The 10 Best Day Trips from Cape Town

Cape Town is one of our favourite cities in the world. Maybe our favourite, depending on the day you ask. So, clearly, we are pretty enamoured with all that the city of Cape Town itself has to offer. But I also think that all the amazing day trips from Cape Town are what really set it apart and make it so perfect for a longer stay.

Because, while it is hard to overstate just how enjoyable it is to walk on the malecón every morning, wander the V&A Waterfront, tackle any of the many incredible hikes or relax on one of the many gorgeous beaches, it is the large and diverse collection of fabulous Cape Town day trips that make this beautiful South African city truly unique.

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Things to Know Before Visiting Cape Town

The 5 Best Hikes in Cape Town

With everything from exceptional scenery to delightful wildlife to geographical milestones and historic landmarks, there is a day trip from Cape Town to fit every demographic or interest. Not to mention, there is a LOT of wine. Here is our list of the 10 best day trips from Cape Town – hopefully you can find the perfect one (or three). The times listed are the estimated driving time from the V&A Waterfront.

On the Cape

Not surprisingly, the famous “cape” in Cape Town features many of the best day trips, all easily reached in less than 2 hours from the centre of the city.

Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens

15 min

This acclaimed slice of nature located on the backside of Table Mountain offers lovely gardens, soothing forests and elegant surroundings mere minutes from the centre of the city. The entrance fee is quite reasonable and helps ensure it remains a natural oasis in the city.

There are many short hiking trails within the gardens themselves, or you can extend your walk around the outside of Table Mountain (fantastic city views) or the energetic can hike all the way up to the top of Table Mountain (fantastic everything views).

Hout Bay

30 min

Easily reached by car or scenic bus ride from Cape Town, spectacular Hout Bay gives you the opportunity to check off several different highlights in one handy stop. The bay itself is extremely scenic, for starters. The beach is also excellent. Then, just next to the beach, you have your pick of local fish and chip shops leading the way to the harbour, where you can be entertained by the local seal population that happily hangs around to clean up after the fishing boats.

There is also an eclectic and fun food market, spectacular Luxembourg Castle (accessible by organized guided tour only) and, last but certainly not least, the epic Chapman’s Peak drive. Starting just south of Hout Bay, this phenomenal stretch of narrow winding coastal road is among the most scenic in South Africa which, I can assure you, is saying something. You can drive to the first set of Hout Bay viewpoints for free, or it will cost 66 rand ($US4) per car to drive the entire thing. And you should definitely drive the entire thing.

Over two visits to Cape Town, we have done the Chapman’s Peak drive no fewer than 8 times (4 in each direction), always adding it to our Cape Town day trip itinerary even when faster routes are available. We recommend you do the same.

Muizenberg Beach

30 min

Meanwhile, on the opposite (east) side of the cape, on the far side of the extraordinary 12 Apostles mountain range, you will find cute and vibrant Kalk Bay. The town itself is a great place to hang out, as well, but the area is most commonly known for Muizenberg Beach, a popular surfing destination famous for its extremely photogenic coloured changing shacks.

Simon’s Town

45 min

Just a short, scenic drive down the coast from Kalk Bay you’ll reach adorable little Simon’s Town, with its cute heritage town architecture and picturesque bay full of fishing boats. There are many interesting little shops, a tiny town square and the friendly and popular Fran’s Place, where their “double-thick milkshake” somehow exceeded my extremely picky milkshake standards, its heaviness rendering the straw completely and wonderfully useless.

But, hey, it gets even better. Just outside of town is Boulders Beach, home to a large colony of African penguins (I suppose it would be weird if they weren’t African). You need to pay a rather hefty national park fee to enter but it is well worth it, especially if you go close enough to low tide to navigate your way through the rocks at the end of the beach and explore Middle Beach, where you are almost certain to get up close and personal with some of these famous – and famously clumsy – flightless birds.

Either way, be sure to also take the normal route along the boardwalks because this is where you’ll spot the bulk of the colony, usually with some scenic backdrops, you just don’t get to wander among them.

Finally, continue your drive another 10-15 minutes south to Smitswinkel Bay along another tremendously scenic stretch of road, most likely spotting baboons along the way. Yep, you heard that right. Baboons.

Cape Point Nature Reserve

2 hrs

Finally, we reach Cape Point Nature Reserve, our pick for the very best day trip from Cape Town. Although it is hardly a fair comparison, considering that the reserve covers a rather huge swath of land and includes beaches, historic landmarks, hiking trails, wildlife and the famous Cape of Good Hope, “the most southwestern point of Africa”. Or some such thing. People seem to like taking photos with the sign, anyway.

You will be on the hook for another noticeable national park fee, but there is an informative visitor centre, the scenery in the park is outstanding and the views from the Cape Point lighthouse truly should not be missed. There is a moderately tiring 1 km walk up to the “new lighthouse” or you can splash out a bit more cash for the funicular instead.

There are several terrific viewpoints there, plus if you want you can continue on down toward the actual point for a closer look at the “old lighthouse”, which turned out to be too low to be truly useful and which is now closed off to visitors (but still makes for a great photo).

Back down at the parking area there are amazing views in both directions – on one side, across the bay to the mainland; on the other, Dias Beach and the Cape of Good Hope. Actually, the Cape of Good Hope Trail is an easy and scenic hiking path joining Cape Point Lighthouse to the Cape of Good Hope (approx. 1 hr each way). Depending on your situation, you could get dropped off at one and picked up at the other or, at the very least, those who like to walk should hike down to the cliffs above Dias Beach. Taking it one step (actually many steps) further, it is also worth heading down the stairs to the beach itself, where the looming cliffs are impressive and you can clamber along the rocks at the east end to enjoy some truly awesome wave-crashing entertainment.

Other highlights include Platboom Beach (windblown sand dunes and blue, blue water), Bordjiesrif Beach (bbq/braai areas with a view of the coastal cliffs and a beautiful, sheltered tidal swimming pool) and Buffels Bay (a quiet beach with more nice views and usually a lot of wildlife).

Speaking of wildlife, no guarantees, but during your meandering you are almost certain to come across large groups of both ostriches and baboons, although rarely at the same place at the same time, most likely due to unsurprising personality clashes.

Beyond the Cape

As amazing as the Cape is, there are also plenty of appealing Cape Town day trips to be found just outside that condensed area of natural beauty.

Atlantis Sand Dunes

45 min

North up the coast from the city, this is the place to go for exciting ATV trips, wild jeep tours and exhilarating sandboarding adventures. They may not be quite as spectacular as the incredible sand dunes of Namibia, but they are definitely easier to reach.

Robben Island

1 hr by boat

Frequent boat trips leave the V&A Waterfront to extremely famous and historically significant Robben Island, a rather flat, featureless little speck of land within easy view of Cape Town that is mainly known as the place where Nelson Mandela was banished for 18 years during the apartheid era (followed by another 9 years in mainland prisons).

The Winelands

45 min (Stellenbosch)

One of the best wine regions in Africa starts just outside Cape Town city limits, featuring attractive rolling hills, huge, lush vineyards, charming colonial towns and a wide range of hiking trails. Pretty Stellenbosch is the largest, most well-known wine town and the best base for wine tours, bike trips and historic sightseeing.

There are almost endless wine estates to visit, although one particularly recommended outing is on the Franschhoek Wine Tram. Bring money, a hat and an effective liver.

Likewise, almost every town and village in the area offers some scenic hiking trails but true enthusiasts should focus on the amazing network of trails in Jonkershoek Nature Reserve.

Safari Game Drive

30 min (Villiera)

Also, while the most famous game parks and big game safaris can be found in the eastern provinces of South Africa (including the exciting and unique walking safaris of Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Nature Reserve), it is rather shocking how many excellent African safaris are available very close to downtown Cape Town.

You can choose between a number of excellent game drives, including the highly recommended Villiera Wines Wildlife Sanctuary, where you can combine your animal spotting with a wine tour.  You are practically guaranteed to see a huge mix of different animals, dozens of different species of bird and, if all goes well, even some bored, somewhat condescending, lions.

The Overberg

1-2 hrs

Last but not least, our favourite day trip from Cape Town (non-Cape Point edition) has to be the endlessly gorgeous Overberg region. Located just across the bay from Cape Town, you can literally see this hilly, rugged coastline from the east side of Cape Point (although it would take at least four hours to drive all the way around from the lighthouse).

Our favourite activity is simply taking a leisurely drive along the beautiful coast, soaking in the scenery and stopping off at every new attraction along the way. But some of the specific areas to target are Gordon’s Bay, with great beaches, big hills and nearby Hottentots Holland Nature Reserve for hiking. And photo enthusiasts will definitely want to stop off at the extremely Instagrammable beach cave at Dappat Se Gat.

Pringle Bay features a lovely little bay surrounded by rocks and hills, although rather than feeling sheltered it seems to actually funnel the wind through. Nonetheless, the small-town feel is addictive, with the entirety of the Pringle Bay “business district” squeezed into a tiny, relaxed 2-block radius. Plus, it is a relatively easy climb to the truly fabulous 360-degree viewpoint at Hangklip Peak. Watch for baboons, as usual.

Further along the coast, you’ll find impressive flower gardens and multiple waterfalls in Harold Porter National Botanical Gardens, excellent hiking in Kogelberg Nature Reserve and another thriving penguin colony at Stony Point Nature Reserve. Finally, the scenic cliff-top town of Hermanus is known as the best whale-watching destination in South Africa (featuring different types in different seasons).

Bonus Trip

Well, that does it for our list of the top 10 day trips from Cape Town, but it would feel wrong not to at least mention another top destination just a couple hours farther from the city.

Cederberg

4 hrs

Often referred to as the Cederberg Mountains, but since “berg” means “mountain”, that’s actually a bit redundant. Either way, it’s an exceptionally beautiful area full of rough trails, unique rock formations, pretty oases and refreshing natural pools. After all the lush greenery and wonderful beaches around Cape Town, the Cederberg region feels like another world. It also tends to be at 5-10 degrees hotter, as well, so keep that in mind if you’re visiting in summer.

Realistically, it is too far from Cape Town to accomplish much on a day trip but if you can set aside 2 or 3 nights it is well worth the rather adventurous drive. While the first few hours are on good highways, the last stretch is along a slightly rough gravel road, which gets progressively worse the farther you go.

The Wolfberg Arch hike through the slot canyons of Wolfberg Cracks is a strenuous but epic experience, although you need to have a group of at least 3 people to get a permit from CapeNature (for safety reasons, apparently).

However, even if you’d rather NOT spend 8 hours hiking in the sun on a 35C day, there are plenty of terrific attractions to see. Staadsal Caves are fascinating, as are the amazing rock valleys at Truitjieskraal (both require permits, as well).

The path to Lot’s Wife – a fairly mediocre rock formation that looks vaguely like that rather unfortunate Biblical character – is very short and not that interesting. If you keep going, though, you can follow a well-marked 5 km loop through some fascinating badlands scenery to Window Rocks. And it doesn’t even require a permit. I don’t know why more people don’t talk about it.

Then, when you’re finished with your hot, rocky exertions, be sure to visit some of the refreshing and gorgeous rock pools scattered around the area. Maalgat Pool is a lovely and popular spot just a 1 km walk from Sanddrif Campground. It has some small waterfalls, a variety of good rock jumps and even decent fishing.

Or, if you’re looking for something completely isolated and idyllic, we would recommend the basically unnamed Hidden Pool, 30 min down a very rough road (do not try in a low-clearance car), with a 10-minute walk and short clamber down some rocks at the end.

Although the main road through Cederberg is easily (although carefully) navigated in a car, the side roads to the best attractions are considerably rougher and we would recommend an SUV (or something even more rugged).

Cape Town Day Trips Map

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Summary

Well, there you have it. Our complete collection of best day trips of Cape Town – a list with a bit of something for everyone. And if there was ever a city deserving of spending a full month (or more), it’s Cape Town, which would give you a chance to check off the entire list. Baboons as far as the eye can see, plus more!

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