Top 10 Budget-friendly Things to do in Stellenbosch, Western Cape

September 18, 2021 Natalie Tallman

Hiking trails and art galleries abound in Stellenbosch, but it's wine that takes center stage. More than 100 wine cellars, most open to the public, surround the oak-lined South African town, and tasting tours operate daily. Winter brings a four-day festival celebrating the local vintages. The historic town center houses the trading-post style shop Oom Samie se Winkel, the Neo-Gothic Moederkerk church, and museums dedicated to toys, military memorabilia, autos and early life on the Cape.
Restaurants in Stellenbosch

1. Waterford Estate

Blaauwklippen Road, Stellenbosch 7600 South Africa +27 21 880 5300 [email protected] http://www.waterfordestate.co.za/
Excellent
82%
Good
14%
Satisfactory
3%
Poor
1%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 719 reviews

Waterford Estate

Waterford Estate is situated in one of the world's most visually arresting pockets of paradise. Nestled in the picturesque Blaauwklippen Valley, in the world renowned Stellenbosch region, this 120 hectare property owned by Jeremy and Leigh Ord and managed by partner and Cellar master Kevin Arnold. The Estate boasts old citrus groves, rolling lawns, water features and fragrant lavender and rosemary beds. You'd be forgiven for thinking you were in the heart of Provence or the Spanish countryside, with your first glimpse of this enchanting realm. However, we are immensely proud of our uniquely South African location and the rich diversity of our indigenous flora and fauna. The winery was styled along the engaging terracotta design and was the result of winemaker Kevin Arnold and architect Alex Walker teaming up to create the home of Waterford Estate wines. The centre piece of the magnificent courtyard is the Waterford Estate fountain. This feature has been immortalized in the Waterford Estate label and represents a fundamental component of our philosophy. We believe in the old adage of 'less is more'. There is nothing pretentious or ostentatious about the estate, rather the visual impact is one of a seamless whole, which complements rather than detracts from the surrounding natural beauty. Welcome to our world, a world where the passing of time and the change in seasons only add rich layers of character and charm to the scene.

Reviewed By Richardreynolds1 - London, United Kingdom

On not a very South African day, more Somerset than Somerset West with low mist and drizzle, we were superbly looked after by head guide and budding oenologist Devon, a very engaging and enthusiastic host. It's a beautiful, Florentine styled, estate to visit - but that does not make it different from several others in the region. What does is the wine safari, an imaginative way to take visitors around the vineyards, normally tasting and eating very moreish tapa type food among the vines. Kevin Arnold is an ambitious wine maker and the estate's top wine, The Jem, compares very favourably to other top New World wines at a fraction of their price. Buy before the rest of the world wakes up! The estate also does a chocolate and wine pairing, very much enjoyed by most.

2. Stellenrust Winery

Stellenrust Rd, Stellenbosch South Africa +27 21 880 2283 [email protected] http://stellenrust.co.za
Excellent
85%
Good
12%
Satisfactory
3%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 33 reviews

Stellenrust Winery

Reviewed By KathyTXAggie - Bellaire, United States

Stunning views, great for pictures! The grassy outside area made for a pleasant wine tasting experience and we enjoyed the wine selection. Follow their instructions for finding the winery during the road construction - it's definitely worth the trouble. Thank you to Heinrich for making our visit so much fun and sharing information on safari locations!

3. Dylan Lewis Sculpture Garden

Paradyskloof Rd Mulberry Farm, Stellenbosch 7600 South Africa +27 21 880 0054 [email protected] http://www.dylanlewis.co.za/sculpture-garden/garden.php
Excellent
94%
Good
3%
Satisfactory
0%
Poor
1%
Terrible
2%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 116 reviews

Dylan Lewis Sculpture  Garden

TO ENTER AN ARTIST’S GARDEN IS TO VISIT ANOTHER WORLD. The Dylan Lewis Sculpture Garden is a place of expansive vistas, scents and the sounds of nature, with tranquil groves, hidden paths and lush indigenous vegetation. The project began serendipitously in 2009 when Lewis hired an excavator on a whim and began shaping the contours of what would become the seven-hectare sculpture garden. Today, the artist continues to explore themes integral to his work in this serene landscape on the slopes of the Stellenbosch Mountain looking out over vineyards towards the ocean. Visits and tours by appointment only.

Reviewed By BarbaraMackenzie - Stellenbosch, South Africa

I was invited to take part in a private guided tour through the Dylan Lewis Sculpture Garden. I am not an art person but I do like nature. I was absolutely blown away by this serenity and peaceful atmosphere that opens up once one enters the garden. There is hope for mankind if someone can create something so beautiful and just let it breath - in nature - surrounded by mountains & skies and it almost feels like his sculptures were always there. From the beginning of the beginning. I would highly recommend to have a guide walking with you, it certainly is worth the money if one is interested how the artist started this amazing garden.

4. The Stellenbosch Village Museum

18 Ryneveld Street, Stellenbosch 7600 South Africa +27 21 887 2902 [email protected] http://www.stelmus.co.za/village_museum.htm
Excellent
46%
Good
48%
Satisfactory
5%
Poor
0%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 373 reviews

The Stellenbosch Village Museum

Reviewed By Peter_guest - London, United Kingdom

A quartet of historic houses in the centre of Stellenbosch form this fascinating museum. Each one is historically furnished and takes the visitor back over centuries of local history. These are some of the oldest and best-preserved buildings in South Africa, well worth a visit.

5. Spier Wine Farm

Annandale Road, Stellenbosch 7600 South Africa +27 21 809 1944 [email protected] http://www.spier.co.za
Excellent
52%
Good
34%
Satisfactory
9%
Poor
3%
Terrible
2%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 1,139 reviews

Spier Wine Farm

Spier is one of the oldest wine farms in South Africa, with a recorded history dating back to 1692. Spier's winery has won multiple awards in recent years, including Producer of the Year (Mundus Vini, Old Mutual Trophy Wine Show 2011). We also performed exceptionally at the 2011 International Wine and Spirits Competition (five Best in Class Gold medals and two trophies), and were the top performing SA winery at Concours Mondial de Bruxelles for three consecutive years. The Spier cellar has ISO 22000 certification, is Fair Trade accredited, organically certified and follows the Integrated Production of Wine (IPW) criteria.

Reviewed By Peadars1 - Dublin, Ireland

I recently stayed here on holiday with my wife, and after a week of partying in nearby Cape Town I found the Spier Wine Farm to be absolutely idyllic and a wonderful place to relax and recharge the batteries ! The location is stunning, the staff were excellent, friendly and professional, and the wine was absolutely amazing and unbelievable value ! The rooms were so spacious and beautifully decorated. We chose to have a picnic on one of the days and I totally recommend doing that as you are spoiled for locations on the wonderful estate. We also stumbled on a bird of prey sanctuary which is located at the end of the estate. This was a wonderful experience and the girl/falconer was extremely knowledgeable and friendly. All in all it was a wonderful venue, extremely good value for such a high end estate and I would have no qualms in recommending it to anyone. The one downside for me was that the Estate's main restaurant (Eight) which I had read so much about was unfortunately closed as it is under renovation, but that's simply a case of bad timing on my part.

6. Dorp Street

Stellenbosch South Africa
Excellent
38%
Good
51%
Satisfactory
10%
Poor
0%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 452 reviews

Dorp Street

Reviewed By tancred1964

Drop St is one of the oldest streets in a Stellenbosch and has many beautiful and interesting historical buildings including the famous Oom Samie se Winkel, a fascinating old shop with an eclectic mix of goods for sale

7. Stellenbosch University

Private Bag X1 Matieland, Stellenbosch 7602 South Africa +27 21 808 9111 http://www.sun.ac.za/
Excellent
56%
Good
35%
Satisfactory
8%
Poor
0%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 147 reviews

Stellenbosch University

Reviewed By Happyjohnny - Auckland, New Zealand

I took my family for a trip down memory lane in Stellenbosch where I was a student over 32 years ago. The leafy suburbs and the vibe in the town is undeniable. What a privilege to be a student here

8. Dutch Reform Church

City Center, Stellenbosch 7600 South Africa http://www.moederkerk.co.za
Excellent
43%
Good
48%
Satisfactory
9%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 140 reviews

Dutch Reform Church

Reviewed By Mobile35942195053 - Bristol, United Kingdom

Beautiful architecture, the church typifies the grand style of the past, the history of the first people that settled here. The beautiful arching seating inside, spotlessly clean and elegant, definitely worth an hour to float around. Situated at the top of church street.

9. Delheim

Knorhoek Road Off R44, Stellenbosch 7599 South Africa +27 21 888 4600 [email protected] http://www.delheim.com
Excellent
60%
Good
33%
Satisfactory
1%
Poor
3%
Terrible
3%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 154 reviews

Delheim

Delheim's Cellar Stellenbosch, offers internationally acclaimed wines, wine tasting tours, and a restaurant in a beautiful garden.

Reviewed By TaniaDLK - Cape Town Central, South Africa

Lovely wine tasting with Nolu. Delicious wine and fantastic hospitality. Well worth the stop as you explore the wine route.

10. Fort Simon Wine Estate

Fischer Road, Stellenbosch 7600 South Africa +27 21 906 0304 [email protected] http://www.fortsimon.com
Excellent
71%
Good
24%
Satisfactory
6%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 17 reviews

Fort Simon Wine Estate

Fort Simon Wine Estate, situated in the Stellenbosch Winelands, is a producer of exceptional quality, world-class wines. The whole wine production cycle, from the hand-picking of the grapes to the bottling of the wine, happens on our estate. We invite you to visit our tasting room to experience our wines with a wine tasting. While you're at it you can complement your tasting with a delectable cheese & charcuterie platter made from fresh locally sourced ingredients.

Reviewed By andiaX8609BU

What a wonderful surprise this was! A beautiful venue, off the beaten track, with peaceful and secluded dining areas scattered around outside. Very warm and friendly service from all and the food was aesthetically presented and the portions more than generous. The house sauvignon blanc complemented the platter perfectly.

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