15 Beautiful Cities in Africa

1 Cape Town

Cape Town Africa’s southernmost point is also home to the continent’s third largest city; Cape Town is a spiritual, eccentric and playful place to be. Some would prefer to call Cape Town the “Windy City”. It’s difficult not to place Table Mountain at the center of all things Cape Town. Back in the city, you’ll find a colorful selection of districts that incorporate inventive art and crafts, luminous facades and enticing, culturally varied fashion. Moreover, Cape Town has won several international travel awards.

2 Nairobi

Nairobi is the most populated city in East Africa, as well as the largest city and capital of Kenya. This city is known as the “Green city in the sun”. As for the housing options, there are spacious suburban-style homes at prices quite affordable compared to other African cities, as well as luxury apartment complexes with swimming pools and fitness centers. The surrounding plains, cliffs, forests, and undergrowth offer a unique look into the African countryside here.

3 Accra

Accra is located in the southeastern part of the country along the Atlantic coast. It is Ghana's largest city. There are several affluent areas including East Legon (home of the famous Accra Mall) and Osu (Oxford Street) for its high-end shops. Points of interest are the Makola Market, the National Museum of Ghana, the Independence Arch and the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial. The tropical climate makes it all the more appealing. Things are changing for the better, and fast.

4 Libreville

Libreville enjoys a strong French influence, some of which you’ll find in the stunning architecture and monuments. This city is a city of approx. 1 million located in the western region of Gabon on the Atlantic Ocean. It contains the deepwater port of Owendo and The Komo River runs through the city to the ocean. And of course the beach location makes this an easy place to have fun on weekends. Close to Libreville, there’s the Akanda National Park that’s helped it become a popular eco-tourist destination.

5 Johannesburg

Johannesburg is home to world-class malls like Sandton City and Eastgate. From the moment you step off the plane at OR Tambo International Airport (ORTIA), it becomes clear why Johannesburg is considered a world-class city. Though a concrete jungle in some parts, many are surprised by how lush and green the city actually is. Kruger National Park is a must for any visitor to South Africa. The park is massive and at night it is the tourists that are locked up and the animals free to roam.

6 Tunis

Tunis is one of the smallest countries in North Africa. Both the Ottoman and French influence can still be felt in the city, and there are still many beautiful building from colonial time. Along modern infrastructure, the old world remains through the Medina of Tunis, one of the first Arabo-Muslim towns, and now also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You'll also find the famous Bardo Museum a little bit outside the city, especially famous for housing vast roman collections from the Carthaginian time.

7 Grahamstown

Grahamstown is known as “City of Saints” because of the 40 plus religious buildings of various faiths. Situated in the Eastern Cape Province, Grahamstown can be easily overlooked for the thriving multi-choice appeal of Cape Town or Johannesburg. This city takes a major centre for journalism training. You can visit here when two large festivals (National Arts Festival and SciFest Africa) begins.

8 Kigali

Centrally located in the heart of Rwanda, Kigali is home to close to one million people, and there’s also a large community of expats here who get to enjoy the diversity the city has to offer. There are two main scenes here: the rural areas, and the new modern structures popping up in the central business district. One of the latest developments is the Kigali Tower, a 20-floor office and retail complex that is the city’s tallest building. It is home to the famous Hotel Rwanda and rare mountain gorillas.

9 Windhoek

Windhoek is attractive for many reasons: it’s cleaning, relatively safe and getting around the city is easy. German culture has greatly influenced much of Windhoek, from the language to the architecture. Windhoek is famous for its beer (Windhoek Lager) is sold abroad in more than 20 countries. When you are visiting there and other parts of the city, expect to meet a diverse range of people with a multitude of background.

10 Dar es Salaam

Dar es Salaam is the largest city in Tanzania and remains the political and economic hub. This city is home to the University of Dar es Salaam, the largest and oldest Tanzanian public university, as well as the Institute of Technology. Though Dar es Salaam has its own magnificent beaches (including many exclusive resorts), the island of Zanzibar is also just a short ferry ride away. Situated near the equator, the city enjoys tropical weather most of the year.

11 Gaborone

Gaborone, Botswana’s capital is considered to be a peaceful city. This city enjoys political stability and economic strength because it is one of the largest rough diamond producers in the world. The precious stone continues to play a major role in the city’s development. You’ll find South African stores in Gaborone’s many large malls.

12 Algiers

Algiers hosts beaches, sun, a thriving cafe life, and a buoyant economy for expats and employees living abroad and, if it’s your thing, a socialist system whereby no class system is really stressed. Algiers usually does not see the extreme temperatures that are experienced in the adjacent interior deserts. You can visit such a beautiful place such as Kasbah quarter, Martyrs Square, the Jamaa-el-Kebir, Grand New & Ketchaoua Mosques, the Bardo Museum and the Roman Catholic cathedral.

13 Asmara

Some would prefer to call Asmara “safest city in the world”. Situated at an elevation of 2400 meters above sea-level, its climate is pleasantly cool, but also dry and sunny for much of the year. The city has beautiful architecture, a thriving Italian-Eritrean community from the colonial days, and is the country’s economic hub. Asmara was blessed with beautiful buildings that would only draw praise in Italy as well. The locals are a very cultured lot who seem to pride themselves on their city's Italian heritage, fondly call it “Little Rome”.

14 Harare

Lonely Planet calls it a “safe and laid-back city” with access to wildlife and a portal to Southern Africa. Harare is The Capital of Zimbabwe. Past British influences are still partially visible here. Not only does Harare boast the renowned University of Zimbabwe; it’s a hub for textiles, steel, and a trading center for citrus, tobacco, and many other African-grown products. However, MacDonald can be found here.

15 Kumasi

Do you know Kumasi is the capital of the Ashanti region in the southern central part of Ghana! Kumasi is known as “The Garden City” because of its many beautiful plant and flower species. Some of the attractions in Kumasi are the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, the Kumasi National Cultural Centre, the Kumasi Hat Museum, Asantahene's Palace, and a zoo. The Kejetia Market in the Kumasi city’s center is also known as West Africa’s largest market with more than 10,000 stalls.