Taste + Tram the Winelands Tour: Franschhoek, Stellenbosch, Paarl
Traveler rating
4.9/5
Based on 60 traveler reviews. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Quick answer
Is Taste + Tram the Winelands Tour: Franschhoek, Stellenbosch, Paarl worth booking?
Taste + Tram the Winelands Tour: Franschhoek, Stellenbosch, Paarl is a 8-hour experience in Cape Town, South Africa, from R 2,075 per person. It scores 72 out of 100 on the Outty Ranking, which we label “Strongly Recommended”, based on a 4.9/5 rating across 60 reviews. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time. Same-day spots are currently showing.
- Outty Ranking
- 72 / 100
- Rating
- 4.9/5 (60)
- Duration
- 8 hours
- From
- R 2,075 per person
Be swept away by the tastes and sights of the Stellenbosch, Paarl and Franschhoek wine region. Sample local wines and also paired with artisanal cheeses or seasonal produce. Indulge with Fairview's Farmer Tasting as you sample a selection of fine wines paired to perfection with a spread of cheeses. Continue on to the quaint town of Franschhoek to uncover the beauty of this region aboard a vintage style railway tram while sipping on a glass of world-renowned vino from the surrounding vineyards. Hop on the Franschhoek Wine Tram for a short 2-5 minute one way journey through the vineyards to reach Rickety Bridge winery (or similar) for a standard wine tasting of 3 of their wines. On the way back to Cape Town you'll stop at one of South Africa’s oldest wine farms, Muratie Winery near Stellenbosch. Taste their port-style wines to end the day with this sweet tasting experience before a lazy late afternoon drive back towards Cape Town.
What you get
About this experience
Be swept away by the tastes and sights of the Stellenbosch, Paarl and Franschhoek wine region. Sample local wines and also paired with artisanal cheeses or seasonal produce. Indulge with Fairview's Farmer Tasting as you sample a selection of fine wines paired to perfection with a spread of cheeses. Continue on to the quaint town of Franschhoek to uncover the beauty of this region aboard a vintage style railway tram while sipping on a glass of world-renowned vino from the surrounding vineyards. Hop on the Franschhoek Wine Tram for a short 2-5 minute one way journey through the vineyards to reach Rickety Bridge winery (or similar) for a standard wine tasting of 3 of their wines. On the way back to Cape Town you'll stop at one of South Africa’s oldest wine farms, Muratie Winery near Stellenbosch. Taste their port-style wines to end the day with this sweet tasting experience before a lazy late afternoon drive back towards Cape Town.
What's included
Included
- Local guide
- Hotel pickup and drop-off in Cape Town or Stellenbosch central
- A portion of your trip fee is donated to help fund 2Cchange non-profit local charity projects
- Franschhoek Wine tasting
- Wine Tram Ride (± 5 min) to wine tasting
- Transport by air-conditioned minivan
- Fairview Cheese & Wine Pairing
- Muratie Wine Tasting
Not included
- Meals and other drinks
What you'll see and do
Fairview Wine and Cheese
-- Please Note: This tour may be outsourced to a different tour supplier. -- Meet your guide at your accommodation in central Cape Town, and then set off in an air-conditioned minivan to begin your full-day tour of the Paarl, Stellenbosch and Franschhoek Winelands. Our wine experts custom-designed this tour to give you a real taste of the Cape winelands region. Sample local produce, learn about flavour profiles and vintages and savour time sitting back and sampling some of South Africa’s finest with lines upon lines of vineyard views. Your day starts on the south-western slopes of the Paarl Mountain Range where incredible views and a farmer's tasting experience await at the world-renowned Fairview Estate. You'll pair artisanal cheese, produced at the onsite cheesery with fine reds and whites, giving you an out-of-this-world pairing experience coupled with the in-depth knowledge of the wines you are tasting.
60 minutes here · Admission included
Continue on to the quaint town of Franschhoek to uncover the beauty of this region aboard a vintage style railway tram while sipping on a glass of world-renowned vino from the surrounding vineyards, with one stop at a local wine estate - either Rickety Bridge or Plaisir Wine Estate, subject to the train's daily route and availability. The tram ride usually last about 5 minutes to the wine tasting farm.
5 minutes here · Admission included
Franschhoek
When the wine is flowing, it’s easy to work up a big appetite, so it’s off down country laneways lined with leafy vineyards to the foothills of the Franschhoek Valley for a well-earned lunch stop. Whether it’s the weekend farmer's market or a sunny roadside cafe in Franschhoek's old town - just go with the flow and enjoy your free time in South Africa’s epicurean capital, with its multitude of eateries. You’ll have time to soak up the history of this town and learn more about the French Huguenots who arrived in the Seventeenth Century; browse the art galleries and arts & crafts shops for souvenirs along the main street and enjoy lunch at a deli or street corner cafe.
60 minutes here
Rickety Bridge Wine Estate
When arriving at the local winery's train platform, you'll disembark for a short walk and wander towards the farm's tasting room. The standard route usually stops at historic Rickety Bridge. Relax and enjoy an included Estate Wine Tasting; savouring 3 favourites with stunning valley views as backdrop. On days when the Franschhoek Wine Tram route heads towards the Simonsberg Mountains, the tram stops at picturesque Plaisir Wine Estate for the included tasting to sample a choice of 3 of their estate range wines.
40 minutes here
Muratie
Just north of Stellenbosch tucked in a picturesque corner of the Knorhoek Valley lies one of South Africa’s oldest wine farms, Muratie, dating back to 1685. Wine tasting in historic Muratie happens in ancient carved-out cement fermentation wine-making tanks. This is where the first Pinot Noir in South Africa was crafted, and the location where you'll experience the perfect tasting of sweet-toned port-style wines. End with a lazy drive back and a late afternoon drop-off at your Cape Town or Stellenbosch accommodation.
60 minutes here · Admission included
Where it starts and ends
Hotel pickup
Pickup is included for all travelers. Pickup begins about 60 minutes before departure.
Options you can book
Join Small Group
Join small group Pickup included
Private Transfer - Own Group
Private Transfer: Exclusive transfer to highlights for your own group. Joined activities included. Pickup included
Before you book
- Cancellation
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
- Languages
- en
- Ticket
- Mobile Only
- Runs on
- Every day
- Group size
- Up to 13 travelers per booking
- Operated by
- Hotspots2c Tours
Know before you go
- Wheelchair accessible
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Minimum age is 8 years
- Must be 18 years and older for wine tasting
- Children between 8 and 17 years must be accompanied by an adult
- Contact supplier to arrange departure time, further details on voucher
- Please note: Minimum of passengers per tour apply.
- Personal comprehensive travel insurance is excluded and recommended.
- If some wine, farms or wine pairing options are unavailable during certain times of the week or season, we reserve the right to offer a similar type or value alternative.
- *Muratie's chocolate wine pairing experience will be discontinued by April 2024, and will be replaced with a similar value of wine tasting experience.
Photos
What travelers are saying
Outty’s summary of the themes that recur across 60 traveler reviews. Written by us, not quoted from reviewers.
The guide
9 mentionsTravelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works.
Food and drink
8 mentionsThe tastings and food stops are a highlight for most reviewers.
Knowledge and storytelling
5 mentionsReviewers describe the commentary as informative rather than scripted.
Organization
3 mentionsPickup, timing, and logistics are described as running smoothly.
Photo opportunities
2 mentionsThe views and photo stops come up again and again.
Traveler reviews
60 verified traveler reviews for Taste + Tram the Winelands Tour: Franschhoek, Stellenbosch, Paarl. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Perfect tour!!!
I've been in South Africa so many times, and always with Hotspots2c. I've been there on this tour to Paarl, Stellenbosch and Franschhoek for 3 times and now was my 4th time and of course it was perfect again. Our guide Uriel I already knew and it was amazing to meet him again with all his patience, friendship, knowledge and i can say that we had lots of funny moments with all group. He's more than perfect!!!!! We've been in 3 amazing wineries and all were perfects and with amazing wines. The first one (Farmview) was my preferred. I can't wait to visit Cape Town again and I'm sure I'll want to be back with Hotspots2c. ❤️🇿🇦📍🤩
Response from the operator: Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We’re overjoyed to hear that your 4th tour with us was just as perfect as the previous ones. It’s amazing to have guests like you who keep coming back for more incredible experiences! It’s great to know that guide Uriel once again made your tour unforgettable with his patience, friendship, and fun moments. He truly has a special way of connecting with guests, and we’ll be sure to pass along your kind words to him. It sounds like the wineries were a highlight of the trip, and we’re so happy to hear that Fairview was your favorite. We’re already looking forward to welcoming you back on your next adventure with Hotspots2C in Cape Town! Thanks again for your trust and support. We can’t wait to see you again soon! From, Team Hotspots2C
via Tripadvisor
Wonderful tour
We had a wonderful day exploring the winelands with our tour guide Ulrich. Ulrich was really friendly, chatty and knowledgeable – we really enjoyed speaking to him and learning more about the Cape & SA on our journeys to and between tastings. All 3 tastings were really enjoyable and all take place in beautiful surroundings. Getting to go on the wine tram briefly was also a lot of fun. We enjoyed having a brief break at the farmers market which was a great spot to grab some lunch. The whole day was very enjoyable and very well organised – thank you Ulrich for a wonderful day!
Response from the operator: Hi EdinAle, thank you for this 'wine'tastic 5-star review! Your day in the Cape Winelands sounds absolutely delightful! It's fantastic to hear that local guide Ulrich made your experience so enjoyable with his friendly way and a wealth of knowledge about South Africa. Exploring the tastings in such beautiful surroundings must have been a treat for the senses! And how fun to hop on the wine tram for a brief adventure. Here's to more wonderful adventures and delicious wines in the future! Thank you for choosing to travel with us and for supporting our #tour2cchange movement. Your adventure not only created unforgettable memories for you but also contributed to meaningful community projects through our non-profit 2Cchange. Together, we're making a positive impact wherever we roam. Keep'on adventuring - South Africa has much more to explore... let us know, we can take you there, - from Team Hotspots2c
via Tripadvisor
Excellent.
My wife and I had a great day visiting the wine region on 10th Feb. Our private tour guide was TK. He was very knowledgeable and really easy to get along with. A big thanks to him.
Response from the operator: Hi Robert! Thank you for sharing your experience! We're so happy to hear you and your wife had a fantastic day exploring the beautiful wine region with guide TK. It's great to know he made the day both informative and enjoyable. We'll definitely pass along your big thanks to him. Cheers to many more wonderful adventures with Hotspots2C!
via Tripadvisor
Great day out
Great day out, made very enjoyable by the group who were on this trip with us and our driver (Jacubis) who was very knowledgable and ensured we were all on time at various wine stops, including the Franschhoek Wine Tram. A really lovely day to remember.
Response from the operator: Thank you for your awesome review! We’re so glad to hear you had a fantastic day out, and it’s great to know Jacobus made the experience even better with his knowledge and punctuality. The Franschhoek Wine Tram is a highlight for sure, and we’re thrilled you had such a lovely day to remember. We are looking forward to having you join us on another adventure soon! -Team Hotspots2C
via Tripadvisor
Amazing day with the most amazing tour guide Mr. Nev
I want to start of by saying that we have been beyond happy with any tour that we did with hotspots directly. This one in particular however was outstanding. Not only because the wine lands around Cape Town are just breathtaking but specifically because our tour guide Mr. Nev was not only an incredible tour guide but enriched our experience immensely by firstly being an amazing human to spend time with and also by him just being beyond accommodating and focusing on giving us the best experience ever! He went above and beyond throughout the entirety of the tour and even after - checking if everything went well during our tour the day after (which was not with hotspots directly). We have done many tours and have had many tour guides, but have to say that the ones at hotspot and especially Mr. Nev are outstanding. Additionally, his experience as a tour guide for many years and his immense knowledge about the area and the history of the region and his personal experiences that he so kindly shared with us made the tour even more special! If you get him, you can be assured that you will have the best experience ever since he goes way beyond what his scope as a guide is!
Response from the operator: Thank you for your fantastic review! We’re thrilled to hear that you had such an outstanding experience with Hotspots2C, and especially with Mr. Nev. It’s wonderful to know that his dedication, knowledge, and personal touch made your tour truly special. The Winelands around Cape Town are indeed breathtaking, and it sounds like Mr. Nev added a whole new level of enjoyment to the trip. We’re so glad he went above and beyond to ensure you had the best experience possible. We can’t wait to welcome you back for another adventure with us! -Team Hotspots2C
via Tripadvisor
Good to know
- Duration
- 8 hours
- Free cancellation
- Up to 24h before
- Minimum age to book
- All ages
- Availability
- Bookable today
- Runs on
- Every day
- Price range
- R 2,075 to R 10,780
- Hotel pickup
- Included for all travelers
- Booked in 30 days
- 21
- Verdict
- Strongly Recommended
Who runs this experience
Operated by Hotspots2c Tours, who run 3 experiences we rank across 1 city, with an average Outty Ranking of 75.3.
See everything Hotspots2c Tours runsWhy this scores 72
The Outty Ranking is a weighted composite. Here is how this experience performed on each component.
Taste + Tram the Winelands Tour: Franschhoek, Stellenbosch, Paarl: questions travelers ask
Practical detail on this experience, plus the wider planning questions for Cape Town.
How much does Taste + Tram the Winelands Tour: Franschhoek, Stellenbosch, Paarl cost?
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Prices start at R 2,075 per person. The final price depends on the date, the time slot and the number of travelers, and peak weekends in Cape Town usually price higher than midweek mornings. Live pricing and remaining availability are confirmed on the booking screen before you pay.
How long does Taste + Tram the Winelands Tour: Franschhoek, Stellenbosch, Paarl take?
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Plan for about 8 hours from start to finish, not counting travel to the meeting point. Most travelers leave another 30 minutes on either side so the rest of the day in Cape Town is not rushed.
Is Taste + Tram the Winelands Tour: Franschhoek, Stellenbosch, Paarl worth it?
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It holds an Outty Ranking of 72 out of 100, which we label "Strongly Recommended". That score blends traveler sentiment (4.9/5 across 60 reviews), the depth of that review evidence, recent booking momentum, value for money against comparable last minute in Cape Town, and how flexible the cancellation terms are.
Can I cancel or reschedule Taste + Tram the Winelands Tour: Franschhoek, Stellenbosch, Paarl?
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Yes. Cancel free up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Inside that window the booking is non-refundable, and no-shows are not refunded.
Is Taste + Tram the Winelands Tour: Franschhoek, Stellenbosch, Paarl suitable for kids and families?
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Yes, all ages are welcome. Families should still weigh the 8-hour running time, and strollers are easier on the earlier, quieter departures.
How far in advance should I book Taste + Tram the Winelands Tour: Franschhoek, Stellenbosch, Paarl?
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Around 21 people booked this in the last 30 days, so popular slots go early. Two to three weeks ahead is comfortable in shoulder season, while summer weekends and holidays in Cape Town can sell out a month out. Same-day spots do open up when other travelers cancel, so it is worth checking if you are already in town.
What should I bring or wear?
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Bring photo ID, your booking confirmation on your phone, a refillable water bottle and comfortable shoes. Dress for the weather in Cape Town and add a light layer if any part of the 8-hour experience runs outdoors or after sunset.
Where does Taste + Tram the Winelands Tour: Franschhoek, Stellenbosch, Paarl start and how do I get there?
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The exact meeting point and directions are on your voucher once you book, and they sit in central Cape Town within reach of public transport. Arrive 15 minutes early: late arrivals are treated as no-shows by most operators.
What are the best things to do in Cape Town?
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On Outty we rank every Cape Town experience on the same 0 to 100 scale, and alongside this one the highest scorers right now include Cape Town: Lion's Head Sunrise/Sunset Hike, Hike Table Mountain or Lions Head in Cape Town Like a Local, Cape Point and Boulder's Penguins Full Day Tour. The city page groups everything into most popular, highest reviewed, last minute and family-friendly so you can build a day around what actually delivers.
When is the best time to visit Cape Town?
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Booking patterns follow the same curve: prices and queues climb in peak weeks, while shoulder season gives you better availability on the top-ranked experiences and more room to change plans.
How many days do you need in Cape Town?
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Three full days covers the headline sights without sprinting. A workable rhythm is one anchor experience each morning, such as this one, an unhurried afternoon in a single neighborhood, then a food or nightlife booking in the evening. Five days lets you add a day trip outside the city.
Do I book through Outty or through the operator?
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Outty ranks and explains the experiences, then hands you to Viator to complete the booking with the operator directly. The price is the same as booking on Viator yourself, and Outty earns an affiliate commission on the referral, which is how the rankings stay free to read.
What is included in Taste + Tram the Winelands Tour: Franschhoek, Stellenbosch, Paarl?
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Included: Local guide; Hotel pickup and drop-off in Cape Town or Stellenbosch central; A portion of your trip fee is donated to help fund 2Cchange non-profit local charity proje; Franschhoek Wine tasting; and Wine Tram Ride (± 5 min) to wine tasting. Not included: Meals and other drinks. Always check the voucher for the final list before you travel.
Does Taste + Tram the Winelands Tour: Franschhoek, Stellenbosch, Paarl include hotel pickup?
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Yes, pickup is offered for every traveler from 230 listed pickup locations in and around Cape Town. Be ready about 60 minutes before the start time. You can also enter a custom pickup address when booking.
What languages is Taste + Tram the Winelands Tour: Franschhoek, Stellenbosch, Paarl offered in?
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It runs in English. Pick your language when choosing a date and time, as not every departure runs in every language.
Will I get instant confirmation and a mobile ticket for Taste + Tram the Winelands Tour: Franschhoek, Stellenbosch, Paarl?
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Confirmation is sent by the operator after booking, usually within 48 hours; if it is not confirmed you are not charged. Mobile tickets are accepted, so you can show the voucher on your phone.
Is Taste + Tram the Winelands Tour: Franschhoek, Stellenbosch, Paarl wheelchair or stroller accessible?
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The operator notes: Wheelchair accessible; and Transportation options are wheelchair accessible. If accessibility is critical, contact the operator after booking to confirm arrangements for your date.
What happens to Taste + Tram the Winelands Tour: Franschhoek, Stellenbosch, Paarl if the weather is bad?
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It generally runs rain or shine, so dress for the forecast in Cape Town. Standard cancellation terms apply: free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start.
What do travelers say about Taste + Tram the Winelands Tour: Franschhoek, Stellenbosch, Paarl?
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Across 60 reviews averaging 4.9 out of 5, recurring themes include the guide, food and drink, knowledge and storytelling. Travelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works.
What booking options are available for Taste + Tram the Winelands Tour: Franschhoek, Stellenbosch, Paarl?
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There are 2 options to choose from, including Join Small Group, Private Transfer - Own Group. Prices and start times differ by option, so compare them on the booking screen.
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