Pond at the Stark-Condé estate in front of green slopes and the peaks of the Jonkershoek Valley near Stellenbosch

Towns · Stellenbosch and Franschhoek

Stellenbosch

June, the wettest month. Rain drips from the oaks on Dorp Street, and students with their hoods pulled low push their bikes across the wet paving.

A winter day in Stellenbosch smells of wet leaves and wood smoke, and behind the rooftops the Simonsberg disappears into cloud. The town is called Eikestad, the oak town, and after Cape Town it is the oldest European settlement in South Africa. Governor Simon van der Stel founded it in 1679 and gave it his name. Fires swept through in 1710, 1804 and 1875, yet around Dorp Street Cape Dutch houses from the days of the Dutch East India Company still stand. The Village Museum shows four restored houses from different periods, furnished with pieces of their time.

founded, second-oldest town in the country
1679
first wine route in South Africa
1971
wards in the wine district, according to WOSA
8
residents, 2011 census
77,476

When it comes to wine, Stellenbosch is the yardstick for the other valleys. The country's first wine route started here in 1971, founded by Frans Malan (Simonsig), Spatz Sperling (Delheim) and Niel Joubert (Spier), among others. Today Stellenbosch Wine Routes says it represents more than 200 wine and grape producers across five sub-routes, as of September 2026. No region in the country grows more Cabernet Sauvignon: SAWIS counted 2,294 hectares at the end of 2025 for its Stellenbosch statistical region, which also takes in Somerset West. At the university Abraham Perold crossed the first Pinotage in 1925.

For a round trip Stellenbosch sits well. The airport is about 35 kilometres away, central Cape Town 55. Over Helshoogte Pass (R310) you reach Franschhoek in half an hour, with Tokara and Delaire Graff on the pass itself. The R44 towards Paarl runs past Kanonkop. No car? Since 2024 Metrorail trains run from Cape Town to Stellenbosch again, but the German Foreign Office advises against using suburban trains.

Time needed
two nights as a base for Stellenbosch and Franschhoek
When
February and March for the harvest, August for "August is Cabernet", early October for the Woordfees (3 to 11 October 2026)
From Cape Town
55 km, 44 minutes

Our tipIf you want to hike in Jonkershoek Nature Reserve, allow extra time: the car parks along the circuit road have been closed since 23 March 2026, so you walk about five kilometres from the outer car park. Root44 Market on the R44 has been closed until further notice since the end of June 2026. As of September 2026.

Wine estates in and around Stellenbosch

Places to stay in Stellenbosch

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Bellevlei Estate | Bellevlei House9.8/10

Wine estateStellenbosch and Franschhoek

Bellevlei Estate | Bellevlei House

Blaauwklippen Road

  • Pool
  • Kitchen
  • Parking
  • Air conditioning

from €137per night on 19 July 2027

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The Mustard Seed9.8/10

Place to stayStellenbosch and Franschhoek

The Mustard Seed

23 Church Street 110, Oude Hoek, 1st Floor

  • Parking
  • Air conditioning
  • Wi-Fi

from €140per night on 8 February 2027

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Penelope's Stellenbosch9.7/10

GuesthouseStellenbosch and Franschhoek★★★★

Penelope's Stellenbosch

21 Speciosa Rd

  • Pool
  • Breakfast
  • Kitchen
  • Parking

from €125per night on 14 December 2026

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Middedorp Manor9.7/10

GuesthouseStellenbosch and Franschhoek

Middedorp Manor

14 Neethling Street

  • Pool
  • Parking
  • Air conditioning
  • Wi-Fi

from €240per night on 29 January 2027

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Jonker Suite I, Serene Stay On Helshoogte Pass9.7/10

SuitesStellenbosch and Franschhoek

Jonker Suite I, Serene Stay On Helshoogte Pass

310 Helshoogte Rd Unit 10

  • Pool
  • Kitchen
  • Parking
  • Air conditioning

from €255per night on 8 February 2027

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I Wish You Candlelight @ Webersvallei9.6/10

Self-cateringStellenbosch and Franschhoek

I Wish You Candlelight @ Webersvallei

Webersvallei Road

  • Kitchen
  • Parking
  • Air conditioning
  • Wi-Fi

from €103per night on 14 December 2026

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All 123 places to stay in Stellenbosch

Wines from Stellenbosch to order

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All wines from the Winelands

Stellenbosch: frequently asked questions

How far is Stellenbosch from Cape Town and the airport?

Stellenbosch is about 55 road kilometres from central Cape Town, roughly 45 minutes via the N1 without traffic. From Cape Town International Airport it is about 35 kilometres via the N2 and R310.

Why is Stellenbosch called Eikestad?

Eikestad is Afrikaans for oak town and the old nickname of Stellenbosch. Governor Simon van der Stel founded the town in 1679, which makes it the oldest European settlement in South Africa after Cape Town.

When was the Stellenbosch Wine Route founded?

The Stellenbosch Wine Route was founded in 1971 as the first wine route in South Africa, by Frans Malan (Simonsig), Spatz Sperling (Delheim) and Niel Joubert (Spier) among others. It says it now represents more than 200 producers on five sub-routes.

Is it easy to get from Stellenbosch to Franschhoek?

From Stellenbosch to Franschhoek you drive about 30 kilometres over Helshoogte Pass (R310), around half an hour without traffic. Franschhoek Pass beyond the town has been closed since May 2026, but that does not affect this route.