Groot Constantia manor house in Cape Town, South Africa.

© hugy/Getty Images/iStockphoto

Groot Constantia

Top choice in Cape Town

LoginSave

Simon van der Stel’s manor house, a superb example of Cape Dutch architecture, is maintained as a museum at Groot Constantia. Set in beautiful grounds, the estate can become busy with tour groups, but is big enough for you to escape the crowds. The large tasting room is first on your right as you enter the estate. Further on is the free orientation centre, which provides an overview of Groot Constantia's history, and the beautifully restored homestead.

The Cloete Cellar, with a beautiful moulded pediment, was the estate’s original wine cellar. It now houses old carriages and a display of storage vessels. Tours of the modern cellar are also available for R100 including tasting.

You can download two audio-guide apps from Groot Constantia's website and purchase a Visitors Route Experience ticket (R95), which includes a tasting and entrance to the estate's attractions. A wine and chocolate pairing for R125 is another option for visitors.

Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

  • Flowers in the Kirstenbosch Botanic Gardens below Table Mountain.

    Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden

    3.05 MILES

    Location and unique flora combine to make these 5.28-sq-km botanical gardens among the most beautiful in the world. Gate 1, the main entrance at the…

  • Prison Barrack on Robben Island

    Robben Island

    15.71 MILES

    Used as a prison from the early days of the VOC (Dutch East India Company) right up until 1996, this Unesco World Heritage site is preserved as a memorial…

  • Cape of Good Hope

    Cape of Good Hope

    22.78 MILES

    This 77.5-sq-km section of Table Mountain National Park includes awesome scenery, fantastic walks, great birdwatching and often-deserted beaches. The…

  • African penguins on the stone in evening twilight. African penguin ( Spheniscus demersus) also known as the jackass penguin and black-footed penguin. Boulders colony. South Africa 628098086 Endangered Species, Wilderness Area, Stone - Object, Sea Life, Colony, Two Animals, Water Bird, Bird Watching, Arrival, Coastline, Dusk, Dawn, Twilight, Cute, Jackass Penguin, Animal Foot, Animal Wing, Fun, Wildlife, Nature, South Africa, Uncultivated, Animals In The Wild, Penguin, Sea Bird, Freshwater Bird, Bird, Animal, Sunset, Boulder - Rock, Sand, Pacific Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, Sea, Surf, flightless, Footed, south-africa, blackfooted, black-footed, Life, Aquatic

    Boulders Penguin Colony

    11.67 MILES

    This picturesque area, with enormous boulders dividing small, sandy coves, is home to a colony of some 3000 delightful African penguins. A boardwalk runs…

  • District Six Museum

    District Six Museum

    7.04 MILES

    It's impossible not to be emotionally moved by this museum, which celebrates the once lively multiracial area that was destroyed during apartheid in the…

  • Silvermine Reservoir.

    Silvermine Nature Reserve

    4.22 MILES

    The Silvermine Reservoir, a beautiful spot for a picnic or a leisurely walk on the wheelchair-accessible boardwalk, is the focal point of this section of…

  • Landscape of Meerendal Wine Estate.

    Meerendal

    20.02 MILES

    Although it was established in 1702 and has some of South Africa's oldest pinotage and shiraz vineyards, as well as a handsome Cape Dutch homestead,…

  • "An old Colonial Farm and vineyard near Cape Town , SouthAfrica"

    Vergelegen

    27.24 MILES

    Simon van der Stel’s son Willem first planted vines here in 1700. The buildings and elegant grounds have ravishing mountain views and a ‘stately home’…

View more attractions

Nearby Cape Town attractions

2. Klein Constantia

0.73 MILES

Part of Simon van der Stel's original Constantia estate, Klein Constantia is famous for its Vin de Constance, a sweet muscat wine. It was Napoleon’s…

3. Buitenverwachting

0.85 MILES

Buitenverwachting means ‘beyond expectation’, which is certainly the feeling one gets on visiting this Cape Dutch estate. It's a lovely estate to visit…

4. Eagle’s Nest

1 MILES

Try the viognier or shiraz at this boutique winery nestling among the Constantia vineyards, and enjoy a deli cuts platter (R145) or artisan cheese board …

5. Constantia Glen

1.08 MILES

There's a sweeping view of the vineyards from the terrace in front of the tasting room at this boutique winery, which is known for its sauvignon blanc and…

6. Constantia Uitsig

1.28 MILES

Call in here to sample a crisp sémillon, luscious chardonnay-based MCC brut or limited-release Red Muscat d’Alexandrie in the tasting room, located at the…

7. Beau Constantia

1.39 MILES

Perched high above the vineyards, Beau Constantia's strikingly contemporary tasting room has panoramic views. The viognier is worth tasting and there's a…

8. Tokai Forest

2.14 MILES

This wooded section of Table Mountain National Park is a favourite spot for picnics, mountain biking (weekends only) and walks. To reach the forest, take…

  • placement: superzone
  • path: Destinations/POIs/superzone
  • possible size: [970, 250], [970, 90], [728, 90], [1, 1],
  • targeting: 
    {
  "url": "south-africa/cape-town/southern-suburbs/attractions/groot-constantia/a/poi-sig/1015410/1320368",
  "destination": "Cape-Town",
  "continent": "Africa",
  "country": "South-Africa",
  "city": "Cape-Town",
  "position": "superzone"
}