Activities in Franschhoek

Do you have an ‘at leisure’ day in your itinerary while staying in Franschhoek? Franschhoek has so much to offer besides fine wines, fabulous restaurants, boutique accommodation and genuine hospitality. Here’s a list of activities to enhance your stay in this scenic and historic little town in the heart of the Cape winelands.

 Visiting Franschhoek and looking for ‘what to do’ ideas?

Franschhoek Wine Tram

A combination of a bus and tram ride that allows you to hop on and off at the wine farms on your chosen itinerary. There are eight lines – Orange, Purple, Blue, Green, Red, Grey, Pink, and Yellow – each of which visits between seven and nine wine estates and showcases a different part of the Franschhoek Valley. Book a departure time for one of the tours, and then feel free to hop on and hop off at the various wine estates on your chosen route.

Contact: www.winetram.co.za

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Babylonstoren

World-famous for its magnificent five-hectare garden with indigenous plants, age-old trees, cycads, beehives, orchards and herbs. Explore it on your own or enjoy a guided tour with one of the gardeners.  It’s great for families too. There is an excellent wine museum and glass-enclosed Tasting Cellar. Visit artisanal “factories” making balsamic vinegar, juice, soaps and essential oils using the garden’s produce. There’s good coffee at The Coffee Roastery. There are two restaurants. – The Greenhouse (no reservations) and Babel (reservation required).

Times: Summer: Monday – Sunday, 9am – 6pm. Winter: Monday – Sunday, 9am – 5pm. Garden tour: 10am daily
The once-off entry fee gives you “membership” access for 12 months.
Contact : 021 863 3852, www.babylonstoren.com
Where : Babylonstoren Road, Franschhoek

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Art Galleries

Art pairs perfectly  with food and wine!  Franschhoek is a treasure trove for art collectors  and admirers with lots of galleries, many within walking distance and catering to every taste. Don’t miss AITY,  The Rodwell Gallery, Abé Opperman, Ebony/Curated and Everard Read with galleries at Leeu Estates and Grand Provence.

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Wine Tasting Tour by e-bike

E-bike through the Franschhoek vineyards with Bike n Wines, the ultimate biking wine tour. Visit four premier wine estates, enjoying premium tastings, gourmet food pairings, and a leisurely winelands platter along the way. With stunning mountain views and a relaxed pace, this tour is ideal for wine lovers who want a refined yet adventurous way to experience the valley’s beauty and flavours.

Contact: +27 74 186 0418  bikesnwines.com/location/franschhoek
Where: Tour start and ends at Basse Provence Country Estate, Franschhoek

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Hiking Mont Rochelle

There are ten hiking trails in the Mont Rochelle Reserve above Franschhoek ranging from 2km (one hour, easy) to 13km (six to seven hours, moderate). Head for Breakfast Rock, then to the Uitkyk viewpoint (via the Manganese Trail) or further up the Du Toitskop and Perdekop peaks. Or take the Cats’ Path, a historic wagon route. Along with the scenery, there’s wonderfully diverse fynbos and plant life, prolific birdlife, and mountain streams (except in the hot months).

Contact: 083 270 7291, www.montrochellehiking.co.za/trails
Where: Lambrecht Road/Franschhoek Pass (R45), 7km from town

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La Motte Nature Hike

La Motte is an historic wine estate committed to quality,  conservation and biodiversity.  Learn more and see the results on the 5km circular Sustainable Hike (self-guided or guided), which goes through picturesque vineyards and mountain fynbos and a protea garden. A fair degree of fitness is required. Before or after, follow your nose to the La Motte Artisanal Bakery & Garden Café, for treats fresh out of the wood-fired oven and a seasonal menu. Wine-tastings are offered in the historic cellar.

Times: Tuesday – Sunday, 9am – 2pm (latest start)
Note: The trail is closed in winter (June – September)
Bakery: Wednesday – Sunday, 8am – 4pm (kitchen closes at 3pm)
Wine-tasting: Tuesday – Sunday, 9am – 5pm
Online pre-booking is essential
Contact 021 876 8820, www.la-motte.com
Where:  R45, 6km before Franschhoek

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Friday Night Market at Boschendal

Boschendal’s maze of gardens and mountain views are lovely on any day, but on a Friday night there are few better places to be than on its historic Werf. The Friday Night Market has live music, fun kids’ entertainment, fairylights and good  food and drinks.  Pre-book a sharing snack box (filled with farm-fresh goodies), or enjoy pizzas and local ‘boerie’ rolls – or oysters and platters at the Wine Bar. For kids, there’s the The Treehouse playground and pump track, which is right next to the Werf and one of the best jungle gyms ever! The Werf Restaurant, Deli and Farm Shop are also open on Friday night. Free entry to the market must be pre-booked (to limit numbers), and you’ll need to reserve restaurant and deli tables.

Also on offer at Boschendal : daytime picnics (daily in summer), wine-tastings, mountain-biking, horse-riding, farm tours and an art gallery.

Times: Friday Market: 5pm – 9pm
Contact: 021 870 4200,  www.boschendal.com
Where: Helshoogte Road (R310), Pniel, Franschhoek

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Perfume Museum and Workshop

Join passionate master perfumers Daniela and Dimo, who set up the first perfume museum in South Africa 26 years ago, and have been guiding countless visitors ever since in making their own signature scents. At the Perfume Privé workshop, in an art-filled Victorian house, you’ll learn all about notes and ingredients, then use fragrance oils imported from Grasse, France, to mix up your unique formula.
Times: On request
Contact: 072 342 4174,  www.kumanovperfumery.com
Where: 2 Huguenot Street, Franschhoek

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Beer Tasting at Tuk Tuk

Tuk Tuk is the only microbrewery in the centre of Franschhoek. Located in an 1886 gabled building on the main street, it is all industrio-cool vibes inside: exposed brick, sandblasted walls, vaulted ceilings, copper and stainless-steel piping. Take a break from wine tasting and watch the owners brew a variety of beers– lager, weiss, IPA or blonde ale. They also offer a broader beer experience, by showcasing niche craft breweries from the Franschhoek area. The menu is globally inspired, showcasing favourites that go down well with beer – nachos, tacos, crispy Korean chicken, burgers, fish and chips and curry.
Times: Monday – Sunday, 11am – 11pm
Contact: 021 492 2207,   www.tuktuk.co.za
Where: 14 Huguenot Road, Franschhoek

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The Huguenot Memorial Museum

The Huguenot Monument stands out at the top end on the main street. The adjacent Memorial Museum tells the story of the 300 French refugees who arrived at the Cape in 1688. Exhibits range from magnificent models of their ships to household items, religious artefacts and family portraits. You’ll also learn more about Franschhoek, fynbos and the original Khoekhoe inhabitants of the area. The architecture of the museum building itself is also interesting.  
Times: Monday – Sunday, 9am – 5pm (last entry 4.15pm)
Contact: 063 758 1623,  www.museum.co.za
Where: Lambrechts Road, Franschhoek

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Franschhoek Motor Museum

The Motor Museum on L’Ormarins wine estate houses a magnificent collection of cars, motorbikes, tricycles, bicycles and auto memorabilia – all in mint condition. More than a century of motoring history is on display, from antique and vintage to post-1945 and post-1960. In the four exhibition halls, get up close to an A–Z of icons, from Bentleys and Buicks to the Ford Model T and Mustang, Rolls-Royce and Porsche. The displays are rotated to keep things interesting, making return visits a must. Visits are by pre-booking online only; ask for a guided tour at no extra charge.

Times: Monday – Friday, 10am – 5pm (last entry 4pm)
Saturday, Sunday + public holidays, 10am – 4pm (last entry 3pm)
Contact: 021 874 9000, www.fmm.co.za
Where:  L’Ormarins Estate, R45, Franschhoek

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Trout Fishing

The Wemmershoek River flows through pretty La Ferme farm, which has four dams – two filled with trout exclusively, for fly-fishing only; one is carp only (great for novices); the other has a mix of trout, bass and tilapia for spinning and fly-fishing. You can hire the rods and buy bait at the shop on site. All fishing is catch-and-release, except the trout in December to March (catch-and-pay). A fee is payable for injured fish. You’ll find smoked Franschhoek trout on many menus in Franschhoek and beyond.
Times: Monday – Sunday, 7am – 6pm
Contact 021 300 3899,  www.laferme.co.za/fishing
Where: Off R301 (to Paarl), Franschhoek

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The Spa at Leeu Estates

Leeu’s Spa By Healing Earth is a world-class wellness sanctuary on the picture perfect Leeu Estate, with four treatment rooms (including three couples’ suites) that look out over the Franschhoek valley. Elemental modern architecture and next-level spa attire welcome you and set the tone for signature Pinotage-based vinotherapy treatments by Healing Earth. There’s a nail salon, separate his-and-hers steam rooms, and a heated plunge pool overlooking a tranquil lily pond. The lavish relaxation area is the perfect place to linger.
Times Monday – Sunday, 10am – 7pm
Contact 021 492 2223, leeuspafhk@leeucollection.com
Where:  Leeu Estates, Dassenberg Road, Franschhoek

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Huguenot Chocolates

Local chocolatiers Danver Windvogel and Denver Adonis learnt their trade in Belgium, and now hand-craft a wide variety of treats using imported Belgian chocolate (dark, milk and white), in a range of forms and flavours. Choose from chilli or espresso truffles, crème brûlée, pistachio creme, Irish coffee, pink champagne or Pinotage. Join the twice daily 30-minute Chocolate Experience for a demo and a tasting, or book a full hands-on chocolate-making workshop.
Times Shop: Monday – Friday, 8am – 5.30pm; weekends from 9am. Chocolate Experience: Monday – Sunday, 11am + 3pm
Contact 021 876 4096  www.huguenotchocolates.com
Where:  1 Daniel Hugo Street, Franschhoek

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High Tea and Bubbly

Le Lude makes award-winning Cap Classique bubblies! And the beautiful Orangerie Restaurant is the perfectly elegant setting for High Tea which begins with a glass of Le Lude brut or brut rosé. Then there is a choice of nine TWG teas accompanied by delicious eats on a silver-tiered platter including finger sandwiches, frittatas, buttermilk scones with chantilly creme and decadent sweet treats such as profiteroles, madeleines, macaroons and petite carrot cake.

Times Monday – Sunday, 10am, 10.30am,11am, 3pm. Book in advance.
Contact 021 876 2961,  www.lelude.co.za
Where: Bowling Green Avenue, off Lambrechts Road, Franschhoek

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Wine Blending

Inspired to make your own wine? The two-hour Winemaker for a Day workshop guides you through the art of blending different grape varieties to create a distinctive wine, under the expert guidance of sommelier/wine director Ricardo Roux, and then you’ll cork, capsule and label your bottle to take home (or to enjoy with your next dinner). It’s held in The Vintage Room at Café du Vin, which is also home to a great bistro, a 12 000-bottle wine cellar and linked to the first wine-themed boutique hotel. Sessions are limited to eight participants.

Times Monday – Sunday, 10am – 5pm (by appointment)
Contact 067 412 6223 (WhatsApp)  www.winemakerforaday.co.za
Where: 46 Huguenot Road, Franschhoek

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