South African wine? Not exactly the first region you think of when you want to drink good wine. But in Franschhoek, the French corner, the French Huguenots settled more than 300 years ago, and their influence can still be felt today, as there are many great wineries with outstanding wine. Wine lovers from all over the world flock to this small town, surrounded by massive mountains, to sample the exquisite wines. Almost every winery has its own restaurant, some of which offer very fine cuisine: a culinary journey to little France.
There is a small problem, however. Since each winery also grows its own wine on its own land, the wineries are sometimes far apart, and Uber is virtually nonexistent in this region. How can you try all the wines from the wineries without having to drive your own car? Franschhoek has an answer for that too: THE WINE TRAM FRANSCHHOEK!
When I first heard about the Wine Tram Franschhoek, I wasn’t very enthusiastic. When you visit so many wineries in one day, surely the wine starts to taste all the same? But I was proven wrong and had a fantastic time on the tram in May 2025. In the following article, I would like to share my experiences and best tips with you. Enjoy browsing!
- Wine Tram Franschhoek – General Information
- Franschhoek Wine Tram – The Routes
- Wine Tram Franschhoek – Tickets & Prices
- Wine Tram – Preparations and Check-In
- Let’s Go – My Experiences with the Orange Line
- Wine Tram Franschhoek – My Conclusion
Wine Tram Franschhoek – General Information
The Wine Tram Franschhoek travels from winery to winery and takes you to up to 8 wineries a day, like a hop-on hop-off bus. “Bus” is a good keyword, because only 5 wineries are actually accessible by tram. All the others are then reached by bus, which, however, looks very similar to a tram. There are two ways to spend a cool “Wine Tram Day”. You can start in Cape Town: Wine Tram Franschhoek from Cape Town.
Unfortunately, with this option, you are also tied to certain days (Tuesdays, Thursdays, and weekends) and the Wine Tram lines. The price is almost twice as high as the regular Wine Tram tickets, but the transfer to and from Cape Town is included. However, this option means you spend less time on the tram itself. You can also stay overnight in Franschhoek and start your first tour first thing in the morning. A trip to Franschhoek is always worthwhile, so I definitely recommend a short trip with an overnight stay. If you’re short on time, a day trip is also a good option. Bolle and Marco were also traveling in the region at the time and visited some great wineries on their own: The Winelands in South Africa – 5 Great Wineries.
My hotel recommendations in Franschhoek:
- Cape Vue Guesthouse*
- Lavender Guest Farm*
- Rickety Bridge*
Franschhoek Wine Tram – The Routes
There are eight different routes (overview map of the routes) to choose from. In May 2025, I traveled on the orange line and can highly recommend it. All routes definitely include a section on the correct tram. You can find the different routes here: Wine Tram Routes. The map gives you a good overview of all the wineries.
The real challenge now is choosing the best route for you. I like the orange line because these wineries are definitely not accessible on foot, whereas wineries like La Brie and Mont Rochelle can easily be combined with a stroll through the town.
Did you know that you can also visit some wineries during a cool e-bike tour? This tour not only takes you through the beautiful nature of the Winelands, but also to the beautiful wineries. You can book such a tour here: E-Bike Guided Winery Tour*.
Wine Tram Franschhoek – Tickets & Prices
The best way to book Wine Tram tickets is online on the Wine Tram website or at GetYourGuide*. Now choose one of the eight lines and the corresponding departure time. The Wine Tram generally runs every 40 minutes. This can be a bit stressful, especially if you want to do a more extensive wine tasting or even a wine pairing. You’ll also need more time for lunch. Therefore, you can simply continue your journey every two slots, i.e., every 80 minutes.
If you would like to do a pairing, such as cheese or chocolate, it is advisable to discuss this with the winery in advance. This way you can avoid long waits or disappointment if the pairing platters are already sold out. In peak season or at popular wineries, it is also advisable to book a table for lunch in advance. Is the short trip booked and the ticket paid? Great, then let’s go. We’re going for a wine drink.
The tours cost the equivalent of approx. €16 per person. Only bus and tram transport is included. Wine tastings, lunch, and other activities are not included in the price. Transportation to the start of the tour is also not included. At GetYourGuide*, you can also find many cool activities around Franschhoek that also focus on wine.
Wine Tram – Preparations and Check-In
It’s Wine Tram day! Awesome! You’ll probably have to get up early, because you’re either already in Franschhoek or you’re driving to the small town in the morning. The first tram departs at 9:30 a.m. Start the day with a good breakfast and a short walk. The Wine Tram is a 10- to 45-minute walk from most accommodations. It’s best to bring some water for the day and a jacket, as it can get cold since the tram is open.
Before departure, you must check in at the tram office. There are also restrooms and a small coffee stand. When you check in, you’ll receive a colored sticker in the color of your line so the tram staff know where you need to go. You’ll also receive your ticket and a list of specials, as some wineries have special offers for Wine Tram riders.
If you want to buy wine along the way, that’s no problem either. You can simply hand it over to the Wine Tram guide. The bottles will then be stored at the station, so you don’t have to carry them with you. At the end of your Wine Tram day, don’t forget to pick up those wine bottles.
Let’s go – My experience with the Orange Line
This route includes the following wineries: Vrede en Lust, Noble Hill, Babylonstoren, Anura, Plaisir de Merle, Allee Bleue, Solms Delta, and Boschendal. You decide which wineries you want to visit.
1st Stop – Plaisir de Merle Winery
If you’re traveling on the Orange Line, you’ll first have to take a short bus ride, as the tram starts in Groot Drakenstein (there are restrooms here too). Here you’ll transfer to the proper tram. After a small welcome drink, the journey begins, and just a few minutes later, it’s over again: Welcome to Plaisir de Merle. You and the other travelers will be picked up from the tram station by a small bus and taken along the long road to the winery.
Here you can do a standard wine tasting of 2 or 4 wines, or even a gin tasting. We opted for a standard tasting of 4 wines, sat in the sun, and were picked up again after two slots (80 minutes). The departure time of the small bus is displayed directly on the terrace. Please make sure you are always on time, otherwise the entire schedule may be delayed.
2nd Stop – Vrede en Lust
Back on the tram, the journey continues for just a few minutes. Then you have the option of getting off at Vrede en Lust. This is also the last stop on the tram. In addition to one of the best bakeries, they also offer a wine and chocolate pairing and pretty much the best wine and cheese pairing I’ve ever had.
We booked the Cheese and Wine Package in advance. The wine from Vrede en Lust is paired with cheese from the neighboring Dalewood cheese dairy. The cheese portions are enormous, so this could also be breakfast. Although I didn’t like the wine, but that’s always a matter of taste, I was a huge fan of the cheese and the magnificent view.
By the way: If you drive to Cape Town after this short trip, you’ll pass by Dalewood Farm and can stock up on cheese in the farm shop.
3. Stop: Noble Hill Winery
After an 80-minute tour at the Vrede en Lust winery, you’ll return to the Wine Tram and travel to the last stop, just about 200 meters further. Here, you’ll board the tram-bus again, which will take you to three more wineries. The first is Babylonstoren. This winery is highly recommended and has so much to offer. In addition to a farm shop, farm animals, excellent restaurants, and wine tastings, Babylonstoren has arguably the largest and most impressive gardens in the region.
If you have a little more time on a short trip, this wine farm is worth a day trip (including restaurant reservations). Is your travel budget a bit higher? Great, you can also stay overnight here or use/book the spa. This can also be booked as a day trip without an overnight stay.
My recommendation: If you only have time to visit the winery today, book at least 2-3 slots, as there can sometimes be wait times of up to 45 minutes. Do you have time to come back on your way to Cape Town or another day? Perfect, because then you can enjoy the winery’s amenities without stress.
The next winery on the tram is Noble Hill. We got off here again because we had reserved a table for lunch in the garden of the Cosecha Restaurant. The restaurant serves wine and Mexican food in its own garden. We managed to have lunch and a tasting of two wines in two tram slots (the Bordeaux Blend Style Red Wine – Estate Reserve is highly recommended).
4th Stop: Anura Winery
You’ve already done three wineries. Do you still have the energy for two more? Next on the route is the Anura Winery. If you’re a fan of red wine, you’ll love this wine. With over 16 grape varieties on offer, you’re sure to find something to your liking here. There are two different tastings: the Reserve and the Signature Tasting. In my experience, the cheaper Reserve Tasting was better. You can choose three wines from a list and taste them. I can definitely recommend the Malbec and the Reserve Pinotage. The Signature Cabernet Sauvignon was also very good, but unfortunately, very expensive.
After just one slot, you’ll make your way back to Groot Drakenstein. This journey takes around an hour, as the tram stops at all the wineries to pick up guests. Now you have a break and time to catch your breath. In one hour, you have the opportunity to visit two more wineries (40 minutes each) and another winery (80 minutes).
5th Stop – Boschendal Winery
It’s tempting to visit two more wineries, but after four wine tastings, one winery was definitely enough for us to finish. We decided to skip Allee Bleue and Solms Delta and just drive to Boschendal. This winery is also worth a visit on its own, as it offers a wealth of history and culture, as well as restaurants and a farm shop. Unfortunately, this area is very far from the wine tasting area of the Wine Tram, making it difficult to connect the two areas.
If you’re coming here again by car, just visit the left part of the farm. Wine tastings are also available there. The garden on the right side of the farm, where the wine tastings are offered, is beautiful, and you sit under a huge oak tree. A wine and chocolate pairing is also offered here, which you can also book spontaneously. Why not? The chocolates were fantastic and went really well with the wine. I can definitely recommend the Pinotage.
Wine Tram Franschhoek – My Conclusion
The last pickup will pick you up and take you to Groot Drakenstein. There you can pick up your previously purchased wine and take the shuttle back to Franschhoek. If you’ve booked a day trip from Cape Town, you’ll be picked up an hour earlier so you don’t miss your shuttle to Cape Town. Now you decide whether you’d rather go to sleep or make it to dinner!
As I mentioned at the beginning, I was skeptical at first. Wouldn’t the wines all start to taste the same if you visit so many wineries in one day? But that wasn’t the case; I had a fantastic time on this tour. I highly recommend a Wine Tram day like this; you shouldn’t miss the many wineries and delicious wines.