Cape Town International Airport Car Rental
The Cape Town Airport actually sits in a suburb area near Cape Town called Matroosfontein. The city center of Cape Town is about a 15 or 20 minute drive from the airport, right down N2 Road. The airport is the 2nd or the 3rd largest airport in terms of passenger count in South Africa. The primary destination for arriving passengers if Cape Town, of course. The most popular destination from the Cape Town Airport is Johannesburg, a 1,300 km flight Northward. The below picture shows all regional flights out of the Cape Town Airport.
Car Rental companies servicing the Cape Town airport include Avis, Budget, Thrifty, Europcar, First, Hertz, Sixt and National. The counters for each of these companies are situated in both the international and domestic arrivals terminals.
When picking up your vehicle, first remember that you will be driving on the left-hand side of the road - similar to Australia and the U.K. When exiting towards Cape Town, watch for white signs near the road, giving directions on how to exit the facility. Watching overhead green signs, you will soon notice the signs directing you to Cape Town via N2. As mentioned above, the trip takes about 15 to 20 minutes depending on traffic and ongoing construction on the N2.
When traveling back to the airport with your rental car, you will exit off of N2 and travel to Airport Approach RD. Follow signs marked "Lughawe", or airport in Afrikaans. Signs near the road (and overhead) will mark the direction for car rental returns as you get nearer to the airport. One thing to note, there is a BP filling station near the airport. To get there when returning your rental car, you will travel around the traffic circle, crossing the outbound traffic. Prices may be a little higher for fuel here, but you'll pay less here than you would at the airport car rental area if returning your tank empty.
First, the Cape Town International offers internet access all throughout the airport. It isn't free, but at least it's available to Cape Town travelers - available in most restaurants within both terminals as well. Speaking of restaurants, several eateries dot each terminal, both domestic and international. Domestically, Café Nescafé, KFC and Debonairs Pizza are available in Terminal B. For those traveling internationally, many food choices exist for you as well - including Illy's and Subway.
Other amenities include African Souvenir shopping and various fashion and accessories shops for travelers. Also, a Master Currency changer is situated in the International Terminal - arrivals area. Don't forget the VAT Refund office. For all non-South African residents leaving South Africa, you may create a claim to get back VAT purchased in South Africa.
Unfortunately, there isn't a hotel on the immediate premises of the airport. However, if you're looking for a convenient hotel nearby you might try the Road Lodge Hotel right off the Airport Approach Rd. As you're leaving the airport facilities, the hotel sits right near the road, on the left-hand side behind the BP Fueling Station mentioned above. It is easy to get to and the rates are not bad, considering the convenience that it offers. In fact it is so close, that many folks walk to the hotel from the airport and pick up their vehicle in the morning. Or, if traveling out of the Cape Town Airport, many return their rental vehicle a day earlier, stay the night at the Road Lodge and walk to the airport the following day to catch a flight out.
Honestly, the hotel is very basic but very inexpensive. You can still stay at the Road Lodge for less than $60 per night - or about 40 Euros.
As stated above, the distance you can expect to travel in your rented vehicle is about 15 km from the Airport to the Cape Town city center. However, many folks landing into the Cape Town Airport have a different destination in mind. For those folks, we have compiled a list of possible destinations from the airport and the distance required to get to those destinations. Numbers are estimates only.
Norwood, Cape Town, Western Cape 9 km.
Zevenwacht Eco-trail, Stellenbosch Farms, 20 km.
Table Mountain, South Africa 27 km
Langa township 9 km.
Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden, 19 km.
Many different types of rental vehicles are available at the Cape Town Airport. SUV's, economy cars, luxury cars, vans and minivans, and compacts are all available. Also, don't forget to check out our add-ons. You can view these when booking your car. Available options include GPS's (see funny GPS advertisement below taken at the Cape Town Airport car rental area), additional drivers, booster seats and other children's seats. 
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Airport Basics.....
The Cape Town Airport actually sits in a suburb area near Cape Town called Matroosfontein. The city center of Cape Town is about a 15 or 20 minute drive from the airport, right down N2 Road. The airport is the 2nd or the 3rd largest airport in terms of passenger count in South Africa. The primary destination for arriving passengers if Cape Town, of course. The most popular destination from the Cape Town Airport is Johannesburg, a 1,300 km flight Northward. The below picture shows all regional flights out of the Cape Town Airport.
Cape Town Airport Car Rental.....
Car Rental companies servicing the Cape Town airport include Avis, Budget, Thrifty, Europcar, First, Hertz, Sixt and National. The counters for each of these companies are situated in both the international and domestic arrivals terminals.
When picking up your vehicle, first remember that you will be driving on the left-hand side of the road - similar to Australia and the U.K. When exiting towards Cape Town, watch for white signs near the road, giving directions on how to exit the facility. Watching overhead green signs, you will soon notice the signs directing you to Cape Town via N2. As mentioned above, the trip takes about 15 to 20 minutes depending on traffic and ongoing construction on the N2.
When traveling back to the airport with your rental car, you will exit off of N2 and travel to Airport Approach RD. Follow signs marked "Lughawe", or airport in Afrikaans. Signs near the road (and overhead) will mark the direction for car rental returns as you get nearer to the airport. One thing to note, there is a BP filling station near the airport. To get there when returning your rental car, you will travel around the traffic circle, crossing the outbound traffic. Prices may be a little higher for fuel here, but you'll pay less here than you would at the airport car rental area if returning your tank empty.
Airport Amenities.....
First, the Cape Town International offers internet access all throughout the airport. It isn't free, but at least it's available to Cape Town travelers - available in most restaurants within both terminals as well. Speaking of restaurants, several eateries dot each terminal, both domestic and international. Domestically, Café Nescafé, KFC and Debonairs Pizza are available in Terminal B. For those traveling internationally, many food choices exist for you as well - including Illy's and Subway.
Other amenities include African Souvenir shopping and various fashion and accessories shops for travelers. Also, a Master Currency changer is situated in the International Terminal - arrivals area. Don't forget the VAT Refund office. For all non-South African residents leaving South Africa, you may create a claim to get back VAT purchased in South Africa.
Cape Town Airport Hotels.....
Unfortunately, there isn't a hotel on the immediate premises of the airport. However, if you're looking for a convenient hotel nearby you might try the Road Lodge Hotel right off the Airport Approach Rd. As you're leaving the airport facilities, the hotel sits right near the road, on the left-hand side behind the BP Fueling Station mentioned above. It is easy to get to and the rates are not bad, considering the convenience that it offers. In fact it is so close, that many folks walk to the hotel from the airport and pick up their vehicle in the morning. Or, if traveling out of the Cape Town Airport, many return their rental vehicle a day earlier, stay the night at the Road Lodge and walk to the airport the following day to catch a flight out.
Honestly, the hotel is very basic but very inexpensive. You can still stay at the Road Lodge for less than $60 per night - or about 40 Euros.
Car Rental Driving Distances.....
As stated above, the distance you can expect to travel in your rented vehicle is about 15 km from the Airport to the Cape Town city center. However, many folks landing into the Cape Town Airport have a different destination in mind. For those folks, we have compiled a list of possible destinations from the airport and the distance required to get to those destinations. Numbers are estimates only.
Norwood, Cape Town, Western Cape 9 km.
Zevenwacht Eco-trail, Stellenbosch Farms, 20 km.
Table Mountain, South Africa 27 km
Langa township 9 km.
Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden, 19 km.
Types of Vehicles Available at the Cape Town Airport.....
Many different types of rental vehicles are available at the Cape Town Airport. SUV's, economy cars, luxury cars, vans and minivans, and compacts are all available. Also, don't forget to check out our add-ons. You can view these when booking your car. Available options include GPS's (see funny GPS advertisement below taken at the Cape Town Airport car rental area), additional drivers, booster seats and other children's seats.
Use Eurocar Rental's easy booking engine to find the best rental car for your trip thru the Cape Town International Airport.