Cape Town

While the Table Mountain may be the single most defining feature of Cape Town, the city is a stalwart of multiculturalism that has withstood that nation's troubled past. The legislative and parliamentary seat of South Africa, Cape Town is also its second most populous, outstripped only by Johannesburg. Table Mountain and Cape Point are the natural anchors of the city, each bestowed with wondrous scenery and ideally placed for a host of outdoor adventures. From hiking and mountain biking to paragliding, abseiling and surfing, Cape Town celebrates its natural heritage with genuine fervor. Named the Design Capital of the World in 2014, the city is a hub of innovation, centered mainly around the neighborhoods of East City and Woodstock, although you'll find superb street art throughout while Bo-kaap astounds with its prismatic architecture. Nestled between mountain and sea, awe-inspiring vistas are a given, but Cape Town also boasts all the perks of a cultural hub with world-class sports venues and countless museums that recount the city's history. Just offshore is Robben Island, the former prison where Nelson Mandela spent 18 years for his role in the anti-apartheid revolution alongside several other noted political figures. From shopping for souvenirs at Long Street and touring the First South African Perfume Museum to embarking upon whale watching tours and lounging at the beach, Cape Town strikes the perfect balance between culture, history and nature.