When people talk about Stellenbosch, it’s usually all about wine tastings and vineyards. And yes – Stellenbosch is one of the most popular wine regions in South Africa. But honestly? Even as someone who doesn’t really love wine, I had the perfect day trip from Cape Town and think anyone should go see this beautiful part of our planet!
The combination of mountains, nature, cute little cafés, good coffee, and scenic roads made this one of my favourite day trips around Cape Town so far. If you’re spending some time in Cape Town and looking for an easy road trip for a day out, this Stellenbosch itinerary is such a good option – especially if wine farms aren’t your thing.
Renting a Car in Cape Town
For this road trip, we rented a car for the day via Discover Cars. They compare different rental companies across Cape Town, so you can usually find something that fits your budget and requirements quite easily.
If you’re staying in Cape Town, I’d definitely recommend choosing a pick-up and drop-off location in the city centre instead of the airport. It’s much more convenient and saves extra driving time. When filling out the form also make sure to put in the country of residence of the main driver.
By the way: You don’t need a 4WD for this Stellenbosch road trip. The roads are completely fine with a normal car.
A few things worth knowing:
- Bring your passport and a credit card
- As a German, I didn’t need an international driver’s licence (even though it technically says you do) – my normal licence was accepted
- Driving around Stellenbosch is pretty easy compared to traffic in central Cape Town. The roads weren’t too busy. There is also lots of parking space at the venues.
The Drive from Cape Town to Stellenbosch
One of the best parts of this day trip is honestly the drive itself. As you leave Cape Town behind, you’ll have views of Table Mountain in your rear-view mirror while the Stellenbosch mountains slowly appear in the distance. The scenery changes so quickly and the entire route feels incredibly beautiful. The Cape Winelands region is honestly one of the most beautiful areas near Cape Town. We left Cape Town at 9.30 am.
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First Stop: Postcard Café
Our first stop was Postcard Café. The café is nestled between mountains and surrounded by nature. You can sit outside right next to the lake and it almost feels like a little hidden forest escape. We stopped here for breakfast and coffee before continuing the drive, and it was such a peaceful start to the day. There’s plenty of parking and the atmosphere is very relaxed. If you’re looking for beautiful cafés near Stellenbosch, definitely add this one to your itinerary.
Second Stop: Jonkershoek Nature Reserve
After the lovely start into our trip, we continued towards Jonkershoek Nature Reserve. The reserve is known for its mountains, hiking trails, and valleys near Stellenbosch. The entrance fee was around 80 Rand for a day pass.
We only did a short walk through the valley because we wanted a relaxed day trip, but you could easily spend much longer here. There are several hiking loops and shorter trails depending on how active you want the day to be. Some of the shorter routes take around 2 to 2.5 hours. If you enjoy nature and scenic landscapes more than wine tastings, Jonkershoek is honestly the perfect Stellenbosch activity.
Third Stop: Hillcrest Berry Orchards
After Jonkershoek, we continued the drive to Hillcrest Berry Orchards for another coffee stop. I genuinely think this might be one of the most beautiful cafés I’ve ever visited. The terrace overlooks the mountains and the views are absolutely unreal! They serve homemade jams, brownies, cakes, scones, coffee, and all kinds of baked goods. Who needs wine?
Driving Back to Cape Town via Muizenberg
On the way back to Cape Town, we decided to take the R310 via Muizenberg because it looked beautiful on the map – and it really was. Parts of the drive run parallel to the ocean which makes the route feel completely different from the drive into Stellenbosch earlier in the day. Muizenberg itself is also worth stopping at if you have time. It’s known as one of Cape Town’s surf towns and has a very relaxed atmosphere.
One thing worth mentioning though: not everyone I talked to recommends driving the R310 route because parts of the road pass large townships. Before going, we researched it quite a bit and saw many positive experiences. The road was busy during the day and we personally didn’t feel unsafe. It definitely gives you a lot to think about while driving through the area, but for us it didn’t feel dangerous.
That being said:
- only do the route if you feel comfortable with it
- avoid driving there after dark
- if unsure, simply take the same road back towards Cape Town instead
Final Thoughts on our Stellenbosch Day Trip
I absolutely loved our day out! We were first unsure if Stellenbosch is for us, as we’re not really into wine, but it was one of the best day trips around Cape Town! Even without wine tastings, Stellenbosch has so much to offer – the hikes, pretty cafés, beautiful drives. If you’re looking for a Cape Town road trip that combines nature, good food, coffee, and slow travel, this route is honestly perfect.
To all wine and non-wine lovers: don’t skip Stellenbosch when you are in Cape Town. It’s absolutely worth experiencing.
