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Guide · Franschhoek
Franschhoek wine tram hop-on hop-off from Cape Town
A full day in the Franschhoek valley without driving: a coach from the city, a vintage tram and tram-buses between wine estates, and a ride home. Here is how the lines and the timing work.
Check availabilityfrom $50 · cancel at no cost
Editorial team, capetownbustour.comUpdated October 26, 20266 minutes to read19 sources
Quick answer
- 01The day
- 8.5 hours with a return coach from Cape Town, from $50.
- 02The tram
- 5 colour lines, each with 7 to 9 wineries.1
- 03Per stop
- Lines run at 1-hour intervals; big estates need 2 hours.2
- 04Expect
- To visit 4 to 5 of a line's estates in the day.
- 05Not included
- Tastings, which the estates charge at 60 to 260 rand.3
How the day from the city works
The Franschhoek wine tram hop-on hop-off from Cape Town is two trips in one. The listing booked on this page adds a return coach from the city to a 1-day ticket for the tram and its open-air tram-buses, and the whole day takes 8.5 hours. It starts from $50 and averages 4.64 from 2,359 reviews.
Pickups run from fixed points in the city. They start up to 30 minutes before the final departure at 8:45 outside the aquarium at the V&A Waterfront, and the operator sends an email at 8 am the day before to reconfirm your pickup. Read that email as soon as it arrives: it tells you where to stand and when.
The ticket is valid only on the day you booked, and the tram routes on offer vary by the day of operation. The coach and the tram ticket come on the one booking. Free cancellation applies up to 24 hours before.
The day
From the Waterfront to the valley and back
-
Before 8:45
City pickup
Pickups start up to 30 minutes before the final departure.
-
Morning
First estate
About an hour per stop at 1-hour intervals.2
-
Midday
Lunch stop
Book lunch at least 24 hours ahead.4
-
Afternoon
One or two more
Expect 4 to 5 estates in the day.
-
Evening
Coach home
The whole day takes 8.5 hours.
The tram, the tram-buses and the terminals
Despite the name, you do not spend the whole day on rails. The tour combines a tram and a tram-bus, because not all the wineries lie next to the railway.5 Both vehicles are fairly well protected from rain, though on rare occasions the service may be cancelled for weather or mechanical problems, with full refunds.6
Each line begins at the Franschhoek Terminal or the Groot Drakenstein Terminal, depending on the line.7 The Blue, Red and Pink lines depart from the Franschhoek Terminal.8910 The service runs in one direction, and you have only one chance to get off at each stop.11
That one-way rule shapes the day. If you skip an estate in the morning, you cannot come back to it later. Decide your stops before you board, and look at the line's timetable for the times the tram returns to each platform.
Reviews
How travellers rate the wine tram day
of 5
The lines
Wine tram lines and some of their estates
| Line | Starts at | Estates include |
|---|---|---|
| Blue Line | Franschhoek Terminal | Holden Manz, La Bri, Paserene |
| Red Line | Franschhoek Terminal | Haute Cabrière, Mont Rochelle, Lynx |
| Pink Line | Franschhoek Terminal | Chamonix, Dieu Donné, Leopard's Leap |
| Orange Line | - | Babylonstoren, Boschendal, Plaisir |
From the wine tram's own line pages; a dash means the page names no terminal.891012
Three wine days
Tram with transfer, guided wine day, or the tractor
Most reviewed
Tastings by option
Different valleyDecision helper
Is the wine tram day for you?
Weigh the long day against what you want from it
The tram day
A return coach from Cape Town is included.
A guided wine day
One option includes the tram and tasting fees.
Check the lines
Mid-May to mid-September, fewer lines on weekdays.13
The orange line
Babylonstoren is the one estate with an entrance fee.14
Constantia by bus
The wine bus loop takes about 30 minutes.15
The service operates in one direction and passengers will only have one opportunity to disembark at each stop.
The colour lines and their estates
The wine tram runs 5 colour lines, each with 7 to 9 wineries.1 The Blue Line visits Franschhoek Cellar, Grande Provence, Klein Goederust, Rickety Bridge, Holden Manz, La Bri, Maison and Paserene.8 The Red Line shares Franschhoek Cellar, Grande Provence and Rickety Bridge, and adds Haute Cabrière, Mont Rochelle, Eikehof and Lynx.9
The Pink Line takes in Chamonix, Dieu Donné, Franschhoek Cellar, Grande Provence, Leopard's Leap, Rickety Bridge, Atlas Swift and Pigcasso.10 The Orange Line goes further down the valley, and its estates include Baccō, Babylonstoren, Boschendal, Noble Hill, Plaisir and Vrede en Lust.12 Babylonstoren, on the orange lines, is the one estate that charges an entrance fee.14
Old guidebooks mention more colours. The Purple, Grey, Green, Yellow and Burgundy lines have been discontinued.16 If a blog sends you to one of those, look up the estate you want on the tram's current lines instead, and pick the line that stops there.
Checklist
The night before
01
Check
- The reconfirmation email sent at 8 am
- Which line runs on your date
- Your pickup point and time
02
Bring
- Money for tastings at each estate
- Sun cream and a hat
- Water for between tastings
Cost calculator
Tram day or guided wine day
Enter your group size to compare the bookings.
People
Total from$100
each from $50
Check availabilityfree cancellationTotals use each listing's starting price on GetYourGuide, converted at today's rate; the booking page shows what you pay.
Video
A guide to the Franschhoek wine tram
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Choosing a line for your day
Three of the lines overlap at the start. The Blue, Red and Pink lines all list Franschhoek Cellar, Grande Provence and Rickety Bridge, and all depart from the Franschhoek Terminal.8910 What separates them is the second half of each line: Holden Manz, La Bri and Paserene on the Blue, Haute Cabrière, Mont Rochelle and Lynx on the Red, and Chamonix, Dieu Donné and Leopard's Leap on the Pink.
The Orange Line is a different shape of day. Its estates, among them Babylonstoren, Boschendal and Plaisir, lie further down the valley.12 Babylonstoren and Boschendal are among the large estates where a farm vehicle carries you from the platform, and the wine tram advises allowing 2 hours or more at such places.2 On the Orange Line, then, plan fewer stops and longer visits.
On the coach day from Cape Town the line can depend on the date, since the listing says the tram routes vary by the day of operation. If one estate matters to you above all, check which line serves it on your date before you book, and treat everything else on that line as a bonus rather than a plan.
An hour per estate: pacing the day
Every line runs at 1-hour intervals, so you get roughly an hour at each estate where you hop off.2 At the large estates allow 2 hours or more, because a farm vehicle takes 10 to 20 minutes to carry you from the tram platform to the tasting area.2 The wine tram suggests planning at least 3 hours to explore a few stops.17
On the coach day the listing says to expect 4 to 5 of the 8 estates on a line. That is the honest number: tastings, walks between buildings and waiting for the next tram all eat time. Pick a morning estate, a lunch estate and one or two for the afternoon, and let the rest go.
Lunch needs a plan too. The wine tram advises booking lunch at least 24 hours ahead, and food and open alcoholic drinks may not be brought on the tour.418 This page sticks to the transport, and for the transport the point is timing: a booked table keeps your afternoon stops on schedule.
What the day costs on top
The ticket gets you there and around; the wine is extra. Tastings are bought at each estate, and the wine tram gives their range as 60 to 260 rand, with Cap Classique tastings usually dearer.3 The listing gives the same range per person and leaves out food, optional cellar tours and tips.
Add it up before you go. Several tastings, a lunch and a tip for the guide make the day cost a good deal more than the ticket. That is not a reason to skip it, only a reason to set a budget and to share a tasting where an estate allows it. Cash or a card for each estate saves queuing at the end of a tasting.
On its listing the day scores 4.7 for its guide, a matching 4.7 for the transport and 4.6 when riders judge the value. If you would rather have the tastings arranged for you, a guided wine day with Stellenbosch, tastings at Lanzerac and Tokara and a ride on the tram starts from $88 and averages 4.71 from 335 reviews; the tasting fees are included only in the options that say so.
Dates, weather and practical points
The tram runs every day except 24, 25 and 31 December and 1 January.13 Between mid-May and mid-September only certain lines run on weekdays, so in winter check which lines your date offers before you book.13 On the coach day, the listing notes that the tram routes available vary by the day of operation.
Arrive on time for every leg. The wine tram asks passengers to check in 10 to 15 minutes before the scheduled departure and does not hold departures for latecomers.19 Treat the coach pickup the same way and be at your point early.
Dress for a day outdoors in the valley: sun cream, a hat and a layer for the open tram-bus in the afternoon. Drink water between tastings; the day is long, and the coach ride back to Cape Town comes at the end of it. A small bag with a bottle of water, a charged phone for the timetable and a printed copy of your booking is all you need to carry.
Your days in town
Let the red buses show you the city.
Three routes, commentary in 15 languages, and free cancellation up to 24 hours before.
You ask,we answer.
How long is the wine tram day from Cape Town?
8.5 hours. That includes the return coach from the city and the tram.
Where does the pickup start?
Fixed points in the city. Pickups start up to 30 minutes before the final 8:45 departure outside the aquarium at the V&A.
How many estates will I visit?
4 to 5. The listing says to expect 4 to 5 of the 8 estates on a line.
Are wine tastings included?
No. Estates charge separately; the range is 60 to 260 rand.3
Can I go back to an estate I skipped?
No. The tram runs in one direction, with one chance to get off at each stop.11
Does the wine tram run in winter?
Yes, with fewer lines. From mid-May to mid-September only certain lines run on weekdays.13
Is there an entrance fee at the estates?
Only at Babylonstoren. It is on the orange lines; the other estates charge no entry.14
Can I bring my own picnic?
No. Food and open alcoholic drinks are not allowed on the tour.18
Sources
Where the information comes from
- 1Franschhoek Wine Tram (official site)Frequently Asked Questions↩
- 2Franschhoek Wine Tram (official site)Frequently Asked Questions↩
- 3Franschhoek Wine Tram (official site)Frequently Asked Questions↩
- 4Franschhoek Wine Tram (official site)Frequently Asked Questions↩
- 5Franschhoek Wine Tram (official site)Frequently Asked Questions↩
- 6Franschhoek Wine Tram (official site)Frequently Asked Questions↩
- 7Franschhoek Wine Tram (official site)Frequently Asked Questions↩
- 8Franschhoek Wine Tram (official site)The Blue Line↩
- 9Franschhoek Wine Tram (official site)The Red Line↩
- 10Franschhoek Wine Tram (official site)The Pink Line↩
- 11Franschhoek Wine Tram (official site)Frequently Asked Questions↩
- 12Franschhoek Wine Tram (official site)The Orange Line↩
- 13Franschhoek Wine Tram (official site)Frequently Asked Questions↩
- 14Franschhoek Wine Tram (official site)Frequently Asked Questions↩
- 15City Sightseeing South Africa (operator of the Cape Town hop-on hop-off buses)Frequently Asked Questions Cape Town↩
- 16Franschhoek Wine Tram (official site)Frequently Asked Questions↩
- 17Franschhoek Wine Tram (official site)Frequently Asked Questions↩
- 18Franschhoek Wine Tram (official site)Frequently Asked Questions↩
- 19Franschhoek Wine Tram (official site)Frequently Asked Questions↩
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