Which Franschhoek Wine Tram Line Should You Choose?

Choose your Franschhoek Wine Tram line by finding the one estate or lunch you would be disappointed to miss. Then add a second estate on the same line and leave a third as optional. For a first day built around food and wine, that leaves time to sit down for a meal and makes it easier to catch the return service.

Featured photograph: Franschhoek Valley in 2013. SkyPixels, CC BY-SA 4.0. Featured framing may be cropped.

Choose a line around the estate you want

Orange for Babylonstoren and Boschendal. The operator's Orange Line page lists both estates, with the route starting at Groot Drakenstein Terminal. It gives the option of taking a link shuttle from Franschhoek Terminal or going directly to Groot Drakenstein. If the garden at Babylonstoren is your priority, build in enough time to walk around before considering another tasting. If lunch at Babel is the reason for choosing Orange, reserve separately. Its published lunch service is Wednesday to Sunday. The estate's garden page lists an entrance fee.

Red for Haute Cabrière or Mont Rochelle. Both appear on the operator's Red Line list, which departs from the Franschhoek Terminal. This is a practical comparison with Orange if you're staying in the village and have an estate on Red in mind. The line also lists Franschhoek Cellar, Grande Provence and Rickety Bridge. Compare the current timetable before picking an estate as your lunch anchor.

Blue for Klein Goederust or La Bri. Both are on the Blue Line list at the time of review. Blue also departs from Franschhoek Terminal and shares some estates with Red. If Grande Provence, Rickety Bridge or Franschhoek Cellar is your first choice, let the other stop and the timetable decide between the two. Use the operator's current pages even if an old trip report calls the same estate by a different line colour.

Make lunch the fixed point in the day

First check when your chosen estate serves lunch. Then put the table time beside the line's drop-off and pickup times. Leave a buffer for getting from the stop to the dining room, and check that there's a later pickup if you intend to linger. A late lunch may leave time for only one earlier stop. That's a workable day if lunch was the main reason for booking.

On Orange, for example, you could spend the first part of the day at Babylonstoren and make Boschendal's Deli your meal stop, provided the reservations and timetable fit. Or reserve Babel first and leave Boschendal as a second stop if there's time. The Wine Tram FAQ recommends making lunch reservations at least 24 hours before travel. If you have a specific table in mind, check its availability before buying the tram ticket.

Book transport and estate activities separately

The hop-on hop-off ticket covers the operator's service. Tastings, meals and other estate activities are paid for separately. Keep the tram ticket, the estate booking and your onward transport confirmation together. Tell everyone the exact terminal and meeting time. If you choose the Orange Line link shuttle, follow your booking instructions so the shuttle connection is included in your arrival plan.

From Cape Town, the operator lists optional paid transfers. If you arrange a private driver, share the booked terminal and the likely end time. Ask how to reach your driver if you miss a connection. If your group includes non-drinkers, choose an estate with a meal, garden or another experience that they would enjoy and check the admission arrangements before buying.

Still choosing a valley? Read our Stellenbosch or Franschhoek day-trip comparison. If you're spending a separate part of the holiday on the Cape Peninsula, Aqua Terra in Simon's Town welcomes guests aged 12 and over. Check Aqua Terra availability.

Editorial review by Aqua Terra. Wine Tram route lists, terminal instructions and named estate pages checked 3 November 2026. Check the operator's timetable and the estate's meal service again before booking.