Luxury hotels in Knysna

Hey! When I travel I love to stay at luxurious hotels - especially the kind of places that offer over the top extras and really spoil their guests with great service, nice spas, awesome restaurants and beautiful views. What more can you want? To save some time, I've put together this list of my favourite 5-star hotels and resorts in Knysna. I hope you will like it!

• 1 Crown on the Heads Knysna, South Africa

  Hotel. Situated in Knysna, 700 metres from Coney Glen Beach, Crown on the Heads features accommodation with an outdoor swimming pool, free private parking, a terrace and a bar. This 5-star hotel offers room service and a 24-hour front desk. Knysna Heads is 600 metres from the hotel and Pezula Golf Club is 5. 6 km away. At the hotel, all rooms include a patio with a sea view. The rooms come with air conditioning, a wardrobe and a flat-screen TV, and some units at Crown on the Heads have a balcony. At the accommodation all rooms are fitted with bed linen and towels. A Full English/Irish breakfast is available each morning at Crown on the Heads. Simola Golf and Country Estate is 14 km from the hotel, while Knysna Forest is 14 km from the property. The nearest airport is Plettenberg Bay, 33 km from Crown on the Heads, and the property offers a paid airport shuttle service. Show full description Guest review score 9.0, rooms from around 4050 ZAR.

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• 2 St. James of Knysna Knysna, South Africa

  

  Hotel. Located on a 3 acre estate, this property offers luxury rooms with lagoon views, 2 swimming pools and a landscaped garden. It is 15 minutes’ drive from Pezula Golf Club. St. James of Knysna offers rooms and suites fitted with deluxe bedding and furniture. Room amenities include satellite TV, minibar and a tea/coffee maker. Bathrobes and international adaptors are provided for all rooms. Breakfast is served in the morning and light snacks are also available. Guests can enjoy a complimentary lagoon cruise on The Boat. Massage treatments are also available. Located on Knysna Lagoon, St. James of Knysna is a few minutes’ drive from the fishing, yachting and scuba diving activities nearby. It is 1.5 km away from Simola Golf and Country Estate. Show full description Guest review score 9.5, rooms from around 2507 ZAR.

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• 3 Simola Hotel, Country Club & Spa Knysna, South Africa

  

  Hotel. Located in the hills above Knysna, the 5-star Simola Hotel Country Club & Spa boasts a Jack Nicklaus signature golf course and a restaurant with lagoon views. The rooms at the eco-friendly Simola Hotel, Country Club & Spa have free WiFi, a flat-screen TV with satellite channels, a DVD player and a stylish bathroom with amenities. Some rooms have panoramic views of the lagoon or forest and include a kitchen and a cosy lounge with a fireplace. With a bistro-style meanu, Lungalo Restaurant is open for breakfast and dinner. Lunch and light meals are available at the golf club lounge. The Simola Spa features massages, face and body treatments. Guests can relax in the heated indoor pool or work out at the gym which overlooks the Knysna Heads and offers state-of-the-art equipment and personal trainers. The centre of Knysna is within 10 minutes' drive and Plettenberg Bay is 39 km away while George can be reached within 1 hour by car. Show full description Guest review score 9.0, rooms from around 3264 ZAR.

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• 4 Turbine Hotel & Spa Knysna, South Africa

  

  Hotel. This former power station is located in Knysna and offers sunny suites with an iPod docking station and views of the Knysna Lagoon. The spacious sun deck comes with an outdoor pool. The rooms at Turbine Hotel & Spa are elegantly decorated with light fabrics and parquet floors. The suites have a satellite LCD TV and extra long beds. A full English breakfast is available each morning at the Turbine Hotel. For light meals and drinks, there is a tapas bar and a fully stocked wine cellar. Guests of this hotel can undergo a hot-stone massage or enjoy a refreshing swim in the pool, which faces the lagoon. The sun deck offers a calm spot to read a book or magazine. The 24-hour reception staff can arrange babysitting and shuttles to George Airport, 65 km away. Lagoon and sea cruises can be arranged as well. Show full description Guest review score 9.0, rooms from around 2466 ZAR.

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• 5 THEBLOEM Guest Suites Knysna, South Africa

  

  Guest house. Located in Knysna, 6.4 km from Simola Golf and Country Estate, THEBLOEM Guest Suites provides accommodation with an outdoor swimming pool, free private parking, a garden and a terrace. This 5-star guest house offers a bar. The accommodation offers a 24-hour front desk, airport transfers, room service and free WiFi. Guest rooms at the guest house are equipped with a seating area, a flat-screen TV with satellite channels, a safety deposit box and a private bathroom with a shower, free toiletries and a hairdryer. THEBLOEM Guest Suites features certain rooms that include a patio, and each room is fitted with a coffee machine. At the accommodation each room is equipped with bed linen and towels. Breakfast is available daily, and includes à la carte, Full English/Irish and vegetarian options. Knysna Forest is 6.8 km from THEBLOEM Guest Suites, while Knysna Heads is 9 km away. The nearest airport is Plettenberg Bay Airport, 33 km from the guest house. Show full description Guest review score 9.8, rooms from around 3690 ZAR.

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• 6 Villa Afrikana Guest Suites Knysna, South Africa

  

  Guest house. This guest house offers spacious rooms with free Wi-Fi and panoramic views of the lagoon and Knysna Heads. It features a swimming pool with a sun deck and a library. Villa Afrikana Guest Suites feature a blend of African and contemporary décor. All rooms have deluxe bedding which include feather and down duvets. Custom bathroom amenities are provided in each private bathroom. Most rooms have private balconies which offer stunning views of Knysna’s magnificent lagoon. All balconies feature a table and chairs or loungers. Villa Afrikana has easy access to South Africa’s popular Garden Route. It is 1 mile from Knysna Waterfront Ferries. Pezula and Simola Golf Courses are a 15-minute drive away. Show full description Guest review score 9.7, rooms from around 4100 ZAR.

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• 7 Falcons View Manor Knysna, South Africa

  

  Guest house. Falcons View Manor is situated on a hill overlooking Knysna Lagoon, 700 metres from the town centre. It features an outdoor pool, a library and free Wi-Fi throughout the hotel. All of the stylish guest bedrooms at Falcons View Manor are equipped with digital TV and hot drink facilities. Every room is air-conditioned and also features a hairdryer and a safety deposit box. A full English breakfast is served each morning in the hotel’s elegant dining room, which offers a varied international menu for lunch and dinner. When the weather is pleasant guests can also dine in the tranquil Tea Garden. Falcons View Manor is 1 km from Knysna Harbour, where you can rent a boat and explore the Knysna National Lakes Area. The hotel is 5 km from Simola Golf Club, which was designed by the great Jack Nicklaus. Falcons View Manor is 38 km from Plettenberg Airport and 1 km from Knysna Railway Station. Show full description Guest review score 9.6, rooms from around 2240 ZAR.

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• 8 Kanonkop House Knysna, South Africa

  

  Guest house. Kanonkop Guest House offers luxurious comfort, breathtaking views of the Knysna Lagoon and Heads, serene atmosphere and unique personal service along Western Cape’s enchanting Garden Route. The accommodation in Kanonkop ensures exclusivity and privacy, and the spacious, bright rooms are beautifully appointed and decorated by top South African designers. This family-owned guest house is surrounded by a beautiful garden and small indigenous forest that attracts wildlife and an abundance of birds. Enjoy their antics whilst relaxing on a lounger next to the pool. Knysna, a favourite South African coastal resort town, spoils you for choice with fine beaches, magnificent forests ideal for gentle strolls or strenuous hikes and a wide range of restaurants and shops. The owners will be more than happy to offer advice and help you organise the perfect day. Show full description Guest review score 9.6, rooms from around 5060 ZAR.

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• 9 Alexander Guest House Knysna, South Africa

  

  Guest house. The luxurious, 5-star Alexander Guest House offers individually designed rooms and suites. A spacious sun terrace offers guests a place to relax beside the outdoor pool. The rooms are equipped with an en-suite bathroom, minibar, satellite TV and a surround-sound system. Each features a private deck and some feature a hot tub. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout. The suites offer sea views. A fresh breakfast is provided daily, and there is a braai area for traditional barbecues while watching the sunset. The Knysna Waterfront restaurants are only a 10-minute drive away. Located on the Garden Route, there are many activities for guests to enjoy nearby such as fishing and scuba diving in the lagoon. Knysna Golf Course is less than 5 km away. Show full description Guest review score 9.4, rooms from around 1500 ZAR.

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• 10 Head over Hills Knysna, South Africa

  

  Guest house. Head over Hills is an exclusive retreat in Knysna. Set on the jagged edge of the famous rocky cliffs of the Knysna Heads, this well-appointed guest house has a heated swimming pool. Each room here will provide you with a TV, air conditioning and a private balcony. There is also a small SMEG fridge in the room, and the en suite bathroom is fitted with a bath and a shower. You can enjoy a sea view from each room, while other rooms also offer a mountain view. At Head over Hills the kitchen will prepare a traditional South African barbecue or a la carte menu, organised with prior notice. The property also has a wide selection of hand-picked South African wines and a walk-in wine cellar. Other facilities offered at Head over Hills include free WiFi throughout, and free parking. Head over Hills is 3 km from Pezula Golf Club, 5.6 km from Linsay Castle by Noetzie Beach and 8.6 km from Simola Golf Course. Show full description Guest review score 9.1, rooms from around 5800 ZAR.

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• 11 Villa Paradisa Guest House Knysna, South Africa

  

  Guest house. Wonderful views of Knysna and Knysna Lagoon awaits guests at this guest house, located at the heart of the Garden Route and radiating an exclusive atmosphere. Inspired by its coastal surrounds, Villa Paradisa has been built with an emphasis on outdoor living. Enjoy a swim in the infinity-edge pool overlooking the water. Afterwards, you can have champagne on your very own terrace or in the pavilion next to the pool. With only 4 suites on offer, your privacy is ensured at all times. Make use of your stylish bathroom, including the bath for two, or gaze at the African night sky through the French windows. A turn-down service completes each suite’s luxurious feel. The day can be spent relaxing in the hot tub, tasting different wines and taking pleasure in various beauty treatments. Guests hoping to explore some of the surrounding nature can also participate in a number of activities arranged by your attentive hosts. Show full description Guest review score 8.8, rooms from around 2380 ZAR.

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• 12 Candlewood Lodge Knysna, South Africa

  

  Lodge. Candlewood Lodge is a 5-star bed and breakfast located only minutes away from the centre of town and boasts spectacular views over the Knysna Heads and Knysna Lagoon. With an emphasis to detail, the guest rooms have been tastefully designed and uniquely decorated. All rooms have en suite shower, a separate area and enjoy stunning views of the surrounding area. Candlewood has a bar area where guests can take a drink and read a book. Relax and sunbathe the whole day by the an outdoor pool, jacuzzi and sun deck. Candlewood Lodge is ideally located to explore Knysna and its beautiful surrounding and is an ideal base to venture further along the Garden Route. Knysna Golf Club is 3.3 km away, while both Pezula Championship Golf Course and Simola Golf Course are within 6 km from the property. Candlewood Lodge can assist with arranging tee times and equipment. Show full description Guest review score 9.8, rooms from around 3480 ZAR.

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• 13 Number Eleven Self-Catering Villa Knysna, South Africa

  

  Holiday home. Perched on the edge of the lagoon offering panoramic views of the Knysna Heads, Number Eleven Self-Catering Villa features an outdoor pool and terrace. The Pezula Championship Golf Course is a 10-minute drive away. The 4-bedroom villa offers a cosy living room with fireplace, dining area and a safe. The bright and modern rooms come with parquet floors. The property can accommodate 12 guests in four bedrooms, an additional room / TV room, as well as an extra sofa bed. At Number Eleven guests can prepare meals in their fully equipped kitchen featuring an oven, refrigerator and microwave. It includes a dishwasher. The Waterfront Knysna Quays is within 7 km, offering a variety of restaurants and shops. Complimentary Wi-Fi is available and an airport shuttle can be arranged upon request. The George Airport is 77 km away. Show full description Guest review score 9.5

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I try my best to keep this guide up to date and I last refreshed it in November 2022. Did I miss a luxury hotel that should be on this list? Send me an email and let me know!