Day trips from Cape Town

There are plenty of fascinating destinations just a short drive from Cape Town, each offering a unique way to experience more of South Africa. If you find yourself in the Mother City on a beautiful day and wondering what to do, it's the perfect time to go day tripping! Rent a car and explore at your own pace, or join an organised tour for a relaxed, carefree adventure.

Cape Winelands Day Trip

A visit to the Cape Winelands is a must when travelling to Cape Town. Just beyond the city, this renowned wine-growing region is defined by dramatic mountain landscapes, vineyard-lined valleys, historic Cape Dutch farmsteads, and welcoming wine-tasting rooms. Alongside its heritage estates, the Winelands is home to contemporary wineries with award-winning restaurants, local arts and crafts, and farm-made produce. 

The Cape Winelands spans several distinct wine routes, so it is best to focus on one area per day. Distances, tastings, and leisurely lunches quickly fill an itinerary, making it impractical to explore multiple regions in a single trip. Take your time, slow down, and savour the food, wine, and scenery that make a day trip to the Cape Winelands so memorable.

Cape Winelands in a nutshell:

• Within a 45-minute drive of Cape Town, you'll find the Stellenbosch, Somerset West, Franschhoek, and Paarl wine routes.
• Within an hour's drive of Cape Town, you can travel up the West Coast to Darling, Malmesbury, or Riebeek Kasteel.
• Within an hour and a half to two hours from Cape Town, more options beckon. Towards the northeast, visit the beautiful towns of Tulbagh and Ceres. East from Cape Town, Worcester, Robertson, Montagu, and McGregor are also wine country. Their differing terroir makes for interesting tasting comparisons. Southeast of Cape Town, you'll find Bot River, Elgin, and Hermanus.

Stellenbosch 

The student town of Stellenbosch is renowned for its award-winning vineyards and historic charm. Wine lovers can savour the uniquely South African Pinotage at Kanonkop or explore celebrated estates like Delheim, Muratie, Warwick and L'Avenir, many of which offer picnic lunches. Historic Lanzerac is a must-visit for both wine and relaxation, where you can enjoy tastings or unwind at the Lanzerac Spa. 

Art enthusiasts should book a visit to the Dylan Lewis Sculpture Garden, showcasing striking contemporary works. A full day can easily be spent at Spier Estate, where you can experience Eagle Encounters, enjoy a leisurely picnic, explore wine tastings and shopping, and even attend open-air concerts under the stars. On weekends, the vibrant Route 44 Market at Audacia Wine Farm adds extra entertainment. Other notable nearby wineries include Annandale Wine Estate, Rust en Vrede, Waterford and Peter Falke.

Franschhoek

Franschhoek is renowned for its gourmet dining and award-winning wineries. A great way to explore the region is on the Franschhoek Wine Tram, allowing you to hop on and off at your preferred estates. Highlights include the Haute Cabrière Tasting Room and Grande Provence Heritage Wine Estate. Art and garden lovers should enjoy a Garden & Art Tour at Leeu Estates, along with tastings of their award-winning Mullineux & Leeu Family Wines. 

Babylonstoren, a historic Cape Dutch farm, is another must-visit, featuring a 3.5-hectare garden, restaurants, a shop and bakery, wine tastings, and a relaxing spa. On the way back to Cape Town, make a stop at Dalewood Fromage to taste their artisanal, handcrafted cheeses.

Paarl 

The charming Boland town of Paarl, set in a high-altitude valley, still has vineyards lining its main road and is home to historic wineries such as Laborie and Nederburg. The KWV Wine Emporium is worth a visit for wine, brandies, and fortified wines. Don't miss the nearby Afrikaans Language Monument, perched on the famous Paarl Rock granite boulders. At Rhebokskloof, you can combine wine tasting with a horse or quad bike ride in the mountains.

Nearby Paarl, you will find a few of the fun things to do in Cape Town with kids: 

• Taste delicious goats milk cheese created on the Fairview Wine and Cheese farm. 
• Pop in next door at The Alpaca Loom to meet these cuddly camelids. 
• The Spice Route offers a day's worth of entertainment. There are a variety of eateries, a brewery, wine tasting, chocolatier and even a glassblower. 
• Finally, a safari day trip can include a visit to Drakenstein Lion Park. This authentic lion sanctuary gives visitors an opportunity to get close to the king of animals.

Hermanus Day Trip

An early start to your day trip to Hermanus will pay off. It takes around two hours to get to the charming fishing village from Cape Town.  As you pass Bot River on the way to Hermanus, keep an eye out for local wineries such as Wildekrans, Paarden Kloof, and Barton, passing Benguela Cove Lagoon Wine Estate along the way. Continuing through Vermont leads you into the scenic Hemel-en-Aarde Valley ("Heaven and Earth"), where you can stop at Hermanuspieterfontein, Whalehaven, Southern Right, Hamilton Russell, and Bouchard Finlayson wineries. 

The Hermanus Wine Hoppers wine tram offers a convenient hop-on, hop-off way to explore the valley, including estates like Spookfontein, Creation Wines, and Newton Johnson. If the coast is calling, Voelklip Beach provides a sheltered spot for picnics with scenic lawns. Hermanus is also world-famous for whale watching, which can be enjoyed from the shore or on a boat safari. Nearby Gansbaai offers shark cage diving for those seeking a thrilling adventure. 

Golf enthusiasts can play 9 or 18 holes at Hermanus Golf Club, while Arabella Country Estate features one of South Africa's top ten golf courses. Non-golfers can unwind at the Arabella Spa. For nature lovers, Fernkloof Nature Reserve offers colour-coded trails across 1,800 hectares of the Kleinrivier Mountains, providing stunning views of Walker Bay and the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley. 

On Saturday mornings, the Hermanus Country Market is a great place to sample South African treats such as melktert, along with handmade cheeses and home-brewed beverages. For wildlife experiences, the Panthera Africa Big Cat Sanctuary in Stanford, just 30 minutes from Hermanus, offers close encounters with lions, leopards, tigers, jackals, and caracals.

Cape Peninsula Day Trip

From Noordhoek, continue to Kommetjie, a laid-back seaside village favoured by surfers. Along the way, stop at Imhoff Farm Village, an open-air complex with restaurants, shops, and the family-friendly Higgledy Piggeldy Farmyard. For a memorable experience, consider pre-booking a beach horse ride along the coastline. 

The route then passes through Scarborough before entering the Cape Point Nature Reserve. A funicular ride takes visitors to the upper viewpoint and restaurant, offering panoramic views of the dramatic meeting point of the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. This section of the Cape Peninsula is renowned for its rugged scenery and diverse wildlife.

Continuing around the peninsula brings you to Simon's Town on False Bay. A visit to Boulders Beach is essential, where a protected breeding colony of African Penguins can be viewed up close via boardwalks. Bring a swimming costume, as the sheltered coves and rock pools nearby allow visitors to swim alongside the penguins. 

Simon's Town itself is a historic naval town with museums, boutique shops, and family attractions such as The Scratch Patch, home to a sparkling gemstone collection and unique souvenirs. The coastal road then winds through Glencairn and Fish Hoek before reaching Kalk Bay, a vibrant harbour town known for its excellent restaurants, bars, and eclectic shops selling curios, fashion, and interior décor.

Transport tips 

• Self-driving is a viable option. 
• Remember to calculate travelling time while planning. 
• You can book online with a tour company. If you enlist the services of a tour guide, they will drive you or arrange transport by bus or shuttle. 
• City Sightseeing (the hop-on, hop-off bus) provides some good options for travelling around the Cape Peninsula. 

Route tips 

• Study the route maps and avoid packing in too much for one day. 
• If you want to get back to Cape Town before dark, you need to head back at around 4 or 5 pm in winter. In summer the days are much longer. You will enjoy daylight until around 7 pm. 
• On a wine route, plan for an hour per winery. If you are travelling to the Cape Winelands, do not plan on visiting more than four or a maximum of five wine farms. Earmark one of them for your lunch destination. 
• Choose your route sensibly so that your stops at the various sights take you in a logical direction. You can always return to Cape Town and revisit the places where you wanted to spend more time. 
• Use Google Maps to help you plan your day trip route with multiple destinations.

Tour Company tips 

• Book your day trips on the recommendation of reputable tour companies. Tour packages help visitors make the most of their sightseeing. 
• When taking an organised tour, verify what is included in the rates. Find out if you need to budget an additional amount for your excursions and meals. For instance, shark cage diving and horse or quad bike riding may not be included in the tour price. 
• When enjoying a guided tour, tipping is not mandatory, but it is always appreciated and can make a meaningful difference to your guide.

Ready to Explore? 

Cape Town truly is the day tripper's dream destination, offering an incredible variety of landscapes and experiences just a short drive from the city. Whether you choose to savour the award-winning wines of the Cape Winelands, encounter African Penguins on the Peninsula, or hike the trails of Hermanus, you'll find countless ways to enrich your vacation. Don't let sightseeing take over your entire trip; be sure to set aside enough time to relax and enjoy the city itself. 

Once your day of exploration is complete, you'll need the perfect base to unwind. If you require exceptional Cape Town accommodation, browse our portfolio of luxury self-catering rentals and apartments to find your ideal holiday home. Contact Nox Rentals to secure your stay.