Cape Town & the Winelands

3 days, 9 stops

Couples: Winelands long weekend

Photo: Le Lude (official website)

Stay in Franschhoek for three nights and book a driver for estate visits. Keep tastings modest and leave room for lunch. The Wine Tram is an alternative once you have checked the exact line and timetable, not a promise that these estates share one route.

Suits: For two

Day 1 Settle into Franschhoek

123© OpenStreetMap contributors

  1. Morning

    Le Lude

    Franschhoek

    Book a tasting at Le Lude near the village. Confirm the tasting format and availability for your date (check before you go).

    Photo: Le Lude (official website)

  2. Lunch

    Franschhoek

    Franschhoek

    Return to the village for a booked lunch rather than adding another drive.

    Photo: Danie van der Merwe from Cape Town, South Africa / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0

  3. Afternoon

    Franschhoek

    Franschhoek

    Keep the afternoon for browsing and resting. If bringing a baby, a compact pushchair suits short paved stretches; check each entrance.

    Photo: Danie van der Merwe from Cape Town, South Africa / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0

Day 2 Boschendal

123© OpenStreetMap contributors

  1. Morning

    Boschendal

    Franschhoek

    Visit the estate with your driver. Choose a tasting or a short look around the main Werf, without trying to cover the whole farm.

    Photo: South African Tourism from South Africa / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0

  2. Lunch

    Boschendal

    Franschhoek

    Book a picnic and linger. Reserve table-and-chair seating if preferred; confirm the wet-weather alternative (check before you go).

    Photo: South African Tourism from South Africa / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0

  3. Afternoon

    Franschhoek

    Franschhoek

    Return to base for a quiet afternoon and a village dinner booked separately.

    Photo: Danie van der Merwe from Cape Town, South Africa / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0

Day 3 Babylonstoren

123© OpenStreetMap contributors

  1. Morning

    Babylonstoren

    Paarl & Simonsberg

    Start with the garden and explore before lunch. For a pushchair or limited mobility, confirm a suitable shorter route through the estate (check before you go).

    Photo: Heribert Bechen, 5 million visits - many thanks! / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0

  2. Lunch

    Babylonstoren

    Paarl & Simonsberg

    Book the Greenhouse restaurant on the estate. Allow for the route through the garden rather than assuming it is beside the car park.

    Photo: Heribert Bechen, 5 million visits - many thanks! / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0

  3. Afternoon

    Franschhoek

    Franschhoek

    Return to your Franschhoek base. If leaving the region instead, go directly from the estate rather than doubling back into the village.

    Photo: Danie van der Merwe from Cape Town, South Africa / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0

Perfect pairs on this trip

A thing to do and a ranked lunch nearby, for a slower half-day.

See all 12

  • Paarl & Simonsberg, Same estate

    Garden and Babel lunch

    1. MorningBabylonstoren
    2. LunchBabel, Babylonstoren Tier 2

    Explore the garden, then make a separate lunch reservation at Babel.

  • Franschhoek, In town

    Franschhoek and Protégé

    1. MorningFranschhoek
    2. LunchProtégé Tier 2

    Explore town before a reserved lunch; confirm lunch availability directly.