Tourist Places to Visit in Paarl, South Africa, Africa

Tourist Places to Visit in Paarl, South Africa, Africa

Paarl is a town belonging to the province of Western Cape in the southwestern part of the country, located around 60 km northwest of the Cape Town, one of the three capitals of South Africa, other two being Pretoria and Bloemfontein. It is Cape Winelands region’s largest town, well known for picturesque sites and agriculture activities, especially for fruit production.

Paarl had once gained international attention as Nelson Mandela got emancipation from Victor Verster Correctional Centre (Drakenstein Correctional Centre) in Paarl on 11 February 1990 during the last period of his 27 years of imprisonment. Paarl covers an area of 64.61 sq. km, while its geographical coordinates are 33°43′27″ S 18°57′21″ E.

History of Paarl:

Paarl is considered as the Republic of South Africa’s 3^rd oldest European settlement, following Cape Town and Stellenbosch. Archeological evidences found in and around Paarl have shown that Khoikhoi and San people were the original inhabitants of Paarl.

How to get Paarl?

Paarl is catered by Cape Town International Airport, situated around 60 km away. This airport covers many global destinations, including Mauritius, London, Singapore, Istanbul, Durban, and Johannesburg. Buses regularly ply between Paarl and the airport and visitors can also use airport taxi or rental car for better airport travel. Due to its position near Cape Town, Paarl has got good connectivity by bus to all around the country.

Food and Shopping in Paarl:

Afrikaans Language Museum is a renowned cultural centre in Paarl, showcasing the importance of Afrikaans Language.

Some typical shopping options in Paarl include:

Ikhaya
Red Hot Glass Studio
Fairview Cheese

Here are some mid-range restaurants in Paarl:

Terra Mare Restaurant
De Leeuwen Jagt Restaurant
Taal Monument Restaurant

Things to do in Paarl:

Visiting nature reserves and museums
Walking
Traditional shopping

What to see in Paarl?

Afrikaans Language Museum:

The Afrikaans Language Museum is concentrated on exploring the origin of the Afrikaans language with different multimedia exhibitions. It is open from 9AM-4PM (Monday-Friday) and entrance fee is R10 adults.

Taalmonument:

Taalmonument is a distinct monument featuring a 57 meter column and many other small columns, domes and walls that symbolize the Afrikaans language and the contribution of European and other native languages to it. Admission fee is R10.

Paarl Mountain Nature Reserve:

The Paarl Mountain Nature Reserve is highlighted by huge rounded granite rock structures. The reserve is situated on the Jan Phillips Mountain Drive and is open for visitors from 7AM-6PM every day.

Die Vonds Snake Park:

Located at 104 Main Street Wellington, the Die Vonds Snake Park is home to a wide range of tortoises, snakes, monitors and many other bird and animal species. It is allowed for visitors from 9:30AM-5:30PM (Monday-Saturday).

Strooidak Church:

Being South Africa’s one of the oldest and historic churches, the Strooidak Church is one of the identities of Paarl. It is frequented by both devotees and tourists year round.

List of other places of interest in and around Paarl includes:

Paarl Bird Sanctuary
S. Smit & Co
The Paarl Rock
Pearl Valley Golf & Country Estate
Groot Drakenstein Prison
Paarl Golf Club
De Poort Heritage Village
Polo Club

When to visit Paarl?

Probably from October to May is the best time to visit Paarl, when the weather remains dry and supportive for outdoor activities.

Where to stay in Paarl?

Paarl is a city with numerous top class hotels that are spread up all around the city with tourist favor facilities like TV, air conditioning, swimming pool, food on request and vehicle arrangement services. Most hotels in the city offer advance booking facility for tourists’ convenience. The prominent hotels in Paarl include: