Franschhoek has been offering good wine, scrumptious food and breathtaking vineyard views for over 300 years – it’s no wonder the region is considered the food-lover’s capital in South Africa, and the destination to do wine tasting in Cape Town and surrounds.

The best way to explore the many wine farms, Franschhoek restaurants and wine-related activities in the area is undoubtably on the Franschhoek Wine Tram: a vintage-style, open-air railway system that takes visitors from estate to estate, with a seasoned and knowledgeable guide weaving the tales of the area into their experience. It’s not only a curated taste of the best spots to visit in the area, it’s also a fun and carefree day out.

Franschhoek Wine

How the Franschhoek Wine Tram works

Choose from any of the colour-coded, guided routes on offer, each stopping at a different collection and sequence of wine estates. Although the route is set, your experience is not; hop on or off the tram at your leisure (there’s a tram or bus to pick you up each hour), visiting the wine estates that take your fancy for a wine tasting or a bite to eat. Buy tickets online or at the start of the tour at the Franschhoek Terminal, found on the corner Main Road and Cabriere Street in Franschhoek.

Our top tip? Make Babylonstoren one of your stops by choosing the Orange Line then you could spend a good few hours strolling through the gardens, enjoying a wine tasting overlooking the vines, or browsing our farm stall for delicious padkos (that’s the local lingo for a snack on the road). Once you’re done, you can hop on the bus to continue your explorations.