Spring in the Cape brings sunshine, but also the odd rainy day. Luckily, there are plenty of things to do in Somerset West when it rains. Some of the best wine tasting rooms in the Winelands are a few minutes from the villa. There's a spa, good art, great cafés and a cinema too. And if the rain won't stop, Cape Town's aquarium, shops and Museum of Illusions are under an hour away. Here's how we'd spend a wet day.
Waterkloof's glass-fronted cellar at dusk. Photo: Waterkloof Wines.
Things to do in Somerset West when it rains: tasting rooms
A wine tasting is the obvious answer to a grey day, and the Helderberg does it well. In fact, rain on the vineyards makes the views from a warm tasting room even better.
Waterkloof, high on the Schapenberg, has a striking glass-fronted cellar with views over False Bay. Stay on for lunch at CHORUS or the more casual Osteria Cheese Bar. Vergelegen, one of the oldest estates in the area, offers tastings and cellar tours, plus lunch at its Firehorse restaurant. Contact Vergelegen to book.
At Morgenster, you can taste olive oil as well as wine. At the time of writing, an olive oil tasting cost R45, and a combined olive oil and wine tasting R85. Their bistro serves lunch and dinner. See Morgenster for hours. For more ideas, read our guide to the best wine estates in Somerset West.
Olives at Morgenster. Photo: Morgenster Estate.
A long breakfast in a cosy café
Rainy mornings call for a slow start. After breakfast at the villa, head into town for a second coffee and something sweet. SCHOON on Bright Street is great for specialty coffee and sourdough. Spoon is a local favourite for cake. In Strand, Pyjamas and Jam has generous plates and a quirky shop to browse. All our tips are in our guide to breakfast and coffee in Somerset West.
A spa afternoon at Erinvale
If you'd rather be pampered, book a treatment at Erinvale Spa. It's part of the Erinvale Estate Hotel, close to Vergelegen and Lourensford, and welcomes day guests. Their signature treatment combines hydrotherapy, a full-body scrub, a massage and a mask. Check treatments and book through Erinvale Spa, ideally a day or two ahead.
A treatment at Erinvale Spa. Photo: Erinvale Estate Hotel & Spa.
Museums and galleries
Rain is a good excuse for some culture. Close to home, the Liebrecht Gallery in central Somerset West shows South African painters and sculptors, and entry is free. Twenty minutes away in Stellenbosch, the Rupert Museum has a superb collection of modern South African art, also free.
For local history, visit the Lwandle Migrant Labour Museum, about 15 minutes away. It tells the story of the migrant labour system and looks after Hostel 33, the last remaining hostel of its kind. At the time of writing it was open Monday to Friday and on Saturday mornings. Check details with the museum first.
For a bigger day out, Zeitz MOCAA at the V&A Waterfront is about 40 minutes' drive. It's Africa's largest museum of contemporary art, set inside an old grain silo. See our guide to art and galleries near Somerset West for more.
Zeitz MOCAA at the V&A Waterfront. Photo: lumoplank, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons.
With kids: a film close to home
Travelling with children? Ster-Kinekor at Somerset Mall has eight screens, and the mall itself is handy for lunch. For a bigger outing, the Two Oceans Aquarium and the Museum of Illusions in Cape Town are both great with kids, as you'll see below. Certified divers in the family can even dive in the aquarium's tanks, as we explain in our scuba diving guide.
Many of the other family favourites, such as Cheetah Outreach, are mostly outdoors. Save those for when the sun returns, and find them in our guide to things to do with kids in Somerset West.
A rainy day trip to Cape Town
If the rain sets in for the whole day, head into Cape Town. The V&A Waterfront is about 40 to 50 minutes' drive from the villa, depending on traffic. Three of the city's best indoor outings are close together, so you can easily fill a day without getting wet.
The Two Oceans Aquarium
Start at the Two Oceans Aquarium, right on the Waterfront and open daily from 09:30 to 18:00. Children love walking through the tunnel under the huge I&J Ocean Exhibit, where rays and rescued turtles glide overhead. There are also ragged-tooth sharks, African and rockhopper penguins, and a tall kelp forest. Check the daily schedule for shark feeds and puppet shows, and buy tickets online at the Two Oceans Aquarium to skip the queue.
The I&J Ocean Exhibit. Photo: Two Oceans Aquarium.
Shopping at the V&A Waterfront
Next, browse the shops. Victoria Wharf is one of Cape Town's largest shopping centres, with fashion, books, homeware and plenty of places to eat. For something more local, the Watershed is a big indoor hall of South African design, crafts and gifts. Art lovers can add Zeitz MOCAA, just across the harbour. Plan your visit on the V&A Waterfront website.
The V&A Waterfront. Photo: Dietmar Rabich, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
The Museum of Illusions with kids
Finish with a laugh at the Museum of Illusions on Kloof Street, about ten minutes' drive from the Waterfront. It has more than 60 mind-bending exhibits, including a tilted room, a clone table and an infinity room. Bring a phone, because the photos are half the fun. A visit takes about 45 to 60 minutes.
At the time of writing, tickets cost R250 for adults and R200 for children aged 4 to 12 and seniors over 60, with a family ticket for two adults and two children at R770. Under-4s go free. It's open daily from 09:00, until 20:00 from Sunday to Wednesday and 22:00 from Thursday to Saturday. The museum is cashless and parking nearby is limited, so book a time slot online and consider an e-hailing ride. Tickets and current prices are on the Museum of Illusions Cape Town website.
Inside the Museum of Illusions. Photo: Cape Town Tourism.
For more ideas in the city, see our top 10 things to do in Cape Town.
Our tip
Cape showers often pass quickly. Keep this list of things to do in Somerset West when it rains handy, plan an indoor morning, then check the sky at lunch. By the afternoon you may be able to walk the beach or take a short hike after all.
Or simply stay in
Sometimes the best of all the things to do in Somerset West when it rains is nothing at all. Curl up with a book, order in, or open a bottle from one of the estates you visited. We're always happy to suggest a restaurant that delivers, or to help you plan tomorrow's adventure.
The Family Cottage at Villa Helderberg. Photo: Villa Helderberg.
Frequently asked questions
What are the best things to do in Somerset West when it rains?
Wine and olive oil tastings, a spa treatment at Erinvale, a long café breakfast, a gallery visit or a film at Somerset Mall. For a full day out, head to the aquarium, shops and Museum of Illusions in Cape Town.
Does it rain a lot in Somerset West?
Most rain falls in winter, roughly May to August. In spring you can still expect the odd shower, but they often clear quickly.
What can children do indoors near Somerset West?
The cinema at Somerset Mall is closest. In Cape Town, under an hour away, the Two Oceans Aquarium and the Museum of Illusions are both big hits with children.
Do I need to book wine tastings?
It's wise, especially at weekends and for cellar tours. Ask us and we'll gladly book for you.