The Free State town of Clarens has been named among South Africa’s best small towns to live in, adding another accolade to a destination already known for its mountain scenery, art galleries and laid-back atmosphere.
Clarens/By: COSMOS-120/
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Clarens ranked fifth in the Daily Maverick’s Small Towns of the Year for 2025, with an overall score of 87.8%, according to BusinessTech. It followed Barrydale in the Western Cape, White River in Mpumalanga, Jeffreys Bay in the Eastern Cape and Cullinan in Gauteng.
The rankings began with 2,069 nominations from readers around the country. Nine writers then researched the shortlisted towns and assessed them on factors including cleanliness, municipal performance, community, safety, nature, family friendliness and connectivity. The judging also considered the so-called “M-Factor”, referring to the distinctive character and atmosphere of each town.
Clarens performed particularly well for family friendliness, receiving a score of 100%, while it scored 90% for safety, nature and connectivity. It received 88% for cleanliness and 80% each for municipal performance and community.
A mountain town with an artistic side
Situated in the eastern Free State, Clarens lies about 336km from Johannesburg and 284km from Bloemfontein.
Established in 1912, the town is known as the “Jewel of the Eastern Free State” and is framed by the Maluti Mountains. Its name comes from Clarens in Switzerland, where former South African president Paul Kruger spent his final years in exile.
The town has become a popular weekend and holiday destination, with visitors drawn by its mountain scenery, outdoor activities, restaurants, accommodation and creative community.
Art is a particularly important part of Clarens’ identity. The town is home to around 20 permanent art galleries, showcasing works by South African artists, while exhibitions change throughout the year.
The annual Clarens Art Festival has also helped cement the town’s reputation as a creative destination. In 2026, the festival attracted about 5,000 visitors, according to BusinessTech.
Clarens’ surrounding landscape also supports agriculture, including the cultivation of cherries and other fruit. Events such as the annual cherry festival, craft beer festival and festival of lights add to its busy calendar.
Nearby rock-art sites provide another connection to the region’s long history, while the surrounding mountains and countryside offer opportunities for hiking and other outdoor activities.
Why people are choosing to stay
Clarens’ appeal extends beyond its popularity as a holiday destination.
Daily Maverick’s assessment found that some visitors arrive for a short stay and eventually decide to make the town their home. Its combination of scenery, small-town atmosphere, outdoor activities and creative community has made it particularly appealing to people looking for an alternative to city living.
Despite having a small permanent population, Clarens attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors each year. Census figures cited by BusinessTech put the population of the town itself at just 751 people, increasing to about 6,500 when neighbouring Kgubetswana is included.
The town’s popularity has also been reflected in its property market, with prices ranging from smaller sectional-title properties to larger homes, luxury properties and established guesthouses.
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South Africa’s ‘smart town’
Clarens has another unusual claim to fame: it has been described as South Africa’s first “smart town”.
In 2024, Eskom announced that Clarens would become the first town in the country to pilot a group-curtailment system, allowing residents and businesses to collectively manage their electricity demand.
The system uses a meter at the town’s main electricity supply point to monitor demand, with data transmitted every 60 seconds. When demand needs to be reduced, residents and businesses can adjust their electricity use in real time.
Smart meters and electric-vehicle charging infrastructure had already been installed in the town as part of its broader move towards smart-city initiatives, Eskom said.
For a destination whose economy relies heavily on tourism, the system was seen as particularly significant.
Clarens group coordinator Gert Kruger said at the time that avoiding load shedding was “life-changing” for a tourism-dependent town. Eskom said the pilot demonstrated how communities could work together to reduce and manage electricity demand and potentially provide a model for similar projects elsewhere in South Africa.
A small town with plenty to explore
Clarens’ latest ranking adds to its reputation as more than just a scenic weekend stop.
With the Maluti Mountains as a backdrop, a thriving arts scene, restaurants, festivals, outdoor activities and a growing reputation for innovative energy management, the Free State town offers a distinctly different pace from South Africa’s major cities.
For travellers, that combination makes Clarens an easy destination to linger in, whether for a weekend escape or a longer stay.
Source: BusinessTech, South Africa’s first ‘smart town’ voted among the best places to live
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