Winelands, South Africa

Luxury holidays & hotels to Stellenbosch, Franschhoek & Paarl

View slideshow (5 photos)

The Cape Winelands is an area of exquisite beauty only 40 minutes from Cape Town in South Africa, with rocky mountains overlooking green vineyards, oak avenues leading to elegant Cape Dutch wine estates as well as some of the most charming towns and villages in South Africa – Stellenbosch, Franschhoek, Paarl and Tulbagh. The main pleasure of the Cape Winelands is the enjoyment of the good life: appreciating the wine and the Cape Dutch architecture, enjoying long, lazy meals in one of the many excellent restaurants, browsing in shops and art galleries or taking scenic drives or walks in the mountains. This corner of South Africa is not an area to be hurried - you can visit for the day from Cape Town but those in the know set aside at least two or three nights in order to savour the Winelands.

• Explore the oak-lined streets of Stellenbosch, a bustling university town where the stunning mountain backdrop, the tree-lined streets and the white gabled Cape Dutch homesteads all blend in tranquil harmony.
• Enjoy the rural charm of the Huguenot settlement of Franschhoek, the foodie capital of South Africa, with its excellent restaurants, bistros and boutiques.
• Visit Paarl and the village of Tulbagh with their picturesque Cape Dutch historic centres, some of the oldest towns in South Africa.

Wine-making is a 300 year tradition in the Cape Winelands. Many of the world class wine estates welcome visitors and few people leave the Cape Winelands without a couple of bottles to sample during their holiday in South Africa. Meander along one of the well-mapped wine routes visiting whichever estates take your fancy, or book a private wine tour with us. A number offer cellar tours where you learn how the wine is made.

The Winelands has a number of luxury hotels and charming country house lodges to choose from. Some of our favourites include Klein Genot Country House, Le Quartier francais hotel and River Manor Country House & Spa. However you’ll find more hotels and guesthouses to choose from in our Stellenbosch, Franschhoek and Paarl pages...

See our Why Visit section for more on…
Family Travel in the Winelands
Wine Tours in the Winelands

Holidays in the Cape Winelands
The Winelands can be visited as a day visit from Cape Town but it’s easily a destination in its own right given the number of excellent hotels & lodges to choose from. As it is only 40 minutes drive from Cape Town, you can hire a car to meander around by yourself. Alternatively we can arrange private tours or scheduled day tours from Cape Town that show you some of the scenic highlights.