Destination Features
- Stellenbosch is a town in the Western Cape of South Africa about 50 km east of Cape Town. The historic town center is like a living museum with a vibrant street culture. The Stellenbosch wine region is perhaps the most famous wine producing region in South Africa and a visit to this region offers an opportunity to enjoy fine wines, great food, the arts and the culture. Stellenbosch enjoys a Mediterranean climate with hot dry Summers and cool wet Winters.
- The infamous Stellenbosch Wine Route can be enjoyed as you choose, with or without a guide and by car, bike, e-bike, scooter, swegway, tuktuk or even on foot. There are about 200 wine and grape producers in the Stellenbosch region and the wine route is the oldest in the country providing visitors with the opportunity to experience the wide range of locally grown wines. Stellenbosch is hilly but very scenic and each vineyard offers a unique experience. There are also a number of spa and wellness retreats in the region where you can enjoy a treatment or even a spa day. Spiers Spa offers to ‘smooth out the creases and knead out the knots’ with their garden to skin raw organic treatments, or you can unwind and rejuvenate for a day at Lanzerac Spa. If you prefer water rituals with salt scrubs and massages you might enjoy Babylonstoren Spa. If your interest lies more with the arts, there are various popular options for culinary and art tours in the region too. If you want to hike you can book a guide to explore The Jonkershoek National Park.
- As well as plentiful opportunities to taste wine, Stellenbosch has no lack of great restaurants. If you like organic homegrown food then try The Table at De Meye or The Kraal Restaurant. For restaurants with magnificent views, try Tokara Restaurant which offers contemporary cuisine with a view or The Gate at Quoin Rock or The Delaire Graff Wine Estate. If you’re looking for traditional recipes you could try De Volkskombuis in a renovated heritage building or restaurants run by South African chef Bertus Basson which include local dishes. Other must visit restaurants in the Stellenbosch region include Longtable Restaurant for fusion food and a welcoming atmosphere, Jordans Restaurant with its locally sourced seasonal ingredients (and walk-in cheese room!), or the infamous Rust en Vrede Restaurant with its French inspired contemporary cuisine.
- If you’re looking for yet more things to do in Stellenbosch, there are plenty of events to enjoy throughout the year. As the region is mostly farming country, the Stellenbosch Harvest Parade is a very popular annual celebration. The Stellenbosch street soirées make the most of the balmy Summer evenings and with the main roads in the town closed, visitors can snack and sip on the Stellenbosch fare in a friendly street party atmosphere. There are plenty of picnics with jazz, Stellenbosch sunsets with live music, full moon hikes, and Summer concerts held in the winelands. Sporting events including a twilight trail run and various bike tours in nearby Jonkershoek National Park. There is a calendar of live theatre events held in the outdoor amphitheatre at Oudelibertas where you can relax and be entertained surrounded by vineyards and oak trees.
- Most helpful website for fact finding and general information about Stellenbosch is provided by Visit Stellenbosch.
