One of the great things about Cape Town is that it sits at the heart of one of the most spectacular regions on earth. Within two hours of the city, you can be watching whales breach, sipping award-winning wines in a centuries-old cellar, or exploring a pristine wilderness. Here are our absolute favourite day trips.

🍷 1. Stellenbosch Wine Tour — 45 Minutes from Cape Town

South Africa’s wine capital is just 45 minutes from Cape Town and absolutely worth every minute of the drive. Stellenbosch is a gorgeous university town surrounded by world-class wine estates, fantastic restaurants and stunning mountain scenery. Spend a day moving between estates, tasting exceptional wines and enjoying long, lazy lunches on sun-drenched terraces. This is one of our most popular tours — and once you’ve done it, you’ll understand exactly why.

🥂 2. Franschhoek — The Gourmet Capital — 1 Hour from Cape Town

If Stellenbosch is the wine capital, Franschhoek is the gourmet capital of South Africa. This impossibly pretty village — founded by French Huguenot refugees in the 17th century — is home to some of the country’s finest restaurants, most beautiful wine estates and a charming main street lined with art galleries and boutiques. The famous Franschhoek Wine Tram is a wonderful way to move between estates if you don’t want to drive.

🐋 3. Hermanus Whale Watching — 1.5 Hours from Cape Town

Between June and November, Southern Right Whales arrive in Walker Bay near Hermanus to calve and nurse their young. Hermanus is renowned as one of the best land-based whale watching destinations in the world — you can literally stand on the cliff path and watch these magnificent creatures breaching just metres away. Add a visit to the charming town and a stop at a local wine estate on the way back for a perfect day.

🌸 4. West Coast National Park — 1.5 Hours from Cape Town