implied in your statement is that you are only affected by crime if you are reckless and that Cape Town does a ‘helluva lot’ to keep you safe. Now expalin to me how you would have dealt with the following: My wife and I were hijacked in our secured driveway just as the sliding gate was to close completely and we were about to enter our kitchen. When people came to sympathise with us, and they were about 30, everybody or relatives or friends of theirs had a similar experience to ours. I lost a sister-in-law when she was 35 years old with 5 children when she entered a bakery and came across an armed robbery. She was shot behind the ear with the gun held to her head and told that she was being killed as she was a witness to the robbery. Now kindly pick out the recklesness that we exposed ourselves to and let me know what I and my deceased family and friends should have done differently! With your clever thoughts I might just enjoy Cape Town as a Capetownian before death overtakes me! What new gadgetry is available to access ‘Cape Town does a helluva lot to keep you safe..
Lol indeed. They also didn’t take into account some really miserable, cynical, jaded people either….did they?
What a sorry attitude. Funny how your post seems almost proud of it. I pity you.
The NP is the DA only different people but still the same agenda
Oh Yeah !!!
Why only ninth? We all know it is number one!
What is the ANC’s agenda?
We are not talking about the ANC now, we voted for the DA and are measuring their performance
But it is really the best 😉 x
But then can we take CNN seriously with they way they put out news reports!
Only 9th! Merde!
Anna. Can’t wait for you to experience it.
They are wrong, Cape Town is the best city
there are 700,000 ANC voters in the western cape. why are you making this political
For beauty it comes first in my list, and I come from the beautiful North Coast of N Ireland!
As far as I’m concerned we’re the best!
According to Leigh, we were voted No. 1?!
Cape Town seems to have lots of money to pay for all that publicity,buy who knows
Lyk soos kalkbaai
And CNN did not arrive by plane I suppose and greater and first impression the endless squatter camps a disgrace
Greatest city ever
its can’t beeeee
Capetown is the best, except for the crime and the kak government we have.
eric 700 000 anc voter when you last checked, that number has dropped to below 350 000. you better vote DA if you dont wanna live in a “Zim” like country!
Oh yes … A most beautiful place ..
Please people. Yes, Cape Town is beautiful. We all know that but I’ve had the fortune of traveling around the world and there are other places just as beautiful. Safety and security is still an issue we must sort out . So, well done CPT with an amazing 9th place U0001f44dU0001f3fcU0001f44dU0001f3fc
Well done Cape Town x x
As a Capetonian, its the best!
I Agree with Sa Gunner. My Condolences to you, I fear everyday for my families safety and it pains me inside hearing the horrible things you have experienced.
All of the people claiming to not be effected by crime have just been lucky up until this point…
The hundreds of children that have died this year alone by stray bullets in the flats should make us 100th+ on the list.
How can you call this a beautiful place when innocent children die here every day?
How can you say this is a safe city when there are places the police will not go??
*Ignorance is bliss*
from number 3 to 9? how did that happen?
Read this and CT is not even on the list.
https://www.google.ca/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=3&ved=0CBIQFjAC&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gfmag.com%2Fglobal-data%2Fnon-economic-data%2Fbest-cities-to-live&ei=zHmeVZ_7CoK5ogT-ha6wBg&usg=AFQjCNEEO0Pd-U67tC-lPLVRUW3OEkPveA&sig2=tqb1g8uHNlDLulVraR-uxQ
What about the human trafficking. How many people and children that are missing. The media dont even report all the crime. Murders, rapes, gangsters and many other crimes. Have people forgotten Dewani story
We love this mutch that We make replicas n hang it on our walls its called art
Waters
Kerry Bellairs think we chose well U0001f609U0001f495
Way to go, Zahir Moosa. Let’s be proud Capetonians!!! We are privileged.
SA Gunner, so sorry to hear, I worked in Capetown for years,till I got a gun stuck in my mouth for my lunch and wallet,that when I left the dammed place.
NY Times ranked Dbn fifth on the list of Cities to visit in 2015!
In Port Elizabeth for 3 years and 6 months and I certainly miss Cape Town and when I go for holiday in feels like I am Europe and the City is always improving and the citizens of Cape Town certainly appreciate their City as it always clean comparatively
Claire Sharryn Roberto
Yay CAPE TOWN!!!
No can’t b we are the worst racist byest corrupt 4 th wold country all lies
i believe that home is where your heart is and that beauty is in the eye of the beholder…Cape Town is my home and to me our city is beautiful U0001f496, …as for crime, hatred, murder, discontent, fear, pain and all the other negatives which are all very, very real. People are responsible for creating the ugliness in this most beautiful city, people are responsible for hurting each other…and yet still, people are Gods most beautiful creation….no city or other created thing can ever compare.
Except this isn’t Cape Town: the pic is Kalk Bay harbour, with Simonstown in the distance. A bit misleading…
It’s sure a wonderful place…
Huh ccn gaan praat kak somewhere else with all our hokkies we should be first proudly SA
Love this place
Calle Van Niekerk Jen-and Craig Van Niekerk
It’s great town smiling city
Floyd Ramnarian just incase you missed this 🙂
Indeed! Shud be no 1 actually
Loved my visit here
Brilliant!