Unless you have a month on your hands, forget about seeing the whole of the Western Cape in a single trip. There are so many charming seaside towns and villages nestled in picturesque valleys to visit, you will have to plan your route very carefully if you want to see everything you want. You should decide whether you want to spend your time primarily on the East Coast, the West Coast or in the interior.

Most newcomers to the city of Cape Town don't know where to begin. The fact that the city's size is restricted by being between the mountain and the sea has only made the locals cram more into the space available. The city is by no means crowded however, and extends far beyond the confines of the city bowl. There are a lot of attractions to be found outside of the confines of the city, but for those seeking luxury, excitement and the finer things in life, the best of these can be found within Cape Town itself.

If you want to head off the Garden Route a little bit, one of the Western Cape's most well-guarded secrets lies just a few kilometers away in the Overberg region. Betty's Bay has a reputation amongst residents of nearby cities as one of the best places to have a holiday home. In fact, many Capetonians would say that Betty's Bay is what going away for the weekend in the Western Cape is all about.

False Bay was given its name by explorers, who initially named it Table Bay. When they sailed around the other side of the mountain they found a bay far more deserving of this name, and they renamed the original bay. False Bay essentially comprises the southern half of Cape Town's suburbs, and is one long stretch of sandy beaches that extends from Gordon's Bay to Simon's Town.

Describing the Garden Route to someone who doesn't come from the Western Cape is often difficult. Essentially it is a long stretch of the southern coast that is between the Outenique and Tsitsikamma mountains, and the Indian Ocean. It includes several scenic towns and ten nature reserves that are a must see for anyone wishing to tour the Western Cape.

The town of Knysna spent the time between the 1960s and the mid 1990s gaining a reputation as a retirement destination and a place to buy supplies and curios on the way to Plettenberg Bay. However, over the last decade the town has grown into a thriving tourist destination, with stunning holiday homes and guest cottages available in the city, on the lagoon or on the famous "Knysna Heads".

Oudtshoorn is one Garden Route destination that is seldom visited by tourists, but this is one of the Western Cape's great pities. Nestled at the foot of the Swartberg Mountains, this scenic Little Karoo town was once the indigenous home of many Bushmen tribes, and the rock paintings on the walls of the caves in this area tell a story of an ancient civilization that was sophisticated and social long before Europeans arrived in the Western Cape.

When you arrive at Cape Town International Airport and set off along the N2 towards Cape Town you can normally see a large cloud bank directly ahead of you. Once you get closer, Cape Town's most famous land mark looms ahead of you larger than life. The question most visitors to Cape Town ask is, "is it that flat at the top?" The answer is yes, and it is all open to hikers and visitors from the Cable Car.

Situated between George and Port Elizabeth on the south coast of the Garden Route is the growing town of Plettenberg Bay, a firm favorite among holidaymakers throughout South Africa. As a holiday resort, it has grown enormously over the past 10 years. So much so that more and more people are settling there permanently, getting away from the bustle of the big cities.

The V & A Waterfront is a microcosm of all of the best parts of Cape Town life. It started as a simple extension to the harbor, but has now grown into one of the number one attractions in the city. If you were not the out-and-about type, it would be possible to rent a hotel room and never leave the V & A Waterfront at all! Attractions include luxury accommodation, restaurants, pubs, theater, live music (especially jazz) throughout the day and a large mall packed with a mixture of designer stores and local crafts.