Constantia is about 24 km from Cape Town International Airport, roughly 30 minutes outside peak traffic, and Hout Bay is about 33 km, roughly 35 minutes. An airport to Constantia transfer runs west on the N2 and south through the southern suburbs, and Hout Bay is reached by continuing over Constantia Nek and down the other side. At West Landau both are a fixed fee per vehicle and per zone, with the driver, fuel, tolls and the first 60 minutes after touchdown included.
Constantia and Hout Bay are where many visitors stay when they want the city close but not underfoot. The arrivals are quieter than in the City Bowl, and the addresses take more finding.
How long is the drive to Constantia and Hout Bay?
| From the airport to | Distance | Drive time outside peak traffic |
|---|---|---|
| Constantia | About 24 km | About 30 minutes |
| Hout Bay | About 33 km | About 35 minutes |
Constantia Valley Tourism also puts Constantia at about 30 minutes from the airport. Those times hold outside the rush. The N2 and the southern suburbs roads are busiest on weekday mornings and late afternoons, and 17:00 on a weekday is the most congested hour in the city, so a 16:30 landing takes longer.
The route over Constantia Nek
The driver leaves the airport on the N2 towards the city and turns south on the southern suburbs freeways towards Constantia. From there the road climbs through the valley to Constantia Nek, the low pass between the back of Table Mountain and the mountains above Hout Bay. At the traffic circle on the nek the road for Hout Bay goes straight over and drops down into the valley, joining Victoria Road into Hout Bay.
The other way into Hout Bay is along the Atlantic coast from the city, through Camps Bay and past Llandudno. It is longer from the airport, and on a summer afternoon it is slower, so it is rarely the choice for an arrival. It is a fine route for a later day. The guide to the Atlantic Seaboard drive from Camps Bay to Llandudno describes it.
Constantia: estates, gates and security booms
Constantia describes itself as the oldest wine-making region in the southern hemisphere, with nine wine farms. Groot Constantia, established in 1685, was South Africa's first wine farm and has an Iziko museum on the property. Steenberg has a wine estate, an 18-hole golf course, a hotel and a spa in the same valley.
The accommodation is spread across wine estates, guesthouses on large plots and houses in security estates. Each has its own arrival:
- Wine estate hotels. Reception may be some distance from the estate gate. Give the estate name and the hotel name, since the two are not always the same.
- Security estates. The guard at the boom will want a name. Send the name the booking is in and the house number.
- Private houses. Gates with intercoms and long driveways are common. Send the gate code or intercom instructions, and the host's number.
The evening before you fly, you receive the driver's name, photograph and direct number. If your host or the estate security office likes to know who is coming, pass those on.
Hout Bay: the harbour, the valley and the climb
Hout Bay has a working harbour, a beach and a valley that runs back towards Constantia Nek. Houses on the slopes above the bay can be steep to reach, with tight driveways and front doors below the road. Tell the concierge if the property has stairs or a steep drive, and ask your host how luggage normally reaches the door.
Hout Bay is also the start of Chapman's Peak Drive, the toll road to Noordhoek, 9 km long with 114 curves and opened in 1922. It closes from time to time for high winds, heavy rain, maintenance or rockfall clearing, and the official site carries the live status. If you are staying in Hout Bay, the drive is on your doorstep, and the Chapman's Peak Drive guide covers what to know before you go.
Vehicles, luggage and when a private transfer is worth it
| Vehicle | Passengers plus driver | Luggage with every seat taken |
|---|---|---|
| Hyundai Staria Luxury | 8 | Around four large suitcases plus hand luggage |
| Hyundai Palisade Elite | 6 | Three to four large suitcases |
For two people with light luggage going to a Hout Bay guesthouse at midday, an e-hailing car can do it. E-hailing pickups at the airport are in the parkades, so follow the directions in your app.
A private transfer is the better choice when the address is on an estate or behind a security boom, when there are more than four of you, when you land late on a dark valley road, or when you are hosting guests who should be met properly. Golfers heading for Steenberg or Royal Cape, which is in nearby Wynberg and is South Africa's oldest golf course, bring bags that change the luggage sums. Tell the concierge and, if needed, a second vehicle is quoted on the same booking. Parties of nine or more travel in two vehicles, one driver each.
The airport transfers page sets out the zones and add-ons.
Days out from Constantia and Hout Bay
A base in Constantia or Hout Bay puts a lot within half an hour. The Constantia wine farms are close enough for a half day, and the guide to the Constantia wine route on a half day shows how to plan it. Kirstenbosch, run by SANBI, is on the city side of the valley, and Kirstenbosch with a driver covers the visit. The Norval Foundation art centre is on Ou Kaapse Weg in Tokai, next to Table Mountain National Park. Check current times with each venue before you go.
A half day is five hours and 100 km inside the metro, and a full day is ten hours and 250 km, which covers Cape Point from here comfortably.
Common questions
How far is Constantia from Cape Town Airport?
About 24 km, roughly 30 minutes outside peak traffic. Weekday late afternoons take longer on the N2.
Is Hout Bay much further than Constantia?
About 9 km further, roughly five extra minutes outside peak traffic, because the road continues over Constantia Nek and down into Hout Bay.
Can the driver get through our estate's security gate?
Usually, if the security office has the name the booking is in and the house number. Some estates ask residents to register visitors in advance, so check with your host.
Can you collect us from Hout Bay for an early flight?
Yes. Give the departure flight and the concierge sets the collection time, allowing for the morning traffic towards the airport. The return can go on the same quote as the arrival.
To get a quote, send the flight number and date, the number of passengers and bags, and the full address with the estate or gate details. The concierge replies with a written quote and a booking reference.