5 best day trips from Cape Town

Day trips compared

The day trips

65 km · About 1 hour 15 minutes by car

1.Cape Point and the Cape of Good Hope

The southern tip of the Cape Peninsula is part of Table Mountain National Park, with the Flying Dutchman funicular up to the old lighthouse at Cape Point, sea cliffs, fynbos, ostriches and baboons. Loop back via Chapman's Peak Drive and Boulders Beach for a full peninsula day.

Getting there

Car or guided peninsula tour

Best for

First-timers, Families, Couples

50 km · About 45 minutes by car

2.Stellenbosch

South Africa's second-oldest town has oak-lined streets of whitewashed Cape Dutch buildings, a university, galleries and dozens of wine estates in the surrounding hills, many with tasting rooms and restaurants.

Getting there

Car, wine tour or train

Best for

Food lovers, Couples, Culture

75 km · About 1 hour 15 minutes by car

3.Franschhoek

A valley town founded by French Huguenots, known for its restaurants and wine estates under dramatic mountains. The hop-on hop-off Franschhoek Wine Tram links estates along several routes so you can taste without driving.

Getting there

Car or organised tour; Wine Tram between estates

Best for

Food lovers, Couples, Luxury

120 km · About 1 hour 30 minutes by car

4.Hermanus

From roughly June to November, southern right whales come close to the cliffs of Walker Bay, and the cliff path through Hermanus is one of the best places in the world for land-based whale watching. Boat trips leave from the new harbour.

Getting there

Car or whale-watching tour

Best for

Families, Couples, Quiet stays

110 km · About 1 hour 30 minutes by car

5.West Coast National Park

The Langebaan Lagoon park has turquoise water, birdlife and white beaches, and in August and September the Postberg section bursts with wildflowers. Bring a picnic; facilities inside the park are limited.

Getting there

Car

Best for

Quiet stays, Families

Day-trip tips

• Leave early: most trips are more relaxed with a morning departure and a return before dinner.
• Buy and load a myconnect card at a station kiosk before your first trip.
• Travel in daylight, in busier carriages, and keep valuables out of sight.
• For trips over about 150 km, an overnight stay or an organised tour saves a lot of travelling.

Questions travellers ask