Plan the Perfect Honeymoon in Cape Town
Your one-stop Cape Town honeymoon planning guide – packed with romantic accommodation options, itinerary ideas and much more
Picture perfect is the phrase that comes to mind when love-struck couples plan their honeymoon. Cape Town, South Africa’s “Mother City”, ticks the picture perfect boxes on every level.
Stunning natural beauty, magnificent beaches with sublime views and sunsets, a uniquely flat mountain, a vibrant city, some of the world’s best restaurants and wines. The list or reasons why Cape Town is the best location for your honeymoon is endless.
Choosing Cape Town is a no brainer, so why wait. Use our detailed guide to start planning your honeymoon today.
The best time to honeymoon in Cape Town
Cape Town reveals different delights at different times of the year. Romantics who would like long walks on the beach and candle-lit evenings in front of a fireplace in their honeymoon villa with a glass of fine red wine will love the winter months between July and September.
For a spring delight, nature lovers would be enthralled to leave their honeymoon apartment to go see the Cape fynbos showing off its full glory with spring flowers bursting over the landscape from August to October.
If you like a busy, bustling atmosphere and lazy days on the beach, plan your honeymoon in a beach apartment during the silly season in Cape Town from November to January.
However, if you prefer to escape the crowds, book your luxury rental in Camps Bay during the school term from the middle of January to March, when the Cape is still hot and the Atlantic Ocean provides the perfect way to cool down.
You can also opt for the school term period after Easter in April, May or June to make the most of your activities in and around Cape Town.
Romantic things to do for honeymooners
Cape Town has no shortage of romantic things to do (excellent spas, restaurants, entertainment options, jewellery shops, and unique activities) for those on honeymoon in Cape Town.
1. Did anyone mention couples-spa?
We recommend the One&Only Spa, situated at the hotel in the V&A Waterfront where you and your loved one will be pampered from head to toe.
However, if you like to feel right in nature, Angsana Spa at the Vineyard Hotel in Newlands provides the sanctuary you are looking for.
Personalised treatments at O on Kloof Boutique Hotel & Spa in Bantry Bay will please you and your loved one, while the Spa at the Twelve Apostles Hotel just outside Camps Bay was just voted the Best Spa Runner-Up in the Global Spa & Wellness Awards 2018.
The Spa at Cape Grace also comes highly recommended, having won the Top Hotel Spa for Africa & the Middle East in 2015.
2. The way to the heart is through the tummy
Explore Cape Town’s unique gourmet dining experiences while on honeymoon in the Mother City.
Book your table well in advance at The Test Kitchen, Africa’s number 1 rated restaurant, owned by Luke Dale-Roberts. Or, eat at the Pot Luck Club which also in Luke Dale-Roberts’ stable of top City restaurants.
In the inner city, La Tête has made a name for itself with fresh and original yet unpretentious French bistro-style dishes.
Beau Constantia is a recent addition to Cape Town’s wineries, famous not only for their excellent wines but also for the Chef’s Warehouse restaurant. Imaginative meals and incredible views are served here, but you can also visit Chef’s Warehouse in Bree Street or at Maison Estate in Franschhoek.
Vibey Kloof Street restaurant Janse & Co, where haute cuisine is on the menu in the ultra-modern setting, is worth a visit while honeymooning in Cape Town.
Finally, La Colombe remains an iconic Cape Town restaurant with its French/Asian style cuisine. It is set high against the mountain between Hout Bay and Constantia on Silvermist Wine Estate.
3. How about a private chef?
4. Picnic in the Cape Winelands
The great weather in Cape Town contributes to a fantastic honeymoon and a Winelands picnic is an excellent way to enjoy a day at leisure. Explore the beautiful countryside in the Winelands and delight in a delicious picnic – all within less than an hour’s drive from the centre of Cape Town.
Boschendal Estate
Beautiful Boschendal Estate with dramatic mountains as a backdrop has lovely picnic options that can be taken on the lawn or enjoyed al fresco underneath the estate’s large and leafy trees.
Grande Provence Heritage Wine Estate
The Restaurant at Grande Provence Heritage Wine Estate in Franschhoek offers “Grande Country Picnics” to be enjoyed in the Estate’s beautifully landscaped gardens.
Spier Farm Kitchen
The Spier Farm Kitchen near Stellenbosch offers seasonal picnics under the oaks or by the dam. Do not miss your chance to visit to Eagle Encounters before or after your picnic to get really close to some of Africa’s majestic birds of prey.
Vergelegen Farm
Vergelegen Farm in Somerset West is one of the oldest wine farms in the country. The Vergelegen Camphor Forest Picnic gives you the opportunity to enjoy a “white tablecloth” picnic in the shade of five historic camphor trees that are National Monuments, planted in 1700.
Warwick Gourmet Picnics
Warwick Gourmet Picnics are very popular and well supported by Capetonians looking for an easy Sunday-afternoon drive out to the country. The lovely setting on the outskirts of Stellenbosch and delicious wines complete the picture for the perfect picnic.
5. It's wine o' clock
Honeymooners are allowed to indulge in life’s pleasures. One of the special treats of a visit to Cape Town, is the wide range of wine tasting and tours that are accessible to tourists. There are many exceptional wineries in Cape Town and the Cape Winelands.
Here follows our pick of the best wineries to visit in Cape Town:
Groot Constantia
Founded in 1685, the Groot Constantia wine estate is the oldest wine-producing farm in South Africa and gives visitors a good idea of the history of Cape winemaking.
Steenberg
When tasting wine at the lovely Steenberg Estate, guests can choose the setting which they prefer – taste at the Wine Tasting Bar, Tasting Lounge or on the Outdoor Terrace.
Cape Point Vineyards
Cape Point Vineyards offers an astounding Atlantic Ocean view over Long Beach in Noordhoek. The cool ocean breeze is particularly beneficial to the estate’s Sauvignon Blanc wines.
De Grendel Wine Estate
Situated just outside Cape Town’s northern suburb of Panorama, De Grendel offers views over the Cape Peninsula all the way to Table Mountain.
Diemersdal
Feel like you’re in the countryside at Diemersdal, a winery in Durbanville (also one of Cape Town’s northern suburbs) where the wines are made with passion by people who talk about the history of the farm and the importance of terroir in creating exceptional wines.
6. Watch the sun setting over the ocean
Pack your favourite sundowner tipple in your backpack and go climbing! What better spot to watch the sun dip into the Atlantic Ocean than from the top of Lion’s Head?
The walk up this distinctively shaped mountain slope next to Table Mountain, which forms part of the Table Mountain range, should take approximately an hour to the top. Be prepared for a steep climb up the rocky mountain, where strategically placed ladders and chains will help you summit. Don’t be worried – it’s easier than it may sound.
If you prefer to take it easy while on honeymoon, take the cable car up Table Mountain and relax on top of the mountain while the sun sets lazily over the ocean.
7. Diamonds are forever
Honeymooners get a chance to invest in bespoke gold and diamond jewellery while on holiday in Cape Town. Do not miss the selection of exquisite jewellery shops at the V&A Waterfront to find the perfect piece that will help you declare your everlasting love.
8. Clippity clop by the sea shore
Few honeymoon activities can beat the romance of a horse ride in the surf. Cape Town has some truly lovely opportunities to ride on the beach. Sleepy Hollow in Noordhoek and Imhoff Farm in Kommetjie are just two of those.
If you would like an adventurous Winelands ride, Wine Valley Adventures based in Paarl has just the right horses for all levels of riders. You can also opt for a romantic horse-drawn carriage drive or hop on a wagon trail between the vineyards.
9. Watch movies under the stars
Watching a movie under the stars with your loved one at one of Cape Town’s wonderful outdoor venue is possible with Galileo Open Air Cinema. Enjoy a unique magical movie experience with a picnic at selected dates and venues in and around Cape Town.
10. Jazz it up
Take your loved one for an evening of live jazz in the Mother City. You can catch a sensuous performance at any one of the following jazz venues:
- Sunday brunch jazz at Winchester Mansions
- Sunday lunch jazz at Kloof Street House
- Evening cocktails at The Piano Bar
11. Go Hot Air Ballooning
An early wake-up will be worth your while once you and the love of your life sweep across the skyline of the Cape Winelands in the basket of a hot air balloon as the sun rises.
If you're considering Cape Town for your honeymoon...
Cape Town Villas has a grand selection of rentals on the Atlantic Seaboard. Whether you are looking for a romantic villa with a Jacuzzi or a beachfront apartment, we will make sure your honeymoon accommodation is a match made in heaven.
Call us on +27 21 201 1217 to speak to us about your honeymoon accommodation needs.
More activities honeymooners should not miss
Don’t miss out on any of Cape Town’s best-kept secrets! Make the most of your honeymoon by following our Cape Town itinerary planning guide with over 100 locally curated ideas.
Go sightseeing around Cape Town
Enjoy a fun day sightseeing on the Cape Town City Sightseeing bus. Hop on and hop off to explore the top sightseeing spots in Cape Town.
This bus can take you to the doorstep of more than 50 of Cape Town’s top attractions, such as the V&A Waterfront, Cape of Good Hope, Simon’s Town where you can get to know the African Penguin colony at Boulders Beach, the Constantia wine route and all the way back to Table Mountain.
Visit noteworthy museums and galleries
Museums and places of interest not to be missed while on honeymoon in Cape Town include the Castle of Good Hope. This bastion fort was built in the 17th century.
A visit to Robben Island is also a worthwhile activity. Book a ferry ride from the V&A Waterfront to the island to see the famous prison where South Africa’s political activists from the previous century were incarcerated.
Nature lovers in particular will find the Iziko South African Museum of interest, while the District Six Museum gives an interesting insight into the history of the Cape.
If art is your thing, Cape Town will bowl you over with the works of local contemporary artists. The Irma Stern Museum in Rosebank pays tribute to this renowned South African artist.
Zeitz MOCAA is the largest contemporary art gallery in Africa and is located at the V&A Waterfront’s trendy new Silo district.
Eclectica Contemporary in the Bo-Kaap is worth a visit for a look at thought-provoking art, while 34 Fine Art in Woodstock always exhibits interesting works from noteworthy artists.
Whatiftheworld Gallery in Woodstock specialises in innovative work from emerging South African artists and the Goodman Gallery focuses on local and international artists.
While there are plenty of noteworthy galleries to visit, honeymooners should not miss the Everard Read Gallery in the V&A Waterfront, which serves as a platform for local painters and sculptors.
Marvel at monuments and statues
Cape Town has a handful of monuments and statues, which you may also want to take in while here on holiday.
Rhodes Memorial on Devil’s Peak, on the Eastern slopes of Table Mountain, is a memorial to Politician Cecil John Rhodes.
Visit Nobel Square at the V&A Waterfront to view the statues of four great South African peacemakers (and winners of the Nobel Peace Prize).
A famous dog, Just Nuisance, has been eternalised in a statue in the naval outpost of Simon’s Town while a statue of Nelson Mandela on the balcony of the Cape Town City Hall, overlooking the Grand Parade, was unveiled in July 2018.
Get a bird's eye view
If flying high is one of your passions, a helicopter flip over the Peninsula is a must-do on your honeymoon itinerary. Apart from the thrill of the ride, you will get a very good orientation of the Cape Peninsula.
Hit the road
Take a road trip to get to know the diverse landscape around the Cape. The Cape Winelands can be done in a day trip and you can return home on the same day to your honeymoon abode on the Atlantic Seaboard.
Visit student town Stellenbosch, or the country’s gourmet capital Franschhoek. Paarl is one of the hottest Western Cape holiday destinations, yet it is only a 45 minute drive from Cape Town.
Explore the West Coast with its unique fishing culture and barren landscape. If you happen to be visiting in August, September or October, it is flower season so be prepared for a flower feast as you travel up the West Coast.
The Overberg is under two hours from Cape Town and offers another diverse landscape with its rolling hills with oats- and canola fields. Watch out for South Africa’s national bird, the Blue Crane, which can often be seen grazing in the fields alongside the national road.
Although a day trip is quite easily done from Cape Town, we recommend you take a little extra time and stay over in Hermanus or De Kelders to allow time to explore the lovely wineries and restaurants of the area.
Just cruising
With the Atlantic Ocean on your doorstep, no honeymoon in Cape Town will be complete without a cruise along the Atlantic Seaboard.
You will be spoilt for choice and can opt for a luxury sailing yacht cruise or a sunset cruise, leaving from the V&A Waterfront, to enjoy lovely views and sunsets.
Watch out for dolphins and whales, which you may just spot while cruising around the Peninsula.
Soak up the African sun
The perfect honeymoon to Cape Town has to include a few beach days where lovers can soak up the sun and relax on the soft sandy beaches.
Any of the Clifton beaches are great (there are four!) and Camps Bay has a lovely, busy beach lined with palm trees. Sea Point has a number of small beaches with easy access from the Sea Point Promenade.
Honeymooners who seek privacy are likely to find it on beaches that are harder to access, such as Llandudno and Sandy Bay.
Hike along Table Mountain's trails
When thinking about Cape Town for their honeymoon, couples who enjoy hiking, biking and running will not be disappointed. Table Mountain has a number of exciting hikes that ascend from different positions – all of which make for a remarkable day on the mountain.
The Pipe Track, Platteklip Gorge and Woodstock Caves are popular. From Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, you can access Skeleton Gorge and from Camps Bay, you can access Kasteelpoort from the Pipe Track.
However, hiking does not end there. Chapman’s Peak and Silvermine Nature Reserve on the South Peninsula are still part of the Table Mountain Range and have spectacular routes for hikers.
Do not forget Lion’s Head as a popular hike that will be easily accessible from your honeymoon accommodation on the Atlantic Seaboard.
See the 'Big Five' in the flesh
Your honeymoon to Cape Town does not have to be all about the sea and the mountain.
You are visiting Africa, and therefore wildlife safaris are on the cards. You can visit a private game reserve and view the big five within one to four hour’s drive from the Mother City.
Sanbona Wildlife Reserve
Godwana Game Reserve
Godwana, a 11 000 hectare reserve, is the only free ranging Big 5 private wildlife reserve in the Southern Cape – about four hours’ drive from Cape Town. It is home to lion, white rhinoceros, eland, red hartebeest, the endangered Cape Mountain Zebra, springbok, kudu and elephant.
Inverdoorn Game Reserve
Home to the Western Cape Cheetah Conservation Programme, Inverdoorn comprises 10 000 hectares and has the Big Five on its land. A mere 2 ½ hour’s drive from Cape Town, honeymooners can book a day visit and be home in time for dinner.
Aquila Private Game Reserve
If you want to see South Africa’s magnificent Big Five, a quick trip to Aquila – only two hours from Cape Town – will give you a close look. The reserve offers half-day safaris and full day safaris on horseback and quad bikes too.
Garden Route Game Reserve
A three-and-a-half hour drive from Cape Town will take you to the Garden Route Game Reserve. With the Langeberg Mountain Range as a backdrop, Garden Route Game Lodge has lion, white rhinoceros, giraffe, elephant, buffalo, cheetah and many more mammal species to view.
Luxury honeymoon accommodation in Cape Town
There is no shortage of honeymoon accommodation options in Cape Town. But, for maximum privacy and comfort, Cape Town Villas recommends a stay in one of Cape Town’s many luxury self-catering villas or apartments, especially the romance-inspiring villas in Camps Bay which are perfect for honeymooners.
Apartments provide a great option for busy couples who have an active itinerary during their honeymoon. If you are not planning to spend much time enjoying your honeymoon accommodation, we recommend a centrally located apartment from where you can explore the city and surrounding areas.
Apartments are available along the Atlantic Seaboard, in the City Bowl and areas such as De Waterkant, which is perfect for fun-seekers who enjoy the city nightlife. Most apartments offer stunning mountain, sea, harbour or city views. Apartments are suited to honeymooners with smaller budgets for whom a private pool or Jacuzzi is not necessarily of importance.
On the other hand, villas are perfect for honeymooners seeking peace, quiet and privacy. If you are going to spend a lot of quiet time at home enjoying each other’s company, a villa gives you room to sprawl out.
You can delight in your villa’s private garden, swimming pool or Jacuzzi/hot tub. You will enjoy stunning views and an entertainment-size kitchen, dining room and lounge – perfect for the honeymoon couple who prefer to spend more time and a bigger portion of their budget at home.
If you're considering Cape Town for your honeymoon...
Cape Town Villas has a grand selection of rentals on the Atlantic Seaboard. Whether you are looking for a romantic villa with a Jacuzzi or a beachfront apartment, we will make sure your honeymoon accommodation is a match made in heaven.
Call us on +27 21 201 1217 to speak to us about your honeymoon accommodation needs.
Idyllic honeymoon villas
Cape Town Villas are proud to offer idyllic honeymoon villas to discerning couples who are looking to spend a fair amount of time enjoying each other’s company in the privacy of their villa.
26 on First Crescent
If you want to experience the ultimate in luxury with views to die for, your honeymoon at 26 on First Crescent in Camps Bay will help you create magical memories with your loved one.
Serenity
Perched high on the mountainside overlooking the beach, Serenity in Camps Bay is a large, private villa with all the luxury touches to ensure a relaxing honeymoon.
Maison Noir
This stylish black house on Hout Bay’s mountainside is a lovely private villa, which will make you believe you are in the country. Just minutes from the beach and restaurants, you can make yourself completely at home at Maison Noir in Hout Bay.
Beta Beach
If the perfect beachfront location with uninterrupted sunset views is what you have in mind, there is no better villa to stay than Beta Beach in Bakoven (adjacent to Camps Bay).
18 on Hillwood
18 on Hillwood in Bishopscourt, a leafy southern suburb of Cape Town, is an upmarket home which provides the perfect retreat for honeymooners who value their privacy above all.
Blissful honeymoon apartments
These lovely honeymoon apartments will provide the perfect base for honeymooners to explore and enjoy everything their Cape Town and Winelands honeymoon has on offer.
17 Geneva Upper
17 Geneva Upper in Camps Bay is a spacious and cozy apartment with its own swimming pool and sauna – a perfect hideaway for honeymooners.
SB Penthouse Suite
Exclusive and modern, SB Penthouse Suite in Camps Bay is an elegant space centrally located for happy honeymooners to enjoy the best that Cape Town has on offer.
BV Penthouse 1
BV Penthouse 1 in Bakoven with its rim-flow pool overlooking the Atlantic ocean is pure heaven for honeymooners who have a leisurely time in min.
15 Views Penthouse
Placed in a prime beachfront location overlooking Camp Bay’s beach and main strip on Victoria Road, 15 Views Penthouse in Camps Bay is ideal for newlyweds.
Ivory Sands
Situated directly on the sands of Second Beach, this unique bungalow with its seaside pool and jacuzzi, is truly in a class of its own. Ivory Sands in Clifton is one of Cape Town’s finest rentals for romantic occasions.
More romantic accommodation options
If the villas and apartments we featured don’t match your tastes or needs, we have many more luxury accommodation options for you to consider.
Franschhoek Country House & Villas
Honeymooners agree that 5-star accommodation in the beautiful Franschhoek valley does not get better than the Franschhoek Country House & Villas. South Africa’s gourmet capital with top restaurants and lovely wine routes is within a 45-minute drive to Cape Town.
Banksia Boutique
A luxury boutique hotel with eight bedroom suites. Banksia Boutique in Rosebank is centrally situated for those planning to drive and explore the Western Cape’s treasures. Newlyweds looking for special pampering and serenity would love to honeymoon here.
V&A Waterfront Marina
An elegant and modern apartment at the infamous V&A Waterfront Marina is the perfect spot for busy honeymooners to call their home while effortlessly exploring everything Cape Town has to offer them from a central location.
We are here to help
If you need help with booking a romantic stay in the ideal area, or if you want ideas for planning a carefree honeymoon in Cape Town, our teas is always ready to assist you.
Is Cape Town your honeymoon destination of choice?
Cape Town Villas has a grand selection of rentals on the Atlantic Seaboard. Whether you are looking for a romantic villa with a Jacuzzi or a beachfront apartment, we will make sure your honeymoon accommodation is a match made in heaven.
Call us on +27 21 201 1217 to speak to us about your honeymoon accommodation needs.