Accommodation in Swellendam
As a popular tourist destination and stopover along the N2 highway and Garden Route, Swellendam has a variety of accommodation options available. Many of the town’s guest houses are housed in historic buildings, some of which were the homes of famous families of the area. Several of these guest houses are easily located along the main road with a few just off the main road and further up towards the mountain in the town’s suburban areas. Swellendam is a sizeable town, but most guest houses are located along the main commercial strip, so getting around is easy on foot for the most part with amenities like restaurants also located along the main road, Voortrek Street.
The town’s accommodation options consist mostly of bed and breakfasts and guest houses, but there are a few hotels in the town too, with varying star ratings. Budget accommodation is available at the local backpackers where you can camp or stay in a shared or private room. Other accommodation options include camping and a variety of self-catering cottages, a few of which are housed in some of the oldest buildings in the town and others which form part of local pottery and art studios.
The variety of guest houses on offer in Swellendam provides guests with a range of options, from down to earth family-run establishments to upmarket guest houses with in-house restaurants. Several guest houses are luxury establishments built in the traditional Cape Dutch style with thatched roofs and gables. Many of these cater for private events and dinner on request. Some guest houses also have a unique history while others with a more modern approach are designed with a very specific art movement in mind. Various establishments also reflect the area’s history and are named after local historical figures or are part of a local family’s heritage.
Accommodation options are available in different areas of the town, but most of these are located along the main road or in one of the parallel streets. Many guest houses are located in the suburban areas, but some are also located along the Koornlands River with views onto the surrounding Langeberg Mountains and the well-known Clock Peak formations along the ridge. Some accommodation options are located further along the main road which can make accessing amenities by foot a bit more challenging, but with access to a car, this distance is easily managed. The general price range of accommodation is from R80 per person for camping at the local backpackers to about R1000 a night at an upmarket guest house or hotel.
Swellendam is an important town in the Overberg area and therefore also caters for many events such as shows, conferences and sporting events. This means that group accommodation is also available, but bookings should be made in advance due to limited availability. As weddings and other private functions are regularly hosted in the area, Swellendam also has several venues in the vicinity that can accommodate guests for larger celebrations, including wine estates and other venues in the greater Swellendam area.
