Hermanus is the kind of seaside town where you can arrive for the whales and quickly discover that you want to stay for everything else — the beautiful coastal path, mountain views, little beaches, good food and those wonderful moments when you simply stop and look out across Walker Bay.
A favorite South African holiday destination for tourists from all over the world.
On the South Coast of South Africa in the Overberg District, lies the beautiful seaside town of Hermanus. Known as a popular whale-watching destination, Hermanus draws thousands of tourists each year. However, it is also a popular holiday destination for the locals. Here you will find beautiful beaches and coastline like Grotto Beach, Voëlklip Beach, and Walker Bay. There is a wide variety of accommodation available as well as restaurants to pick and choose from.
While in Hermanus you also have to visit the small seaside town of Kleinmond (only a 40 min drive away / or on your way), with its pretty lagoon, wild horses, and awesome hiking trails.
From the airport, you have two options of getting to Hermanus by car. One of them is taking the R44 (Clarens Drive) south from Gordon’s Bay to Kleinmond. This is also the start of the Whale Route and one of the most scenic drives in South Africa. It is beautiful, but do keep in mind – there is a common courtesy on this route – not to travel at a high speed. Here you take your time and appreciate every second of the drive, and the scenery when stopping at the lookout points. Following this route, you will find Bettys Bay, Pringle Bay, Rooi Els, Gordons Bay, and Strand… and all of these places are definitely worth a visit.
Your second option is to travel by car via the N2 main route. This way you’ll have a 1-hour drive to Hermanus and a 50 min drive to Kleinmond. Following the road through the beautiful Sir Lowry’s Pass, through Grabouw and Bot River.
Either way, it is a beautiful road trip with amazing vistas along the way.
Your nearest International Airport will be Cape Town International (CPT). From here you can rent a car with GPS and follow the main routes to enjoy a self-drive holiday.
The best thing about Hermanus is that you don’t need a packed sightseeing schedule.
You can start the morning with a walk beside the ocean, stop for coffee, spend a few hours at the beach, explore the town and then return to the coastline in the late afternoon when the light becomes beautiful.
Be on the lookout for:
If you are travelling along the Western Cape coast, I would give Hermanus at least two nights. That gives you enough time to enjoy the coastline without rushing, explore the nearby Hemel-en-Aarde Valley and perhaps spend an afternoon doing absolutely nothing except sitting beside the sea.
You need at least a weekend, but if you are in no hurry, take the time to explore the surrounding areas as well. During holiday seasons (December and January is peak time) Hermanus is quite busy because it is one of the “hip and happening” seaside holiday towns in the Western Cape. So allow extra time for traveling as the roads can get very busy.
You can also, from here, do the Garden route on a self-drive vacation and see some of South Africa’s most beautiful towns.
Choose your timing according to what you want from the trip.
Outside peak periods: A quieter time to enjoy the town at a slower pace.
This is the first thing I would do in Hermanus.
The Cliff Path follows the coastline from the New Harbour towards Grotto Beach, giving you wonderful views of Walker Bay along the way. You don’t have to walk the entire route. Choose a section, stroll at your own pace and stop whenever you find a particularly beautiful view.
There are benches along the route, which makes this much more than a hike. It is a lovely place to sit, watch the sea and simply enjoy being in Hermanus.
TRAVEL TIP: You don’t need to be a serious hiker. Pick a short section of the Cliff Path and turn around when you’ve had enough. Some sections are wheelchair-friendly, although accessibility varies along the full route.
Hermanus is famous for its land-based whale watching, and this is one experience where I would not rush to book a boat trip.
During the main season, Southern Right Whales come into Walker Bay to breed and calve. The official season is generally June to November, with whale numbers often particularly good during September, October and November.
The Cliff Path, Gearing’s Point, the Old Harbour, Siever’s Point and several coastal viewpoints are all good places to start looking.
Take binoculars if you have them, but keep watching even without them. Sometimes you will see the unmistakable puff of a whale’s blow before you see the whale itself.
LOCAL-STYLE TIP: Don’t stand in one spot waiting for a whale to perform. Walk the coastline and keep looking. Part of the fun is discovering one unexpectedly.
You Don’t Need Whales to Enjoy Hermanus
Hermanus is still a wonderful destination outside the main whale-watching months. You have the beaches, Cliff Path, mountains, fynbos, restaurants, markets and Hemel-en-Aarde Valley throughout the year.
In fact, there is something very appealing about visiting when you are not constantly looking at the ocean hoping for a whale. You can simply enjoy Hermanus as a beautiful seaside town.
And then, if you happen to see one, it becomes a wonderful bonus.
The Old Harbour is one of those places where I would slow down rather than simply tick it off your list.
It sits right beside the sea and gives you beautiful views across Walker Bay. There are viewing terraces and plenty of places around the harbour to stop for something to eat or drink.
It is also an excellent place to begin exploring the town on foot.
If you hear the distinctive sound of the Whale Crier’s kelp horn during whale season, pay attention. The Whale Crier’s job is to alert visitors when whales have been spotted.
If you love a proper sandy beach, make time for Grotto Beach.
This is a huge stretch of coastline with the mountains providing a dramatic backdrop. It is popular for swimming, walking, sunbathing and family days beside the sea, and there is plenty of space even when the town is busy.
For me, the best way to enjoy a beach like this is not to arrive with a timetable. Bring something to read, take a walk along the sand and stay long enough to watch the colour of the ocean change.
FAMILY TIP: Grotto Beach has parking, facilities and a children’s play area, making it one of the easier choices for a relaxed family beach day.
Voëlklip is a lovely part of Hermanus to explore, tucked between the mountain and the sea.
Voëlklip Beach is popular with surfers and has grassy areas above the beach, while the nearby coastline has smaller rocky coves and quieter corners. Parking at Voëlklip Beach can be limited, particularly during busy holiday periods.
This is also a good area for photographers because you get that classic Hermanus combination of mountain, ocean, green lawns and rugged coastline.
Hermanus isn’t only about the ocean.
Turn your attention towards the mountains and you’ll find Fernkloof Nature Reserve, with hiking trails and impressive views across the surrounding landscape. The reserve has trails suited to different fitness levels, so you don’t have to be an experienced hiker to enjoy it.
MY TIP: If you are not a keen hiker, don’t feel that you have to conquer a long trail. Even a shorter walk can give you a completely different perspective of Hermanus.
The combination of fynbos-covered mountains and the ocean in the distance is one of the things that makes this area so special.
If you are looking for something a little more local, consider Sandbaai Beach between Hermanus and Onrus.
It is particularly popular around low tide and is used by locals for swimming and snorkelling during summer. It also has parking, showers and changing facilities.
It doesn’t have the same grand scale as Grotto Beach, and that’s exactly the point. Sometimes a smaller, less famous beach is what you are looking for.
This is one of the best ways to add variety to a Hermanus visit.
The Hemel-en-Aarde Valley lies just outside Hermanus and is known for its wine farms, mountain scenery and food-and-wine experiences. The official wine route includes numerous farms, many offering wine tasting and food pairings.
You don’t have to turn the day into a serious wine-tasting expedition. Choose one or two beautiful places, enjoy the scenery and have lunch somewhere with a view.
TRAVEL TIP: If everyone in your group wants to taste wine, arrange transport rather than trying to drive afterwards. The valley is much more enjoyable when you don’t have to worry about who is driving.
Hermanus has plenty of places where you can simply sit down with something good to eat.
The Fernkloof Nature Reserve Gardens have shady lawns and a playground, while the Old Harbour area has grassy spaces overlooking the sea. There are also many smaller beaches and coastal spots along the Hermanus shoreline.
A picnic is a particularly good idea if you’re travelling on a budget. Buy some fresh food in town, find a beautiful view and enjoy one of the best attractions in Hermanus — the scenery — for free.
If your visit coincides with a market day, have a look around.
Hermanus has several markets, including the Hermanus Country Market, Hermanuspietersfontein Food and Wine Market and Lemm’s Corner Saturday Market at the Old Harbour. Market schedules can change, so check the current details before planning your day.
I like markets because they give you a reason to wander rather than simply moving from one attraction to the next. Come hungry.
Hermanus works very well for a family holiday because many of the best experiences don’t require expensive activities.
Start with the Cliff Path, choose an easy section and make plenty of stops. Spend time at Grotto Beach, where there is parking, a children’s play area and seasonal lifeguards. Add a picnic and you have a very easy day.
The beaches and coastal walks also give children plenty of room to explore without having to sit through a long sightseeing itinerary.
Don’t leave Hermanus too early.
The coastline is beautiful throughout the day, but late afternoon is when I would make a special effort to be outside. Find a bench on the Cliff Path, sit above the water or walk along the coast and watch the mountains and ocean change colour.
This is one of those travel experiences that costs nothing and can end up being one of your favourite memories.
You can enjoy a surprisingly good Hermanus holiday without spending a fortune.
My favourite free or inexpensive experiences would be:
Save your money for one special meal, a wine tasting or an activity you really want to do.
You might also be interested to read more about Gansbaai, located near Hermanus.
I would stay close to the coastline if your budget allows.
Being able to walk out of your accommodation and reach the ocean makes a big difference to a Hermanus visit.
For a special stay, Mosselberg on Grotto Beach has an enviable position overlooking Grotto Beach, and during whale season Southern Right Whales can be seen from the property.
For a wider choice, look around central Hermanus, Westcliff and Voëlklip. Staying slightly outside the centre can also give you a quieter experience.
TRAVEL TIP: If you are visiting during the popular whale season or school holidays, book your accommodation early. Hermanus can become very busy.
Here is a list of festivals given by the Hermanus Tourism Board:
The more energetic traveler can enter for the triathlon, half-marathon, or cycling events.
In Hermanus whale and dolphin watching is popular and you can go on a chartered boat trip for this very special experience. Alternatively, for the more adventurous traveler, there is Shark Diving in Gansbaai which is about 45 min away.
There are always loads of arts and craft shops to explore.
Here are two restaurants in Hermanus which we will definitely recommend. Both are family-friendly and are also favorites amongst locals. (That says a lot already…) To top it all – they have sea views and when visiting Hermanus, this is exactly what you want.
A restaurant with a sea view and fantastic food. – Well worth putting it on your itinerary.
You will be greeted by friendly faces as though you are family, and the feeling of ‘being welcome’ is part of why this restaurant is a firm favorite. The food is out of this world.
You can read their reviews from around the world on their website.
This International Award Winning Restaurant is situated on the shores of Walker Bay and is carved into the depths of a century-old cave extending over the rocks to the water’s edge. You cannot get any closer than this. Enjoy your food with the mist spray of the ocean’s waves just a few meters away from your table.
While in the area, you might also want to visit the seaside holiday town of Struisbaai / L’Agulhas in the Overberg Region.
