Cape Town Airport Guide

The first decision after baggage claim

For most international visitors, the simplest airport plan is to decide your transport before you land. Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) currently lists authorised airport taxis, Uber, Bolt and approved shuttle operators at Cape Town International. It specifically tells arriving passengers not to accept rides from unsolicited taxi or shuttle drivers.

That matters because older Cape Town guides still recommend the MyCiTi A01 airport bus. MyCiTi's own current airport page says the airport service is temporarily suspended. Do not build a 2026 arrival plan around it unless MyCiTi has announced a restart by the day you travel.

Uber and Bolt

ACSA lists both Uber and Bolt as authorised transport operations at Cape Town International. App-based rides are usually the easiest option for travellers who already have mobile data and a working payment method. Follow the app's current pickup instructions rather than accepting an approach from someone claiming to be your driver.

Before getting into the car, check the registration, driver name and vehicle details against the app. If your phone will not roam in South Africa, arrange airport Wi-Fi or an eSIM/SIM plan before relying on an app for the transfer.

Authorised airport taxis

ACSA says authorised airport taxi services operate on a walk-in basis from transport kiosks and the domestic-arrivals desk in the Central Terminal Building. This is the practical fallback if you do not want to use an app. Ignore unsolicited offers in or around arrivals and use the official airport channels.

Pre-booked shuttles

Shuttles are useful for families, groups, late arrivals or travellers staying somewhere that is awkward for a standard city transfer. ACSA lists authorised shuttle providers and notes that shuttle representatives meet passengers from the arrivals terminals. Book directly with your accommodation or an authorised operator and keep the confirmation details handy.

Hiring a car at the airport

ACSA lists multiple car-rental agencies at the airport, with rental facilities in front of the Transport Plaza and Central Terminal Building, accessed via pedestrian subways. Airport pickup is convenient if your trip immediately heads for the Winelands, Cape Peninsula or a road trip, but a rental car is not essential for a short stay focused on the City Bowl, Waterfront and Atlantic Seaboard.

If you are driving, do not leave luggage visible in the vehicle and avoid improvising unfamiliar side-road routes after dark. Follow your accommodation's current arrival directions.

What happened to the MyCiTi airport bus?

MyCiTi suspended the airport service from 1 December 2022 because demand had not recovered sufficiently. Its current airport-service page still labels the service temporarily suspended. Some older timetable pages remain indexed online, which is why outdated advice continues to circulate.

Leaving Cape Town: allow margin

Traffic can vary sharply by time of day and weather. Build a sensible buffer into your airport transfer rather than trusting a best-case map estimate. For an international flight, follow your airline's current check-in guidance and work backward from that, adding road-time margin.

If returning a rental car, allow extra time for fuel, drop-off and the walk back through the terminal precinct. If using rideshare or taxi, confirm your terminal/airline details before departure.

Which transfer should you choose?

Frequently asked questions