Last Updated on September 26, 2025 by Hannah Stephenson
Ready for an epic Cape Town road trip?
Here’s the thing: when people talk about “Cape Town” there’s sometimes talking about more than just the city itself. The Cape Peninsula extends beyond the city limits but it’s full of beautiful and iconic sights!
The great thing is that you can see a whole lot of it in just one day! So after years of living here and showing friends around, I’ve compiled a 1-day Cape Peninsula road trip to show you all of the best spots.
One thing that sets this itinerary apart from others is that it skips the Cape of Good Hope. That may seem a bit controversial, but honestly I think it’s a bit overrated and that there are better ways to spend your time.
So if you want an epic road trip itinerary that delivers gorgeous coastal views, wildlife, and local gems, keep on reading. Buckle up and get ready to spend one epic day trip road tripping around Cape Town and the Cape Peninsula!
- Where to Rent a Car in Cape Town
- Cape Peninsula Road Trip Itinerary
- Cape Town Road Trip FAQs
Where to Rent a Car in Cape Town
I always use Discover Cars whenever I want to rent a car in Cape Town. It’s a comparison site, so it makes it so easy to find the best prices and most reputable providers!
I also love that you can filter your results to find exactly the type of car rental you want. This includes how you want to pay, any extras you need, and the number of seats and doors. I recommend checking “GPS navigation system” to make life easier.
As well as making it easy to find a trustworthy rental, Discover Cars also offer free cancellation up to 48 hours before you collect your vehicle. This allows you to lock in a great deal while staying flexible!
You can also set your pickup location so that you can either collect your car from the airport when you arrive or pick up your car downtown in De Waterkant. I usually opt for the latter, since I live close by.
Use Discover Cars to find the best car rental deals here!
Cape Peninsula Road Trip Itinerary
Okay, now that you know how to source your perfect rental car at a great price, let’s get into your actual road trip itinerary.
One thing to note about the Cape Peninsula is that the weather really can change every few miles and you never know what the wind is going to do, so I suggest packing a light layer or two in the car.
To make things easier, I’ve also got a full road trip map for you right here. Click to expand it!
Breakfast in Sea Point
Just like your car needs petrol, you’re going to need fuel for today’s road trip! Head into Sea Point for breakfast, as this will make it easy to get out of the city via the beautiful Victoria Road.
You can often get free parking in Sea Point down one of the side streets, such as Kei Apple Road. If not, you can park at The Point Mall, which costs R20 for 1-2 hours.
Once you’ve parked up, head to Jarryd’s Brunch & Bistro to indulge in one of their incredible breakfasts. From their legendary pancake stacks (which, naturally, went viral) to their delicious huevos rancheros, you really can’t go wrong with anything on the menu here.
Jarryd’s opens at 7:30 am and I recommend getting there around then to ensure you have time to fit everything in.
Caveat: if you’re staying in Camps Bay, it doesn’t make sense to go to Sea Point for breakfast as you’ll be going back on yourself. In that case, go for breakfast with a view at Tiger’s Milk.
Leave Cape Town via Victoria Road
Distance: 17.4 km / 10.8 miles
Time: 25 minutes
Head out of Sea Point along Victoria Road. This is an incredibly scenic coastal road with gorgeous ocean views on one side and some very swanky houses on the other.
I never get tired of driving along this road. The views of the Twelve Apostles are absolutely stunning, and keep your eyes peeled for the “Iron Man House” perched up on the cliffside as you drive past the Clifton Beaches.
Victoria Road will take you through Camps Bay (hence the caveat above) and beyond. Once you’re out of Camps Bay the road will generally be quieter. Keep driving and enjoying the views until you reach Hout Bay Harbour, where our next adventure takes place!
Hout Bay
Park up in Hout Bay Harbour (which is free, by the way) and then get ready to explore this scenic gem in the best way – by boat!
Just off the coast of Hout Bay is Duiker Island, which is known for its high population of Cape fur seals. Seriously – I visited on a day when my skipper told me there were “few” seals around, but I still saw hundreds!
A seal island cruise is also a great way to appreciate the beauty of the bay, which is overlooked by lush, dramatic mountains. Plus, it’s a short and sweet experience that only takes about 45 minutes.
You’ll need to book your cruise in advance, and it’s best to go direct through Circe Launches. It costs R120 per adult and R60 for kids aged 13 and under. I recommend booking the 9:45 am slot, as that should give you plenty of time to enjoy breakfast and get to Hout Bay.
Take Chapman’s Peak Scenic Drive to Noordhoek
Distance: 13.1 kilometers / 8.1 miles
Time: 30 – 40 minutes
After enjoying the beauty of Hout Bay, things only get better with a drive along South Africa’s most spectacular road. Every time I drive along this road, I’m awestruck by just how beautiful it is. And I’m certainly not alone in this opinion – I mean, Mercedes Benz don’t film their commercials just anywhere!
Chapman’s Peak Scenic Drive is a toll road so you’ll need to pay a fee. It costs R66 at the time of writing but you can double check prices here.
The road itself isn’t that long, but it has a whopping 114 bends and so it takes about 25 minutes to drive without stopping. However, you are definitely going to want to stop and snap lots of photos along the way – and the beauty of renting a car is that you can!
So take your time and enjoy the contrast between the rocky red cliffs and the deep blue ocean. Then, when you come to the end of this gorgeous road, continue onto the Aegir Project.
The Aegir Project
The Aegir Project is a family-friendly restaurant and taproom in Noordhoek with a play area for kids, as well as plenty of indoor and outdoor seating.
I think that Aegir makes the best burgers in Cape Town. Their grass-fed patties are so juicy and delicious, and they have lots of plant-based options for those who don’t eat meat.
And if you’re just in the mood for a light snack, I highly recommend the Patagonian squid or Texan buffalo cauliflower hot wings!
For passengers, I highly recommend trying a tasting flight, as you get to try five different local craft beers for just R85. And of course, there are plenty of soft drinks for the driver.
Boulders Beach
Distance: 17.6 km / 10.9 miles
Time: 25 minutes
After lunch at the Aegir Project, head to Boulders Beach to see Cape Town’s famous penguin colony! Around 3,000 penguins live on this gorgeous beach, and there’s a boardwalk set up so you can view them without disturbing them.
Keep an eye out for dassies, too, which are super cute little mammals who also call this beach home.
You can park here for free, and then beach entry costs R215 for international visitors, R100 for SADC residents, and R50 for South African residents.
Allow about an hour to visit Boulders Beach. There are a few souvenir shops and cafes around if you need refreshments (or want to buy a cute cuddly penguin toy). If you didn’t eat at the Aegir Project, the Seaforth Restaurant here also does good fish and chips!
Kalk Bay
Distance: 11.9 km / 7.4 miles
Time: 15 – 20 minutes
Kalk Bay is a quaint fishing village turned hippie town on the False Bay Coast. It’s got charm in spades, so after Boulders Beach, head here to explore for a bit!
You can go for a swim in Dalebrook Tidal Pool, which is basically the quintessential Kalk Bay festivity. Well, that or going for fish and chips at the Brass Bell. If you’re feeling snacky, you can always stop here for some seafood, or they do really good deep-fried brie balls.
If you’re not hungry, then you can check out some coffee shops instead. I like Lekker Kalk Bay, which you’ll easily be able to identify from its sunny yellow facade. It’s a sweet little coffee shop with a cute little pantry section where you can pick up local snacks.
There are lots of boutiques along the main road as well, including Casa Boho and Soul Design Jewellery. Honestly, the best thing to do is just wander around and see what gems you find in the boho heart of Cape Town. I’d recommend spending about an hour here just checking it all out.
Take Boyes Drive to Muizenberg
Distance: 15.2 km / 9.4 miles
Time: 25 minutes
From Kalk Bay, we’ll take Boyes Drive over to Muizenberg. When you program your GPS, it might suggest a slightly faster route along the M4, but override that and get it to take you via Boyes Drive because it’s a much more scenic route.
I’ll be real with you: nothing can take the crown from Chapman’s Peak Drive but Boyes Drive is still very pretty. It offers sweeping views of Muizenberg and the False Bay coast, so it’s definitely worth checking out. There’s no toll fee to worry about, either!
There are several lookout points along Boyes Drive, so take your time and pull over when you spot one. The road is narrow and winding, so tour buses tend to avoid this route but that’s actually good news if you’re renting a car as you’ll run into less traffic here than on the M4.
Muizenberg
As Boyes Drive winds back down toward sea level, you’ll arrive in Muizenberg. This is Cape Town’s surfer suburb and it’s famous for the brightly coloured huts that line the beachfront.
If you’re keen for a swim en route, Muizenberg has the best beach for it! The waves here are gentle and the water is actually warm. Well, warmer than on the Atlantic side of the peninsula, anyway. It’s still not exactly bathwater but it won’t make your legs go numb.
Other than enjoying the tolerable sea temperature, my favourite thing to do in Muzienberg is stroll along the catwalk. It’s a 3-kilometre (1.9-mile) walk along the coastline, and it’s very flat and easy. It takes about 40 minutes to walk the whole thing (one way) but of course you can just do a portion of it and turn back whenever you want!
Have Dinner at the Oldest Pub in Cape Town
Distance: 23 km / 14.3 miles
Time: 35 minutes
It’s been a long day, so we’re going to round it off now with dinner at one of Cape Town’s most historic pubs! The Foresters Arms (aka Forries) is a total institution and it has been serving thirsty Capetonians since 1852.
Back in the day, the pub was a popular place for workers to stop for a drink on their way from Cape Town to Simon’s Town (where Boulders Beach is). It even holds the Guinness World Record for most beer sold in the Southern Hemisphere!
And since this warm and welcoming pub is sort of on the way back to town, it makes sense to use today’s road trip as an opportunity to go and check it out. It only adds an extra 10 minutes to your journey, so I’d say it’s totally worth it.
As for what to order, Forries do a mean pie or yummy wood-fired pizzas. So if you worked up quite an appetite on today’s Cape Peninsula road trip, you’ll be well catered for here. Then, when you’re done, it’s only a 10-15 minute drive back to central Cape Town.
Cape Town Road Trip FAQs
What kind of car should I rent for the Cape Peninsula road trip?
Whichever type of vehicle you feel most comfortable driving! A city car is fine but if you prefer to drive something a bit bigger and more powerful, that works too. When you search for a rental car using Discover Cars, you can filter your search to ensure you find the right vehicle for you.
Is driving in Cape Town easy?
For the most part, yes! During the summer, traffic in the city can get quite intense during rush hour but as long as you’re a confident driver, you should be fine. And once you get out of the city, the open roads will be much quieter. Check out my full guide to driving in Cape Town here!
Which side of the road do they drive on in South Africa?
The left! So for Aussies, Kiwis, and Brits like me, it’s really not that different from driving at home. If you’re from a country that drives on the right and it’s your first time driving on the left, I recommend doing a little practice drive at a quiet time of day just to get the hang of it.
Should I get petrol before I go on this road trip?
Yes, I recommend heading out for the day with a full tank! If it slips your mind, there are petrol stations en route including in Hout Bay and Muizenberg, so don’t stress too much. But personally, I prefer to make sure my tank is full (or at least ¾ full) so that I don’t need to worry about it later on.
Should I get insurance?
Yes! When you rent a car through Discover Cars, you can add full coverage insurance at the click of a button. This can cost as little as R160 per day, and covers all drivers for things like lost keys, hit-and-run accidents, and taxi expenses if you break down somewhere. I think it’s so worth it for the peace of mind it provides.
Do I need an International Driving Permit (IDP) to drive in Cape Town?
If your driver’s license is in English then no, you don’t need an IDP.
If your license is not in English, then you will need one. Make sure to organise this before you go! You’ll need to present it alongside your original license, so bring both!
And when driving in South Africa, you’ll need your license with you at all times. If you don’t have it and the police pull you over, you can get into trouble! I always just keep mine in the glovebox of my rental car to ensure I always have it.