The beautiful African city named 'best place on Earth'

Cape Town has been named the most favoured city in the world, beating Venice, Sydney and Seville to the top spot. The port city in South Africa maintained its first place position for the seventh time, according to a survey.

Its waterfront, Table Mountain, sandy beaches and proximity to vineyards help explain the city's popularity. Known locally as the "Mother City", Cape Town is hailed for its "beautiful" beaches, "stunning" biodiversity and "award-winning" wine and food, according to capetown.travel.

The city beat nine others to the top spot of a Telegraph survey, including Tokyo, Kyoto, Copenhagen, Vancouver, Porto and Singapore.

Capetown.travel has listed six "big" attractions of the city, which the publication said represent what makes Cape Town a top destination.

Table Mountain offers hiking trails, "unique" flora a and fauna and "unbeatable" views from the top, including across to Robben Island.

Home to baboons, birds and Cape fur seals, Cape Point Nature Reserve is another top spot as is Groot Constantia in Cape Town's southern suburbs.

South Africa's oldest wine estate, it boasts a working vineyard, cellars, museum, restaurant and garden.

It is also possible to visit Robben Island, where former South African president Nelson Mandela was imprisoned.

The two remaining "big six" attractions are Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden and V&A Waterfront with its food markets, restaurants and shops.

Travel Nation recommends nearby Buffelsfontein Game Reserve for anyone who hasn't got time to visit one of South Africa's bigger safari parks.

The publication also suggests a drive along Chapman's Peak Drive, which is a "gorgeous" coast road to Cape Town offering "stunning views".

British Airways, Iberia, American Airlines, Finnair, Virgin Atlantic, China Eastern and Norse Atlantic Airways fly direct to Cape Town.

Skyscanner's best price estimate at the time of publication for a return flight is £345. The average flight time is 11 hours 37 minutes and the cheapest month to fly is October, according to the flights search service.