When we think of stunning coastal views and great wine, the south of France often springs to mind. However, one African city competes with the region.

Cape Town, in South Africa, is renowned for its natural beauty, vibrant culture and diverse range of attractions. It is also home to a number of incredible vineyards and a penguin colony.

As well as low cost restaurants and bars, Cape Town benefits from the South African rand's worth against the pound. Tourists are able to get a glass of high-quality local wine for around 35 ZAR - the quivalent of £1.50.

The region is famous for its award winning vineyards, with a number of tourism companies offering day trips from the city centre to winelands such as Stellenbosch. These areas also boast incredible scenery and mountainous views.

Cape Town was previously voted Africa's "most beautiful city". It has so much to offer, with exciting landscapes, iconic mountain ranges, including Table Mountain, and remarkable natural wonders.

Table Mountain's distinctive flat top is one of the first and last things you see when visiting the city, and its aerial cableway is the best way to get up or down. You can also hike up to the top using a number of routes which range in difficulty.

Around an hour south of Cape Town is Boulders Beach. The popular attraction is home to a colony of African penguins and visitors are able to walk along wooden boardwalks for close-up views of them.

Some beaches near Simon's Town also allow tourists to swim amongst the penguins. There are around 2,000 of the birds in the area in total.

The city has also been dubbed a "foodie's haven". According to Time Out's list of the world's best cities for food, Cape Town is the fourth best in the globe and the best in Africa.

Andrew Hallett, Time Out South Africa’s Content Director, said Cape Town's cuising is "as varied as they come – there really is something to cater to all tastes (and budgets) in the Mother City. He recommends a Gatsby, a huge bread roll stuffed with hot chips, salad and fillings of your choosing.

Athough the flight from London to Cape Town, which takes around eleven and a half hours, is fairly expensive, visitors will get great value for money on food and drink while they're on holiday. It also helps that Britons will feel no jetlag while holidaying in this haven, as the timezone is only two hours (+2) ahead of GMT.

During the South African summer months, which are between November and March, temperatures can hit 30C. Meanwhile, the "shoulder season", between April and September, sees pleasant weather conditions with fewer tourists.

However, people visiting Cape Town are warned of potential crime in and around tourist destinations and transport hubs. The Foreign Office urges tourists to be careful around townships and isolated areas, especially when it's dark.

In the busier tourist locations there are often security personnel to help travellers. Brits should also avoid walking in remote areas or deserted beaches. Check Foreign Office advice before travelling.

Africa Travel says: "South Africa's Cape Region is well known for its stunning scenery, breathtaking beaches picturesque wine estates and sights such as Table Mountain & Cape Point, but did you know it is also a foodie’s heaven and home to some outstanding eateries?"

"Many of the region’s wine estates are rightfully lauded for their extraordinary wines, but some of them also play host to a selection of wonderful restaurants. There is Chorus on the Waterkloof Wine Estate and Geuwels at the Vergenoegd Low Estate, both under the careful control of the imaginative Bertus Basson, Liam Tomlin’s Chef Warehouse at Beau Constantia, (he also has an offering on the Maison Estate), as well as newcomer Arkeste which is hidden away on the Chamonix Wine Farm."