Cape Town often looks like a city built for cars – long coastal stretches, mountain roads, and suburbs spread across the landscape. But the reality on the ground is more flexible than it seems.
Cape Town’s CBD, City Bowl, and Atlantic Seaboard have become known as the city’s unofficial “no-car triangle” - a connected, walkable area where people can get around and manage daily life without needing a car.
With sharp petrol price increases and rising CBD parking fines, even regular commuters are starting to rethink daily car use – with some, including CBD workers like myself, gradually shifting toward public transport and shared mobility options.
With reliable public transport routes, short rideshares, and neighbourhoods designed for strolling between cafés, beaches, and workspaces, moving through this part of the city can be surprisingly seamless when you know how to navigate it.
For many routes along the Atlantic Seaboard, MyCiti has become one of the most reliable ways to move without a car, connecting residential areas, beaches, and key lifestyle hubs with relative ease.
Heading south, the Metrorail Southern Line offers another option that has quietly regained popularity, especially among younger commuters and weekend explorers.
Coastal stops such as Kalk Bay have become a social media favourite, with regular posts and guides circulating online showing how to navigate the route and make a day of it.
Every few weeks, timelines are filled with new content from Capetonians documenting train rides along the coast, transforming what was once viewed mainly as a commuter line into an accessible way to experience some of the city’s most scenic and laid-back neighbourhoods.
How to get around without a car in Cape Town
From the CBD, getting to surrounding neighbourhoods is more accessible than many assume once you understand which system works best for each route.
CBD to the V&A Waterfront
One of the easiest and most frequently used routes in the City Bowl is the connection between the CBD and the V&A Waterfront.
Many people choose to walk this route when weather and time allow, while others rely on the MyCiTi for a quick and reliable transfer between the two hubs.
Minibus taxis also serve the corridor, offering a flexible option for shorter, on-demand trips. The proximity between the CBD and Waterfront makes this one of Cape Town’s most accessible car-free movements, linking business, tourism, and leisure in minutes.
CBD to Vredehoek / City Bowl fringe
This is one of the simplest connections. Many areas are walkable depending on distance and terrain, with short Uber or Bolt trips and occasional MyCiTi links filling in the gaps.
CBD to the Atlantic Seaboard
The MyCiTi bus is the most reliable option along this corridor, offering frequent, direct routes between the CBD and Atlantic Seaboard. Another option is to rent out a bike with Up Cycles – Cape Town’s first drop-and-go bike rental service, with stations along the Atlantic Seaboard. It offers flexible rentals, from hourly rides to multi-day use, making it an easy way to explore the promenade and nearby neighbourhoods without a car.
CBD to the Southern Suburbs
The Metrorail Southern Line connects the CBD to coastal towns like Muizenberg, Kalk Bay and Simon’s Town. Despite mixed perceptions, it remains a key commuter line and has become increasingly popular with younger travellers and weekend visitors.
Golden Arrow & minibus taxis (city-wide connectors)
Golden Arrow buses and minibus taxis remain the backbone of Cape Town’s wider transport network, especially for routes not covered by MyCiTi or rail.
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