Montagu has done it again, clinching the title of “Best Dorpie in the Cape” for the third time, despite stiff competition from some of the Western Cape’s prettiest destinations.
The little town was crowned Best Dorpie for 2026 in the annual Kfm 94.5 Best of the Cape Awards in August this year. More than 440,000 votes were cast, with Montagu defeating trendy places like Darling and Greyton. Robertson took silver and Yzerfontein bronze.
Montagu also nabbed the award in 2021 and 2025, and every year the numbers show how this platteland dorpie, at the gateway to the Klein Karoo, is growing in popularity as a holiday destination — and a place to put down roots.
The town lies against the Langeberg mountains on the famous and scenic Route 62, conveniently more or less halfway between Cape Town and the Garden Route. Once upon a time visitors chose to drive Route 62 and kind of stumbled upon Montagu, but now it’s a destination in its own right.
A winning streak
It’s not just meandering holidaymakers heading for marvellous Montagu. The Absa Cape Epic is one of the world’s most prestigious and demanding mountain bike stage races, often described as the “Tour de France of mountain biking”. It attracts professional and amateur cyclists from all over the world who compete over eight gruelling days as they cycle 692km through Durbanville, Montagu, Greyton and Stellenbosch. Montagu hosts stages 1 and 2, as well as the start of stage 3, and, for its hospitality and exceptional riding routes, it earned Cape Epic honours for best town on the route and best trails.
The dorpie’s award-winning streak actually stretches back more than 20 years. In 2003 it was named Village of the Year in Engen’s national competition and later represented the Western Cape in kykNET’s Kwêla Dorp van die Jaar competition in 2018 and 2022.
There’s been a noticeable increase in semigration to the town not only from bigger South African cities but also from people on the Garden Route in search of simpler living. Data from Lightstone shows that Montagu properties have increased in value over the past five years; a freehold property that sold for R1.6m in 2021 would now cost R2.65m, representing a 65.6% increase.
The boom
Tourism is also booming in Montagu, with record numbers of visitors every month. In July the town received 39,000 visitors — a far higher headcount than its actual population of 16,500.
In 2025, 414,685 tourists visited the dorp, a record. So far this year there has been a 40% increase (compared to last year) in tourism numbers between January and July, pumping R47m into the local economy. The number of tourists is measured by how many people stay over for a night.
Montagu-Ashton tourism manager Mareletta Mundey has been at the helm of town tourism for 17 years and is passionate about her patch. She says winning the Best Dorpie award is a testament to strong community spirit and the way residents and businesses pull together to make the town work.
In 2025 there was a record number of visitors every month of the year, says Mundey, and this year’s numbers are split 50/50 between foreigners and South Africans.
PJ Basson, the general manager of the Montagu Country Hotel (part of Cape Country Routes), has lived here with his family for more than 25 years. “It’s a charming and peaceful way of life, our local way. I always say Montagu is not for people who can’t live without a Woolies — you can’t bring the city here because it won’t fit in.”
Basson says change is positive, and the “inkommers” (what newcomers are called by locals) bring passion and skills, making the village a better place to live. He says the platteland dorpie will never become crowded — the mountains are too close and there are no huge estate developments on the cards. Historical buildings are respected and even the trees get preserved.
It’s dead easy to fall in love with this town.
Find your feet
The Montagu Country Hotel is a useful base as it offers a variety of accommodation options and is child-, wheelchair- and even pet-friendly. It’s the only original Art Deco hotel in South Africa and traces its roots back to 1875.
The Montagu-Ashton tourism office is at the hotel, so make it your first stop. Stock up on brochures and maps for hiking and cycling; they have it all. Or just ask; somebody will go out of their way to help you.
Basson says it’s safe for visitors to walk everywhere and suggests talking to the locals — they actually like it.
If you’re interested in art, grab an art walk map and meander through the galleries. There is also a historical walk showcasing 26 treasures, including picturesque Georgian, Victorian and Cape Dutch homes. Visit the amazing private collection of 2,000 model Ferrari cars and memorabilia at Squirrel’s Corner. Booking is essential.
The indigenous herbal plant garden behind Joubert House is worth a visit. Around 120 medicinal plants are grown here, passed down through Khoikhoi and San communities and later European settler farmers. The Montagu Museum has researched and recorded these traditions since 1982.
For the fitness bunnies, there are many hikes of various distances and difficulty levels. There are also oodles of cycling trails; you can hire a bicycle if you don’t have one. The area is famous for genuine rock climbing, which you can do on your own or with a guide.
Of course, there’s a padel court and a nine-hole golf course in the town.
Eat, drink, go nuts
Piccolo Tesoro is an intimate pizzeria at 28 Bath Street, with limited indoor seating and tables outside. It’s small, so be sure to book. Thin-crust pizza is its speciality, and the fig and blue cheese is a winner. The Burgundy Gherkin, at 25 Bath Street, also specialises in pizza and pasta. Nobody seems to know how it got its name, but locals eat there — which is always a good sign.
If you want a traditional South African lunch, order a bobotie at The Rambling Rose. Or go with peri-peri chicken or rib-eye steak with garlic butter. Other delicious options include the Rambling Rose breakfast or a salmon croissant. They also bake bread and pastries to take away.
It’s always a good idea to check opening hours and book, as some Montagu eateries are small, close early, or take afternoon breaks. Hours change with the seasons. This is not city dining with restaurants that are open all day and late into the night.
Montagu is the country’s dried-fruit hub, so go nuts. The area is also known for its wines, so you needn’t leave the town for a tasting, although Ashton and the Robertson Wine Valley are less than 30 minutes away. At Montagu Winery on Cinsaut Street, visitors can sample reds, whites and the town’s signature muscadel over pizza or a platter. Sip a glass or two at Bloupunt Winery on Long Street with its views of the mountain, and make time to pop into Olive Stone Farm for a taste and a chat with owner Wanda Meyer about olives and farm living.
If you feel like shopping, just wander down the main drag and you will find all sorts of quaint stores, from antiques and books to a fabric and haberdashery shop. There’s also a nursery where the plants are cheaper than those in bigger towns.
Back to nature
A highlight with a difference is the popular Protea Farm offering, where visitors ride in a trailer pulled by a tractor up the Langeberg to 1,500m above sea level. Potjiekos is then served under the trees.
The Langeberg is home to numerous endemic and near-endemic bird species, so grab your birding flyer with its list of 268 documented birds at the tourism office and see how many you can identify. Bring your binoculars to the indigenous wildflower reserve in Montagu South, which is the perfect place for a picnic and some birdwatching. “It has an honesty box for entrance payments, which speaks to the way it is here,” says Basson.
Finally, if you’re looking for something for the whole family, soak up the best of Montagu in the natural hot spring pools at Avalon Springs. There’s a children’s entertainment area where they can play on the water slides while the adults relax.
