9 Great Places To Visit In Stellenbosch To Get Acquainted With Its Charming Culture

23 Mar 2023

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Nestled among the beautiful vineyards of Cape Vinelands lies the quaint university town of Stellenbosch. Located in the Western Cape province of South Africa, this place is remarkable for its oak-shaded roads lined with charming cafes, fashionable boutiques, museums, art galleries, and so much more, that you’ll never run short of places to visit in Stellenbosch during your trip to South Africa. The period houses adorned with Dutch architectural style gives this place an enchanting retro look and also offers a sense about the rich Dutch colonial past of South Africa. The second in line of a European settlement after Cape Town, the area is fabled for its Wine Route.

9 Outstanding Places To Visit In Stellenbosch

The second oldest city in South Africa, there are many appealing tourist attractions in Stellenbosch. Read on to know in details about some of the important ones.

Jonkershoek Nature Reserve
Rupert Museum
Village Museum
Stellenbosch Wine Routes
Stellenbosch University Botanical Garden
Oude Libertas
Butterfly World
Dorp Street
Spier Vineyard

1. Jonkershoek Nature Reserve

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Located just about 9 km out of the town of Stellenbosch, this place is home to the magnificent Jonkershoek Mountains richly covered with fynbos. It is a hiker’s paradise with a number of short and long trails starting from 5 km to 18 km which lead up to rewarding alluring views of the valley and two stunning waterfalls. Spread out in an area of about 9800 hectares, there are a number of small pools and rock pools where you can have a nice splash in the summer months. The mountain roads provide a perfect opportunity to bike all the way at an added cost. You can also try trout fishing in the small streams running through the reserve.

Location: End of Jonkershoek Road, Stellenbosch
Timings: 8 AM - 6 PM
Entry fee: INR 200 for adults | INR 100 for kids (3-12 years) | Extra charges for hiking trails and biking

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2. Rupert Museum

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This is a private museum which showcases the exclusive collection of art of its owners Huberte and Anton Rupert. Opened to the public in 2005, this place is a must visit in the list of places to go out in Stellenbosch. An extensive collection of art and artworks by various renowned South African artists which will give you an in-depth understanding of the contemporary art history of the country. The museum is designed in the traditional Boland Farm style of architecture. The vast and spacious space inside and the clean cool white walls of the outer building give this place a look of an old wine cellar.

Location: Stellentia Avenue, Stellenbosch
Timings: 9:30 AM - 4 PM | 10 AM - 1 PM on Saturdays | Sundays closed
Entry fee: INR 100 per person for adults | INR 50 for students
Note: Presently, the museum is closed till March 2019

3. Village Museum

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A cluster of four-period houses and their immaculately maintained gardens, this tops in the charts for the places to visit in Stellenbosch. The homes belong to different eras starting from 1709 to 1830 and represent the different architectural style prevalent in the area at different times. Interestingly, the houses still sport the same retro look with the original furnishings, interiors and decor as well. The guide which is there to take you around the entire place has many intriguing stories and facts to share from the past and is dressed perfectly for the part in a period costume.

Location: 18 Ryneveld Street, Stellenbosch
Timings: 9 AM - 5 PM | 10 AM - 1 PM on Sundays (April to August) | 10 AM - 4 PM (September to March) | Closed from June to August

4. Stellenbosch Wine Routes

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Established in the year 1971, this is among one of the best places to visit in Stellenbosch. Honored as the most famous town in South Africa for its picturesque charm, intriguing history, stunning architecture, oldest university and of course the magnificent vineyards. This led to a collaboration of more than 150 wineries which are present in the area. There are 5 sub-routes and each of them has their own specialty and characteristic to offer to the tourists and visitors. There are exclusive tasting rooms where you can savor and experience the different varieties and flavors of wines. Each of the vineyards has its own fine dining restaurants serving the best of local and International cuisine along with the best of their wine collection.

Location of the Visitor’s Centre: 47 Church Street, Central Stellenbosch
Timings: 9 AM - 5 PM | 9 AM - 2 PM on Sundays

5. Stellenbosch University Botanical Garden

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This is the oldest university garden in South Africa and it is situated in the Historical Centre of Stellenbosch University. One of the best places to go out in Stellenbosch, this garden is a small one with a landscaped area of 3 hectares but the extensive collection of plants from around the world more than make up for the small space. Their Bonsai collection is something not to be missed. You can also relax in the outdoor and indoor seating areas of Katjiepiering Restaurant and enjoy some light snacks. There is a plant shop where you can shop for a variety of saplings, seeds, plant-based cosmetic products, books and other small gift items.

Location: Stellenbosch Central
Timings: 8 AM - 5 PM
Entry fee: INR 50

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6. Oude Libertas

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Famous for the various theatre and musical events organized here in the warm months, this open-air amphitheater is home to a variety of activities for the whole family. The location of the place, surrounded by picturesque vineyards, gives this place a spectacular setting. Spend a lovely day out here amidst lush oak trees strolling down the entire place and admiring the beautiful sights. There is an art gallery here, various activities for children, yoga classes at specific timings and a food market on Saturdays that sells everything from home-baked breads, cheese, cakes and sweets along with clothes, handicrafts and accessories. In the summer months, you can enjoy a range of international theatre screenings and in winters bring along a picnic basket and bask in the alluring surroundings with a glass of wine.

Location: Adam Tas Road, Stellenbosch
Timings: 4 PM onwards (check the amphitheater website for show timings and bookings)

7. Butterfly World

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How about seeing more than hundreds of varieties of colorful, free-flying butterflies in an enclosed greenhouse with an area of 1000 sq feet!? Every week the center imports more than 500 pupae from across the globe and these pupae emerge in the natural tropical ambiance of the garden. Walk along the naturally landscaped gardens and watch these beautiful tiny creatures flying around you. After spending time with the lovely butterflies, enjoy a relaxing time at the cafe and browse for a variety of butterfly themed gifts in the gift shop.

Location: R44, Stellenbosch
Timings: 9 AM - 5 PM
Entry fee: INR 1150 for a family of four | INR 450 for adults | INR 250 for kids

8. Dorp Street

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Walking down this quaint street, lined with oak trees, oozing old world charm with rows of heritage structures, Dorp Street offers an unforgettable experience and comes under one of the best free places to visit in Stellenbosch, South Africa. This is undoubtedly a wonderful place to explore on foot. The architecture is as old as a 19th century and the house at No. 166 is a must check out, with its Batavian tiles placed in the parlor. The tiny shops sell everything from local handicrafts and trinkets to take back home as memoirs. You can also spend some time chilling out at the various cafes and eateries like The Trumpet Tree Cafe, Casparus Restaurant and The Big Easy to name a few.

Location: Dorp Street

9. Spier Vineyard

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This is a place with a history dating back to 300 years ago, Spier is the country’s one of the oldest wine farms. The place is guaranteed to lure you with its heritage charm along with a vibrant environment. A visit to this fantastic place in the lap of nature should come right on top when you are making a list of places of where to go in Stellenbosch. Spend a day surrounded by lush green farms, relishing excellent wine and savoring delicious local delicacies prepared with freshest of ingredients. Take home a bottle or two of wine from their collection or buy artifacts from the craft shop or take a tour of the entire place to become more aware of the complete process of winemaking; there are plenty of activities here to keep you happily busy.

Location: R310, Baden Powell Drive, Stellenbosch

Stellenbosch Walking Tour

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It is said that the best way to explore a place is on foot and with this town being one of the oldest in the country, going for walking tours can be an excellent idea. There are many tour operators who offer free walking tours around the town with distinct themes like history, museums, food and drink, vineyards, arts, etc. Definitely one of the best examples for free places to visit in Stellenbosch!

This oak town in the Western Cape side of South Africa is sure to leave you mesmerized with its enthralling beauty, fascinating history, picture-perfect vineyards and an awesome ambiance. Contact TravelTriangle today and we will custom design for you the perfect holiday in South Africa with some of the best places to visit in Stellenbosch.