Day Trips from Cape Town (including half-day!)
As a frequent visitor from Joburg, I’ve done a few day trips outside of Cape Town that I love to recommend to friends and family. If you’ve been following my Cape Town Itinerary, and want to either substitute some of the options I’ve suggested there or just need a simple list of day trips from Cape Town, I’ve got you covered.
I’ll continue to add to this list as I explore Cape Town and its surroundings more!
I’m using the driving distance from Cape Town’s city center to estimate the distances shown below.
This post contains affiliate links.
Half-Day Trips in and around Cape Town
There are plenty of half-day trips from Cape Town that are perfect if you wanna grab breakfast in town and make it back before sunset. Most of these spots do not require a rental car or private transport.
Adventure and Action
Atlantis Dunes
- Driving distance from Cape Town:
- Experience: This was way more fun than expected. When my siblings came to visit, one morning, my brother randomly said, “who wants to go sandboarding in an hour?” I said YES. We had to rush into the car and speed our way to Atlantis Dunes.
You can also go quad biking at Atlantis Dunes.
Sandboarding takes an hour and it’s a workout to walk up in the dunes. After a couple of tries, I got the hang of sandboarding!
Not everyone in your group needs to go sandboarding. It’s a cool vibe and you’ll just be there for an hour. My sister decided just to take pics of me and my brother, rather than sandboard herself— there was shade set up and she just chilled.
Horseback Riding along the beach
- Driving distance from Cape Town: 40 minutes
- Experience: 1-3 hours
Go horseback riding along Kommetjie beach from Imhoff Farm. The one-hour ride will take you past some grasslands and then to the beach. I really enjoyed the experience and even saw some flamingos!
Imhoff Farm also has a petting zoo, several shops, and a couple of restaurants on site. You can spend just an hour on the ride or spend 3 hours by adding in a stop for lunch.
Art
Dylan Lewis Sculpture Garden in Stellenbosch
- Driving distance from Cape Town: 45 minutes
- Experience: 2-3 hours
I really enjoyed spending 2 hours at the Dylan Lewis Sculpture Garden. Besides going on a self-guided tour that will be around 2.5km, there is also a cafe where you can get some drinks and snacks.
The garden space is lovely and the sculptures are incredible (and HUGE).
Salt River Art Tour
- Driving distance from Cape Town: In Cape Town
- Experience: 2-3 hours
Another great tour you can do with One Day Africa is the Salt River Art Tour. The Salt River community is home to an art festival where each year 20 local and international street artists come to Cape Town to create art around a theme. The festival started in 2017 and for 5 years each new theme’s artwork contributes to the eclectic neighborhood. The artwork is incredible and you’ll get in-depth info about each artist and the meaning of the work on the tour.
Norval Foundation
- Driving Distance from Cape Town: 25 minutes
- Experience: 1-2 hours
The Norval Foundation is an art gallery focusing on African art and art from the African diaspora. The gallery looks huge but there are just a couple of rooms of exhibits. When we visited, female artists from across Africa were being exhibited. There is also a sculpture garden. Check out the current exhibit here. I really enjoyed visiting.
There are two restaurants on-site, The Skotnes Restaurant and Peko Peko Restaurant.
If you want to go wine tasting afterward, I suggest stopping at the Steenberg Tasting Room.
Food
Fish and chips in Hout Bay
- Driving distance from Cape Town: 30 minutes
- Experience: 1-2 hours
Have the famous fish and chips spot, Fish on the Rocks, in Hout Bay. Be sure to order the type of fish and not just say ‘fried fish’ because then you will get fish sticks as my parents and I found out.
Look out for the seals that hang around the shoreline. I ordered the prawns, and they were amazing!!
Then take a walk through the outdoor art gallery.
There is a gin distillery and brewery right next to the art gallery as well. Or, drive on to the beach for a walk.
If you visit on a weekend, the Bay Harbour Market is open 9am-4pm.
Wineries
Constantia Wine
- Distance from Cape Town: 31 minutes
- Experience: 1-4 hours
Depending on how many wineries you want to visit, you can make this trip from Cape Town worth the drive. I asked my friend Liza (who is a SA guide guru who jumps between Cape Town and Joburg) where to go in Constantia and then followed her suggestions.
Start for breakfast at Noordhoek Farm Village and some window shopping.
Then visit Cape Point Vineyard just a minute away. The winery has excellent views over a small lake. After a wine and oyster pairing, buy a bottle and lounge with blankets and pillows on the lawn. It’s a serious vibe, peeps.
My parents and I visited here with my aunt, uncle, and two bffs, right after our plane landed in Cape Town. We had such a great time!
Liza also suggests Jonkershuis Constantia and Beau Constantia. Check out her insta for more recommendations.
Babylonstoren
- Driving distance from Cape Town: 45 minutes
- Experience: Literally all-day
The Babylonstoren farm dates back to 1692 and is one of the oldest Cape Dutch farms in the Franschhoek wine valley. From beautifully curated gardens, a trout fish tank, a cactus garden, and veggies, there is so much to enjoy besides the wine. In fact, you can also spend a full day at Babylonstoren and not have any wine at all—the fresh fruit juices and farm-fresh food will keep you plenty occupied.
It’s totally worth all the hype. I go visit every time I’m in Cape Town. For real.
Fairview Winery + Alpaca Loom
- Driving distance from Cape Town: 45 minutes
- Experience: 3 hours
Fairview Winery (for wine, cheese, and goats) and Alpaca loom (for sassy alpacas and a slice of cake). The locations are right next to each other. In fact, my sister and I didn’t know that the alpaca loom existed until we went to Fairview for a wine tasting and saw the Alpaca Loom sign!
The Fairview Wine Tasting is a unique experience. With kid-friendly tastings and cheese tastings, visiting the Fairview Winery is an experience for all, mostly because of the goats… I’m obsessed. You can also have lunch here.
The Alpaca Loom will just need 30 minutes or so of your time. Buy a bag of feed so that the animals care about your existence. The alpacas are sassy and so fun!
History
Robben Island
- Driving distance from Cape Town: 30 min each way by boat and 30+ minutes standing in line at the beginning.
- Experience: 2 hours on Robben Island
Take a tour of Robben Island from the V&A Waterfront. There are only guided tours available. You’re shuttled around in a bus with a funny guide. On the tour, you’ll get to see the cell where Nelson Mandela was held. Ex- political prisoners will be your guide on the ground.
My siblings and I did the 1pm tour as we were having a lazy morning.
Hiking & Biking
Hike Bailey’s Kloof
- Driving distance from Cape Town: 35 minutes
- Experience: 2-3 hours
The highlight of the Bailey’s Kloof trail is the incredible views of Muizenberg Beach and its surroundings as you climb to reach the top of the mountain. The climb is steep but manageable as the path to the top is set up like a stone staircase.
Cape of Good Hope Tour
- Driving distance from Cape Town: 1 hour
- Experience: 2-3 hours
Go on a tour of Cape of Good Hope and the Boulders Beach penguins. My friend did this tour and really enjoyed it!
You can also self-drive and do one of the hikes. This will take you from a half-day to a full-day trip from Cape Town, depending on the length of the hike.
Be sure to visit the famous lighthouse. It’s insanely windy up there so be careful.
Although I haven’t done it yet, I really want to do the Shipwreck Hike. This is about a 3km round trip. You may also come across baboons and ostrich.
Cape Town Bike Tour
- Driving distance from Cape Town: In Cape Town
- Experience: 3 hours
Stay in town and go on a Cape Town Bike Tour with One Day Africa. Even if you’ve seen some of the sights on the tour route, it’s a different experience biking and learning directly from a Cape Town expert! Read the full review.
End with Lunch at Meeting Point, my favorite restaurant in Cape Town that specializes in Tanzanian cuisine.
Beaches
Table Mountain View Beaches
- Driving distance from Cape Town: 35 minutes
- Experience: 1-2 hours
- (As shown in the Cape Town Itinerary on Day 5)
There are several beaches with a view of Table Mountain that you won’t be able to get in Cape Town. Either stop at Blaauwberg Nature Reserve or visit Bloubergstrand Beach. The views are similar. There are less people at Blaauwberg simply because there is nothing else around it. The water is still freezing. YOu can pair this activity with first going sandboarding at Atlantis Dunes.
If you wanna have lunch and just stare at the water, get a wrap from Shawarma Express (where you can easily park too) or treat yourself to an early dinner at Homespun in Table View.
Day Trips from Cape Town
You may need a rental car or private transportation option with these day trips from Cape Town. Some tour companies have transport included. Sometimes Ubers will take you up to an hour away, especially to the wine areas.
Hermanus
- Driving distance from Cape Town: 1.5 hours
- Experience: 4+ hours
Drive to Hermanus, a famous coastal town with art galleries and cute restaurants.
If you happen do Hermanus as a day trip from Cape Town to visit during whale watching season (June-November), then you should take a boat out to catch these beauties on a 2-hour marine safari tour.
For lunch, I recommend waiting for a spot at Burgundy Restaurant. My siblings and I shared a bloody mary jug and it was amazing. Or, try out the suggestion from my friend Ursula who loved her abalone meal at Perlemoen Restaurant.
Simonstown, Kalk Bay, and Muizenberg
- Driving distance from Cape Town: 1 hour
- Experience: 4+ hours
- (As shown in the Cape Town Itinerary on Day 2)
Take a drive to Simonstown, home of the Boulder Beach Penguins in the morning. Take a bathing suit with you as you can also take a dip at Boulders Beach.
Next, drive to Kalk Bay for a look at the famous seals on the pier and walk along the main strip of shops and restaurants. I suggest parking here at the lot behind the Portuguese restaurant. For your little tour, walk to the pier to see the seals and then toward the tidal pool.
The town is so cute!
There are several spots to have lunch in Kalk Bay. I most recently went to Cape to Cuba with a group of friends and family and LOVED my meal. I’ve also dined at SALT and have wanted to eat the Olympia Bakery but it has always been full…
After lunch, continue to make your way to Cape Town and stop at Muizenberg to see the colorful houses on the beach.
In the evening, drive back to Cape Town using the Chapman Peak Route. Try to time your drive with the beginning of sunset. This is a toll route but totally worth the R60. Make several stops at (designated!) viewpoints as you meander back to Cape Town.
Stellenbosch Wineries
- Driving distance from Cape Town: 1 hour
- Experience: 4+ hours
Spend the whole day exploring the town and wineries in Stellenbosch. Come to Juvenate for breakfast and go on a bike or e-bike tour of the town and surrounding wineries. Although I haven’t done this yet, as we only had time for one winery when we visited, we saw several bike tours while driving around and it looked so fun!
I’ve stopped at Post Card Cafe for wine tasting at Stark-Condé Wines.
I suggest ending your Stellenbosch trip with an early dinner at Post and Pepper.
Shark Cage Diving
- Driving distance from Cape Town: 2 hours
- Experience: 4+ hours
Go shark cage diving! I don’t have the guts to do this, but you can take a tour with transport from Cape Town included.
Franschhoek Wine Tram
- Driving distance from Cape Town: 1 hour
- Experience: 4+ hours
Take the Franschhoek Wine Tram for the day and explore several wineries on a route of your choosing.
Go on a Road Trip from Cape Town
Rent a car and complete an epic road trip starting in Cape Town for more than just day trips from Cape Town. Start by spending 2 nights on a safari at Gondwana then start a Garden Route Road Trip. The views are stunning, and every little town has something to offer.
Check out the complete Garden Route Guide for all the stops you should make along the way.
Go on Safari
You can drive 4 hours outside of Cape Town to get to some cool safaris. I stayed at Gondwana with my siblings in 2021 and although it didn’t have all the big 5 (you’ll have to visit Kruger National Park for that), it was an incredible experience.
If you’ve only got a day and reallyyy want to see some of the Big 5, then check out the Aquila Game Reserve Safari Tour. It’s a great price for transport and all day safari at the closest reserve to Cape Town (2 hours). However, reviews note that this safari doesn’t feel like a real wild safari, so keep your expectations in check.
Check out my safari guide to help you decide where to go on safari in South Africa.
What do you think about these day trips from Cape Town? Lemme know in the comments!
A note about the affiliate links: I personally use Viator to book experiences in South Africa and beyond. Sometimes, my credit card gets blocked or a company won’t accept an American credit card (that doesn’t use 3D authentication) and so I can’t book directly. To avoid all this and getting my credit card blocked, I book via Viator (which owns Trip Advisor), which is what I suggest for my affiliate links. I’m only recommending companies that I’ve used or considered using. I also have links for companies that my friends have used and liked.