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Franschhoek Wine Tram Guide
How the Franschhoek Wine Tram works — hop-on lines, curated days and Cape Town transfers in one hub.
Last checked: 6 October 2026
The Franschhoek Wine Tram is the valley’s best-known hop-on hop-off wine day: colour-coded lines from Franschhoek or Groot Drakenstein terminals, plus curated packages and an optional Cape Town transfer add-on. This hub covers all official Tram products in one place — hop-on lines, inclusive experiences, groups and transfers — with prices and inclusions as published by winetram.co.za.
How we checked this
Facts come from the Franschhoek Wine Tram’s own pages and booking flow (verified 6 October 2026). Secondary OTA listings (Viator, GetYourGuide) are labelled as such and are never the only source for price or inclusions. Estate tasting menus change — confirm at each cellar door.
The one fee rule you must understand
The hop-on hop-off adult ticket is R350 per person (2026). That fee is transport only. It does not include estate tastings. At the estates, tasting fees typically run R60 to R260 per person (pay at each farm). On the Orange Line, Babylonstoren’s entrance fee is also extra. Lunch is not included on hop-on tickets — dine at estates and book restaurants at least 24 hours ahead.
Child hop-on tickets are listed at R90 per child (2026) on the official hop-on pages. Curated packages have different age rules (often 18+).
Whenever you see R350 on this page for a colour line, remember: tastings R60–R260 pp at estates are extra (2026 range).
How the hop-on system works
1. Choose a colour line (Red, Blue, Pink, Orange or Green). 2. Decide Bus First or Tram First where offered (book on the official Activitar flow). 3. Start at the Franschhoek Terminal (Main Road & Cabrière Street) or, for Orange/Green, the Groot Drakenstein Terminal (R310 & R45) — a shuttle links Franschhoek Terminal to Groot Drakenstein (~15–30 minutes). 4. Hop on and off along the published timetable for that line. 5. Pay tasting and meal bills at each estate.
Operating days for hop-on lines: daily except 24 December, 25 December, 31 December and 1 January. Mid-May to mid-September, only certain lines may run on weekdays — confirm the live timetable before you travel. By October 2026, Red, Blue, Pink, Orange and Green were all listed as bookable.
Dogs are not allowed on the Wine Tram. For dog-friendly farm days without the Tram, see /pet-friendly.
Wheelchair access is limited — contact info@winetram.co.za; the hop-on product is not fully accessible. Curated packages are generally not wheelchair accessible.
Hop-on colour lines
Red Line — classic village loop
Price: R350 per person (2026); child R90 (2026). Transport only; tastings R60–R260 pp at estates extra. Departs: Franschhoek Terminal. Duration about 7 hours on the published day window. Estates (official line page): Mont Rochelle, Haute Cabrière, Lynx, Eikehof, Rickety Bridge, Grande Provence, Franschhoek Cellar.
Mont Rochelle note: tasting/restaurant has been temporarily at Miko due to construction (operator “Kindly Note”) — confirm the live stop experience when you book.
Blue Line — west / valley estates
Price: R350 per person (2026); child R90 (2026). Transport only; tastings extra as above. Departs: Franschhoek Terminal. Estates: La Bri, Holden Manz, Maison, Paserene, Klein Goederust, Grande Provence, Franschhoek Cellar, Rickety Bridge.
Pink Line — mountain side + Pigcasso
Price: R350 per person (2026); child R90 (2026). Transport only; tastings extra. Departs: Franschhoek Terminal. Estates: Rickety Bridge, Grande Provence, Franschhoek Cellar, Atlas Swift, Leopard’s Leap, Dieu Donné, Cape Chamonix, Pigcasso (Farm Sanctuary SA stop).
Orange Line — Simondium / Drakenstein icons
Price: R350 per person (2026); child R90 (2026). Transport only; tastings R60–R260 pp at estates extra; Babylonstoren entrance fee also extra. Departs: Groot Drakenstein Terminal (or Franschhoek Terminal with shuttle). Estates: Boschendal, Plaisir de Merle, Babylonstoren, Baccō, Vrede en Lust, Noble Hill.
Vrede en Lust — Savoye closure: Savoye restaurant is closed to the public from 12 October 2026 to 16 May 2027 (weddings and accommodation guests only). If you plan lunch at Vrede en Lust on the Orange Line, use Lust Bistro & Bakery (and the tasting room) rather than Savoye.
Green Line — Helshoogte + Simondium
Price: R350 per person (2026); child R90 (2026). Transport only; tastings extra. Departs: Groot Drakenstein Terminal (or Franschhoek Terminal with shuttle). Estates: Plaisir de Merle, Vrede en Lust, Boschendal, Allée Bleue, Camberley, Bartinney, Le Pommier, Zorgvliet.
Vrede en Lust — Savoye closure: same as Orange — Savoye closed to the public 12 October 2026 to 16 May 2027. Plan Lust Bistro / tasting, not Savoye, for public dining.
Curated and inclusive packages (tastings included)
These are not hop-on tickets. Tastings and meals are built into the package price. Estate names on some products are not published as text — we do not invent them.
Curated Wine Experience
Price: from R2,800 per person (2026). Ambassador-led day across three estates: wine lecture, aroma experience, premium tasting and wine pairing, plus a curated three-course lunch at the first estate restaurant. Max group 12; 18+; not wheelchair accessible. Optional Cape Town transfer with ≥48 hours’ notice. Depart ~10:00, return ~17:00.
Official Curated Wine Experience
Exceptional Wine & Cuisine Experience
Price: from R3,500 per person (2026) (official product page / homepage; older blog figures are stale). All-inclusive spoil across three estates: breakfast, lunch and dessert wine pairings, Cap Classique on the tram, coffee and beignet. Max 18; 18+; not wheelchair accessible. Optional CT transfer ≥48h.
Official Exceptional Wine & Cuisine
Flavours of the Vine — Franschhoek
Price: from R1,900 per person (2026). Four pre-selected Franschhoek estates with wine tastings, pairings and platters included. Depart 10:30 Franschhoek Terminal; return ~17:00. Max 18; 18+; need independent mobility.
Flavours of the Vine — Stellenbosch
Price: from R1,900 per person (2026) (same published figure as the Franschhoek variant). Four estates on a Stellenbosch / Helshoogte itinerary from Groot Drakenstein (depart 09:35; return ~17:00). Same age and mobility notes.
Group Experience (16+ guests)
Price: R340 per adult / R90 per child (2026) on the official group-experience page (older blog prices are stale). Private open-air bus plus shared tram for 16–32 guests; three pre-set estates. Tasting fees R60–R260 pp (2026) paid at estates; lunch/picnic optional and arranged with farms. Book ≥5 days ahead. Itinerary options include Franschhoek sets (e.g. Lynx, Klein Goederust, Holden Manz) and Groot Drakenstein sets (e.g. Plaisir de Merle, Allée Bleue, Boschendal).
Cape Town & surrounds transfer add-on
Optional chauffeured return transfer (BLUU) from hotels in Cape Town, Stellenbosch, Paarl, Strand and surrounds to Wine Tram terminals. Pickup included on the add-on. Reserve ≥48 hours ahead (last-minute: +27 21 300 0338).
Price: no public ZAR figure on official pages — the amount appears in the booking flow / quote (per vehicle, 2026). This is an add-on, not a standalone tour. Status: limited (quote-led).
OTA “Wine Tram from Cape Town” day tours that bundle transfer + ticket are secondary listings — useful for browsing, but confirm inclusions against winetram.co.za/transfers/.
Secondary examples (labelled): Viator Franschhoek Wine Tram from Cape Town; GetYourGuide Cape Town Wine Tram hop-on.
Hop-on vs curated — which to book
| Need | Better fit |
|---|---|
| Freedom to linger / skip | Hop-on colour line (R350 pp transport, 2026; tastings extra) |
| Fixed inclusive day with lunch | Flavours (R1,900 pp, 2026) or Curated (R2,800 pp, 2026) |
| Maximum spoil | Exceptional Wine & Cuisine (R3,500 pp, 2026) |
| Large group 16+ | Group Experience (R340 adult / R90 child, 2026; tastings extra) |
| Starting from a Cape Town hotel | Hop-on or package + transfer add-on (quote per vehicle) |
Still deciding between Tram, private car and Stellenbosch hop-on? See how to choose a wine tour and wine tour costs. For Stellenbosch’s Vine Hopper network: Stellenbosch hop-on hop-off. Franschhoek tuk-tuks: tuk-tuk wine tours.
Booking and lunch tips
- Book hop-on and packages on the official site / Activitar products.
- Pre-book estate restaurants ≥24 hours ahead on hop-on days.
- Budget tasting cash/card for R60–R260 per person per estate on hop-on days (2026 range).
- Winter weekdays: confirm which colour lines run.
- Dress and shoes: what to wear on a wine tour.
- Tipping and cancellation habits: wine tour tipping and booking.
- How many cellars to attempt: how many wineries in one day.
Lunch stops and restaurants: /restaurants. Overnight in the valley: /places-to-stay. On-estate tasting styles: /tasting-experiences/how-to-choose-a-wine-tasting-experience.
Sample hop-on day (no invented bookings)
Morning: Collect tickets; first tram/bus toward a quieter first pour so you are not rushing lunch. Midday: Pre-booked restaurant at an estate on your colour line (≥24 hours ahead). Afternoon: One more tasting stop, then return toward the terminal before the last service — check the live timetable, especially in winter.
Budget example shape (illustrative arithmetic only): hop-on R350 pp (2026) + two tastings in the R60–R260 band + lunch at estate prices. Do not treat OTA “from” figures as the same product without reading inclusions.
Line choice by interest
- Scenic village classics / Haute Cabrière side: start with Red.
- Holden Manz picnic energy / west valley: Blue.
- Leopard’s Leap / Chamonix / Pigcasso: Pink.
- Babylonstoren + Boschendal icons: Orange (Babylonstoren entrance fee extra; Savoye at Vrede en Lust is closed to the public 12 October 2026–16 May 2027).
- Helshoogte pass estates (Bartinney, Zorgvliet, Le Pommier): Green (Savoye at Vrede en Lust is closed to the public 12 October 2026–16 May 2027).
You cannot freely hop across every colour on one R350 (2026) ticket — you book a line. If you need Franschhoek village and Babylonstoren in one day, plan Orange (or a curated package / private day) rather than assuming Red covers Simondium.
Navy / Green naming on older pages
Some FAQ copy still mentions a legacy Navy line or says Green was discontinued. Live navigation and booking for October 2026 list Green (and Red, Blue, Pink, Orange) as current. Follow the live booking lines, not stale FAQ sentences.
Accessibility and pacing
Hop-on access is limited — email the operator before you assume step-free boarding. Curated packages need independent mobility. Build fewer stops if anyone tires easily (how many wineries in one day; accessible wine tours). Non-drinkers in the group: sober and non-alcoholic options.
Self-drive vs Tram
If someone in the party wants to drink, do not self-drive the valley afterwards (wine tours vs self-drive; wine tasting without driving). The Tram solves the designated-driver problem inside Franschhoek’s published network; it does not replace a private itinerary for off-line boutique farms.
Money map (keep bases separate)
| Product | Published from-price | Basis | Year | Tastings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hop-on colour lines | R350 adult / R90 child | per person | 2026 | Extra R60–R260 pp at estates |
| Group Experience 16+ | R340 adult / R90 child | per person | 2026 | Extra R60–R260 pp at estates |
| Flavours of the Vine | R1,900 | per person | 2026 | Included (with platters) |
| Curated Wine Experience | R2,800 | per person | 2026 | Included (+ lunch) |
| Exceptional Wine & Cuisine | R3,500 | per person | 2026 | Included (pairings throughout) |
| CT transfer add-on | Quote in booking flow | per vehicle | 2026 | N/A |
Never add a per-person hop-on ticket to a per-vehicle transfer quote and call the sum a “per person total” without saying so.
What to pack on a Tram day
Comfortable shoes for gravel and cellar steps, a light layer for air-conditioned tasting rooms, water, sunscreen, and a card for cellar-door fees (what to wear). If you spit, you will still need food — book lunch. Non-drinkers: ask estates about juice or non-alcoholic pairings (sober options).
After the Tram
Buying wine to take home: /tasting-experiences/buying-wine-after-tasting. Booking future cellar doors yourself: /tasting-experiences/how-to-book-wine-tastings. Overnight instead of rushing back to Cape Town: /places-to-stay.
Terminal logistics
Franschhoek Terminal sits at Main Road and Cabrière Street — walkable from many village stays, or a short transfer from guesthouses. Groot Drakenstein Terminal sits at the R310/R45 junction for Orange and Green. If you sleep in Franschhoek village but book Orange or Green, allow time for the operator’s shuttle (about 15–30 minutes) rather than assuming every colour starts on Main Road.
Arrive early enough to collect tickets without missing the first bus or tram of your booked orientation (Bus First vs Tram First). Peak Saturdays fill curated packages — book ahead.
Families, celebrations and large groups
Families on hop-on lines should pick fewer estates and protect nap or snack windows. Celebrations that need privacy may prefer a private vehicle or the Group Experience (16+) rather than a busy shared tram carriage. Bachelor/bachelorette energy still has to respect estate house rules — cellars can refuse disorderly groups.
For dog-free transport but dog-friendly farms on another day, split the itinerary: Tram day without pets, then a separate /pet-friendly farm day.
Secondary OTA listings — how to read them
Viator and GetYourGuide often sell “Wine Tram from Cape Town” bundles. Treat them as secondary: useful for reviews and availability browsing, but always reconcile the inclusions with winetram.co.za (hop-on ticket vs curated package vs transfer). If an OTA price looks far below the 2026 hop-on price of R350 pp, read whether it is a partial product, a sale, or a different product entirely.
Why this is the only Tram URL you need
Cape Town transfer searches, curated “spoil” days, hop-on colour lines and group bookings all resolve here so we do not duplicate Thin Tram pages under tasting experiences or a separate “Wine Tram from Cape Town” URL. Deep tasting technique still lives under /tasting-experiences/how-wine-tasting-works; transport product choice stays on Tours.
If you only remember three facts: R350 pp (2026) hop-on is transport only; tastings R60–R260 pp at estates are extra; Savoye at Vrede en Lust is closed to the public 12 October 2026–16 May 2027 on Orange and Green dining plans.
Confirm before you go (checklist)
- Colour line and Bus First / Tram First selection match the estates you care about.
- Restaurant bookings sit on that same line (≥24 hours).
- Winter weekday timetable still includes your line.
- Transfer add-on booked ≥48 hours if you need Cape Town / Stellenbosch / Paarl / Strand hotel pickup.
- Orange Line guests know Babylonstoren entrance is extra and Savoye is closed to the public from 12 October 2026 to 16 May 2027.
- Green Line guests know Savoye at Vrede en Lust is closed to the public 12 October 2026–16 May 2027 if it's on the lunch plan.
- Hop-on guests have budgeted tasting fees beyond R350 pp (2026).
Last word
Book on the official site, budget tasting fees beyond the hop-on ticket, and treat Orange/Green lunch plans around Vrede en Lust with the Savoye public closure (12 October 2026–16 May 2027) in mind. That is the whole Tram story in one hub.
FAQs
Does the R350 (2026) Wine Tram ticket include tastings?
No. The hop-on fee is R350 per person (2026) for transport only. Estate tastings typically cost R60 to R260 per person, paid at each farm. Babylonstoren’s entrance fee is also extra on the Orange Line.
Can I do the Wine Tram from Cape Town?
Yes — add the official Cape Town & surrounds hotel transfer (≥48 hours’ notice). There is no public ZAR price on the transfers page; you see the per-vehicle amount in the booking quote (2026). OTA bundles are secondary.
Which line visits Babylonstoren?
The Orange Line. Budget the hop-on ticket plus tasting fees plus Babylonstoren’s entrance fee.
Is Savoye open if I stop at Vrede en Lust?
Savoye is closed to the public from 12 October 2026 to 16 May 2027. On Orange and Green Line days, plan Lust Bistro and the tasting room instead.
Are dogs allowed on the Wine Tram?
No. For dog-friendly wine-farm planning see /pet-friendly.
Is the Tram good for children?
Hop-on lines list child tickets (R90, 2026) and allow kids. Curated / Flavours / Exceptional packages are typically 18+. Pace the day — see how many wineries in one day.
Wine Tram vs Vine Hopper?
Tram is Franschhoek-centred (with Orange/Green into Simondium / Helshoogte). Vine Hopper is Stellenbosch-centred hop-on — Stellenbosch hop-on hop-off wine tour.
Related guides
- How to choose a wine tour
- Wine tour costs
- Wine tasting without driving
- Stellenbosch hop-on hop-off
- Tuk-tuk wine tours Franschhoek
- E-bike wine tours
- What to wear
- Accessible wine tours
- /pet-friendly · /restaurants · /places-to-stay
Last checked: 6 October 2026
Rates, guest numbers, and what is bookable change. Check the farm’s website before you commit.