coastal drive
Clarence Drive (R44)
A cliff-hugging coastal road between Gordon's Bay and Rooi-Els along False Bay, rated among the world's great ocean drives, with whale sightings in season.
15 km · about 30 min drive
AfricaSouth AfricaWestern Cape
Somerset West
Western Cape, South Africa · Africa
About Somerset West
Somerset West is worth a stop: 20 minutes from Stellenbosch, 41km from N1/N4 Cape Town to Kruger.
Somerset West is in Western Cape, South Africa, with about 230,000 people. You drive on the left here. The nearest town is Stellenbosch, about 17 km away.
Somerset West (Afrikaans: Somerset-Wes) is a town in the Western Cape, South Africa. Organisationally and administratively it is included in the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality Eastern sub-region (formerly called Helderberg Basin).
The vehicle registration code for Somerset West is CFM and the post code isRead more
7130 for street addresses, and 7129 for post office boxes.
Where to Stay in Somerset West
Compare prices across Booking.com, Airbnb, Expedia, and more. Select your dates to see availability.
Filter presets
Pick your must-haves once: provider links open pre-filtered. Each filter lists which sites it applies to.
Compare before you book!
Prices can vary significantly between platforms. We recommend checking at least 2-3 sites to find the best deal for your stay in Somerset West.
Explore the Area
Discover famous landmarks, scenic roads, and more near Somerset West.
Loading map...
Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to see near Somerset West?
Within an hour or so of Somerset West: Clarence Drive (R44) (15 km), Franschhoek Motor Museum (28 km), Muizenberg Beach (32 km), Harbour House Kalk Bay (35 km).
Are there any good drives near Somerset West?
The nearest famous roads are Clarence Drive (R44), Franschhoek Pass and N1/N4 Cape Town to Kruger.
Where is Somerset West?
Somerset West is in Western Cape, South Africa, about 17 km from Stellenbosch.
Road trip
Drive to Somerset West
Add it as a stop and the planner works out the driving, the nights and what's worth seeing on the way.
Start planningWhat's nearby?
Swipe through places to go
Places within a drive of Somerset West. Keep the ones you like and add them to your trip.
Explore now
Quick Information
- Population
- 225,289
- Continent
- Africa
- Country
- South Africa
- Region
- Western Cape
- Timezone
- Africa/Johannesburg
- Coordinates
- -34.0840, 18.8211
Emergency & Services
Essential numbers in South Africa
112 works from mobiles. Avoid driving at night in rural areas; keep doors locked in cities.
Full driving guide for South AfricaTags
Worth the detour from Somerset West
8 notable places within an hour's drive.
museum
Franschhoek Motor Museum
Elegant museum in the Cape Winelands housing over 220 vehicles from an 1898 Beeston to modern supercars.
28 km · about 35 min drive
beach
Muizenberg Beach
A family-friendly Cape Town beach famous for its colourful Victorian bathing boxes and gentle waves perfect for learning to surf.
32 km · about 35 min drive
cafe
Harbour House Kalk Bay
A celebrated restaurant overlooking the fishing harbour on the Cape Peninsula driving route, where road trippers stop for seafood with crashing wave views.
35 km · about 40 min drive
mountain pass
Franschhoek Pass
A sweeping tarred climb out of the Franschhoek wine valley on the R45, following an old elephant migration route and offering a lay-by view back over the vineyard-filled bowl. Quick to drive and a favourite of Cape Town car clubs.
36 km · about 40 min drive
famous road
N1/N4 Cape Town to Kruger
South Africa's grand traverse from the Cape Winelands across the Karoo to Kruger National Park and its Big Five wildlife.
41 km · about 45 min drive
landmark
Table Mountain
Flat-topped mountain and iconic natural landmark overlooking Cape Town and the surrounding coastline.
41 km · about 45 min drive
museum
Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa
Africa's largest contemporary art museum, carved from a historic grain silo on Cape Town's waterfront.
42 km · about 50 min drive
Driving roads near Somerset West
- Right hereClarence Drive (R44)A cliff-hugging coastal road between Gordon's Bay and Rooi-Els along False Bay, rated among the world's great ocean drives, with whale sightings in season.
- 36 kmFranschhoek PassA sweeping tarred climb out of the Franschhoek wine valley on the R45, following an old elephant migration route and offering a lay-by view back over the vineyard-filled bowl. Quick to drive and a favourite of Cape Town car clubs.
- 41 kmN1/N4 Cape Town to KrugerSouth Africa's grand traverse from the Cape Winelands across the Karoo to Kruger National Park and its Big Five wildlife.
- 43 kmChapman's Peak ViewpointA series of pull-offs on one of the world's most scenic coastal drives, hugging the cliffs between Hout Bay and Noordhoek near Cape Town.
- 43 kmCape Point ViewpointThe dramatic headland at the southwestern tip of Africa where the Atlantic and Indian Oceans meet, with a historic lighthouse perched on the cliff.
- 43 kmChapman's Peak DriveA breathtaking 9-kilometer toll road carved into the near-vertical face of Chapman's Peak between Hout Bay and Noordhoek.
Nearby Destinations
Other places to explore near Somerset West.
Your trip starts here
Plan a road trip from Somerset West.
Pick the days, drop in the stops, and share it with whoever's coming.