In a nutshell
- Franschhoek is a small, charming town in the Cape Winelands and, along with Stellenbosch (our favorite!) and Paarl, one of the three most well-known towns in the wine region near Cape Town. It’s quieter and more upscale than the lively university town of Stellenbosch.
- Franschhoek is about a 30-minute drive east of Stellenbosch, making it a bit farther from Cape Town.
- The main things to do in Franschhoek are strolling the main street with its stylish restaurants, cafés, and museums — and of course visiting the wine estates in and around town.
- Our recommendation: find accommodation in or around Stellenbosch and do Franschhoek as a day trip. One day is all you need.
What You Should Know About Franschhoek
- Franschhoek is the chic little sister of Stellenbosch. Stellenbosch is young, lively, and energetic, while Franschhoek is quieter, smaller, and more upscale.
- We recommend staying in Stellenbosch and taking a day trip to Franschhoek. One day is plenty for the sights and wineries.
- The name Franschhoek means French Corner. The town was founded in the 17th century by French Huguenots — which is why the word Huguenot appears everywhere you look.
- Franschhoek is famous for its Wine Tram, a hop-on/hop-off service connecting the wineries around town. We break it down in detail below.
- Franschhoek is about an hour’s drive from Cape Town. So from the city and the Cape Peninsula, you can reach the town and the surrounding wine region really quickly.
The Best Attractions in Franschhoek
Huguenot Street
Huguenot Street is the main street of Franschhoek in South Africa. The town does have a few side streets, but everything worth seeing happens right here.
You can stroll along the street, admire the Cape Dutch houses, grab a coffee at one of the stylish cafés, eat at one of the excellent restaurants, or browse art galleries.
Huguenot Street is also home to the Dutch Reformed Church, surrounded by a charming little garden.
Huguenot Monument
As you stroll along Huguenot Street, you’ll eventually reach the Huguenot Monument at the far end. It stands on a large square and honors the Huguenots who founded Franschhoek all those centuries ago.
Right next door you’ll find the Huguenot Memorial Museum. If you want to learn more about the Huguenots, it’s well worth a stop.
Perfume Museum
Besides the Huguenot Memorial Museum, there are other great museums in Franschhoek — including the Perfume Museum.
Here you can explore the history of perfumery, and there are private perfume workshops where you can create your own scent. Seriously cool! You can book workshops starting at 850 rand per person on the official website.
Franschhoek Village Market
The Franschhoek Village Market runs during high season on Saturdays from 10 AM to 3 PM. It’s worth planning your visit so you’re in town on a Saturday.
The market has delicious food and drinks, crafts, live music, and a playground for kids.
Just keep in mind that the market only runs in good weather. You can check from Thursday onward on the market’s official website whether it’ll be open that weekend.
Wine Tram
The Wine Tram is probably Franschhoek’s most famous highlight — and one of the top things to do in Franschhoek.
It works like a hop-on/hop-off bus and stops at most of the wineries around Franschhoek.
You buy a ticket and hop off at whichever wineries you want to visit. In theory, you can cover a lot of ground in a single day.
There are five different lines serving more than 30 wineries, with each line stopping at around six to eight estates.
We’ll walk you through the Wine Tram in more detail in the next section.
Our Tips for the Franschhoek Wine Tram
What is the Wine Tram?
The Wine Tram is a hop-on/hop-off streetcar and bus combination. The actual tram only travels a short stretch at the start — buses handle most of the route.
There are five different lines, each stopping at six to eight wineries:
- Blue Line: La Bri, Holden Manz, Maison, Eikehof, Klein Goederust, Grande Provence, and Franschhoek Cellar
- Navy Line: Plaisir, Vrede en Lust, Boschendal, Allée Bleue, Camberley, Bartinney, Le Pommier, and Zorgvliet
- Orange Line: Boschendal, Plaisir, Noble Hill, Babylonstoren, Baccō, and Vrede en Lust. Our recommendation!
- Pink Line: Rickety Bridge, Grande Provence, Franschhoek Cellar, Atlas Swift, Leopard’s Leap, Dieu Donné, Chamonix, and Pigcasso
- Red Line: Mont Rochelle, Haute Cabrière, Lynx, Paserene, Rickety Bridge, Grande Provence, and Franschhoek Cellar
How Does the Wine Tram Work?
You buy a ticket for a specific line on the Wine Tram website and can then hop off at any winery along the route.
Book in advance — the popular lines (especially the navy and orange lines) sell out fast.
You start in Franschhoek. Depending on your route, the journey begins at one of two different starting points. At each stop you decide whether to get off or stay on. Wineries are served roughly on an hourly schedule.
What you do at each winery is entirely up to you. Activities aren’t included in the Wine Tram ticket, so you’ll need to arrange food and wine tastings separately — and in many cases you’ll need to book them in advance directly with the wineries.
What's the Advantage of the Wine Tram?
You don’t have to worry about driving — just pick a line. It’s the best way to do as many wine tastings as possible without anyone having to stay sober behind the wheel.
What Are Tips for the Wine Tram?
Our top advice: book early. All lines will still be available and you can join first thing in the morning.
When you book, you select a start time and your ticket is valid for the whole day from that point on. The price is the same regardless of when you start — so we’d strongly recommend picking the earliest slot available. If you don’t get going until noon, you’ll only manage a handful of wineries.
For first-timers in the Cape Winelands, we’d suggest the orange line. It stops at standout estates including Boschendal and Babylonstoren. Babylonstoren, by the way, is already on the way toward Stellenbosch and is one of our favorite wineries in the entire region.
What's Our Take on the Wine Tram?
Honestly, we’re not big fans — and we’d actually recommend exploring the wineries on your own.
Either you drive yourself — driving in South Africa is totally manageable — and one person in your group stays sober, or you book a private driver through your accommodation.
The simplest approach is to pick two or three wineries you really want to visit and then move between them at your own pace.
The Best Wineries in Franschhoek
Now that we’ve covered the Wine Tram, here are our picks for the best wineries near Franschhoek.
Boschendal
Boschendal is probably the most well-known estate in the area — and one of the oldest.
It has everything that makes a great Cape Winelands experience: seriously excellent wine, delicious food, a beautiful garden, an art gallery, picnics, and loads of activities for kids, including a pump track.
Make sure to reserve restaurants and wine tastings in advance on the official website or through the Dineplan app (Android I iOS).
La Motte
La Motte is a bit closer to town than Boschendal — just a five-minute drive from Franschhoek.
The winery was recently renovated and looks stunning, blending traditional Cape elements with sleek modern design.
You’ll find a farm shop, a great bakery, art exhibitions, wine tastings, and a very good restaurant. You can also book a special dining and wine experience featuring dishes by a Michelin-starred chef on the La Motte website.
Vrede en Lust
If you take the orange route of the Wine Tram, you’ll also stop at Vrede en Lust.
This estate is a great pick if you’re into wine pairings — they offer pairings with cheese and with Lindt chocolate, which is a fun touch.
Vrede en Lust is also one of the more affordable wineries to stay at in the region.
Accommodation at the wineries near Stellenbosch is usually out of reach price-wise. But if you want to treat yourself to the full winery experience and spend around $200 a night, you should book a room at Vrede en Lust.
Our Restaurant Recommendations for Franschhoek
If you’d rather eat in town than at one of the wineries, here are our two favorite spots:
- Terbodore Café: a cool, laid-back café with great coffee. In our opinion, it’s the best spot for breakfast or lunch — you can sit inside or out.
- Col’Cacchio Franschhoek: a solid Italian restaurant with both indoor and outdoor seating. If you sit outside, there’s a small playground right next to you — perfect when you’re traveling with kids. There’s often live music in the evenings too.
What's the Best Way to Visit Franschhoek?
Franschhoek fits beautifully into a road trip through South Africa. We’d suggest visiting Cape Town, driving the Garden Route, going on a safari along the Garden Route — for example in Addo National Park — then looping back through the interior via Route 62 and stopping in the Cape Winelands.
For that leg, your best base is Stellenbosch, from which you make a day trip to Franschhoek. One day is enough — just like with Paarl and Tulbagh — to explore the town and visit a winery or two.
Our Accommodation Recommendations for Franschhoek
We recommend visiting Franschhoek as a day trip from Stellenbosch. One day is more than enough to see the highlights in town and check out a winery or two nearby.
If you do want to stay overnight in Franschhoek, The Cottage on 55 is a great option. It has outstanding reviews, excellent value for money, and is right in the heart of town.
Alternatively, you can stay at a winery and book a room at Vrede en Lust. The estate has reasonable prices, really cozy rooms, and a pool.
