20 things to do in Stellenbosch in the Cape Winelands

By Roxanne Reid
Known as the City of Oaks thanks to trees planted centuries ago, South Africa’s Stellenbosch is a must on any Western Cape itinerary. It’s ideal for weekend getaways from Cape Town too. Think historic Cape Dutch buildings, wine farms and mountains, art galleries and restaurants – there’s no shortage of things to do in Stellenbosch. 

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1. Pop in to the Tourism Info Centre
Start your visit at the Tourism Info Centre at 47 Church Street to pick up a map of Stellenbosch’s main centre. If you ask nicely, the staff can also highlight things to do that suit your particular interests, whether you’re inclined to the historic, cultural or action-packed.

2. Take a walking tour 

Take your map and head off on a walking tour of the historic square, Die Braak, with its thatched old church and powder magazine. You’ll find lots of old buildings and national monuments along Church, Dorp and Ryneveld streets. Take your time and pop in to one of the coffee shops for a pick-me-up along the way.

3. Visit Oom Samie se Winkel ​

This Victorian-style general dealer in Dorp Street has been around since 1904 and the building is now a national monument. If you can get past the smell of dried fish near the entrance, you’ll delight in a rabbit warren of fascinating bric a brac, sweets, vintage clothing, books, wine and more. Parts of it look almost like a museum so old-fashioned are some of the items for sale. It’s great for browsing and atmosphere, but you won’t leave without buying at least something.

4. Visit the Village Museum
Don’t miss the Village Museum in Ryneveld Street, where Schreuder House gives a peek into the way of life here in the early 1700s. This is the oldest restored and documented town house in South Africa. Two other buildings that are part of the museum are Bletterman House, which depicts what life was like in Stellenbosch in the late 18th century, and Grosvenor House, which represents the early 19th century.

5. Visit the Toy and Miniature Museum

If you’re young at heart don’t miss a visit to the Stellenbosch toy museum in the Rhenish parsonage (built 1815) in Mark Street. There’s a host of stuff from days gone by, including toy cars and trains, a miniature Stellenbosch and Matjiesfontein Hotel, board games and marbles, even a miniature Oom Samie se Winkel (see point 4). I particularly enjoyed the antique dolls (like Gretchen, made in Germany in 1905) and doll’s houses.

6. Escape to the ​Botanical Garden

Get away from the heat and the crowds by ducking into the gorgeous Stellenbosch Botanical Garden on the corner of Riebeeck and Neethling streets. Dating back to 1902, it’s the oldest university botanical garden in the country. You’ll find a range of indigenous Cape plants as well as some exotics. Stroll along the paths to visit the lily pond, glasshouses, fern house, herb garden and bonsai garden. There’s no more peaceful place in the beating heart of Stellenbosch. Relax on a bench in the shade or grab a cuppa at the small restaurant underneath a gigantic tree.

7. Visit a gallery or studio​

If you appreciate art, explore the Stellenbosch art route, which includes galleries and art museums like the SMAC Art Gallery (emerging and contemporary art) and the Rupert Museum (20th century South African art). For a more intimate experience, visit the Stephen Rautenbach Sculpture Studio & Gallery in Church Street where you might be lucky enough to meet the charming sculptor himself. Keep your eyes peeled as you visit wine farms in the region (see point 9) because many of them display art works by local creatives.

8. Visit a sculpture garden
If you’re particularly keen on sculpture, spend half a day exploring the 7ha and more than 60 sculptures at the Dylan Lewis sculpture garden in Paradyskloof Road. Walk 4km of pathways to see some of his characteristic pieces set against the background of the indigenous gardens and the mountains beyond. It’s essential to book ahead. Your entry fee gives you access to the gardens for a self-guided tour, but you can book a 1.5-hour guided tour at an added cost.

9. Go wine tasting ​

There are more than 150 Stellenbosch wine farms to choose from; get a map of them from the Tourist Info Centre in Mark Street (see point 1) and set off on a Stellenbosch wine tour. Some of our favourites include Delheim (try the wine and fynbos cupcake pairing), Lanzerac (try the wine and artisanal chocolate pairing) and Rust en Vrede (gorgeous gardens, lovely old Cape Dutch buildings and good wines). If you want to get the most out of your visit to five or six wineries in a single day without having to worry about driving under the influence, book a Vine Hopper hop-on and hop-off service.

​10. Enjoy coffee shops and restaurants
There are many superb restaurants to enjoy in Stellenbosch and surrounds, offering everything from fine dining to bistros and coffee shops. For fabulous views, one of my favourite bistro-style eateries is the Postcard Café. For coffee and pastries try Meraki (ask for a double shot if you don’t like weak coffee) or Schoon. If you have an extravagant budget, there’s fine dining at the restaurant at Rust en Vrede, Terroir at Kleine Zalze or the Delaire Graff restaurant.

11. Enjoy a picnic 

Stellenbosch wine farms make a wonderful backdrop for relaxing picnics in beautiful surroundings. In summer, enjoy a Boschendal picnic on the lawns next to a gazebo or in the rose garden. Other wineries that offer pre-packed picnic baskets include Hartenberg, Morgenhof, Spier and Warwick. You need to book at least 24 hours ahead; prices vary quite a bit so check the price and menu before you book.

12. See a duck parade 

Vergenoegd wine farm has turned a necessity into a delightful tourist attraction. They use Indian runner ducks to help control snails and other pests in their vineyards and you can watch the duck parade as they go to or from the vineyards at 10:30, 12:30 and 15:30 each day. Get there a bit early and enjoy a cup of coffee and a snack or a glass of wine overlooking a dam before the parade.

13. Ride a Segway through the vineyards

Photo: Spier Segway Tours

If the idea of rolling through vineyards and an organic farm is something that appeals to you, do a Spier Segway Tour. Available from November to April, it’s a great way to explore the property without getting hot and bothered. You get a short orientation and practice session before you go out on the two-wheeled, self-balancing personal transporters and quickly get the hang of the very easy controls. Remember never to step in front of it as one of the people in our group did – you might get hurt. Rather step back off it and it will simply stop. After your ride around the farm, which takes about two hours, you can enjoy some of the other attractions at Spier like restaurants, wine tasting, a craft market or artisan studio.

14. Discover the Beer Route
With all the emphasis on wine in Stellenbosch, you may not realise that there’s also a Beer Route for lovers of things made with hops and malted barley. It includes breweries like Stellenbosch Brewing Company, LilyPatrick Brewery and Zebonkey.

15. Go strawberry picking

A summer’s day spent picking your own strawberries at a Stellenbosch strawberry farm sounds romantic for couples – or fun for the kids. Try Polkadraai, which is open for picking every day between September and January. There are other fun activities for kids like tractor rides, pony rides and face painting. Or visit Mooiberge, which is open for picking on the weekends and public holidays from October to December, and every day during the December school holidays. You can’t miss the wacky crowd of colourful and photogenic scarecrows and other animals (pictured above).

16. Visit the Babylonstoren garden 

Just outside Stellenbosch, on the Klapmuts/Simondium Road, you’ll find Babylonstoren, which has some of the loveliest fruit and vegetable gardens you could dream of. The 3.5ha of gardens are laid out in formal clusters, with pebble paths leading around them. You’re welcome to explore some 300 species of plants on your own or to join a guided tour, which starts every day at 10:00 outside the farm shop. The organic, biologically sustainable fruit and veg are harvested for use in farm-to-fork restaurants. Keep going right to the back of the garden where you’ll find the Babylonstoren greenhouse under the oaks where you can enjoy tea or a light lunch while you rest in the shade.

17. Get active at Jonkershoek Nature Reserve 

If all you want to do is get into the great outdoors, to breathe in some fresh air and enjoy views of towering mountains, Jonkershoek Nature Reserve is the place to be. There are short walks and more challenging hikes, from 5.3km to 18km. Mountain bikers can tackle one of the mountainous routes on the Department of Forestry land. There are routes suitable for all stages, from beginners and novices to advanced and expert riders.

18. Enjoy an open-air concert 

Few places are more gorgeous for a summer concert than the Oude Libertas Amphitheatre, set among green lawns, shady oak trees and vineyards on the slopes of the Papegaaiberg. The summer season opens on November 1 and might include concerts from singing and music to dance and the performing arts in all its forms, perhaps even a performance from one of Pieter Dirk Uys’ alter egos. Check their website (link above) in summer for updates on the current series. Pack your own picnic to enjoy on the lawns before the concert; the grounds are open from 16:00.

19. Visit a market 

Weekends are a time to visit a market in Stellenbosch. There’s the Slow Food Market at the Oude Libertas estate on Saturdays from 9:00 till 14:00, where you can get your fix of foods grown, raised, harvested or transformed by locals. (This is the same place as the Amphitheatre in point 18.) The Blaauwklippen Family Market takes place at Blaauwklippen wine farm every Sunday from 10:00 till 15:00. Find fresh produce, small antiques, arts and crafts, and lots of food to buy and enjoy as a picnic on the lawns. While you sip wine under the giant fig trees, there’s a range of activities to keep the kids entertained. Root 44 at Audacia wine farm has a range of arts and crafts, home-ware stalls and lots of food and craft drinks to enjoy. There’s also a play area to keep the kids happy.

20. Join a cultural tour of Kayamandi township
For something completely different, join a guided township tour to meet the locals and learn about their lives, their food and their stories. Visit private homes, a church or school, a spaza shop and meet the creative people at craft shops. Try to support the local community and be respectful as you travel so your outing doesn’t cross the line into voyeurism or ‘poverty tourism’. Remember this is home for the people you’ll meet (Kayamandi means ‘Sweet Home’). Support local guides from the community by booking through Stellenbosch Township and Village.

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