CAPE TOWN — Better known for sunshine than spooks, the Mother City has clawed its way onto the world’s top 50 Halloween travel destinations for 2026, proving it has a few skeletons in its cupboard alongside the beaches.

Cape Town ranked at number 48 on global travel trade platform Travel and Tour World’s list.

The Mother City’s inclusion highlights its historical spooky credentials, despite Halloween falling in spring when jacarandas are in bloom and daylight extends well into the evening.

Cape Town’s supernatural reputation dates back centuries and includes the Flying Dutchman ghost ship legend, said to be doomed to sail endlessly off the Cape of Good Hope.

The Castle of Good Hope, South Africa’s oldest surviving colonial building, is widely regarded as one of the country’s most haunted sites.

Devil’s Peak takes its name from the legend of Jan van Hunks, who reportedly challenged the Devil to a pipe-smoking contest. According to the tale, they continue their competition beneath Table Mountain’s famous cloud cover.

Halloween events

Several Halloween events are planned across the city for the end of October.

• The Cape Town Zombie Walk will take place on Saturday 31 October at 17:00, starting from the Company’s Garden and moving into the CBD. The free, family-friendly event supports the Lucky Lucy Foundation’s animal rescue work.
• Cape Town City Ballet will stage David Nixon’s gothic Dracula at Artscape from 28 October to one November, following a sold-out run earlier this year. Tickets range from R250 to R500.
• The Labia will screen F.W. Murnau’s 1926 silent classic FAUST on Saturday 31 October at 20:45, with a new live score from the Makabra Ensemble. The screening is part of HORRORFEST celebrating the film’s centenary, with prizes for the best costumes.
• The Manor of Mischief at Glenhof Manor in Newlands will run on Saturday 31 October, featuring 10 rooms of Halloween experiences across two floors. Daytime sessions cater for children up to 12 years old, with a scarier experience for teenagers and adults later in the day.

Briony Brookes, chief marketing officer at Cape Town Tourism, said the city’s dark history and legends contribute to its special character.

“From ghost ships to a mountain hosting a long-running smoking contest with the Devil, our stories are part of what makes Cape Town so special,” Brookes said.