Mostly known as the whale-watching capital of South Africa—southern right whales come here as early as June and stay for six months—the town, just over an hour from Cape Town, has lots to keep you busy between whale-spotting from its clifftops. Among the draws: loads of restaurants and cute shop-filled streets, two very long beaches, and several great towns and wine farms nearby. Hermanus is said to have the only whale crier in the world, who sounds his horn whenever a whale is spotted. Drive to nearby Onrus, with its well-hidden but must-find beach, and Stanford, which, though discovered, has managed to remain laid-back and quiet.
