Cheap Flights to Cape Town, Johannesburg and South Africa
Long-haul flights from Europe to South Africa (about 10,000 km) take between 10 and 12 hours—and even longer with layovers.
One major advantage when travelling to the Cape: you arrive without jet lag, because during the European winter, there is little to no time difference between South Africa and countries like Germany or Austria.
Table of Contents
- Entry Requirements for South Africa
- Direct Flights to Cape Town (CPT)
- Flights to Johannesburg (JNB)
- Cape Town International Airport
- Car Rentals & Transport
Entry Requirements for South Africa
To enter South Africa, German and Austrian citizens need:
- a valid passport
- a valid return or onward flight ticket
If you have an e-ticket, a printed copy is sufficient.
If you don’t have a paper version with you, you can simply show the digital booking confirmation on your smartphone.
Tip: Make sure to switch on your phone in time before reaching the immigration counter.
Direct Flights to Cape Town (CPT)
Cape Town — South Africa’s most popular travel destination — is also served by regular direct flights. These include many options for cheap flights to Cape Town:
- SAA – daily from Frankfurt
- Emirates – from Vienna
- British Airways – daily via London
- KLM – daily from Amsterdam
- Air Berlin (formerly LTU) – several times a week from Munich
- Qatar Airways – from Frankfurt via Doha
Flights to Johannesburg (JNB)
Most international flights to South Africa operate via OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg – the largest and busiest hub in Southern Africa.
Daily flights to Johannesburg include:
- South African Airways (SAA)
- Lufthansa from Frankfurt
- Condor
- British Airways via London Heathrow
- KLM from Amsterdam
- Turkish Airlines via Istanbul
Additional airlines fly regularly or several times per week:
- Iberia from Madrid
- Swiss from Zurich
- Air France from Paris
- Emirates via Dubai (daily)
- Qatar Airways via Vienna and Doha (multiple times weekly)
- Ethiopian Airlines
- and many more
From Johannesburg, there are many daily onward flights to:
Cape Town, Durban, George, Port Elizabeth, Bloemfontein, Upington, Hoedspruit (Kruger Park), Windhoek (Namibia), Gaborone (Botswana), Livingstone (Zambia), Harare and Victoria Falls (Zimbabwe).
Cape Town International Airport
Cape Town International Airport was fully modernised ahead of the FIFA World Cup and is now bright, spacious and highly efficient.
It is located about 20 km from the city centre.
Driving via the N2 takes around 25 minutes, longer during rush hour.
Car Rentals & Transport
In the arrivals hall, you will find all major international and local car rental companies.
Recommendation:
Book your rental car online from Europe in advance and compare prices to secure cheap car hire for your Cape Town trip.
Many hotels and guesthouses also offer shuttle services, which should be booked ahead of time.
Available transport options include:
- shuttle buses
- taxis
- independent transfer services
- Uber (recommended mainly for experienced travellers)
Rental cars start at around €20 per day, and since Cape Town is best explored by car, this is usually the most practical option.
The cheapest alternative is the airport bus:
A 24-hour service brings you to the main train station, where you will need to switch to a taxi.
During the 2010 World Cup, additional bus routes were introduced between the City Centre, Sea Point, Green Point and the V&A Waterfront.