The distinctive nature of the city’s geography is reflected in the fabulous wines produced in the region and a trip to one of the many vineyards for a tasting or to admire the magnificent Cape-Dutch architecture of the wine estates in the Constantia Valley region can be a great way to spend a day.

Elsewhere, there is plenty to see and discover during a city break, from the notorious Robben Island Prison where Nelson Mandela was held during the apartheid to the colony of African penguins at beautiful Boulders Bay. The stunning Kirstenbosch National Botanic Garden should not be missed during a city break either, as its wide variety of exotic trees, plants and insects lets you really appreciate the diversity of the landscape.

South Africa is known as the Rainbow Nation and the influence that its many different cultures have had on it can clearly be seen in its cuisine and nightlife, with its melting pot of flavours and sounds which are varied enough to please any taste.

Cape Town’s International Airport is the second largest in the country and is located 14 miles from the city, with taxis, shuttle services and car hire available from the airport. Direct flights to Cape Town are available with a range of operators, including South African Airways and Virgin Atlantic.

The artefacts including the art works date from the late seventeenth to the early nineteenth century, the period of Dutch colonial settlement and, after 1795, the era of British occupation. The art works in particular constitute a uniquely rich and important resource for many aspects of the history of the period.

The collection reflects the outlook and aesthetics of a single collector, William Fehr (1892–1968), and his social context, and so differs from most museum collections that are the result of selection by museum staff over an extended period. William Fehr’s private collection was first displayed at the Castle in 1952 during the Van Riebeeck Tercentenary Festival.

Here a large proportion remained on loan until the whole collection was acquired by the South African government in the years 1964–5 and then distributed between the Castle and Rust en Vreugd. The portion of the collection at Rust en Vreugd was presented by William Fehr as a gift to the nation.

Dating from the early eighteenth century, this museum is furnished as a lived-in house of the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. It has a superb collection of Cape furniture, Chinese and Japanese ceramics, Dutch Delft, paintings, glass and silverware. The facade is attributed to the architect Louis Thibault and sculptor Anton Anreith. The house has interior decorative wall murals.

The house has been furnished to re-create the lifestyle of a typical Malay family in the 19th century. (Since the exhibits aren’t labeled, you might do better to visit the museum as part of a guided tour of the Malay quarter.) Look for works by artist Gregoire Boonzaire, who is famous for capturing both the chaos and charm of neighborhoods such as the Bo-Kaap and District Six.