Cape Winelands
Cape Town to Franschhoek:
the longer, better drive
Around 75 kilometres and an hour from the city — further than Stellenbosch, harder to reach without a car, and the reason most visitors end up wishing they had booked a driver.
6 min read · Updated August 2026 · GoLula
Franschhoek lies roughly 75 km from Cape Town, usually about an hour by road via the N1 and R45 through Paarl. From Cape Town International it is a similar run and you do not need to enter the city.
Why it is harder than Stellenbosch
Stellenbosch is a working university town with its own centre and reliable transport in and out. Franschhoek is a village at the end of a valley. There is no rail link, e-hailing supply is thin and unreliable once you are in the valley, and the return trip late in the day is where people get stuck.
That combination is why the Franschhoek trip is the one visitors most often get wrong — they arrive fine and then cannot leave easily.
The wine tram, and what it does not solve
The hop-on hop-off wine tram is genuinely good for moving between estates once you are in the valley. What it does not do is get you there from Cape Town or the airport, or take you home afterwards.
Plenty of visitors combine the two sensibly: a chauffeur out and back, the tram in the middle. That works well.
Out and back, on a fixed fare
A transfer each way, or hourly hire for the full day so the car waits between estates. Either way the fare is agreed before you travel.
The drive itself
The R45 into the valley is one of the more beautiful approaches in the Cape, and the Franschhoek Pass beyond the village is better still. In an electric car it is quieter than you expect — no gearbox hunting on the climbs, which on a mountain pass is the difference between a drive and a view.
Coming back after dark, the pass and valley roads are unlit and narrow in places. Worth factoring in if anyone in the group was planning to drive.
How long should you allow?
An hour each way is realistic outside peak. Leaving Cape Town after 15:30 on a weekday, or returning between 16:00 and 18:00, add meaningful time on the N1.
How far is Franschhoek from Cape Town?
About 75 km, usually around an hour by road via the N1 and R45.
Is there public transport to Franschhoek?
There is no rail link, and e-hailing availability in the valley is unreliable — particularly for the return trip.
Can we combine a chauffeur with the wine tram?
Yes, and many visitors do. A transfer in and out, with the tram used between estates during the day.
Request your fare for this route
Tell us your date and time. We confirm a fixed fare, usually within the hour.
Ready when you are.
Fixed fare, silent cabin, a chauffeur already watching your flight.