Are you traveling to South Africa soon and planning to visit cities such as Cape Town, Knysna, or Stellenbosch? Or are you currently planning a trip along the Garden Route in South Africa? Then this blog will help you find the most beautiful hotels, special accommodations, and nice bed & breakfasts for both large and smaller budgets!
Traveling through South Africa: the best hotels along the Garden Route!
Yes, how cool! You’re going to South Africa! We traveled to this beautiful country twice, the first time as a couple and the second with our 1-year-old son. Both times we stayed in different places along the Garden Route, but our travel pace and our wishes for accommodations differed considerably.
When we traveled through South Africa as a couple, we looked for cozy hotels and affordable B&Bs. Simple but nice. The second time, when we traveled with our son, we stayed in more luxurious places, mostly apartments with their own kitchen and sometimes even with a separate room for our son.
In this blog we share unique and special places to sleep in South Africa. For each hotspot along the Garden Route, you will find three nice hotels (a budget option, midrange, and luxury accommodation).
The locations for which we have selected hotels are:
- Cape Town
- Hout Bay
- Hermanus
- Swellendam
- Mossel Bay
- Wilderness
- Knysna
- Plettenberg Bay
- Oudtshoorn
- Montagu
- Stellenbosch
- Franschhoek
Road trip along the Garden Route
We found the Garden Route in South Africa perfect for two weeks, with and without children. During a road trip along the Garden Route, you will pass through beautiful cities, nice wine regions, imposing mountains, clear blue bays, and much more. Be sure to read our blog with the complete Garden Route itinerary! Where we give tips about nice places to stop and how much time you need per location. Below you will find a map showing roughly our itinerary along the Garden Route.
Are you planning to travel the Garden Route yourself? Then we recommend that you rent a car. Do you want to rent a car without any hassle? Then choose one via Sunny Cars. With Sunny Cars we often book rental cars within and outside Europe because you are fully covered in terms of insurance and you can contact them with all your questions 24/7!
Our favorite hotels in Cape Town
Cape Town is known for its beautiful nature and culture, all together in one vast city. With beautiful beaches, great restaurants, vineyards, museums, and mountains that you can climb. Table Mountain is of course the most famous place in Cape Town. Read more about Cape Town in our Cape Town travel guide!
There are more than enough nice hotels in Cape Town. Are you traveling in high season? Then make sure you book your favorite hotel in time. For an overview of all hotels in Cape Town click here.
The Walden House €
Located just 5 minutes from Table Mountain, this elegant Victorian home has a swimming pool. The rooms have air conditioning and a balcony. We loved it here! From €50 per room per night.
Mountview Guesthouse €€
This hotel is centrally located in Seepunt near Clifton and Camps Bay. The nicely furnished rooms have air conditioning. This hotel also has a swimming pool with spa facilities. From €105 for 2 people.
O’Two Hotel €€€
Ready for a stay in luxury? Then book this beautiful boutique hotel. The rooms have everything you need. The best thing about this hotel is the rooftop terrace with a swimming pool! From €195 per night with breakfast.
Nice hotels or apartments in Hout Bay
Hout Bay is a village that grew part of Cape Town, and nowadays more of a district of Cape Town. It is wonderfully quiet here, perfect for when you travel with children and want to be close to the center, but also want the peace and space around you. Read our Hout Bay blog here!
Below are three great hotels or apartments in Hout Bay. The first one is perfect for when you’re traveling with a family. The others are nice if you are traveling through Hout Bay as a couple. You can find other hotels in Hout Bay here.
Airbnb Appartement €
We stayed in Darren’s lovely apartment. With two bedrooms, two bathrooms and a kitchen, this was the ideal place to stay with children. There is a small, communal (unheated) swimming pool and you can walk to the beach in 10 minutes. Highly recommended this place for families in Hout Bay! You can stay here from €90 per night (low season).
Mooibaai €€
The luxurious Mooibaai hotel is located a little further from the beach, but with great views. The spacious rooms are beautifully decorated and there is a large swimming pool. In the common area you can cook yourself. This is a nice place if you are traveling as a couple and fancy tranquility. From €120 per night (low season) incl breakfast.
Hout Bay Manor Hotel €€€
The five-star Hout Bay Manor Hotel is located near the sea. You can walk to the beach in 10 minutes. The rooms are the epitome of South African luxury and you can sleep in a lovely four-poster bed. There is a swimming pool and the restaurant is very good for breakfast, lunch and dinner. From €155 per night (low season) including breakfast.
The nicest hotels in Hermanus
Hermanus is known for whale watching and the many seal colonies that live here! Below you will find three nice hotels in Hermanus. For an overview of all hotels in Hermanus, click here!
Penguino Guesthouse €
This simple but nice guesthouse is perfect when traveling on a smaller budget. The rooms are simple but clean, the hotel is centrally located and you can park for free. From €84 per night including breakfast.
Ridge House €€
You can completely relax in the luxurious rooms of Ridge House. Some rooms have a hot tub, all are beautifully decorated with a balcony or patio where you can barbecue. From €137 per night including breakfast.
Esplanade Hermanus €€€
The Esplanade Hermanus suites have plenty of space if you are traveling with children because there are 2 bedrooms. You also have a kitchen with a washing machine and a swimming pool. From €174 per night for 4 people.
The nicest hotels in Swellendam
Swellendam is a small town with a lot of history. It feels a bit like the wild west of South Africa here. You can enjoy the beautiful nature, beautiful national parks and nature reserves and more. For an overview of all hotels in Swellendam, click here!
Aan de Oever Guesthouse €
This beautiful guesthouse is housed in an old Dutch Cape building. The rooms are classically furnished. The view of the mountains from the terrace is wonderful. From €64 per night including breakfast.
La Sosta €
La Sosta has stylish, minimalist rooms. There is an outdoor swimming pool and an Italian restaurant where you can have breakfast and dinner a la carte. From €70 per night including breakfast.
Rothman Manor €€
This 5-star boutique hotel has a small eco-reserve with zebras and springboks. There are family rooms, and there is a loft suite. You can stay here from €117 per night including breakfast.
Nice accommodations in Mossel Bay
Mossel Bay (or Mossel Bay) is a coastal town where you can admire, among other things, the “Point of Human Origin”. You can also enjoy hiking here and there are a number of beautiful nature parks in the area. For an overview of all hotels in Mossel Bay, click here!
Aqua Marina Guesthouse €
Two years ago we stayed in the simple but cozy Aqua Marina Guesthouse. Perfect for when you want to be centrally located in Mossel Bay and are traveling on a budget. From €85 per night including breakfast.
Beacon Wharf €€
The Beacon Wharf apartments all have 2 or 3 bedrooms, ideal for families. There is a beautiful sea view and the beaches are not far away. You can stay here from €100 per night.
Botlierskop €€€
This beautiful safari park is located half an hour from Mossel Bay. Perfect for when you travel with children. From €755 per night including breakfast, lunch, dinner and safaris in cool safari tents.
Our favorite hotels in Wilderness
Wilderness is a wonderfully relaxing place. It is located on the sea, with a few beautiful beaches, but also close to beautiful natural parks where you can hike, kayak, and more. Be sure to read our Wilderness blog!
There are more than enough nice hotels in Wilderness. But the best accommodation fills up quickly, especially in high season. Booking on time is therefore smart. For an overview of all hotels in Wilderness click here.
Amber Light Wilderness
€
You will find this hotel from the same owner as coffee shop The Commonage. The rooms are simple but clean. A perfect budget option, close to the city centre. From €40 for a double room without breakfast.
Pearl Moon Boutique Suites €€
This beautiful hotel is located on the Touw River, providing great views. The beautiful bright rooms have a small kitchenette, handy because breakfast is not included. From €70 for 2 people.
Cinnamon Boutique Guesthouse €€€
Ready for a luxury stay? This hotel has a fitness room and swimming pool in the green garden. The rooms are furnished with antiques and large beds! From €115 per night including breakfast.
The best accommodation in Knysna: hotels and apartments
Knysna is located not far from Wilderness, on a river that flows into the sea. It is a vast city spread over several islands. Read all about this nice city in our Knysna blog!
Below we describe three nice accommodations in Knysna. We recommend staying on Thesen Island if you want to be close to the water and facilities, or heading to the hills of Knysna for peace and quiet and a relaxed atmosphere. Click here for an overview of all hotels in the Knysna area.
Thesen Harbour Town €
The compact studios of Thesen Harbor Apartments are simply but conveniently furnished. They are centrally located on Thesen Island and all have air conditioning and a washing machine. They are one-bedroom apartments, the largest apartment also has a nice roof terrace. From €55 per night (low season).
Narnia Guesthouse €€
Narnia Guesthouse has two beautiful apartments with phenomenal views of the lagoon, Heads and green hills of Knysna. There is a saltwater swimming pool, a beautiful garden and the apartments are spaciously furnished. With a braai and fireplace. We felt completely at home here. From €130 per night (low season).
The Lofts Boutique €€€
This beautiful luxury hotel is centrally located on Thesen Island. It is from the same owners as restaurants Île de Païn and The Nest and therefore has the same quality. There are rooms and apartments with their own kitchen. There is also a nice but small pool and a spa. From €180 per night (low season).
Great hotels in Plettenberg Bay
Plettenberg Bay is a beautiful coastal area at the end of the Garden Route. This is the place where South Africans also go on holiday, so it can be quite busy here in the high season. Here you have several beautiful hikes, beautiful beaches and the famous Tsitsikama National Park. For an overview of all hotels in the Plettenberg Bay area, click here!
Bella Manga Country €
Small cottages and holiday homes between the Tsitsikama mountains. This cute mini holiday park is the perfect location for young and old. The animals are great fun for children! From €65 per night including breakfast.
Sky Villa Boutique Hotel €€
Sky Villa Boutique Hotel is a beautiful hotel with guesthouses in addition to the main building. If you sleep in a guesthouse, you have access to a shared kitchen and swimming pool. From €150 per night incl breakfast.
Emily Moon River €€€
If your budget allows it, then definitely stay a few nights at Emily Moon River. The beautiful lodges have luxurious furnishings, a terrace and a small kitchen. From €256 per night including breakfast.
Special overnight stay in Oudtshoorn!
Oudtshoorn is known for its ostrich farms, caves, and the Swartberg mountain range that you sit at the foot of. For an overview of all hotels in Oudtshoorn, click here!
Riverside Guesthouse €
Riverside Guesthouse has classic (a bit old-fashioned) rooms but is located right in the center of Oudtshoorn. There is a small swimming pool and it is the perfect budget option! From €68 per night.
Sonas Boutique hotel €€
The luxurious Sonas Boutique hotel is located in a quiet location, just outside the center. You can enjoy the peace and nature that you are in the middle of on this ranch. From €111 per night including breakfast.
Africamps Karoo €€
Africamp’s glamping sites are beautiful and well-known in South Africa! Their spacious safari tents with 2 bedrooms and a kitchen are perfect for families. You can stay here from €118 per night.
The nicest hotels in Montagu
Montagu is a tiny village located between high mountains. A nice and special place, perfect for relaxing. Read all about Montagu in our travel guide!
There are many beautiful hotels in Montagu. Most are in chic Dutch Cape houses. And almost always there is a nice garden with a swimming pool overlooking the mountains. We stayed in The Vineyard Country House, which we were completely happy with. Here are two other good hotels in Montagu. Click here for all hotels in Montagu.
J’s Audacious Living Montagu €
This cozy homestay is the perfect budget solution. You are right in the center of Montagu and you stay in a nice room. There is a small swimming pool and a charming living room where you can have a drink with other guests. From €60.
The Vineyard Country House €€
This delightful hotel is run by two lovely ladies. There is a small vineyard that several rooms overlook and a swimming pool with a view of the mountains. We were a big fan of the outdoor shower and the great breakfast. From €80 euros incl. breakfast.
In Abundance Guest House €€€
This luxurious guesthouse is located in the city center. Yet you can completely relax here in the beautiful spacious rooms and lovely garden. The breakfast seems to be really great and the beds are really amazing. From €110 including breakfast.
The nicest hotels and accommodations in Stellenbosch
Stellenbosch is the university city of South Africa and the most famous city in the wine region above Cape Town. We stayed in Stellenbosch twice and had a wonderful time here. Read all about the best activities in Stellenbosch in our Stellenbosch blog, or read more about Stellenbosch’s best hotspots here!
If you are looking for a nice location to stay in Stellenbosch, you will soon no longer see the forest for the trees. There are so many beautiful hotels and B&Bs, both in the center and outside. Below we list three possible options for different budgets. For more hotels in Stellenbosch, click here.
Minserie Collection €
This nice hotel with a garden is located in the center of Stellenbosch. You will stay here in a room with its own kitchenette. The rooms are not very new but nicely furnished, including air conditioning. You stay here from €61 per night, excl. breakfast.
Van der Stel Manor €€
During our first trip through South Africa, we stayed 5 nights in this beautiful hotel! The rooms are large, the breakfast is great and there is a nice swimming pool at this location. It is about a 15-minute walk from the center. From €130 per night.
De Haas Living @die laan 2 €€€
The second time we went to South Africa we stayed 8 nights in one of the De Haas Living apartments. Ideal for when you travel with children! Right in the center with a shared swimming pool and your own kitchen. From €150 per night.
The nicest hotels and accommodations in Franschhoek
Half an hour’s drive from Stellenbosch you will find Franschhoek, a beautiful village that is all about the vineyards that you find here. We visited Franschhoek twice and were sold! Read all about this lovely place in our Franschhoek blog!
There are many beautiful hotels and accommodations in Franschhoek. From cute B&Bs in the center to beautiful vineyards where you can sleep in the Franschhoek area. Below we list three possible options for different budgets. For more options in Franschhoek, click here.
TheLab €
TheLab is an innovative hotel with technical gadgets (such as a coffee machine in your bedside table). The rooms are spacious, there is air conditioning and a sauna. They offer massages too. You all have breakfast together at the large table. From 81 euros per night (low season).
Chapter House €€
This beautiful boutique hotel is located in the center of Franschhoek. There is a shared pool, but the superior king rooms have their own pool. The rooms are stylishly decorated. The breakfast is great, and cake is often served in the afternoon. From 170 euros a night incl. breakfast.
Stijlvol in Franschhoek €€€
We stayed six nights in this beautiful luxury Airbnb. With two bedrooms, a private swimming pool and garden, wine cooler, braai and fireplace, we really had a lovely spot here! The design of this apartment is really great. 15 min walk to the center. From 220 euros per night.
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