Cape Town – Cape Town has been ranked the eighth-best destination in the world for travellers seeking luxury homes with standout architecture and interior design, according to research by British interior design company Sharps.
The analysis of 210 tourist destinations found that the Mother City scored 96.2 out of 100 in Sharps’ “Beautiful Base” ranking, placing it ahead of destinations including Hawaii’s Big Island, Park City in the United States and Thailand’s Koh Samui.
Cape Town was the only African destination to feature in the global top 25, with the city recording 122 qualifying luxury homes, an average nightly price of £1,109 and a reputation score of 98.
Research by British interior design company Sharps analysed more than 200 destinations and online accommodation listings to identify locations offering design-led stays that combine luxury, architecture and interior design.
According to the research, Cape Town’s luxury homes are distinguished by their use of large glass walls, which showcase views of the Atlantic Ocean and Table Mountain.
The properties also commonly incorporate natural, locally sourced sandstone, indigenous plants, African textiles and minimalist Scandinavian-style furniture, according to Sharps.
Cape Town beats major global destinations
Cape Town’s eighth-place ranking puts it ahead of the Big Island in Hawaii, which placed ninth with a score of 95.7, and Park City, Utah, which ranked 10th with 95.2.
The city also ranked above Koh Samui, Mexico City, the Hamptons and Miami.
Bali took the overall top spot with a perfect score of 100, followed by Paris at 99.5 and California’s Yucca Valley/Joshua Tree at 99.
London ranked seventh with a score of 96.7, just ahead of Cape Town.
The research found that North American destinations dominated the global top 25, accounting for more than two-thirds of the rankings, while Cape Town was the sole African representative.
How Cape Town scored
Sharps considered three main factors: the number of qualifying design-led homes, their average nightly price and their reputation among visitors.
The “Beautiful Base” score combined accommodation volume, reputation and price, with accommodation volume carrying the largest weighting at 50%, followed by reputation at 40% and price at 10%.
The company said it identified design-led accommodation by assessing online listings against premium design criteria, including architectural significance and interior design.
The data used in the analysis was accurate as of July 2026.
Follow African Insider on Facebook, X and Instagram
Picture: Copilot
For more African news, visit Africaninsider.com
Compiled by Betha Madhomu
