Cape Town Airport (CPT)
Cape Town International Airport (CPT) has a single Central Terminal Building, with the international and the domestic lanes inside it. The shuttles to Cape Town use the international inner lane, and arriving passengers should only use the Authorised Airport Taxis, from the transport kiosks. The airport asks you to ignore the drivers who offer rides unasked.
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Updated 21 October 2026
The terminals at Cape Town Airport
Cape Town International Airport works from one Central Terminal Building, with separate inner lanes for the international and for the domestic arrivals and departures, and separate elevated roads for the drop-off and the pick-up. The airport publishes the map of the precinct, with the public transport plaza and the bus pick-up lane marked.
The airport's own site publishes the list of the airlines that fly from it, with the contact details of each one, so you can find the airline of your flight before you travel.
Getting to and from Cape Town Airport
Shuttles run from the airport to Cape Town and to other destinations in the Western Cape. They use the international inner lane, and the representative of each service meets the passengers coming out of the arrivals terminals.
Arriving passengers should only use the Authorised Airport Taxis, which offer a walk-in service from the transport kiosks and from the domestic arrivals desk in the Central Terminal Building. The authorised airport taxi service runs from 5 AM to midnight, and the Citi Hopper shuttle runs from 7 AM to midnight on weekdays and from 8 AM to midnight at the weekend, while Centurion Tours runs from 6 AM to midnight.
Car hire is available at the airport, and Uber and Bolt work there as app-based rides.
What happens when you arrive at CPT
Keep your passport and any form you filled in on the plane with you the whole way, from the aircraft door to the exit.
The airport publishes the pages on the security, on the luggage guidelines, on the flight information and on the road traffic, so you can read them before you travel.
Cape Town Airport with children
The airport's own travel tips and luggage guidelines pages say what to carry and what the rules are, so you can pack before you leave home instead of at the check-in counter.
Leave the passports and the children's documents in your carry-on bag, not in the checked luggage, so you have them at passport control. And use the walk-in taxi service from the transport kiosks rather than following anyone who offers you a ride.
Plan your stop at Cape Town Airport
The airport's own advice is to ignore the people who approach you with rides, and not to accept rides from unsolicited taxi or shuttle drivers. Check the flight information and the road traffic pages before you travel, and check with the embassy or consulate about the documents your family needs for the entry rules of every country on your route.
Sources
- Official home page of Cape Town International Airport, the operator's own site, with the airport information, the flight information and the security sections. — airports.co.za (checked 21 October 2026)
- Official page of the airport on the public transport: the shuttles, the authorised taxis, the car hire and the app-based rides, with the hours of each one. — airports.co.za (checked 21 October 2026)
- Official page of the airport with the list of the airlines that fly from it, and the contact details of each one. — airports.co.za (checked 21 October 2026)
Frequently asked questions
How many terminals does Cape Town Airport have?
One Central Terminal Building, with separate inner lanes for the international and for the domestic arrivals and departures, and separate elevated roads for the drop-off and the pick-up.
Which transport should I use from Cape Town Airport?
The Authorised Airport Taxis, from the transport kiosks and the domestic arrivals desk in the Central Terminal Building. The airport asks you to ignore the people who approach you with rides and not to accept rides from unsolicited taxi or shuttle drivers.
What buses and shuttles run from Cape Town Airport?
Shuttles run to Cape Town and to other destinations in the Western Cape, using the international inner lane, and the representative of each service meets the passengers at the arrivals terminals. The Citi Hopper shuttle runs from 7 AM to midnight on weekdays and 8 AM to midnight at the weekend, and Centurion Tours runs from 6 AM to midnight.
Can I get an app-based ride at Cape Town Airport?
Yes, Uber and Bolt work at the airport as app-based rides, alongside the car hire desks and the authorised taxi kiosks.
What do I do first when I land at CPT?
Keep your passport and any form you filled in on the plane with you the whole way, from the aircraft door to the exit, and leave the children's documents in your carry-on bag.