1 Day in Franschhoek

In South Africa’s Western Cape, Franschhoek is a picturesque village renowned for its stunning vineyards, gourmet cuisine, and rich history. Franschhoek is known as the “French Corner,” offering visitors a unique blend of European charm and African beauty, making it a top destination for wine enthusiasts and travelers alike. This lovely town is just over an hours drive from Cape Town, making it the perfect day trip, and is easily combined with other areas such as Stellenbosch, Paarl, and more! In this post, I’ll help you decide how to best spend 1 day in Franschhoek!

Getting to Franschhoek

Self Drive

From Cape Town: Franschhoek is approximately a 1.5-hour drive (75 km) from Cape Town. Take the N1 highway towards Paarl, then follow the R45 to Franschhoek. The journey is picturesque, passing through vineyards and mountain ranges.

From Stellenbosch: If you’re coming from Stellenbosch, the drive is about 30 minutes (35 km). Take the R310 and R45 roads, which provide beautiful views of the countryside.

Private Shuttle or Guide

Booking private shuttles or guides is very popular in South Africa, so there are tons of options for companies to book with. While we didn’t end up booking with them, I’ve heard incredible reviews about Ulungele Tours, specifically their guide Hank. I personally messaged back and forth with him a bit and had a great experience! He sent me an example of a wine day itinerary that sounded perfect, and they’re able to customize your day however you want. Having your own private guide is more expensive than self driving or using Uber, but also allows you to completely relax and let someone else handle the logistics for you.

• Ulungele Tours is best contacted via their email or Facebook page, as their website is currently down.
  • Email: bookings@ulungeletours.co.za
  • Click here for their Facebook Page

Uber

Uber is highly recommended as the mode of transportation in Cape Town, and surrounding areas, by locals! It’s cheap, reliable, easy, and safe. We took an Uber to and from our hotel in Cape Town and had no issues, whatsoever. The ride was about 1.5 hrs to Franschhoek and back, and cost about $40usd each way. Our Uber trips within Franschhoek between wineries were about $4-6 USD each. We found this to be our best option so we didn’t have to have a set plan for which wineries to visit and how long to spend anywhere. Each time we requested an Uber, we had a driver assigned in 5 minutes or less. Uber drivers are usually locals as well, so it’s a fun way to chat with someone from the area and get more recommendations!

Small Group Tour

There are so many options for small group tours that include Franschhoek. I touch more on this and list options for tours to book in the next section of this post! 😊

How to Get Around Franschhoek

Self Drive

All the wineries we went to had private parking lots, making it easy to drive between various wineries yourself. Do keep in mind, South Africa has a zero tolerance policy for drinking and driving. So you’ll want to ensure if you’re self driving that you have a designated driver who does not drink. I wouldn’t recommend this option, unless it’s your last resort. Try to use Uber, the tram, or a private guide instead.

Private Tour or Guide

• Private Guide: Tourists hire private guides very frequently in South Africa, for a variety of activities and tours. So there are lots of companies available to choose from. While we didn’t end up booking with them, I’ve heard incredible reviews about Ulungele Tours, specifically their guide Hank. I personally messaged back and forth with him a bit and had a great experience! He sent me an example of a wine day itinerary that sounded perfect, and they’re able to customize your day however you want. Having your own private guide is more expensive than self driving or using Uber, but also allows you to completely relax and let someone else handle the logistics for you.
  • Ulungele Tours is best contacted via their email or Facebook page, as their website is currently down.
    • Email: bookings@ulungeletours.co.za
    • Click here for their Facebook Page
• Private Tour: This would be very similar to booking a private guide, but sometimes the tour stops are preset. I will list a few highly rated private tours below. If you’re wanting a private wine day without driving or using Uber, this is a very easy way to do that!

Uber

Uber is easily accessible, safe, and affordable all over Cape Town, Franschhoek, and surrounding areas. We took Ubers between various wineries on our day trip, and each trip cost around $4-6. It typically took 5 minutes or less to find a driver, so it was super simple! I loved this option because we didn’t really have to have a set plan. We got to pick wineries recommended to us and stay as long as we wanted.

Busy Bee Tip: We were told by several locals to make sure to leave the wineries by 4 or 5 pm, otherwise it gets difficult to find Ubers. This is when the majority of wineries start to close, so drivers leave the area for the day. I would recommend trying to get one closer to 4 if possible, otherwise everyone leaving around 5 will cause longer wait times to find a driver.

Small Group Tour

There are so many options for small group tours that include Franschhoek. Generally the tour operators will include pickup from surrounding areas (including Cape Town). Most of the tours available also include stops in other wine regions such as Constantia, Paarl, or Stellenbosch. Obviously, going with this option requires you to spend the day with other tourists, but it could be super fun getting to know your group over a bottle of wine! This option does also usually mean pre-selected wineries by the tour operator. You generally won’t have a say in the stops you make. I’ll include links to a few highly rated small group tours below!

Hop on, Hop off Tram

The Franschhoek Wine Tram is one of the most popular and unique ways to explore the region’s vineyards. The hop-on, hop-off tram and bus service takes you through the picturesque vineyards, allowing you to visit multiple wineries without worrying about driving. There are different routes available, each visiting a selection of wineries.

Busy Bee Tip: You will still need to arrange transport to and from the tram. You can book a transfer service through the tram website, book a private guide, self drive and park, or uber. If you have accomodations booked in Franschhoek for the night, you could also speak with the owner of your stay. Some smaller hotels or AIRBNBs offer transportation to and from the tram. Also keep in mind, South Africa’s zero tolerance policy for drinking and driving. If you plan to self drive and park, make sure to have a designated driver who does not drink.

Busy Bee Tip: Taking the Franschhoek Wine Tram requires a bit of advance planning, especially during the busy season. You’ll want to read through the time table to see what time the tram stops at each winery and make wine tasting reservations accordingly. You’ll also want to book your tram tickets in advance, which requires choosing a tram line. The different tram lines all have different stops they make, so do some research on which wineries you want to hit.

We opted to skip this option for two reasons. 1 – we didn’t want to plan this day trip to the hour, which riding the tram sort of requires. We wanted to wing it and be able to spend as much time as we wanted at each place and not worry about missing the tram. 2 – we wanted to visit wineries from different lines and couldn’t narrow it down. We also wanted to wing it and visit wineries based on local recommendations once we were there, which is what we did! If you don’t mind planning a bit in advance and sticking to the routes the tram offers, this is a really great option!

Walking / Bicycling

• Walking: Franschhoek’s town center is very walkable, with many attractions, shops, restaurants, and galleries located within easy walking distance. Strolling through the village allows you to fully appreciate its charm and character.
• Bicycling: Renting a bicycle is a great way to explore Franschhoek and its surroundings at your own pace. Many local rental shops offer a variety of bikes, including electric bikes for those who prefer a little extra help with the hills.

Busy Bee Tip: Walking or biking is a great way to see the little downtown/town center area, but most of the wineries are several miles from that area. You’ll want to plan to uber or take the wine tram to get to various wineries, as most of them aren’t walking distance from downtown Franschhoek.

Best Time to Visit

Summer (December to February)

• Pros: Warm and sunny weather, perfect for outdoor activities like vineyard tours, wine tastings, and alfresco dining. This is also the season for many local festivals and events.
• Cons: Peak tourist season, so it can be crowded, and accommodation prices may be higher. It’s advisable to book in advance.

Autumn (March to May)

• Pros: Mild and pleasant weather with fewer crowds. The vineyards are particularly beautiful as the leaves change color, making it an excellent time for photography and scenic drives.
• Cons: Some rain is possible, so pack accordingly.

Winter (June to August)

• Pros: Quieter and more peaceful, with fewer tourists. Cozy up by a fireplace in a charming guesthouse or enjoy hearty meals at local restaurants. Some wineries offer special winter tastings.
• Cons: Cooler and wetter weather, which may limit outdoor activities. However, this is a great time for indoor experiences like visiting museums and art galleries.

Spring (September to November)

• Pros: Blooming flowers and lush green landscapes make for stunning scenery. The weather is warming up, but it’s still not too hot. Spring is also a good time for hiking and exploring the outdoors.
• Cons: The occasional rain shower, but generally, the weather is quite pleasant.

Special Events and Festivals

• Franschhoek Uncorked Festival (September): Celebrates the new vintage with wine tastings, live music, and food.
• Franschhoek Literary Festival (May): A must for book lovers, featuring talks, readings, and workshops.
• Bastille Day Festival (July): Celebrates the town’s French heritage with food, wine, and entertainment.

Busy Bee Tip: We visited in early May and loved it! We didn’t have to make reservations at the wineries because they weren’t that busy. (If you want to do any cellar tours, you’ll want reservations for those). When we went it was slightly cool and rainy, but it made sitting inside the wineries feel cozy. Specifically at Haute Cabriere, we loved the vibes of chilly weather and sitting by the fireplace with a wine tasting.

Wineries

Haute Cabriere

This was our first stop on our day trip. I selected this winery because I’d read on several blogs that it has the best views in Franschhoek. Unfortunately, we went on a cloudy/rainy day and the views were obstructed a bit. But we still loved this winery and would 100% recommend you add it to your list. The interior feels like stepping back into medievel times a bit, with ornate chandeliers, stone fireplaces, stone walls, and a gorgeous cellar. Like I mentioned earlier in the post, we really enjoyed sitting by the fireplace on a chilly day.

They have lots of options for wine tastings, including a macaroon and wine pairing, which I really enjoyed! We also watched another family do a cellar tour that ended with their guide popping the champagne with a sword – super cool! If you’re here on a nice weather day, they also have a BEAUTIFUL outdoor patio to sit on and take in the gorgeous mountain views.

La Brie

While I enjoyed this winery, it was my least favorite of the three. It was recommended to us by an Uber driver, but in comparison to the other two wineries we visited, it just didn’t feel like anything special. It totally could’ve been because it was the off-season, but the workers didn’t really interact with us, and the ambience wasn’t overly amazing. I do think if we had been here during nicer weather, it might’ve been more enjoyable. The outdoor terrace area was so beautiful with tons of plants and flowers. If you’re into photography, the outdoor area alone makes this worth a stop. I did a wine and chocolate pairing which I loved!

Babylonstoren

Everyone I asked recommended this winery and I can totally see why. I was worried it would feel touristy, but it didn’t and we really enjoyed our stop here. The entire property is gorgeous, but the seating area for wine tastings was awesome. You sit inside with floor to ceiling windows looking out into the vineyards. There is also a good deal of things to do around the property, including various tours and walks. We didn’t do anything since it was raining pretty good, but the bit we saw of the property was stunning. We ordered a cheeseboard with such an immaculate selection, my wine tasting was super yummy, and the service here was great. Absolutely add this winery to your list, you won’t regret it!