Cape Town, South Africa

Climate

Mediterranean and mercurial — warm, dry summers with a relentless southeasterly wind, mild wet winters, and a mountain that makes its own weather regardless of what the forecast says.

Best season

Late February through April: the Cape Doctor has mostly tired itself out, the summer crowds have thinned, and the light on the mountain in the early evening is unreasonable.

Atmosphere

• coastal
• mountain
• urban-midsize
• colonial-layered
• cosmopolitan
• artsy
• culinary
• maritime
• lush
• walkable
• sprawling
• design-forward
• intense