Cape Town

The sweet spot for solo female travelers. Safe, walkable, close to the V&A Waterfront, and with Table Mountain as your permanent backdrop. De Waterkant is cobblestoned and colorful with great coffee and a welcoming atmosphere. Green Point has more space, a beautiful urban park, and slightly lower prices. Both are excellent bases.

A long stretch of promenade along the Atlantic with the best people-watching in the city. Diverse, lively, and very walkable. The tidal pools are where locals swim — and on a sunny day that Atlantic water is absolutely freezing and absolutely worth it. Great cafe scene and the kind of neighborhood where you feel like a resident within a week.

Cape Town creative neighborhood — street art, design studios, the Old Biscuit Mill market on Saturday mornings, and a food scene that punches well above its weight. Less polished than the Atlantic seaboard but more interesting. Go for the Neighbourgoods Market on Saturday and stay for the rest of it.

Up the mountain from the city center and noticeably more residential. Quiet streets, independent restaurants, the Oranjezicht City Farm market on Saturdays, and a feeling of being in a proper neighborhood rather than a tourist area. Popular with expats and long-term remote workers who want a slower pace with easy access to everything.