Last Updated on May 2, 2025 by Hannah Stephenson
Hermanus is a coastal town about two hours southwest of Cape Town. It’s famous for its whale watching, especially during the winter, but I also love visiting for its scenic hikes, wineries, and laid back vibe. It’s the perfect escape from the city – not that I ever feel the need to escape from Cape Town.
So if you’re wondering what to get up to in the whale watching capital of the world, stay tuned. After spending plenty of happy weekends in Hermanus, I’ve listed the best things to do here so that you can make the most out of your visit. Let’s go!
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1. Go Whale Watching
Well, duh.
Hermanus is world-famous for its excellent whale watching, and it even hosts an annual whale festival every September. However, whale season runs from early June until late November, so you’ve got a pretty generous window to catch sight of Hermanus’ famous Southern Right whales, although it’s not uncommon to spot Humpback and Bryde’s whales, either.
Here are a few different ways to spot whales in Hermanus:
Whale watching cruise
The best way to catch sight of whales in Hermanus is on a whale watching cruise! This one runs from June to November and takes you out to sea on a catamaran that has been custom-built for prime whale viewing.
What I love about this cruise is that it allows you to get so close to the whales! Plus, the on board crew includes a whale specialist who will teach you all about these magnificent creatures.
It’s also pretty likely that you’ll spot dolphins along the way, and light refreshments are included to keep you going throughout the 2-hour tour. Trust me, it’ll fly by.
This cruise has over 150 5-star reviews (which you can read here) and costs R1,590. It’s a real must if you’re in Hermanus during whale season!
Book this epic whale watching tour here, with FREE cancellation!
Whale watching walking tour
Now, you can sometimes spot whales simply by strolling along Hermanus’ beautiful Cliff Path during whale season, but that does rather leave things up to chance. If you want to guarantee a sighting, I suggest booking this whale watching walking tour (it’s a bit of a tongue twister, isn’t it?)
This tour is led by an awesome local guide called Percy who knows all of the best hidden coves and inlets to visit to catch sight of whales. He also has a real knack for knowing exactly where the whales will be on any given day!
Percy will pick you up from your accommodation and over the course of 2-3 hours, he’ll take you to between 5 and 7 whale watching spots, where you’ll probably be the only people around. And as a fun perk, you’ll even get to visit Hermanus’ very own Whale Museum.
I think that this tour is a great way to spot whales while enjoying Hermanus’ coastal beauty. It’s also a fantastic option for those who want to explore the Cliff Path without trekking along the entire thing!
Check availability and book your whale walk here!
Horseback ride
For the equestrians among us, this horseback whale watching tour offers a fun and unique way to spot whales from the shore.
Horse riding on the beach is a fantastic thing to do in the Western Cape, but this particular ride is extra special because it offers the chance to spot whales! You’ll ride along the quiet beaches within the Walker Bay Whale Sanctuary as you spot Southern Right whales spy-hopping and lobtailing out at sea. Sounds pretty dreamy to me!
The tour costs R1,200 which I think is pretty reasonable for a 3.5-hour ride!
Reserve your whale watching horseback ride here and enjoy free cancellation!
2. A Big Five Marine Safari
If you’re visiting Hermanus outside of peak whale season, don’t worry because you can still spot some amazing marine life on this marine safari! It’s a fantastic alternative to a whale watching cruise during the warmer months, but you will still have the chance to spot whales. I’ve seen whales around the Western Cape during the peak of summer, there just tend to be less of them around.
And what I love about this tour is that it focuses on other aspects of the region’s rich marine life, too. You’ll spot seals, cute penguins, and hopefully pods of dolphins! Doing a marine safari in Hermanus is perfect for summer days when whale sightings are fewer, but the ocean is still alive with activity.
Read all of the 5-star reviews and book your marine safari here!
3. Walk the Cliff Path
The one thing I ALWAYS do when I visit Hermanus is go for a walk along the beautiful Cliff Path.
It’s a 12-kilometer (7.5-mile) hiking route along Hermanus’ rugged coastline. It goes past several beaches and even a beautiful rock pool, with just the briefest of detours onto a main road.
And of course, you don’t have to do the entire thing! You can start and end wherever you like.
Walking along the Cliff Path is a fantastic opportunity to spot wildlife. Between June and November, you may well spot whales along here, and I always see lots of cute dassies.
The Cliff Path is well maintained and it features some undulation, but no major climbs. Several sections of the path are also wheelchair accessible, so everyone can enjoy its beauty!
I made this handy map of the Cliff Path for reference.
4. Relax at the Beach
There are several fantastic beaches in Hermanus, so you can just pick whichever one is closest to your accommodation! However, Grotto Beach is perhaps the most celebrated as it’s a blue flag beach, which means that it meets strict international environmental standards.
I usually go to Voëlklip, but that’s purely because I tend to stay with lovely friends who live just a street away. It’s clean and family-friendly, and there are often coffee and ice cream trucks around if you fancy refreshments!
5. Shop at the Hermanus Country Market
The Hermanus Country Market takes place every Saturday at the Hermanus Cricket Club. It’s a really lovely local market with a wide variety of food stalls, as well as fashion and crafts. This friendly and rustic market is open from 9 am until 2 pm, so it’s the perfect place to hang out on a Saturday morning.
There are so many great food options here that you’ll truly be spoilt for choice. I went for a shawarma but I was sorely tempted by the poké bowls, and the hot dogs and burgers smelled incredible. And of course, there’s a well stocked bar with plenty of local beer to enjoy.
6. Explore the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley
Hermanus is home to the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley, which translates as “Heaven and Earth.” And after exploring some of the wineries here myself, I have to say that the name is pretty apt.
Hemel-en-Aarde is absolutely beautiful and the wineries here are doing some very exciting and innovative things with their grapes! Plus, it’s WAY quieter than Stellenbosch or Franschhoek. If you’re after a more tranquil tasting experience, don’t miss your chance to explore Hemel-en-Aarde!
When I went tasting in Hemel-en-Aarde I was lucky enough to be accompanied by a designated driver. However, if no-one in your party is willing to miss out on the wine (and I can’t blame them for that!) then you can always book this tasting tour instead.
It’s a private tour so it’ll just be you, your group, and an expert wine guide. You won’t have to plan a route, either, so you’ll be able to sit back and relax as your guide takes you to four of the region’s tip wineries. These include Bouchard Finlayson and Creation Wines, which are my two favorite estates in the valley!
Prices for this tour vary by group size, but it ranges between R1,100 and R2,350 per person. This includes all tastings and transport, so I think it’s a pretty good deal.
Reserve your private Hemel-en-Aarde wine tour here!
7. Go Birdwatching
Twitchers, listen up, because this birdwatching tour is an absolute must if you’re heading to Hermanus. It’s led by a passionate local photographer and guide who will open your eyes to the incredible diversity of birds in this part of the Western Cape, from sea and water birds to elusive mountain fynbos species.
I’m hardly a seasoned birder but the great news is that all you really need to enjoy this tour is to be a nature lover with a curious eye. It’s a fantastic opportunity to soak up the natural beauty of Hermanus and learn about its fascinating birdlife.
Check availability and book this birdwatching tour here!
How Long to Spend in Hermanus
You only really need a few days in Hermanus. One or two days is plenty of time to tick off everything, although of course if you’re looking for a laid back seaside escape you could hang around for longer.
If I were trying to fit Hermanus into a wider Western Cape trip, I think I’d come for two full days. One for cliff path walks, whale watching, and beach time during the summer, and one for wine tasting!
Where to Stay in Hermanus
Now that you know what to do in Hermanus and how long to spend here, you just need to sort out some accommodation. There are plenty of great places to stay here, but I’ve picked my three favourites: one for budget travellers, one for luxury lovers, and one in between!
Luxury – Thatch House Boutique Hotel
This top-rated boutique hotel is set in a historic building that overlooks the Hermanus lagoon. The rooms are artistically decorated and many of them have private terraces where you can sip your morning coffee as you gaze out at the mountains. Bliss!
Rooms here start at R7,500 per night during whale season. Check out all the details and book your stay here!
Mid-range – On the Cliff Guest House
Looking for somewhere comfortable that’s just a smidge more reasonably priced? Allow me to introduce you to On the Cliff, a homey guesthouse with comfy rooms and epic ocean views.
Prices here start at around R4,000 per night during whale season. Read reviews and book your stay here!
Budget – Dawn’s Place
Dawn’s Place is a small but comfy studio apartment about 13 minutes’ walk from Voëlklip Beach and an 18-minute walk from Grotto Beach. It offers great value for money and the hosts are super friendly and welcoming. Best of all, stays start from just R1,000 per night.
Check prices and book your stay here!
Should You Rent a Car in Hermanus?
Yes! Well, actually, you should probably rent it at the Cape Town airport as you’ll have a greater choice. However, you can pick up a rental car in Hermanus if necessary.
Much of Hermanus is walkable but ride hailing apps don’t operate here so having your own wheels is really handy for longer distances and getting around after dark.
If you don’t drive, you could use an airport shuttle to get from Cape Town to Hermanus and then walk and use local taxis. But if you do drive, it’s definitely worth renting a car because it will make life so much easier and give you more freedom to explore.
I don’t own a car in South Africa but whenever I need to use one I find rentals with DiscoverCars. It compares the best prices and finds top-rated suppliers, so really it’s a bit like Booking.com but for cars! I’ve always had really good experiences with them and they’ve saved me a fair bit of money over the years.