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Stellenbosch is a lovely city that lies about twenty-five minutes' drive or forty-five minutes' train ride outside of Cape Town. It is one of those rare places that is small enough to be considered a town, and yet is technically a city. The two main features of Stellenbosch are the university and the wine farms. There are more than one hundred forty wine-producing farms in the area, and if you were to sample each wine produced at the farms, it would take you more than four months to do so. It would be a happy four months, though!
Because of the wine farms, the area of Stellenbosch is quite spread out. The beautiful Hottentot Holland Mountain range lies magnificently prominent in the view from nearly anywhere in the city, and the rows upon rows upon rows of grapes fill your eyes everywhere you look. There are several wine-tour operators in the area -- including personal tour guides in a luxury car, vans that operate party-type tours, and tours on bicycles. There is no lack of choices for how you sample your wine. Although predominantly known for their red wines, Stellenbosch wine farms also produce plenty of other kinds of wine.
The university students, by nature of their location and luck, get to sample wine for free at most wineries. The downtown area of Stellenbosch caters to an upscale lifestyle, with high-end shops and plenty of quality restaurants. However, there are also substantial amounts of everyday types of restaurants as well. Lodging is not a problem -- there are many types of accommodation, from higher-end hotels to hostels in Stellenbosch. This is perfect both for the families of the students to visit, and for the Cape Town visitors who may want to come to Stellenbosch for the live music, wine festivals, and other events happening in this university town.
Stellenbosch in the downtown area can be full of vibrancy, fun, and energy. Outside of the main area, however, it still has plenty of real-life, day-to-day South African culture. Quiet and peaceful, loud and partying, Stellenbosch is a city that is worth a visit, no matter what the reason.
Written by Travel Expert Stellenbosch
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