- 1. Before you fly
- 2. Landing
- 3. Immigration
- 4. Baggage & customs
- 5. Arrivals hall
- 6. Transport
- 7. Car rental
- 8. eSIM & money
- 9. First 24 hours
Regroup before your next decision
The Welcome to Cape Town wall marks the public exit. It is a good spot to regroup before you decide what to do next.
Keep the first hour calm
After a 12-hour flight, a pre-booked transfer is the calmest first hour in Cape Town. Have your accommodation address available offline. See Get Transport from CPT.
Do not book anything tight straight after landing
Immigration queues vary, and issues can take a long time to resolve. Never book a tight pickup, tour or connection straight after you land.
Choose what comes next
The guide pictures these Cape Town highlights: the Table Mountain cableway, Lion’s Head, Camps Bay, Table Mountain from Bloubergstrand, the Cape Wheel at the V&A Waterfront and the Cape of Good Hope. For more ideas, see Things to do in Cape Town and the Cape Town guide.
Get the full Cape Town Airport Arrival Guide
A calm, step-by-step route from the aircraft door through immigration, baggage and customs into verified onward transport. Mobile-first, printable and offline-ready, with the peak-time planner, the 10-second stamp check, the 2026 declaration summary, transport and pickups, and a 60-second checklist. Take the full arrival route with you before you start exploring.
Get the full Arrival Guide on Payhip ↗October 2026 edition · 20 pages · Independent, not affiliated with ACSA
Airport procedures can change. Layouts, procedures, services, transport, fares and operating hours can change. Always follow current instructions from the airport, airline, immigration, Customs, security and transport providers. This page reflects the October 2026 edition of the guide.
Independent guide. Cape Town Flow is an independent publication, not affiliated with or endorsed by ACSA, the airport operator. The views are the author’s own.