01What makes the day worthwhile
You can move between wineries without arranging a car for every stop. Choose an estate that interests you, get off for a tasting and take a later departure to continue. The ride between stops is part of the day, with views of the valley along the way.
There is room to make the visit your own. You might spend longer in Babylonstoren’s garden, plan lunch at Boschendal or choose a line around wineries you have wanted to try. Start with the estate guide if you have not decided where to go.
02What you pay for separately
Your hop-on-hop-off ticket covers transport. Tastings, lunch and cellar tours are additional costs, so the ticket price alone will not tell you what the whole day costs.
You can choose how many tastings to buy and where to eat. Use the cost guide to allow for those extras before booking.
03When another option suits you better
The Wine Tram works best when several estates on the same line appeal to you. If you want to spend the whole day at one winery, travelling there directly gives you more freedom over arrival and departure.
A private driver is worth considering when your chosen wineries sit on different lines or you want to change plans as you go. On the Wine Tram, pickups follow a schedule and each route runs in one direction.
04Is the Cape Town day trip worth choosing?
Choose the return-coach tour from Cape Town if you want the road journey and Wine Tram ticket arranged together. You leave from a designated pickup point and return by coach after your estate visits.
Allow about 8½ hours for the complete trip, including travel in both directions. This suits a full day out from the city; staying in Franschhoek gives you more freedom around the start and end of your tram day.
Compare private wine tours and drivers in Franschhoek if you want more control over the route, or tours visiting Stellenbosch and Franschhoek for a wider Winelands day.
05Frequently asked questions
Is it worth going if I do not drink wine?
Yes, if the ride, gardens and estate restaurants appeal to you. Choose your stops around those activities. There is no separate non-drinker discount on the standard ticket.
Will I spend most of the day on the tram?
No. The vehicles connect your estate visits. How much time you spend at each stop depends on the departures you choose.
Should I try to visit as many wineries as possible?
Choose the places you most want to enjoy. A long lunch or garden visit can be a better use of your afternoon than adding another quick tasting.