6 places to go on a rainy Western Cape weekend (and still love it)

The South African

3 days ago

Rain in the Western Cape doesn't mean game over – it just means you need a better plan. This isn't the kind of place that folds when the sun disappears.
The province packs enough indoor gems, moody landscapes, and warm escapes to turn a wet weekend into a win!
Here's where to go when the skies won't cooperate – and you still want a weekend worth remembering…
Rain? Good. That's your cue to head to Franschhoek. This town was built for bad weather. Cosy wine farms like Haute Cabrière, La Motte, and Le Lude serve up tastings in stone-walled cellars with roaring fires.
If wine's not your thing, try the Franschhoek Motor Museum – vintage cars under dry roofs, with mountain views peeking through the mist.
Pro move: Book a fireside table at Le Coin Français or Protégé and settle in for a long, slow lunch. Franschhoek, Western Cape. Image: wikimedia commons
Rain turns Cape Town into a different city – and it's worth meeting her. Start at Zeitz MOCAA for contemporary African art in a mind-bending space. Then duck into Truth Coffee, where the coffee's strong and the steampunk vibes run deep.
Got energy to burn? Clay Café in the City lets you paint your own ceramics while the weather does its thing outside. Or visit the Two Oceans Aquarium – more hypnotic than you'd think.
Wrap the day with a movie at Labia Theatre, a glass of wine in hand. Cape Town's grit and creativity shine brightest when the streets glisten.
For those who crave silence with their rain, head north to the Cederberg. The crowds disappear when the sun does, but the wilderness doesn't.
Book into a stone cottage at Kagga Kamma or Cederberg Ridge and spend the days hiking short trails to San rock art shelters, or just staring out into stormy valleys with a glass of red in hand.
You'll feel like the only person on Earth – and you'll like it that way. Cederberg Wilderness Area. Image: canva
Riebeek-Kasteel is perfect for a no-rush weekend. There's wine (obviously), but also olive oil tastings, art galleries, and a bakery that'll ruin store-bought bread for you forever.
Stay at The Royal Hotel for colonial-era vibes and killer gin cocktails. Or go self-catering and make your own fireside feast with local ingredients from the town square.
When it rains here, nobody's in a hurry. That's the point.
Montagu's hot springs are non-negotiable when the temperature drops. Book into Avalon Springs or a self-catering stay nearby, and alternate between soaking in steaming water and sipping wine under shelter.
In town, The Rambling Rose serves comfort food that's anything but basic. The Montagu Museum tells the story of a town that's been around since ox wagons ruled the roads.
It's peaceful, slow, and proud of it. Cloud-covered mountains in Montagu. Image: canva
Only an hour from Cape Town, Elgin is the kind of place that actually looks better in the rain. The mist rolls in over the orchards, and you settle into a cabin or eco-pod like you've escaped to another world.
Everson's Cider does tastings in a rustic barn, while Peregrine Farm Stall covers the baked goods side of your soul. Go for a forest walk in Cape Nature's Hottentots Holland Reserve – just don't forget your rain jacket.
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