East of the Cape Peninsula lies the wonderful Winelands and some lovely beachside resorts.
In a nutshell
With its magnificent natural beauty, its rich cultural heritage and its world-renowned wines - the Winelands region is synonymous with all the best that the Cape has to offer.
We Brits are well accustomed to the pleasure of the South African grape, and here, just a 30-min drive from Cape Town, you can discover for yourself some of the different grapes and vintages as you tour around some of the area's best-known vineyards. There are also a number of charming old towns like Franshoeck and Stellenbosch to explore, as well as many gourmet restaurants to savour around this 'foodie' paradise. The pretty, historic university town of Stellenbosch lies at the centre of the oldest and most celebrated wine route, so it's a great place to start your tour.
Sightseeing ideas
- Visit the Castle of Good Hope.
- Catch the ferry to Robben Island.
- See the African penguin colony at Boulders Beach.
- Listen out for the 'noon-day gun' fired daily from the top of Signal Hill.
- Take a tour of the Winelands - Constantia, Stellenbosch, Franschhoek and Paarl.
- Enjoy a spectacular view of Cape Town on a cable-car ride up Table Mountain.
- Visit the museums - Bo Kaap, District Six Museum, Groot Constantia and the Military Museum.
Getting there
The easiest way to access the Winelands is by car from Cape Town. The roads are well signposted and there are lots of places to stop and admire on the way! Some of the wine estates are open to the public and you can visit and do some wine tasting!