Franschhoek Wine Tram

Franschhoek, about an hour and a quarter from Cape Town, is the most beautiful of the Winelands valleys: a long, narrow basin of vineyards and orchards closed in by high mountains, with a village of white gabled houses, restaurants and galleries along its main street. It owes its name, the French corner, to the Huguenot refugees who settled here from the late 1680s after fleeing religious persecution in France, and the Huguenot Monument at the head of the village marks their story. Today the valley is known as the food and wine capital of the Cape, and the Franschhoek Wine Tram is the easiest way to explore it without anyone having to drive. The idea is simple. You choose a line, each of which links a set of wine estates, and travel between them on a combination of a vintage-style tram on the old railway line and open-sided tram-buses, getting off at the estates that appeal for a tasting, a cellar tour or lunch, then catching the next service to continue. Each line covers a handful of farms, from historic estates with Cape Dutch manor houses to modern cellars with sweeping views, and the timetable means you can visit four or five estates in a day at a relaxed pace. The tour linked here, run by a Cape Town operator, includes a return luxury coach from the Dock Road meeting point at the V&A Waterfront, the wine tram ticket for the tram and tram-bus, a wine tasting on board and a guide; tastings at the estates and lunch are paid on the day. It is a long day, about eight hours, but a sociable and easy one, and it solves the biggest problem of the Winelands for visitors: getting there and back safely after a day of tasting.

How it works on the day: the coach drops you at the tram terminal in Franschhoek, where you are assigned your line and given a timetable. Services run roughly every hour along each line, so plan your stops around them, and do not try to fit in too many; three or four estates with a long lunch is plenty. Estate tasting fees are paid separately at each farm, typically a modest amount per flight in rand, and many estates waive them if you buy wine. Lunch at a wine estate is one of the great pleasures of the Cape, so book a table at your chosen farm in advance, particularly on weekends and in the summer holidays. Bring a hat and sunscreen, as you will spend time outside between stops, and a light jacket for the evening return.

Alternatives: if you are driving or staying in Franschhoek, you can buy the wine tram ticket directly and join for the day without the coach; the tram terminal is in the village. Private drivers and smaller guided tours offer more flexibility for those who want to choose particular estates, and the shared Stellenbosch and Franschhoek day tours visit both regions in one go, with less time in each. Franschhoek village itself deserves a stroll for its galleries, shops and cafes, and it is a superb overnight stop if you can spare a night in the Winelands.

Who it suits: couples, groups of friends and anyone who enjoys wine, food and scenery. Families are welcome on the tram, and some estates have gardens and play areas, but the day is designed around tasting. Non-drinkers can enjoy the views, the estates' food and non-alcoholic options such as grape juice tastings. The best seasons are spring and summer, when the vines are green, and autumn harvest, when the leaves turn gold and red.