Hotels in South Africa

Cape Town and Johannesburg are South Africa’s largest cities, and both are well worth considering when booking South Africa hotels. Transport around the cities and the rest of the country is well connected, with Uber available, car rental common, and buses and scooter rentals an option as well. A little lesser known location is Durban, a smaller coastal city that doesn’t often come up on travel guides, but certainly has appeal of its own. Goble Palms Guest Lodge & Urban Retreat is one of many highly rated hotels in South Africa, nestled in the area of Morningside just north of Durban city centre. Cape Town offers some of the best South African Hotels, such as The Onyx Apartment Hotel right in the city centre. Johannesburg offers some of the best cheap hotels in South Africa, one to have a look at is Curiocity Backpackers with great reviews and rates, and close to both transport and the centre of the city.

While many venture to South Africa for its nature and wildlife, basing their travel around safaris and road trips through mountains, beaches and forest, South Africa also offers a wine region to rival the best in the world, vivid nightlife, endless hikes, and excellent dining and shopping. Lalamo Guest House is located just by the west border of Kruger National Park and the Kruger Park Gateway Airport, so is a great choice for those looking to book hotels in South Africa with good proximity to one of the largest reserves in South Africa. Those looking to hit the Cape Winelands and explore its scenery (and of course, wine) may want to look at Lovane Boutique Wine Estate just a short distance from the wine region of Stellenbosch.

Both Johannesburg and Cape Town offer vivid and wild nightlife, though Cape Town’s coastal appeal tends to lean it toward being a more popular choice than the landlocked city of Johannesburg. If you’re looking at Cape Town while you book hotels in South Africa, Signal Hill Lodge is a budget friendly Bed & Breakfast with a view, just outside of Cape Town’s centre. The city has a big foodie culture, with markets every day, coffee on every corner, restaurants offering every type of cuisine from around the globe and endless rooftop bars. The nightlife in Cape Town is just as busy, vibrant and bustling as the city is in the day. Make sure to try a Gatsby on your travels, the famous local sandwich designed to share, and to be messy.

Johannesburg hosts a collection of museums for those with a passion for the history of their destination or for the arts, including the Apartheid Museum, Johannesburg Holocaust & Genocide Centre and various arts centres. Mandela's House lies west of Johannesburg and worth the journey, the former home of Nelson Mandela has now been converted into a small museum. Cape Town offers a wonderful arts scene, with the best contemporary art galleries within walking distance of each other, making an Arts Tour an easy day adventure. Robben Island lies to the north of Cape Town, the once prison that was where Nelson Mandela served 18 of his 27 years incarcerated. Signature Lux Hotel By Onomo, Waterfront is a surprisingly priced hotel for the luxury it offers, and is close by to the Waterfront and ferry to Robben Island.

When travelling to South Africa it would be best to plan your trip around the month of May, as the prices are significantly lower than in December - just £121 per night.

There is little doubt that travellers enjoy various cities in South Africa, but the majority of travellers who visit South Africa tend to spend the most time in Cape Town.

On average, a luxury hotel room in South Africa costs £38 per night, 46% above the country’s average rate of £26 per night.

Visiting and staying overnight in Hermanus will cost you a premium compared to the rest of South Africa. Expect to pay £51 per night, a rate that is about 49% more than the country’s average.

If you’re looking for the best deal when visiting South Africa, consider staying in Morgan Bay. According to our data, Morgan Bay is the least expensive city to spend the night in when visiting South Africa, with an average nightly rate of £10, 62% below the country’s average.

There are 52,374 operators available for hotels in South Africa as of February 2025.

Prices for hotels in South Africa are updated daily.