Franschhoek Wine Tram: Hop-On Hop-Off from Cape Town

The Wine Tram Leaves at 9:30. You Pick Which Estates to Stop At

You're picked up from your Cape Town hotel and driven to Franschhoek, where you board a hop-on hop-off wine tram at 9:30 am. Choose from eight different estate routes, hop off at the wineries you want to visit, and pay tasting fees only for the ones you stop at. Your guide collects you if you miss a tram, so you're never stuck waiting. The return transfer to Cape Town is included, with bottled water onboard and groups kept under 10 people.

Step-by-step itinerary

Franschhoek Wine Tram Experience

• Pick up travelers from Cape Town
• Arrive at Franschhoek Wine Tram Station
• Receive pre-selected Wine Tram ticket
• Choose preferred Wine Tram route
• Hop on and off at wine estates
• Pay wine tasting fees at estates
• Tour guide assists with tram connections
• Return to starting point with guide

The experience

Your driver collects you from your Cape Town hotel in the early morning, and the minibus heads toward Franschhoek with no more than nine other people on board. The drive takes about an hour, and you'll get bottled water for the ride. By 9:30 you're at the Wine Tram station with your ticket already in hand. No queuing, no last-minute scramble. This is where the day splits into your choice: eight different tram routes run on different days, each one stopping at a different set of wine estates. The Purple and Orange lines hit places like Solms-Delta, Babylonstoren and Boschendal on Saturdays. The Green and Blue lines serve Grande Provence, Rickety Bridge and others most days. You pick your route when you book, and the tram does the rest.

What makes this different from just showing up is the backup plan. If you miss a tram at one of the estates (maybe you lost track of time over a tasting, or the group lingered longer than expected), your guide doesn't leave you stranded waiting an hour for the next one. They'll swing by and drop you at the next stop on your route. It's a small thing, but it means you're not watching the clock or stressing about connections. You hop on and off at whichever estates appeal to you. Wine tasting fees aren't included, so you pay only for the ones you actually visit, and you skip the ones that don't interest you. Some people do four estates, some do two. The tram itself is the transport. You're just choosing the rhythm.

By late afternoon, your guide brings you back to the minibus for the return drive to Cape Town. You arrive back at your hotel in the early evening, tired and probably carrying a bottle or two. The whole day (pickup, the tram ticket, the return transfer) is locked in before you leave your hotel. No negotiating with taxis, no figuring out how to get to Franschhoek on your own, no separate bookings for each piece.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off in Cape Town.
• shared small group return transfers between Cape Town and Franschhoek (maximum 10 people).
• Franschhoek Wine Tram hop-on hop-off ticket for your chosen route.
• bottled water onboard the minibus.
• guide support for the duration of the tour.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 08:00

Book up toStart time

AgesAdult (16 and older) · Infant (under 16)

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and French

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Easy physical levelInfant seats availablePublic transport nearby

Operated by Paul polano tours

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to explore Franschhoek wine estates without arranging your own transport or buying a tram ticket separately: the pickup, the ticket and the return drive are all locked in, and your guide handles the logistics so you can focus on the wine.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English and French.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Infant (under 16).

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24h before the start.

What wine estates are on each tram route?

Eight routes run on different days. Purple/Orange lines (Saturdays) include Solms-Delta, Babylonstoren and Boschendal. Green/Blue lines (most days) serve Grande Provence, Rickety Bridge and Franschhoek Cellar. Red/Yellow lines (Wed, Fri, Sat) stop at Le Lude and Eikehof. Grey/Pink lines (daily) include Haute Cabriere and Chamonix. You choose your route when booking.

Are wine tastings included in the price?

No. The tram ticket and transfers are included, but you pay tasting fees at each estate you visit on the day. You only pay for the ones you actually stop at.

What time does the tram depart?

The tram departs Franschhoek station at 9:30 am. Your driver picks you up from your Cape Town hotel early enough to get you there on time.

What happens if I miss a tram?

Your guide will collect you and drop you at the next wine estate on your chosen route, so you don't have to wait an hour for the next tram.

How many people are in the group?

Groups are kept to a maximum of 10 people, including you.

Is hotel pickup included?

Yes. Pickup and drop-off from your Cape Town hotel or a meeting point are included in the tour cost.

How long is the drive from Cape Town to Franschhoek?

The drive is approximately one hour each way.