Cape Town, also known as the ‘Mother City,’ is a beauty to behold. And, nothing can beat the experience of the day trips from Cape Town, South Africa. With the cool Atlantic Ocean on one side and a glorious mountain range on the other, nothing can be like Cape Town anywhere else in the world. It is often touted as the most fabulous city in the world!
Situated at the tip of Africa, this is a cosmopolitan city with its vibrant culture, diverse inhabitants and amazing food. When getting your itinerary customized, don’t forget to count in the dreamy beaches with big open skies, serene forests, great mountains and the view of the vineyards will literally sweep you off your feet.
Cape Town is a place for everyone. Whether you are an adventure junkie, a nature enthusiast, a party hopper, a boat cruiser or simply you want to unwind at a coffee shop, Cape Town has a lot of offer to anyone.
11 Day Trips From Cape Town
And also, it has a great number of sites in its stunning surroundings to explore and to relish in their scenery. Here are the exquisite 12 day trips from Cape Town you can take to experience more of this wonderful city.
1. The West Coast
The rich geographical diversity of this place is beyond anyone’s imagination and is mostly undiscovered. It stretches from Cape Town to the Northern Cape of the Touwis River. It has many unexplored historic small towns as well as villages dedicated just for fishing amidst it. Some have beautiful harbors as well. Not just this, the West Coast also has the Cederberg Mountains and forests as well which makes one of the best places to take exciting day tours from Cape Town to.
The wilderness of the Cederberg Mountainous region is best for camping.
What is most popular for are the fields of the wildflowers and the West Coast National Park at its heart. Both of which should not be missed!
Distance: About 1-6 hours from Cape Town
Stay: Many hotels, guesthouses are to be found here.
Ideal for: Camping, sightseeing, and trekking.
Must Read: 7 Cruises In Cape Town You Need To Take For Breathtaking Views Of The Ocean
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2. Table Top Mountain
It is a significant landmark in South Africa which attracts tourists from all nook and corners of the world. It is considered the most iconic place and also one of the highly photographed locations as well. For it is the site that offers a breath-taking 360-degree view of Cape Town. It truly is a scenic one to explore at least once in a lifetime. Furthermore, it is a biodiversity hub spot too.
With about 2000 species of plants and flowers, it is regarded as a unique conservatory as it also has several rare species from around the world. It has the Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens and a National Park along the eastern region which has the endemic animals like mountain zebra, cape lion, and leopard amongst many. The iconic part of the African continent, the Cape of Good Hope, can also be found here. Besides, this place is included in the Seven Wonders of the World. Being at a convenient distance, the Table Top Mountain really seems to be one of the short road day trips from Cape Town to take.
Distance: About 20 min (8 km) from Cape Town.
Stay: From small houses to luxury hotels, many options are available.
Ideal for: Taking the cable ride for the incredible view, camping, hiking or trekking.
Suggested Read: Cape Town In Summer: 7 Best Things To Put On Your Bucket List
3. Robben Island
Declared as the UNESCO World Heritage Site, it is a historical place that has been representing the hope and courage of several men and women during the apartheid period. The island has a huge museum that depicts the culture and history of the island. What really remains interesting about this place is that the political awareness of the period still lives there and in a sense, Robben Island becomes a living museum. If that doesn’t interest you, then you can go to this wonderful island for penguin spotting. It has a large population of penguins. Given its distance, this is also the best suitable one of the short road day trips from Cape Town usually taken by the tourists.
Distance: 15 minutes (6.9 km) from Cape Town
Stay: Not many options apart from guesthouses and small rooms that can be rented.
Ideal for: History buffs, Penguin viewing
Suggested Read: 7 Most Haunted Places In Cape Town Which Will Surely Take Away Your Sleep
4. Victoria & Alfred Waterfront
Take in the magnificent view of the ocean and the mountains. It is indeed Cape Town’s most popular tourist spot. It spreads across an area for 123 hectares. Be it dining, shopping or entertainment, this place will not disappoint you. It is so close to the capital city itself that you can regard this as a perfect option for the local day trips from Cape Town.
Suggested Read: Nightlife In Cape Town: 9 Scintillating Places To Drink, Dance And Go Gaga About!
5. Camps Bay
Originally called the Baii von Kamptz, this is a suburban region. It is a very much accessible place where you don’t need to depend on others to travel. In fact, it can be your perfect choice for self-drive day trips from Cape Town. It is mostly known for the boulder beaches. These beaches are popular for their natural rock swimming pools, open skies, white sands and the breath-taking view of the Twelve Apostles Mountain range. It has a number of cafes, restaurants and craft shops where you can enjoy food, culture and buy a souvenir or two.
Distance: About 20 minutes including it in the local day trips from Cape Town if planned.
Suggested Read: 10 Hidden Cape Town Beaches Every Adventure Junkie Must Visit To Dive, Surf, And Relax!
Planning your holiday but confused about where to go? These travel stories help you find your best trip ever!
6. Cape Point
A beautiful place enamored for its cliffs and magical views of the waves crashing on the bases of these cliffs and the ocean beyond. Such cliffs are also home to the seabirds and have many alcoves. Suburbs run across its long stretch of the coast and witness lots of penguins inhabiting in one of the close-by towns where you can take a dip with them. It has restaurants, antique and craft shops, museums and art galleries which make it one of the worthwhile day tours from Cape Town to start for exploration.
Distance: About 69 km, and an hour away from Cape Town.
Ideal for: Picnics, shopping, penguin gazing, surfing or just chilling at one of its pristine beaches.
Suggested Read: 10 Romantic Cafes In Cape Town That Every Couple Must Visit
7. The Winelands
Cape Town is not just known for its natural beauty, history, and vibrant culture. It is world-famous for its wines as they are the finest ones. Thereby, in and around Cape Town are many vineyards that make varied wines anyone would be delighted to experience.
Some of the best Winelands include the Helderberg Wines, Stellenbosch Wines and Constantia Wines which are only about 20 minutes from Cape Town. However, for the best possible experience wherein you can soak in the most of you these wine farms’ day trips from Cape Town are on the Cape Point Vineyards route too. Situated in the Western Cape, the drive includes a scenic view of the Chapman Peak. And, from the wine farm, you can gaze at not just the amazing farms but also the lovely fynbos shrubland, the Atlantic Ocean and the mountains.
Distance: About an hour (40 km) from Cape Town
Ideal for: Wine enthusiasts, trekking, picnics
Stay: Lots of high-end hotels, small cottages and lodges are available here.
Suggested Read: 10 Vibrant Restaurants In Cape Town For The Real Foodie In You
8. Paternoster
This is amongst South Africa’s oldest fishing villages. It is world-renowned for its lobster factory, and fishes of the deep sea. They get mussels from the nearby rocks too. Consequently, it has a large number of restaurants dedicated to the seafood and you will find here a plethora of dishes that you might not find anywhere else!
Distance: About a 90 – minute drive (160 km)
Stay: Guesthouses and small homes can be rented from the locals
Ideal for: Seafood enthusiasts
Suggested Read: Everything You Ought To Know About Cape Town’s Victoria And Alfred Waterfront
9. Aquila Private Game Reserve
It is situated in the North-eastern part of Cape Town and is a four-star reserve that spreads across 10,000 hectares of land. It acts as a natural habitat for all those animals which are unable to survive in the wilderness on their own like leopards, lions, rhinos, buffalos, and elephants as they are constantly hunted down or because of the depleting forests.
Distance: About 2 hours from Cape Town.
Ideal for: Photographers and animal lovers.
Suggested Read: Shopping In Cape Town: 13 Best Places That Are A Shopaholic’s Retreat
10. Whale Route
Take this route to experience the best of the whales! It also has lots of beautiful towns and a perfect South African scenery to enjoy. The most popular town on this route is the Hermanus which hosts the annual whale shows. This small town also has some gorgeous beaches and wonderful seafood. It equally has trekking trails along the nature reserves to make the adventure lovers’ time memorable.
Distance: About two hours from Cape Town
Ideal for: Trekkers, Whale enthusiasts, seafood lovers.
Suggested Read: Hostels In Cape Town: 7 Budget Places To Crash At When In SA
11. Clifton Beach
It is also called as the tourists’ paradise. In fact, you would be happy to know that it is one of the very few beaches in the world that meet environmental and safety standards. There are four beaches separated from each other by the boulders. The boulders are touted as the best places to enjoy the sun!
Distance: About 20 minutes from Cape Town
Ideal for: Surfers, beach picnics
Further Read: 10 Best Villas In Cape Town That Offer Utmost Luxury Right In The Lap Of Nature!
With so much on offering to the travelers’ wandering soul, it would really be unfair not to take these day trips from Cape Town. So, slip in your comfortable shoes and get to explore the various places around the beautiful Cape Town and make the most of your holiday in South Africa.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Day Trips From Cape Town
How safe is Cape Town?
Just take the basic precautions and you are good to go!
What is the weather like in Cape Town?
It has a Mediterranean climate with humid and hot summers and cool winters.
Do I need a car or public transport in Cape Town?
Car is an excellent option and well connected except the suburban Cape Town. The public transport here is efficient but of course, if you want to design your experience your way and make it more convenient, then you can rent a car.
Will I have to learn any new language for easier traveling?
Absolutely not, English is widely spoken here. In fact, for a major population, it is the native language.
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