Big, beautiful, bold, and breathtaking are just some of the words I would use to describe the magnificent city of Cape Town, a bustling metropolis with a small town feel.

One of those travel destinations that gets under your skin, Cape Town is a place where one immediately feels welcome, and once you start to uncover the delights that South Africa’s “Mother City” has to offer, you may well find yourself choking back the tears when the time comes to leave.

Sitting at the tip of Southern Africa between the rugged coastlines of the Atlantic and Indian Oceans,  Cape Town is an action packed tourist destination where can enjoy everything from a round of golf, wine tasting tours, boat trips, mountain hikes, cultural tours and some of the best dining venues in the world.

Since the 2010-World Cup highlighted the beauty of South Africa, Cape Town and its surrounding areas have become increasing popular with international travellers, and with daily flights from most large European and US airports, it is more accessible than ever before.

So what makes Cape Town so great?  Well, firstly it would have to be the sheer beauty of the place.  Table Mountain makes a striking backdrop, and when you combine that with the Lions Head Mountain, the huge expanse of coastline, and a mishmash of luxury villas, hotels, shopping malls and the Waterfront harbour, you get a vibrant, interesting and colourful city.

The people of Cape Town are some of the friendliest people you will encounter, and if you take the time to get to know them, you may well make lifelong friends during your stay.

As with every major city, Cape Town has its own international airport and hotels to complement every taste and every budget.  From Backpackers hostels to five-star luxury, you will find whatever accommodation you are looking for in this sprawling city.

Dining is big in South Africa and if you enjoy trying new foods, you may find yourself spoilt for choice.  As one would imagine, the seafood is fresh and plentiful, the fruits and ripe and delicious, and you will have the opportunity to try rare game meats that you might not find at home.

Dining wouldn’t be complete without a bottle of wine, and Cape Town is surrounded by some magnificent wine regions including Stellenbosch, Paarl and Wellington.  Most hotels offer wine tasting tours, and if you would like to discover New World Wines, you will struggle to find anywhere that does it better.

Highlighted excursions include a trip up Table Mountain, a boat ride to Robben Island where Nelson Mandela spent several years incarcerated, a day tour/drive to the Cape of Good Hope, and a sunset champagne cruise along the coastline.

Cape Town is a paradise for shoppers and offers both colourful street markets and high-end luxury stores.  The Victoria & Albert Waterfront shopping centre is the perfect place to spend your last few South African Rands, and if you want some handmade trinkets and souvenirs, just head over to Hout Bay and shop the local market.

Overall, Cape Town has something for everyone – it’s new, it’s exciting and it is waiting to receive you with open arms – so why not head on down to the Rainbow Nation this year!