Strand is a seaside town on the north-eastern corner of False Bay, about 48 km from central Cape Town. It falls within the City of Cape Town metro, but it's very much its own town: together with Somerset West and Gordon's Bay, it forms the Helderberg.
All distances and times below are measured from Green Gables, at 19 De Villiers Street, and are for driving outside rush hour.
From Cape Town International Airport
About 40 km, or roughly 35 minutes on the N2. It's an easy drive, and the airport is on the same side of the city as Strand, so you don't need to go through the centre. Car hire desks are in the arrivals hall, and e-hailing services pick up at the airport too.
How far is Strand from the V&A Waterfront and Cape Town?
About 48 km, or 40 to 45 minutes on the N2 outside rush hour. Weekday traffic into the city in the morning and out of it in the late afternoon can double that, so plan day trips to start after 09:00 and come back before 16:00 or after 18:30.
How far is Strand from Stellenbosch?
About 30 km, or around 30 minutes through Somerset West on the R44. Franschhoek and Babylonstoren are about an hour away.
Somerset West and Gordon's Bay
Somerset West's centre is about ten minutes away by car, and the wine estates on Lourensford Road are about 15. Gordon's Bay is about ten minutes east along Beach Road.
Further afield
Hermanus, the whale-watching capital of the Cape, is around an hour and a quarter away, either over Sir Lowry's Pass on the N2 or along the coast via Clarence Drive. The Elgin Valley and the Elgin Railway Market are about 45 minutes away over Sir Lowry's Pass.
Getting around
A car is by far the easiest way to explore the Helderberg and the winelands. E-hailing services such as Uber and Bolt operate in Strand and Somerset West, and they're handy for evenings out and short trips. Strand Beach and the Beach Road restaurants are about 15 minutes' walk from Green Gables.
Is Strand a city or a suburb?
Strand is a town in its own right, and one of the oldest seaside resorts in the Cape. Families from the Stellenbosch district holidayed here from the 18th century, and it was known as Somerset Strand until 1937. Administratively, it's part of the City of Cape Town.
