Deano’s answer to: “How is the nightlife in Cape Town compared to other metropoles in the world?”

Half the fun, with twice the danger.

Basic rules about keeping your wits about you, staying in groups in unfamiliar places, and having solid transport, funds, and a plan are much more important here… It's not at all hard to read up online for the hotspots, but in part because of the reputation, and in part because the reputation is based on fact, the nightlife scene moves about a bit day to day, and even on the weekend it's hard to string an itinerary out until sunup… People go home early compared to a lot of larger metros worldwide.

All that said, there's lots of fun to be had, and the well lit, newer, and more famous areas tend to be very safe during the day/evening hours, and again the busier the scene is, the more likely it is to also be safe. Downtown, especially, appears to be pretty safe and sane all hours these days.

Doesn't hurt if you're a pro wrestler, either… Physical perception of your vulnerability to robbery/mugging can have a dramatic affect on how likely it is either will happen – so if you're not well-built, try to go out in a group.

How is the nightlife in Cape Town compared to other metropoles in the world?