20 small towns for weekend getaways from Cape Town

​By Roxanne Reid
Small towns are special in many ways, from lack of congestion to country cool, from old buildings full of character to friendly people with time to chat. I’ve chosen 20 of my favourite small towns for weekend getaways from Cape Town. Read on to see if I’ve included your favourite.

I’ve arranged the towns alphabetically in groups so that I don’t have the impossible task of ranking them. How can you say one town is ‘better’ than another when they’re so different, when each has its own particular charm? 

Cape Winelands

​Franschhoek 

Franschhoek makes for one of many superb weekend getaways from Cape Town. To get a sense of the town before you visit, picture towering mountains with vineyards roller-coasting across the valley below, Cape Dutch architecture, chic or rustic restaurants. There’s a distinctly French flavour to the village, a huge nod to the influence of the Huguenots who started the settlement here in the late 17th century.

With wineries and world-class restaurants thick on the ground, it’s no wonder Franschhoek is known as a gourmet food and wine destination. Succumb to the temptation to spend your days under shady trees sampling sophisticated menus and tasting some of the country’s finest wines. To avoid worrying about drinking and driving, plan your route with the Wine Tram, a double-decker tram and open-air bus that stops at some of wine estates.

Explore alluring shops and art galleries, visit the Huguenot Memorial Museum for insight into the history and culture of the area. Do a village walking tour or visit the magnificent food gardens at Babylonstoren. For something more energetic, take to the mountains or Mont Rochelle nature reserve on foot, horseback or mountain bike. Views down across the valley from the surrounding mountains are well worth the effort.

Find it
95km east of Cape Town along the N1 and R45


McGregor 

More than any other small town, McGregor can claim to be a destination in its own right because it lies on the Road to Nowhere; 15km beyond McGregor the road comes to an abrupt end. The village itself makes a great escape from the rat race, a place to find lovely 19th century thatched cottages with pretty gardens, quiet country roads and the sound of water trickling down the side of the road in irrigation channels. Add to that a wealth of nature, mountain views, rolling vineyards and you’ll understand why it has drawn a community of artists and alternative thinkers.

Although some houses were built as far back as the early 1800s, McGregor was only proclaimed a village in 1862. Walk the quiet streets to admire the old buildings, hike one of the trails into the surrounding mountains, go wine tasting or explore some of the studios and galleries on the art route. Perhaps best of all, stay over for a couple of nights so you can relax and listen to the bird’s dawn chorus or drink a toast to the sunset as it bleeds into the horizon.

Find it
150km east of Cape Town, 20km south of Robertson off Route 62

More things to do in McGregor


Stellenbosch 

Stellenbosch is South Africa’s second oldest town, founded by Simon van der Stel way back in 1679. Today this university town is perhaps best known for its Cape Dutch architecture, oak-lined streets and top quality vineyards. In fact, the area produces some of the best quality wines in South Africa so a favourite activity is touring the wine farms for a glut of wine tasting. There are also many fine restaurants in and around Stellenbosch, making it a food lover’s destination of choice.

Take a walking tour of the town to appreciate its history and culture, pop in to some of the museums, shops and art galleries, wander the university’s peaceful Botanical Garden, visit a local market or support the community by taking a tour of the Kayamandi township.

Surrounded by towering mountains, Stellenbosch is also an outdoor lover’s delight, a place to go hiking and biking. One of the best places for an active nature rush is the Jonkershoek Nature Reserve.

Find it
55km east of Cape Town along the N1 and R304

More things to do in Stellenbosch


Tulbagh 

The serene little village of Tulbagh huddles in a valley between the Winterhoek, Witzenberg and Obiqua mountains of the Cape Winelands. Dating back to the 1700s, perhaps its most striking feature is Church Street, lined with old buildings restored to their original glory after a devastating earthquake in 1969. It was one of the biggest restoration projects in the country and the whole street is now a national monument.

Your enduring mental snapshots of Tulbagh will be flashes of blue-grey mountains, knobby old oak trees, Cape Dutch gables, and rows of vineyards and fruit trees stretching into the distance. Don’t miss visiting the four museums in Church Street for a look at life here through the centuries. Go wine tasting and olive tasting, explore the art route, enjoy a meal in one of the local restaurants. Make the most of the stunning scenery by going hiking or horse riding into the surrounding mountains. Perhaps best of all, stay over on a farm to give you time to submit to Tulbagh’s peace and tranquility.

Find it
120km north-east of Cape Town along the N1 and R44, about 25km from Ceres on the R46

More things to do in Tulbagh


Garden Route

​Knysna 

The once-sleepy Knysna has been voted South Africa’s most popular town more than once and is a firm favourite with holidaymakers, snuggling as it does against the banks of a beautiful lagoon in the heart of the Garden Route. Whatever you might want from a holiday destination it can provide, from lush indigenous forests to tranquil lakes and white beaches, from historical woodcutting and gold mining sites to excellent restaurants, galleries and shops to indulge your every whim. It’s also an outdoor enthusiast’s dream, enticing you with everything from fishing and water sports to hiking, cycling, abseiling and paragliding.

The Knysna National Lakes Area and forests that surround the town are home to the endangered Knysna seahorse, the bright-coloured Knysna turaco (lourie) and narina trogon, the delicate pansy shell, the rare Brenton Blue butterfly, dolphins and whales, and the only forest elephants in South Africa. Other giants of the forest are some towering yellowwood trees that are more than 500 years old and have truly impressive waistlines.

Find it
490km east of Cape Town along the N2

More things to do in Knysna


Wilderness 

The gateway to the Garden Route, Wilderness is an enchanting world of rivers, lagoons, salt- and fresh-water lakes, of wetlands and cremy beaches set against a backdrop of lush forests and mountains. The actual village is tiny, just a motley collection of shops and restaurants. But if you love nature this is the place to be. Paths wind through dense woodland and along gentle streams where kingfishers perch on the lookout for lunch. Keen birders can visit the hides to enjoy one of South Africa’s richest water bird habitats. Go whale-watching, especially between June and November when you might spot migratory southern right and humpback whales.

If it’s action you’re after, Wilderness is a perfect playground. Go boating on one of its lakes, row a canoe up the river, go fishing, windsurfing, hiking, abseiling, kloofing or paragliding. Take a walk along a vast unspoilt beach, head for the hills on your mountain bike or ride the gravel roads that link the lakes. You’ll run out of energy long before you run out of fun things to do.

Find it
440km east of Cape Town along the N2

More things to do in Wilderness


Karoo

Barrydale 

Slap-bang between the lush and fertile Tradouw Valley in the Overberg and the semi-arid Little Karoo, Barrydale lies ​in the shadow of the Langeberg mountains. Part of the scenic Route 62, the village might be small in size but it has a huge personality. Peaches, apricots, plums and grapes ripen in the sun on the surrounding farms, while conservation areas preserve Succulent Karoo vegetation.

But it’s the quirkiness that you’ll remember long after you leave. There’s a small country hotel whose faded exterior belies the sumptuousness of paintings, sculptures and bold colours inside. Garden walls may be made of recycled bottles, garden gates of clanging enamel plates and mugs. Fantastical lamps and chandeliers are created here and you might find some recycled plastic peace doves dotted around town. Pop in to enjoy the vibe at the vintage diner with its décor of old tin signs advertising anything from Pepsi to Castrol motor oil.

Hike to the waterfall, visit the nature reserves nearby, go beer or wine tasting, see Barrydale in bloom in October or visit in December to experience the art festival.

Find it
245km east of Cape Town along the N1 and R62; or 265km from Cape Town along the N2 to Swellendam and then north through Tradouw Pass

More things to do in Barrydale


Matjiesfontein 

Visiting the Karoo town of Matjiesfontein is like stepping through a time portal and arriving back in the Victorian era. Scottish railwayman James Logan founded the village back in 1884 as a health spa where people could come to heal in the dry Karoo air. Not quite a century later, David Rawdon restored the whole village to its original splendour and it was declared a national monument in 1975.

Follow in the footsteps of Olive Schreiner, Rudyard Kipling and Cecil John Rhodes who visited Matjiesfontein. Pop into the Laird’s Arms for a drink and to meet local character Johnny, take a trip on an old London bus to uncover some of Matjiesfontein’s history. Answer the call of a trumpet to enjoy a Karoo dinner, visit the museum under the railway station to soak up the atmosphere of Victoriana and Anglo Boer War relics, or simply drink in the Karoo air and star-filled night skies.

Find it
240km north-east of Cape Town, just off the N1 about 30km west of Laingsburg

More things to do in Matjiesfontein


Oudtshoorn 

Oudtshoorn is perhaps best known for the Cango Caves – a 20-million-year-old network of limestone caves – about 30km from town and for its heyday during the ostrich feather boom of 1900–1914. Back then feathers were high fashion fetching good prices. This brought wealth to the ‘feather barons’ who built beautiful sandstone buildings that still stand today as testament to this glorious era. It’s worth walking or driving around town to find some of them.

Today the ostrich farms still exist but focus more on food than fashion. Oudtshoorn also lies along the Route 62 wine route, so wine tasting is a popular activity. Don’t miss a visit to the CP Nel Museum in a lovely old sandstone building. Here you can relive history through numerous fascinating exhibits, including of the ostrich feather boom.

Visit the Gamkaberg Nature Reserve nearby or if you feel the urge to raise your heart rate, tackle a hiking trail where you’ll also be able to see birds and a diversity of plants. Drive a 4x4 route, go ziplining or sky diving in the area.

Find it
420km east of Cape Town along the N2 and N12

More about Oudtshoorn’s old buildings


Prince Albert 
Prince Albert lies at the foot of the Swartberg mountains, surrounded by vineyards, sheep, fruit and olive farms. If wide spaces and stillness appeal to you then you’ll love this small Karoo town that was named after Queen Victoria’s husband.

Amble along the streets to enjoy the Cape Dutch, Karoo and Victorian buildings, some of them national monuments. Duck into the shops to browse and buy, or relax for a while at a restaurant or coffee shop. Don’t miss a visit to the Fransie Pienaar Museum to see fossils and other displays that tell the story of the peoples who used to live here. These include the families of the Gamkaskloof who lived an isolated existence until an access road was built in 1962. Prince Albert also has its fair share of interesting ghost stories.

Drive the Swartberg Pass, which Thomas Bain built in the 1880s. It starts about 20km from Prince Albert. The gravel road climbs in a series of steep zigzags and sharp bends to 1585m, giving extensive views out over the Karoo. Also worth visiting along the pass is the Swartberg Nature Reserve (Gamkaskloof). Go birding, hiking, cycling and star-gazing in the clear Karoo air.

Find it
390km north-east of Cape Town along the N1 and R407

More things to do in Prince Albert


Sutherland 

Sutherland in the heart of the Roggeveld could be termed the land of stars and snow. The South African Astronomical Observatory offers star-gazing night tours here where the dry, clean Karoo air encourages good visibility, and the lack of light pollution makes the stars and planets shine with particular brilliance. You can also do a day tour to uncover the technology behind the enormous Southern African Large Telescope (SALT).

Sutherland is one of the coldest places in South Africa so if you visit in winter, especially July and August, there’s a good chance you may see the town and surrounding landscape blanketed with snow. This may not be a draw card for visitors from the northern hemisphere, but it’s pretty special for the average South African.

Although Sutherland is a tiny one-horse town, you’ll find a few restaurants and lots of B&Bs catering to visitors. Walk the streets to admire the old buildings with their typical Karoo stoeps, visit the Anglo Boer War cemetery or the Jewish cemetery, both of which are a testament to part of the town’s history. Other attractions include hiking, 4x4 routes, bike trails and fossils for those interested in palaeontology.

Find it
350km north-east of Cape Town along the N1 and R354, 100km north of Matjiesfontein

More things to do in Sutherland


Overberg

​Greyton 

The Overberg is perfect for weekend getaways from Cape Town. Established at the foot of the Riviersonderend mountains in 1854, Greyton is today a mélange of laid-back country village with gravel roads on the one hand and sophisticated small town packed with good shops and restaurants on the other. A healthy dose of nature is thrown in for good measure.

Stay over to change gears to village time, admire the roses and gardens. Take a flask of coffee with you on an early morning walk into the nature reserve on the edge of town. Walk or cycle the streets to appreciate the 19th century architecture, browse some of the speciality shops, enjoy coffee or a meal at one of the restaurants. Join an art class, taste wine or craft beer, go horse riding along country lanes. Don’t miss the Saturday morning market where the locals go to buy fresh produce and home-made goods as well as to catch up on the news of the week.

Just a 5km drive from Greyton, go back in time to visit Genadendal – the oldest Moravian mission village in South Africa. It dates back to 1738 but its old water mill, museums and church are still well preserved.

Find it
140km east of Cape Town along the N2 and R406

More things to do in Greyton


Hermanus 

Once a tiny fishing village, Hermanus is now a bustling town on the Cape Whale Coast. It is known as a hub of whale-watching and even has a whale museum and a whale crier to alert visitors to their presence in the bay. The best time to see the southern right whales is between June and November.

But there’s much more to Hermanus than whales. Think lofty mountains, a dazzling stretch of coastline, white beaches, surf crashing along the rocks, a diversity of plants in the local nature reserve, and a valley of vineyards so beautiful it’s called Hemel en Aarde (heaven and earth).

Blow your hair back with a range of outdoor activities like hiking, biking, kayaking, surfing, horse riding and paragliding. Or set a more sedate pace along the wine route or art route – including stunning public sculptures that look out to sea along the coast. Go shopping for books or antiques, make a booking at one or two of Hermanus’s restaurants that offer good food and gorgeous views.

Find it
120km south-east of Cape Town along the N2 and R43

More things to do in Hermanus


Kleinmond
Perhaps the most important thing to know about Kleinmond is that it’s part of the Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve so if nature and sustainability are your passion you’ll be in heaven here. A biosphere reserve is a special type of conservation area in which both the environment and people find their place in the sun, to their mutual benefit.

In the area you’ll find the Kogelberg Nature Reserve with its hikes and 1800 species of plants, the Rooisand Nature Reserve with a wealth of birding and a chance to catch a glimpse of free-roaming wild horses among the dunes and wetlands. And there’s an unspoiled coastline to make your heart soar.

There are some restaurants and coffee shops, a few interesting shops to browse. But to me Kleinmond is mostly about nature and the outdoors – a flourish of activities like hiking, horse riding, birding, whale-watching and river rafting. For a more contemplative experience, you can enjoy art galleries or wine tasting in the area.

Find it
110km south-east of Cape Town on the R44

More things to do in Kleinmond


Stanford 

A half-hour drive from Hermanus on the Cape Whale Coast, the little village of Stanford is perfect for those looking for a carefree country getaway. It packs a nature punch, with a river that runs through town, mountains, a lagoon and nature reserves. The pace is slow and laid back in this historic little village established back in the mid-19th century. If you have an interest in buildings that hark back to earlier times, get a historical walking route map from Stanford Tourism and set off to find some of them and their stories.

Although the village is charming, I also love to get out into the surrounding countryside to explore the wine farms and nature areas. A good way to enjoy Stanford like a local is to visit one of the weekend village markets. If you’re self-catering, it’s a chance to buy some first-rate produce and chat to the friendly locals. They’ll be happy to tell you about their favourite places and things to do.

Explore the nooks and crannies of an antique shop, listen to a church bell tolling the time, go whale-watching or have a picnic along the river. Go wine tasting, beer tasting or cheese tasting, eat a meal in one of the chic country-style restaurants that use locally sourced ingredients to create good food. Want to burn off energy? Go kayaking, horse riding, mountain biking or hiking, or just climb on board for a sundowner boat cruise on the river. Every night you spend in Stanford you’ll go to bed with a smile on your face.

Find it
145km south-east of Cape Town along the N2 and R43

More things to do in Stanford


Swellendam 

As the third-oldest town in South Africa, Swellendam embraces a lot of history, which comes to life in its three museums in the old Drostdy complex. But it’s a modern marvel too, declared by local TV programme Kwêla to be the Western Cape’s Town of the Year 2020. Lying between the Breede River and the Langeberg mountains, it offers a wealth of nature activities like hiking, horse riding and mountain biking in the surrounding nature reserves and mountains, as well as a number of interesting art galleries and potteries.

Visiting Swellendam gives you a chance to admire one of the Cape’s most attractive churches. You’ll find plenty good restaurants and coffee shops too, and interesting little speciality shops from antiques and bric a brac to cheese and honey. My favourite activities here have been a township tour of Railton with the irrepressible Meisie Bokwana and chatting to the locals to pick their brains about their best spots and things to do in the area.

Find it
220km east of Cape Town along the N2 towards the Garden Route (almost exactly halfway between Cape Town and George)

More things to do in Swellendam


West Coast

Darling
Darling lies between wheatfields and vineyards on the West Coast. If you were to pass through on the main road you’d wonder why anyone would come here for a weekend. But get off the somewhat dreary main drag and you’ll discover a town with lovely old trees and beautifully restored Victorian buildings.

Part of the Cape Floral Region, Darling is well known for its hundreds of species of flowering plants, especially in spring when the Darling Wildflower Show is in full swing. Perhaps its best known residents are Pieter Dirk Uys and his alter-ego Tannie Evita Bezuidenhout. While you’re in town, don’t miss a visit to the Evita se Perron dinner theatre at the old station – or the Boere kitsch Boerassic Park behind it.

Duck into the delightful small museum, go wine tasting, eat at a restaurant, taste the local craft beer, take a short drive to the beautiful West Coast National Park for a dose of outdoor freshness, ocean views and a splash of pink flamingos on the lagoon.

Find it
80km north of Cape Town along the R27 and R307

More things to do in Darling


Paternoster 

Paternoster is one of the oldest fishing villages on the West Coast and fishermen still go out in their colourful small boats almost every day. The village of whitewashed Cape vernacular buildings is laid out along a long curve of beach. Although the ocean is a bit cold for swimming, the beaches are perfect for long walks and for enjoying the colours that dawn and dusk paint across the sky.

Something in the West Coast air here is special, forcing you to relax and live at a slower pace than the city rat race. Paternoster is also a mecca for foodies, given the number of really good restaurants that have popped up over the years.

Cape Columbine Nature Reserve and lighthouse on the edge of town provide a peaceful excursion into nature, especially in spring when the wild flowers splash the veld with their bright colours. Keep your eyes peeled for birds, dolphins, seals and whales (especially in October and November).

Find it
160km north of Cape Town along the R27, R45 and R399

More things to do in Paternoster


Riebeek Kasteel 

Surrounded by vineyards, olives groves and wheatlands, Riebeek Kasteel nuzzles the slopes of the imposing Kasteelberg. With farming origins centuries ago, the town was laid out in 1900 and is today a bolt hole for Capetonians on a weekend getaway, as well as people who have settled here from around the country in search of a more relaxed rural or artistic lifestyle.

May is usually a buzz of activity with the annual Olive Festival with its special events and tastings, but you can taste olives here at any time of year. Wine tasting is a popular activity too, as is trying a few of the local eateries. Don’t miss a visit to the Short Street precinct with its characteristic Karoo architecture, or enjoying a drink on the long stoep of The Royal Hotel opposite.

Those with a cultural bent will enjoy the small museums along the historical route, while there’s a host of lovely shops selling all kinds of goods from fresh produce to clothing and gifts. For the outdoor lover there’s hiking, cycling, birding and game drives.

Find it
100km north-east of Cape Town along the N7 and R46

More things to do in Riebeek Kasteel


Yzerfontein 

Think blue oceans, sweeping views of long bays and swathes of undisturbed wild fynbos and you get a mental picture of Yzerfontein. Some 127ha of Yzerfontein is green belt conservancy that’s part of a local area nature reserve, so you can walk along the paths and beaches surrounded by nature. No wonder the town is known as the Pearl of the West Coast.

It’s perhaps best known for its Sixteen Mile Beach which stretches from town all the way to the West Coast National Park in the north. Not surprisingly, two of the major sources of income here are fishing and tourism, especially during wildflower season from August to October. Although the cold Benguela current means swimming is icy, wet-suited water sports like surfing and wind-surfing are all the rage.

Look out for the historic white lime kilns. Back in the day when the Cape was still a refreshment station for the Dutch East India Company, the Dutch built them to burn mussels to make lime for cement. Pop in to Yzerfontein Tourism’s office in the town’s oldest building to find out more about the town’s heritage.

Breathe in the fresh sea air, go hiking, cycle through town, go fishing, see whales frolic in the bay between July and December. Don’t miss a visit to the West Coast National Park for nature and West Coast Fossil Park for ancient heritage.

Find it
85km north of Cape Town along the R27 and R315

More about Yzerfontein

Note: Of course, this isn’t a full list of all the lovely small towns the Western Cape has to offer for a weekend getaway – or longer. Think Arniston, Calitzdorp, Clanwilliam, De Rust, Gansbaai, Langebaan, Montagu and many more, each with its own special charm and atmosphere. I’ve chosen my favourites but if your favourite isn’t on the list, please share it in the comments below and tell us why you love it.

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