Not going home for the September and October holiday?

Whether you're staying in your student city, visiting friends or planning a short getaway, South Africa has no shortage of places to explore.

From beach days in Cape Town and Durban to coffee, markets, food and outdoor adventures inland, here's a quick guide to some of the country's top student cities this spring.

Cape Town

Cape Town is hard to beat when the weather starts warming up.

Spend the day at the beach, explore local markets, find a new coffee spot or head out for a hike. There are also plenty of restaurants, live music events and cultural attractions to keep you busy.

Spring break idea: Pack a picnic, find a good view and make a day of it.

Stellenbosch

Stellenbosch is ideal if you want something a little slower.

The town is known for its cafés, restaurants, historic streets, surrounding mountains and beautiful outdoor spaces. It's also a great place to spend a day exploring with friends.

Spring break idea: Start with coffee, explore the town and finish the day with good food.

Durban

If you're looking for a proper beach break, Durban is the place to be.

Enjoy the warmer weather, spend time along the beachfront, try local food or explore some of the city's markets and entertainment spots.

Spring break idea: Beach day, good food and a sunset walk along the promenade.

Pretoria

There's plenty happening in Pretoria during the spring months.

Explore local markets, try a new restaurant, spend time outdoors or look for live music and events happening around the city.

Spring break idea: Pick a neighbourhood you've never explored and spend the day discovering it.

Bloemfontein

Staying in Bloemfontein for the holiday doesn't mean staying indoors.

Check out local events, visit the Free State National Botanical Garden, explore Oliewenhuis Art Museum, grab coffee with friends or organise something with your housemates.

Spring break idea: Make a Bloem bucket list and see how many things you can tick off before campus starts again.

Potchefstroom

Potchefstroom has a strong student atmosphere, which means there's always something to do.

Spend the day exploring cafés and restaurants, get outdoors, meet up with friends or look for local events happening during the holiday.

Spring break idea: Get your housemates together and plan a full day without opening your laptop.

Make the Most of Your Spring Break

You don't have to travel across the country to have a good holiday.

Sometimes the best part of a break is simply exploring the city you're already in. Try somewhere new, spend time with friends, find a local event or finally visit the places you've been saying you'll go to.

Wherever you're spending your spring break, make the most of it.

And when it's time to head back to campus, Student Accommodation SA is here to help you find, compare, connect, apply and book your next student accommodation.