Frequently Asked Questions

Your experience begins at either the Franschhoek Terminal or the Groot Drakenstein Terminal (depending on the line), where you can grab a coffee, and browse our merchandise while waiting for your journey to start.

Booking

Yes, it is highly recommended as we have a limited number of tickets available per day.

Changes are subject to the availability of the requested new date and departure time. Changes need to be requested a minimum of 24 hours (1 day) before your departure time.

Unfortunately, we cannot reserve tickets without payment.

The service runs daily except on the 24th December, 25th December, 31st December and 1st January. Between Mid-May and Mid-September, only certain lines are operated during weekdays.

We offer a dedicated experience groups of 16 or more guests. Please click here for more details.

No, tickets will be available for collection from the ticket office on the day of travel.

The tour is strictly a wine tasting experience and does not host celebration events such as birthdays or bachelor/bachelorette parties. Passengers should kindly refrain from wearing any offensive clothing or accessories.

As long as you have the digital copy available it is not necessary.

We would suggest any of the Tram First departures when travelling with little ones: Blue | Pink | Red | Orange | Navy.

No except for Babylonstoren, located on the orange lines.

We currently offer 5 different colour lines, hosting 7-9 different wineries. All of our routes are highly recommended, your selection would depend on the wine estates you would like to visit. Explore each estate and what they have to offer on the wine estate web pages.

If any additional guest would like to join you would need to book an additional ticket(s) online via our website. Should there not be availability we would not be able to accommodate the additional guest on your departure as the seats are allocated according to the bookings made and a maximum seating capacity applies for logistical reasons.

You need to unfortunately stick to your original departure time for logistical reasons. Should you be travelling on the same colour line, you can simply meet up and travel together from this point onward. Please note this does not apply for groups larger than 16 people as the seats in the vehicle are limited. Thus we offer a separate Group Experience for groups exceeding 16 guests.

If you’re in the Franschhoek village, you can hop onto the shuttle departing from our Info Kiosk every __:15 & __:45 from 08:00 AM to 17:00 PM. The Info Kiosk is located in Franschhoek Square, opposite Checkers.

If you’re departing from the Franschhoek Terminal, you can hop aboard the shuttle which runs between the  Franschhoek Terminal and the Groot Drakenstein Terminal. 

When joining any of our shuttles, please ensure to arrive 10 -15 minutes prior to the departure times for ticket collection.

Shuttles are also available at the end of your journey, back to your original location: Franschhoek Terminal or Info Kiosk.

Should you wish to go directly to Groot Drakenstein Terminal, please add 30 minutes to the departure time booked to ensure enough time for parking and ticket collection.

View the Shuttle Timetable on the Navy Line or the Orange Line 

Travelling

The tour starts and ends at the Franschhoek Terminal located on the corner of Main Road and Cabriere Street.

Line passengers (only) may also depart from our Groot Drakenstein Terminal, located on the corner of R310 Main Road & R45.

Yes, you need to start your tour at either our Franschhoek Terminal (Red, pink or blue line) or at our Groot Drakenstein Terminal (Orange or navy line).

Arriving 15 minutes prior to your scheduled departure time guarantees a seat otherwise they will need to remain at the ticket office until an alternative arrangement can be made to get you on the service.

To be fair to other passengers on the tour, we cannot delay departures for late passengers. Passengers arriving late will need to remain at the ticket office until an alternative arrangement can be made to get them on the service.

All lines have 1-hour intervals.
 
SPECIAL NOTE: Some estates are large, allow 2 hours or more. As a farm vehicle will take you through a working estate to the wine-tasting area. These trips differ between 10 – 20 minutes from the tram platform. (Babylonstoren | Boschendal | Grande Provence | Plaisir | Rickety Bridge | Baccõ)

Please make use of the free parking conveniently located at the corner of Main Road and Cabriere Street at our Franschhoek Terminal.

FireShot Capture 024 Franschhoek Terminal Google Maps www.google.com | Franschhoek Wine Tram

Orange, Navy and line passengers who wish to depart from our Groot Drakenstein Terminal can park their cars at the station located on the corner of the R45 and R310 roads.

Groot Drakenstein Ticket Office Map | Franschhoek Wine Tram

All passengers must join the tour at the Franschhoek Terminal or Groot Drakenstein Terminal.

The service operates in one direction and passengers will only have one opportunity to disembark at each stop.

Being a hop-on hop-off tour you can complete the tour at your leisure, but plan on at least 3 hours to allow enough time to explore a few of the stops.

Please note that there is limited access to specific facilities to clients that are wheelchair bound.

We would love to assist. Please contact our offices on info@winetram.co.za for personalised options.

We do have limited space available to store luggage during your journey with us.

During the journey prams must be collapsed as the vehicles only have limited space available. We, therefore, suggest a carry-on or a baby seat.

Wines are kept for 7 days before being discarded. Remember to have your wine sticker available as wines will not be released without this.

Unfortunately not, as we book our seats in advance, no additional spots are available.

You are more than welcome to make use of Uber, however, when finishing the tour after 5 pm it becomes challenging to find an Uber home.

Transfers are normally scheduled 1h 30min – 2 h before your departure time depending on your location. The chauffeur will confirm this with you via email and on sms before the tour date. For any questions please feel free to give us a call at 021 300 0338.

We have a link bus that travels between the Franschhoek Terminal and the Groot Drakenstein Terminal, you are more than welcome to join this journey. Should you wish to go directly go to Groot Drakenstein, you can add 30 minutes to the departure time booked as the travelling time is worked into the departure times booked.

If you’re in the Franschhoek village, you can hop onto the shuttle departing from our Info Kiosk every __:15 & __:45 from 08:00 AM to 17:00 PM. The Info Kiosk is located in Franschhoek Square, opposite Checkers.

If you’re departing from the Franschhoek Terminal, you can hop aboard the shuttle which runs between the  Franschhoek Terminal and the Groot Drakenstein Terminal. 

When joining any of our shuttles, please ensure to arrive 10 -15 minutes prior to the departure times for ticket collection.

Shuttles are also available at the end of your journey, back to your original location: Franschhoek Terminal or Info Kiosk.

Should you wish to go directly to Groot Drakenstein Terminal, please add 30 minutes to the departure time booked to ensure enough time for parking and ticket collection.

View the Shuttle Timetable on the Navy Line or the Orange Line 

Cancelling

CANCELLATION POLICY (All services including chauffeur/transfer services):

  • 24hours before your scheduled departure time = 100% Refund
  • Less than 24 hours before scheduled TIME SLOT = No Refund
  • No on the day cancellation will be allowed.

Please send a cancellation email to info@winetram.co.za including your booking ID on the subject to request a refund.

Both the tram and tram-bus are fairly well protected from the rain but on rare occasions, the service may be cancelled due to weather conditions or mechanical problems without notice in which case full refunds will be issued.

Food and Beverages

Wine tastings can be purchased at each wine estate directly. Passengers may dine at one of several restaurants on the tour. In order to avoid disappointment, we advise passengers to make lunch reservations at least 24 hours in advance of travel.

Unfortunately, food or open alcoholic beverages are not allowed on the tour. Food and drinks are available for purchase at the wine estates.

Prices range between R60 and R260. CC (Cap Classique) tastings are usually more expensive than regular wine tastings.

Wine bottles can be left with the host and will be available for collection upon your return at the Franschhoek Terminal or Groot Drakenstein Terminal.

We offer a fresh selection of coffees, cold beverages, Beignets (delicious French pastry) and toasted sandwiches at our Franschhoek Terminal and at our Groot Drakenstein Terminal.

Other

Unfortunately, pets are not permitted on the tour.

Unfortunately we do not. You are more than welcome to contact the Franschhoek Wine Valley for any recommendations.

Read downwards to determine your hop-off time at an estate. For example: TICKET OFFICE to ESTATE 2, depart at 10:00 and arrive at 10:30.

Read across to determine your hop-on time, dependant on time spent at an estate. For example 2hours at ESTATE 2 indicates that your transport will arrive at 12:30, and arrival at ESTATE 3 will be at 12:45.

How to read the time table

The tour is a combination of tram and tram-bus as not all the wineries are situated next to the railway.