Africa : Southern Africa : South Africa : Western Cape : Cape Winelands : Stellenbosch

Stellenbosch

Table of Contents:
Culture and History / Travel to Stellenbosch, visa requirements Buses to Stellenbosch By train By air / Stellenbosch tours. Get around / Stellenbosch attractions and sightseeing / City tours / Shopping, Stellenbosch souvenirs / Good restaurants and cheap meals / Hotels, youth hostels, lodging / Get Out

More from Cape Winelands:
Breede River Valley, Franschhoek, Paarl, Stellenbosch

More from Western Cape:
Agulhas National Park, Cape Peninsula, Cape Winelands, Garden Route, Overberg, West Coast (South Africa)

More from South Africa:
Drakensberg, Eastern Cape, Free State, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Northern Cape, North West Province, Western Cape

More from Southern Africa:
Ai-Ais Richtersveld Transfrontier Park, Botswana, Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Zimbabwe

More from Africa:
Central Africa, East Africa, North Africa, Saharan Africa, Seychelles, Southern Africa, West Africa

Stellenbosch [1] (pop. about 100.000) is a city in the Western Cape of South Africa and is the heart of the Cape Winelands, South Africa's prime wine region.

Culture and History

Stellenbosch (founded in 1679) is about 50km east of Cape Town and is the second oldest town in South Africa. It was named (like Simon's Town) after the former Governer Simon van der Stel. The city is situated on the banks of the Eerste River ('First River'). It's home to one of the country's most established universities with over 25000 students and offers some fine examples of Cape-Dutch architecture. It is also known as 'Eikestad' (Oak city) because of its oak tree lined streets. Wines from Stellenbosch are known internationally and rank among the best in the world.

Travel to Stellenbosch, visa requirements

Buses to Stellenbosch

A bus service runs from hostels in Cape Town to Stellenbosch for about R120/pp. The main bus companies also go to Stellenbosch.

By train

MetroRail operates a regular train service to Stellenbosch from Cape Town via Bellville. Check the schedule, as trains do not run very often. It is also advisable to travel in groups and avoid busy travel times in the morning and evening on weekdays. The train station is on Adam Tas Street, on the western edge of town ; it is only a few minutes walk from the station to the city centre.

By air

Stellenbosch has its own airfield but the nearest international airport is near Cape Town. Cape Town International airport is about 35 minutes away by car and airport shuttle service is available.

Stellenbosch tours. Get around

Steelenbosch is small enough that the entire city centre can easily be covered on foot.

Stellenbosch attractions and sightseeing

City tours

Easy Rider Tours offers daily guided tours of the wine region that depart from the Backpackers' Hostel at 10:30 and return at 17:00. The tours are R300 and include lunch and wine tasting at four wineries. Popular things to do in Stellenbosch [2] range from Oom Samie se winkel to the Stellenbosch Museum or Spier Wine estate.

Shopping, Stellenbosch souvenirs

Good restaurants and cheap meals

There are many good restaurants in the town. The area around Church Street is informally known as the local restaurant district, with approximately 19 venues within a four block radius.

Basic Bistro, 31 Church Street, ☎ +27 21 883 3629, [3]. Offers a variety of international cuisine. Reviewed by Rossouw's Restaurants - 7/10 food, 8/10 service

Cognito, Dorp Street.

Java Cafe, Church Street.

Lafayette, Andringa Street.

L'Olive, Andringa Street.

Mugg 'n Bean, Checkers Centre, corner Dorp & Mill Streets, ☎ +27 21 883 2972, [4].

Traumerei, Andringa Street.

Zest, Ryneveld Street.

Hotels, youth hostels, lodging

D'Ouwe Werf Country Inn, central Stellenbosch, ☎ +27 21 887 4608. Offers 31 very good rooms and has an excellent restaurant.

BellaBosch B&B & Self Catering, ☎ +27 21 882 9686, [5]. BellaBosch offers visitors a good base to explore the historic town centre of Stellenbosch, 5 minutes walk away. Friendly hosts, comfortable beds, luxurious showers and excellent breakfast.

Stellenbosch Traveller's Lodge, corner of Dorp and Stadler Streets, ☎ +27 83 714 3871, [6].