Day Trip from Cape Town: A Travel Guide and Itinerary for One Perfect Day in Franschhoek

Last updated on February 9th, 2024 at 08:58 pm

Visting Franschhoek is an absolute must for any South Africa Western Cape itinerary. Located about an hour east of Cape Town, Franschhoek is the food and wine capital of South Africa. Each year, South Africa produces 3.4% of the world’s wine and sales have been steadily increasing year over year. Keep reading to learn more about transportation options, which wineries to visit, and where you can find a delicious filet mignon lunch for $17 USD.

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How to get to Franschhoek

Normally when visiting any new city, I really loathe the double decker red buses that circle around the city and scream “hey there’s a tourist onboard” – but after researching all the options, I reluctantly swallowed my pride and booked a ticket for the hop on hop off wine tour from Cape Town. Each ticket includes roundtrip transportation from Cape Town to Franschhoek and the opportunity to visit 8 wineries (or more) in a day! You also get a taste of wine once you get onto the tram. The buses usually leave Cape Town at 9:00 or 10:00 local time from the Aquarium at the V&A Waterfront.

Click here to book a ticket and learn more about the different wine routes being offered along the way.

Pros and Cons of the Wine Tram

While some people prefer pre-arranged transportation, I actually recommend taking an uber back to Cape Town instead of rushing to catch the bus home after a full day of tasting. The Wine Tram was an incredible experience but it’s not very pleasant to attempt to visit all the wineries along the route. Wine tasting is usually about enjoying good company, good wine, and the ability to take things slow – and the wine tram can be the opposite of relaxing when you only have 40 minutes in between each departure.

We ended up doing our own thing after lunch and caught an uber back to Cape Town for ~$40.
If you’re still on the fence about your transportation option(s) to Franschhooek, listed below are a few pros and cons to help you make the right decision:

Pros:

• More cost effective ($40)
• All transportation is pre-arranged
• Live guided commentary in between stops
• Incredibly scenic

Cons:

• Very Touristy
• Lesser known wineries
• Operating on someone else’s time
• Does NOT go into Franschhoek Village (reviewers have claimed this to be deceiving)
• Overcrowded wineries due to 40 people getting off at the same stop along the route

Wineries to visit

Haute Cabrière – If you’ve been following along for awhile (thanks for your support), you’re probably aware that I am no stranger to vineyards around the world. After our visit at Haute Cabrière, I can confidently say that this is the most beautiful and picturesque winery I have ever been to in my entire life. Founded in 1694, Haute Cabrière is high on the list of oldest wineries in South Africa. From the terrace, you can enjoy a glass of their iconic Chardonnay and Pinot Noir blend while watching the clouds move slowly over the entire Franschhoek valley. Behind you, there is a wooden bench overlooking a small lake reminiscent of Hallstatt, Austria. You will not regret taking a detour from the wine tram route to visit this unbelievable family-owned winery.

Total cost: $16 USD for two bottles of wine

Boschendal – One of the stops along the wine tram, Boschendal takes the #2 spot on the list of oldest wineries in South Africa. Relatively commercialized, Boschendal is a great stop for a wine tasting, small bites, and to learn about its 330 years of winemaking history in The Western Cape. Service can be hit or miss due to this being an extremely popular spot so don’t expect the same level of service or attention as you would receive at Haute Cabrière or any of the smaller wineries.

Total cost: $21 for 3 red wine tastings

Allée Bleue – Also a stop along the wine tram, Allée Bleue is a small winery that offers cheese pairings and fruit forward wine. This winery is perfect for people who prefer a smaller, intimate setting.

Total cost: $16 for 3 tastings

Where to eat lunch

Rupert and Rothschild – Elevated French/South African cuisine with a panoramic outdoor deck. Make sure to reserve a table or tastings in advance because they tend to turn people away once full.

Vrede en Lust Winery – Lust Bistro & Bakery, located onsite at Vrede en Lust, is the perfect place to enjoy South African cuisine and warm hospitality during your visit to Franschhoek. They serve wood-fired pizzas and beef filets cooked to perfection! Unfortunately, I was so hungry I completely forgot to take photos of the winery itself but managed to take photos of our meal below.

Ps. Did you know that avocado is a common pizza topping in South Africa?

Did you get a chance to visit any of these wineries? Let me know in the comments below!

Traveling to another part of South Africa? Check out my other travel guides here.