It is not possible to visit Franschhoek for the weekend from Vancouver but it is from Cape Town! On our recent trip to South Africa and Mauritius, we decided to spend the equivalent of a weekend in Franschhoek and share some tips to help you plan a similar getaway.

About Franschhoek:

In Afrikaans, Franschhoek means “French Corner” and it is one of the oldest towns in South Africa. It was formerly known as Oliphants hoek (as there were vast groups of elephants roaming the valley). It is situated about 75 kilometres (47 mi) from Cape Town, a 45 minute drive away. The whole area has a population of slightly over 20,000 people while the town proper has a population of around 1,000. In 2022, Franschhoek was mentioned in Time magazine as one of the top 50 places in the world to visit.

Getting Here:

In our opinion, the easiest way to get to Franschhoek from Cape Town is by renting a car and driving yourself. Other than figuring out how to exit the airport area and finding your way to the highway, it’s more or less a straight and easy drive down the highway for about 45 minutes. Google Maps works well and we had no issues.

You can also organize a private transfer for about $35CAD each way easily through various companies, the wine tram, or your accommodation provider.

For those who are adventurous, you can take a metro train to Paarl and Uber to Franschhoek. This option is not recommended due to safety reasons and the reliability of the train in the past few years.

Once in Franschhoek, it is very easy to get around by walking, biking, or Uber/taxi if you choose not to rent a car.

How Long to Stay:

You could probably spend a whole week in Franschhoek when the weather is good to explore and visit the wineries, do some hikes, and take scenic drives but 1-3 nights is optimal. We are happy with 2 nights as it gave us enough time to visit most places on our list.

Where to Stay:

There are so many nice places to stay in Franschhoek and even Stellenbosch, that it will be tough to make a choice! Here are some of our top picks:

• Maison Cabrière: We stayed at Maison Cabriere and enjoyed our stay very much. MC is about a 5 minute walk from the main road where the shops, restaurants, art galleries and bars are. It is also a 5 minute walk to the Wine Tram. They offer bikes for guests too, which we took advantage of. We booked a 2^nd floor room that had a nice large balcony with a view, a large bathtub with bath salts (came in handy to warm up as it was cold during our stay), and a mini fridge with a complimentary bottle of local white wine. Breakfast is not provided but the room has a Nespresso machine and there are many places nearby to go for breakfast.

• Akademie Street Boutique Hotel: Just 300 metres from the Franschhoek monument, Akademie Street Boutique Hotel offers luxurious suites and traditional cottages, some with their own private swimming pools. All of the accommodation at Akademie Street is set in lush gardens and many have views of the mountains of the Cape Winelands. Each suite or cottage has its own theme and the property boasts with wood-fired hot tubs and fragrant landscaped gardens. A full English breakfast is served each morning and the hotel offers a sunset drink hour and a nightcap (digestive or hot chocolate) by the fireplace for guests.

• Monument House: Monument House provides accommodation with free bikes, free private parking, an outdoor swimming pool and a garden. The guest house features mountain views, a terrace, and free WiFi is available throughout the property. All units are equipped with air conditioning, a fridge, a minibar, a coffee machine, a shower, free toiletries and a wardrobe. Each room includes a kettle and a private bathroom with a bath and a hairdryer, while selected rooms are fitted with a kitchen equipped with an oven.

In Stellenbosch:

Stellenbosch is about 20 minutes away from Franschhoek and is not as walkable but has some very nice places to stay too. Initially, we were supposed to stay here but switched to Franschhoek for the walkability.

• De Zeven: De Zeven provides accommodation with a garden, free private parking, a shared lounge, and a terrace. Providing a bar, the property is located within 17 km of Jonkershoek Nature Reserve. The guest house also offers free WiFi as well as a paid airport shuttle service.

• Bush Lodge at Hidden Valley Wines: Bush Lodge at Hidden Valley Wines features accommodation with free WiFi, BBQ facilities, an outdoor swimming pool, and free private parking. Each unit has a balcony offering mountain views, a satellite flat-screen TV, a dining area, a well-fitted kitchen, and a private bathroom with shower, free toiletries, and a hairdryer. A fridge, an oven, and dishwasher are also offered, as well as a coffee machine and a kettle. Some rooms have a private pool.

• MolenVliet Vineyards: MolenVliet Vineyards is a boutique Wine and Guest Estate with panoramic views of the breath-taking surrounding Mountains and Vineyards. The seven en-suite Mountain View Executive Suites are ideally overlooking the Drakenstein Mountains and Estate Vineyards, this is the perfect hideaway for guests wanting to lounge around at their private heated plunge pool or take in the immaculate views from their private balcony.

The Wine Tram:

Based on our experiences visiting wine areas in Canada (British Columbia and Ontario), Greece, Chile, and the US, we were very impressed with how things are in Franschhoek. The Franschhoek Wine Tram makes it easy for people to visit numerous wineries without having to drive. The wine tram is more a less a hop-on-hop-off bus or tram to visit various wineries in the Franschhoek area.  You can choose from about 7 lines, meaning there are many options to try! For more information about the wine tram, check out Ware on the Globe’s review/experience. We did not try the wine tram as we had limited time and chose to visit a few specific wineries.

Visiting Wineries Independently:

You can go visit wineries independently for tasting or to purchase wines to go. Some offer drop-ins without a reservation and others require a reservation. Like other wine regions, you will want to do research in advance to plan your tasting but be prepared to drive by some that you didn’t find and want to visit too. See below for our Google Map with places.

Craft Beer:

In addition to all the wine you can taste, there are a few craft breweries too. You know what they say (…or at least what Max says): “wine makes you thirsty for beer!”. Breweries are also more casual and you can just show up for a beer and a meal without making a reservation or booking a tour.

• Tuk Tuk Brewing: Located right in the center of Franschhoek, Tuk Tuk is a great spot to grab some food and beer (they also have wine and cocktails). It is fun and lively place for locals and tourists. Thank you to the Irishman who lives nearby for sharing space at the bar with us!
• Hey Joe Brewing Co: Hey Joe has a nice indoor and outdoor setting by the river. They also have good and focus on Belgian style ales.
• Soul Barrel: Soul Barrel had our favorite beers and we enjoyed a lovely lunch from the Simondium Guild Bistro. If you visit on a weekend, make sure to order your plate or ribs and peri peri chicken in advance. The Simondium Guild complex also has a distillery and winery.
• Franschhoek Beer Company: Another brewery with good beer and lots of outdoor space, including games like cornhole! Food menu has snacks, entrees, and salads.

The Scenery:

There are some really nice hikes/walks you can do in Franschhoek/Stellenbosch. Here are a few that made our list.

• Du Toitskop Look Out Ridge:  3.2-km loop trail near Franschhoek, Western Cape. Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 1 h 33 min to complete. This is a very popular area for hiking, so you’ll likely encounter other people while exploring.
• Uitkyk Trail: 6.8-km out-and-back trail near Franschhoek, Western Cape. Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 2 h 39 min to complete. This trail is great for birding, hiking, and running, and it’s unlikely you’ll encounter many other people while exploring.

• Bergpad: 4.5-km loop trail near Stellenbosch, Western Cape. Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 1 h 16 min to complete. This is a popular trail for running and walking, but you can still enjoy some solitude during quieter times of day.

We also enjoyed biking around Franschhoek when the weather was nice.

You can also take a scenic drive through the Franschhoek Pass. The Franschhoek Pass is the regional road between Franschhoek and Villiersdorp.

Summary:

We enjoyed our trip to Franschhoek and are happy we didn’t just make it a day trip from Cape Town.  Unfortunately, the weather was not the best and we had to make the best of it despite the rain and cool temperatures. Franschhoek is a must-visit for amateur and experienced wine lovers, and even those who don’t like wine. If we had the chance to visit again, we would gladly as it really offers a lot for a small place. We would also spend more time exploring Stellenbosch.