Cape Town is a frustrating city to navigate, simply because there is hardly any efficient public transport to speak of. That and the fact that there is a great big mountain right in the middle of the city can make getting around quite a daunting task for the tourist. Cape Town is, nevertheless, equipped with some trains and buses. Metro Transport Info (tel: 0800 656 463; website: www.mti.co.za) provides centralised information on all trains, buses and taxis.

Cape Metrorail (tel: 0800 656 463; website: www.capemetrorail.co.za) runs the suburban network of trains, consisting of five routes, which serve four defined areas - Area Ikapa (Cape Town and city destinations), Area North (including Bellville, Wellington, Stellenbosch and Strand), Area Central (including Langa and Khayelitsha) and Area South (including the Cape Flats and the Simon's Town line via Wynberg, Newlands, Claremont and Rondebosch). The Cape Town-Simon's Town route, which hugs the coastline, just metres from the ocean, is particularly spectacular. Tourists are advised to keep a watchful eye on their possessions, as pickpocketing is rife, and they should also never travel after dark. Trains generally run from Cape Town station daily 0430-1930 (depending on the route travelled), with regular departures, although there is a more limited service at weekends; some Area North routes do not offer a weekend service. There are two fare types - Metro (standard) and Metro Plus (first class); tourists are advised to travel on the Metro Plus service. Tickets also vary in price according to the distance travelled. Weekly and monthly passes are also available. Tickets can be purchased at Cape Town Station, Adderley Street.

Public buses run regular and safe services to most destinations - including Camps Bay, Claremont, Hout Bay, Kirstenbosch, Kloof Nek, Sea Point and the Waterfront. However, tourists should probably avoid taking buses to the outlying areas. Golden Arrow (tel: 08012 12111; website: www.gabs.co.za) has the monopoly on Cape Town's bus services, which run out of the main bus terminal on the Grand Parade, between Cape Town Station and the City Hall. Buses run daily approximately 0600-2000 (depending on the route), with a limited service at the weekend; some routes do not have a weekend service. Bus fares are based on the distance travelled and prices vary accordingly. Tickets can be purchased upon boarding or from the main terminal (Mon-Fri 0600-1800, Sat 0600-1230). ‘Clipcards' or passes are also available at the Grand Parade terminal.

Metered taxis can be ordered at any time of day or night and can also be hired for day trips. Although the meters are generally accurate, visitors should ask the driver for an estimated price before setting out. There are taxi ranks at the main railway station and at the top of Adderley Street, just below Company Gardens. Visitors should note that the practice of hailing a taxi on the street is unheard of in Cape Town. Besides finding one at the ranks, visitors can call Marine Taxis (tel: (021) 434 0434) or Unicab (tel: (021) 448 8823). Wheelchair users and groups of up to nine should request a larger Toyota Venture. Rikki's Taxis (tel: (021) 423 4888 or 786 2136) provides a more tourist-orientated taxi service in an open rickshaw-type vehicle; they run in the city centre and Simon's Town and will take you out as far as Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens but not as far as the airport. Tipping is not common practice in Cape Town, although an extra R10-20 is always appreciated.

Minibus taxis
A common sight in any South African city, including Cape Town, the 10- to 12-seater minibus taxis are the preferred transport option of many a car-less local. These can be hailed down anywhere on the streets and are by far the cheapest transport option (about R4 a ride from the city centre to the southern suburbs or Atlantic seaboard).

However, the minibus taxis cannot really be recommended to tourists. Although they are getting more organised and newer vehicles are being introduced, especially on the inner city routes, they still have a bad reputation and safety record. Tourists who do choose to use this service should exercise caution and employ common sense at all times. Passengers, particularly women but men as well, should not board an empty bus, nor should they travel alone, at night or beyond the city centre and the immediate suburbs. They should absolutely avoid the minibus taxis that are in dreadful shape - with flat or smooth tyres, alarming dents or just a general state of disrepair. Tourists should only board the minibuses that have the destinations and corresponding route numbers printed on the back of the bus. A ride in a minibus taxi is also a white-knuckle experience, not for the faint hearted, as the drivers do not pay much attention to the rules of the road.

Due to the lack of efficient and safe public transport, many visitors choose to drive. Driving in the city is usually fairly unstressful, as there are good feeder highways, excellent signage and efficient traffic lights. The scenic routes and meandering country roads are particularly lovely. However, the characteristic Cape Town repose seems to dissolve once the locals are behind the wheel and driving can be hair-raising at times. Drivers are almost always accosted at stop signs and traffic lights, by beggars or entrepreneurs flogging everything from newspapers and roses to bin liners. (However, it can be a treat for hot and bothered motorists to purchase a box of sweet Hanepoot grapes, when in season - late summer).

Rush hours are generally 0700-0830 and 1630-1800, when some routes heading out of the city, particularly De Waal Drive, become quite congested. Getting into the city from the southern suburbs can be quite an adventure for the uninitiated. On what is known as ‘University Bend', where De Waal Drive rounds the mountain towards feeder roads to the N2 and the Eastern Boulevard, there are many tricky lane changes to tackle, mainly because the exits are to the right of the road despite the fact that driving in South Africa is on the left. A preferred route into the city centre is via Main Road, which feeds into the city centre all the way from Wynberg, through Observatory, Woodstock and Salt River into Cape Town. Although fairly straightforward, here drivers have to keep an eye out for minibus taxis, whose Mad Max antics can be quite alarming at times. It is not advisable for drivers to attempt to challenge the minibus taxi drivers, as this can be very dangerous.

Parking is plentiful around the city, with almost every mall equipped with indoor parking. Central car parks are located on Strand Street, the Grand Parade and Plein Street. In many free open parking lots, uniformed parking security guards will look after cars for a tip. Tipping is not essential, however, as this is, in most cases, the sole means of support for these security guards, a small tip of around R2 (R5 at night) is not much for the average visitor to spare.

The kerbside parking bays are managed by parking marshals, who have hand-held machines which record the vehicle's registration number, the number of the parking bay and the time of the driver's arrival. There are two methods of payment; cash or by City Card, which are purchased from the parking marshals for R30 and can be topped up with any amount when necessary. The system is in operation Monday to Saturday during office hours; parking is free of charge after 1800.

A hired car is often the visitor's preferred mode of transport in Cape Town, especially for excursions to outlying areas. Hotels can arrange car hire for their guests, while all major car hire companies have booths at the airport. Cape Town Tourism (tel: (021) 426 4260; website: www.tourismcapetown.co.za) will also arrange car hire for tourists at no extra charge.

Some of the many major car hire companies include Avis (tel: 08610 21111; website: www.avis.co.za), Budget (tel: 08610 16622; website: www.budget.co.za), Europcar (tel: 0800 011 344; website: www.europcar.co.za), Hertz (tel: 08616 00136; website: www.hertz.co.za) and Tempest Sixt (tel: 08683 67378; website: www.tempestcarhire.co.za). Global (tel: (021) 423 5211; website: www.globalcarrental.co.za) and Cape Car Hire (tel: (021) 385 0445; website: www.capecarhire.co.za) are local providers.

Insurance is sometimes included in the rates but is usually offered as an optional extra (some companies make this compulsory, unless proof of individual insurance is provided) and is highly recommended, particularly against theft. Drivers must be at least 23 years old and have a credit card and an International Driving Licence (unless the driver's national licence is printed in English and bears a photograph of the holder).

Cycling in the city centre requires nerves of steel and tremendous good luck. It is therefore not recommended. However, country and suburban excursions can be incredibly rewarding, especially through the Winelands and the Table Mountain National Park around Cape Point. Downhill Adventures, Shop 10 Overbeek Building, corner of Kloof, Long and Orange Streets (tel: (021) 422 0388; website: www.downhilladventures.com) hires out bicycles and the price includes a helmet, pump, spare tube, lock and city map, as well as free delivery in the City Bowl area.

To beat the beach parking blues, particularly in the crowded summer months, adventurous tourists often choose to hire out 100cc Kymco scooters with helmet from African Buzz, 202 Long Street (tel: (021) 423 0052). A deposit and a full motorcycle licence are required.