What to do in Stellenbosch in South Africa - 9 tips

What to see and do in Stellenbosch, South Africa? Stellenbosch is the centre of South Africa's wine production and also a lively student town. A very special and very nice place! Here we have collected all our tips for things to do in Stellenbosch.

Stellenbosch in South Africa

After Cape Town, Stellenbosch is the oldest town in South Africa founded by European settlers. The town is named after its founder, Simon van der Stel, who in 1679 founded the town on the first river (Eerste River) he encountered when he was sent by Jan van Riebeeck to explore the areas east of present-day Cape Town.

Stellenbosch is nicknamed Eikestad (oak town) because of the large number of oak trees that have been planted here. The town is the centre of South Africa's wine industry and is also home to an important university. For tourists, the town offers wine, but also food, culture and art.

Stellenbosch is about 50 kilometres from Cape Town in South Africa.

What to see and do in Stellenbosch?

So what can you see and do in Stellenbosch? Firstly, you can visit vineyards and taste wines, but you can also learn about history, eat good food, discover culture and see art. We've put together a list of our top tips here.

1. join a guided city walk

We can definitely recommend joining a guided city walk in Stellenbosch. We went on a tour with Stellenbosch on Foot, which made for a very interesting experience. Our dedicated guide told us a lot about the history of the city and also gave us a lot of useful tips.

During the guided tour, we passed many of the city's beautiful white buildings, as well as learnt various exciting stories.

2. Check out the church in Stellenbosch

When you're in Stellenbosch, you can of course check out the church. "The 'Moederkerk' (Mother Church) is the second oldest congregation of the Dutch Reformed Church in South Africa.

3. learn about the city's history

Because Stellenbosch is such an old town, there is a lot of history to discover, whether you go on a guided tour or look around on your own. For example, you can see the ruins of the very first church building, whose cornerstones were laid back in 1687. You can also check out the university, founded in 1918, and all the town's famous oak trees.

4. go on an art tour

Another thing you don't want to miss doing in Stellenbosch is seeing art. There are quite a few art galleries here, and we really enjoyed the art we saw.

5. Shopping for crafts

Stellenbosch is also a town full of arts and crafts, including locally designed fashion. We scouted out stylish clothing as well as products made from ceramics and other materials.

In one of the shops we were shown how to weave products from both domestic and wild silkworms, the latter being more expensive.

6. Drink wine at De Varenmarkt

De Varenmarkt, which means "the goods market", is a historic building that today includes everything from restaurants to wine bars. Don't miss out on this very cosy environment!

7. Have a tasting menu at Eike by Bertus Basson

On one of our evenings in Stellenbosch, we ate a very special dinner, in the form of a tasting menu on the Eike by Bertus Basson. An evening we will never forget!

The dinner started with a number of small exciting entrances ...

Then came one surprise after another. How about bread to dip in fermented tomatoes and 'opsitkers' - an edible candle reminiscent of a centuries-old African courtship tradition where parents would light a candle when their daughter's suitor came to visit. The time he was allowed to stay was determined by the time it took for the candle to burn out!

Other dishes included springbok tartare, herebone beans with the fish Cape Kingklip, the fish Cape salmon (which is not salmon) and a lovely dessert with peaches and many other goodies. A visit here is highly recommended!

8. Visit vineyards

Well, the first thing you want to do in Stellenbosch is visit wineries. Stellenbosch is the heart of South Africa's wine production and there are around 200 wineries here, many of which can be visited for wine tasting, meals or overnight stays. We've visited four really great wineries, which you can read about here:

9. Discover nature

Last but not least, we must point out that there is a lot of nature to discover in the surroundings of Stellenbosch. We didn't see much of this ourselves, except that we looked at the mountains in the background, but we heard from many that it is popular to hike in the area, and you can also cycle or go out on horseback. Among other things you can visit Jonkershoek Nature Reserve, which is home to the majestic Jonkershoek Mountains.

More to see and do in Stellenbosch

Want even more tips on things to do in Stellenbosch, South Africa? Here are some more suggestions, in addition to our tips above.

• Daneel Diamond Manufacturers is a manufacturer of diamond jewellery.
• Transverse River Valley offers a mountainous landscape and everything from outdoor activities to culture, food and wine.
• Eagle Encounters at Spier Wine Farm is a place where you can see eagles at close range.
• Root44 Market and Wine Emporium is a place for wine tasting, wine shop, restaurant, art gallery, café and more.
• Rupert Museum is an art museum with a collection of modern South African art.
• Stellenbosch Botanical Garden is a botanical garden belonging to the university.

Where to stay in Stellenbosch?

There are many different hotels, guesthouses and bed & breakfasts in Stellenbosch, some of which are in the town centre and others on various wine estates. We had a great stay at Le Pommier Wine Estate, where we really enjoyed the peace and quiet, as well as good food and wine.

Things to do in Stellenbosch - on film

Peter has edited a film that starts on the South African coast and takes you past Hermanus and Clarence Drive, before arriving in Stellenbosch.

More to see and do in the neighbourhood

Not far from Stellenbosch is Franschhoek, which is also known for its vineyards and its cosy wine train, which you can take between the farms. It is also not too far to glorious Cape Town, where you can experience Table Mountain and Simon's Town with all the penguins. Additional tips include the beautiful coastline Clarence Drive and the beautiful coastal town of Hermanus.

More tips for things to do in Stellenbosch?

Have you visited this South African wine destination? Do you have even more tips on what to see and do in Stellenbosch?