Rolling vineyards and soaring mountains, historic towns and cutting-edge design — the Cape Winelands really take the biscuit when it comes to holiday activities. It’s not all about wine either (although there’s plenty of that, too). This is a place where you can stroll through sculpture gardens, cycle through orchards and vast mountains, soar above the valleys in a helicopter or clink glasses on a tram ride through Franschhoek. And now, for our pick of the top 10 things to do in the Winelands…
1. Wander the glorious gardens of Babylonstoren
Stretch your legs with a stroll around Babylonstoren’s modern-day Garden of Eden. Get lost in the prickly-pear maze, relax in the mulberry orchard or explore the extensive gardens in which all 300 varieties of plant are either edible or used for medicinal properties. And after all that wandering, you might need some reviving. Handy then that there’s a beautiful glass-walled tasting room for grape-sampling and two restaurants for organic munching.
2. Step back in time at the Franschhoek Motor Museum
For something completely different, swap vineyards for vintage cars at the Franschhoek Motor Museum. The collection spans more than a century of motoring history, from antique carriage-style vehicles to gleaming Ferraris and Bugattis, all immaculately restored. The exhibits rotate regularly so there’s always something new to ogle, and the cherry on top is the glorious mountain backdrop of the L’Ormarins – one of the very best in the valley.
3. Hit the trails at Boschendal
If you’re craving fresh air, Boschendal is the place to find it. The farm is laced with mountain-biking and walking trails that weave through orchards, forests and along the foothills of the Drakenstein mountains, with routes for both beginners and serious riders. Little ones can zip around the pump track while you tackle the single track or stretch your legs in the mountains. Then, everyone can regroup under the oaks with one of Boschendal’s famous picnic baskets, laden with jars of homemade chicken liver pate, fresh salads and local cheeses.
4. Explore the Dylan Lewis Sculpture Garden
This extraordinary garden on the outskirts of Stellenbosch is artist Dylan Lewis’s homage to the natural world and all its forms. You’ll find monumental bronze sculptures of crouching big cats and human shapes scattered across the rolling hills and peering through the fynbos, all framed by mountain views that look almost too perfect to be real. Visits must be booked ahead, which only adds to the sense of intimacy and discovery.
5. Spend a night at the beautiful La Petite Ferme
Head out of Franschhoek on the Helshoogte Pass (dodging the daredevil cyclists whizzing past) and just on the left is La Petite Ferme, one of the loveliest vineyards in the area. Views across the valley are stop-in-your-tracks spectacular and you can gaze at them all day long from one of the Manor House or Vineyard suites, all featuring enormous four-posters and decadent bathrooms. Oh, and did we mention there’s cellar tours and an award-winning restaurant too?
6. Ride the Franschhoek Wine Tram
It might be touristy but it’s also an absolute must! Franschhoek’s open-sided wine tram trundles through some of the valley’s most iconic wine farms, past picture-book vineyards and soaring mountains, stopping along the way for tastings, meals or just a wander. With a hop-on, hop-off ticket, you can spend the whole day sipping and munching, choosing between big-name estates or the smaller, family-run gems. It’s fun, it’s easy, and it’s one of the best ways to take in the scenery (and not worry about whose turn it is to drive).
7. Take to the skies in a helicopter
For the ultimate Winelands perspective, nothing beats a helicopter flight over the incredible landscapes. Lifting off from Stellenbosch or Franschhoek, you’ll soar over checkerboard vineyards, patchwork orchards and rugged mountains, with the glittering coastline just beyond. Opt for a short scenic flight, perhaps with a remote drinks stop along the way, or a longer loop that takes you right down to the Cape Peninsula.
8. Tee off at Pearl Valley
Golfers, rejoice: the Cape Winelands are home to one of South Africa’s top courses, the Jack Nicklaus–designed Pearl Valley. Perfect fairways snake between lakes and rows of poplar trees and the dramatic Simonsberg mountains are the postcard-perfect backdrop. It’s a course that’s as beautiful as it is challenging, and non-golfers will be just as happy lounging on the terrace with something cold in hand, soaking up the scenery.
9. Horse ride at Mont Rochelle
Richard Branson’s Winelands outpost is certainly glamorous, but it’s also home to beautiful horses and miles of trails. Saddle up for a guided ride through vineyards and rolling hills, with views across the Franschhoek Valley that seem plucked from a postcard. The outrides are gentle enough for beginners but still excellent fun for experienced riders. And if you’re not up for a trot, the glass of bubbly waiting back at the Country Kitchen is a fine consolation prize.
10. Hike the Franschhoek Valley
Surrounded by craggy peaks and wild fynbos, Franschhoek is as much about the mountains as it is about the wine. The Mont Rochelle Nature Reserve is criss-crossed with well-marked trails, from gentle rambles to the challenging Perdekop summit — all delivering views worth every step. Pack water, sturdy shoes and your camera; in spring, the wildflowers are spectacular, and in summer the cool mountain breezes are a welcome relief.
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