Drop A Pin 📌 < Stellenbosch, South Africa <Top places to visit

Stellenbosch, South Africa, a vibrant student village amongst the vineyards. Find all your need to explore and enjoy this gorgeous town. With vineyards that are world renown, coffee shops, art and history. A little of everything here and more detail if you want.

Lying just 50km from Cape Town, in South Africa, you will find this beautiful lively town of Stellenbosch. It is the centre of the wine industry in South Africa.

Rows of grapes in picturesque Stellenbosch wine region amidst the Mountains. The Stellenbosch Vineyards is one of South Africa’s pride and joy, near Cape Town.

The Stellenbosch University is located in the town centre, and it is one of the top Universities in South Africa. The students add their own vibe to this beautiful town with its coffee shops, restaurants’, wine farms, historical sites and more.

With the Great Drakenstein and the Stellenbosch Mountains as its backdrop there is lots to entertain and delight its visitors.

About Stellenbosch:

Hiking trails, mountain bike trails, boutique shops and art galleries are plenty in Stellenbosch.

The wine takes center stage, with over 100 wine cellars it goes without saying that tasting tours operate daily.

The historic town center houses the trading-post shop “Oom Samie se Winkel”, the “Moederkerk” church, gardens, interesting museums and more.

Explore Stellenbosch:

1. Top Wine Farms in Stellenbosch, South Africa

Stellenbosch is the centre of the wine industry in South Africa with most of its international renown wine farms found here.

Many locals will also be keen and proud to tell you which is there favourite.

There are so many. Each one more beautiful than the one before. Don’t miss out. Take the grape plunge.

The grape plunge – Stellenbosch Wineries

2. Weather in Stellenbosch

Stellenbosch has a warm and temperate climate. It has a higher winter rainfall than in summer.

The days are mostly sunny and the summers can get very hot. The hottest months being December to February.

For more on Climate and weather.

3. Art in Stellenbosch

Stellenbosch masters, artists and sculptors grace the gallery walls. Every day new up and coming young artists splash their art. From artists to sculpture’s and more. Artist known around the globe.

There are some great pieces to be found of all types of artists and mediums.

This town is a raw canvass and on almost every corner you will find an art piece of some form.

There are also many galleries dotting the streets. So many to showcase but I have listed the top 10 and mapped what I feel is a great variety of all on offer.

The Top 10 for me in Stellenbosch

4. Stellenbosch Museums

Found all around this historic town. They reflect the history, culture and diversity of the South African people.

From the Ruper Museum with its modern contemporary art to the rich South African cultural history in the Stellenbosch University Museum, Stellenbosch Village museum and Burger Huis.

Museums Mapped and more

5. Stellenbosch Restaurants

Stroll along Dorp Street and into town. This will take you past “Oom Samie se Winkel”, the local “Die Akker” student pub and into the centre of town.

You will be embraced by a vibrant town centre with restaurants, coffee shops, wine bars and more.

6. Best Wine Bars & Pubs in Stellenbosch

Being a student town there are no shortage of places to crawl Stellenbosch. With different strokes for different folks there are enough places for you to find your perfect stop.

Some for the younger generation, some for the bit more up stream but most spots will be festive and welcoming. And although there are many students there are many great sleek & chick trending places.

7. Stellenbosch Student Life

This town has it all, and the students have an amazing place to call home. Stellenbosch University is a well known University, and ranks as one of South Africa’s top universities. Its traditions span over time. Being a student here gives you a sense of belonging on top of your degree.

The students have there own life within the town. They go to pubs and taverns and eat student grub at the Neelsie. They gather together as first years in the residences to go on “skakels”. This is where 2 residences, join to have fun student activities to get to know each other.

The courses at the university are of Top standard. The sports also rank with the worlds best, many a Springbok sportsman from here.

All in all, being a student here is a world class experience!

Its all part of being a student, and helping everyone fit in and be social whilst working hard during the year. The “old boys” still gather for events years after they graduated. Most of the older students “hang” at the Akker, a pub in Dorp street, a fitting location for this tradition.

There is no better University, so I say…

8. Out & about in Stellenbosch

There are many boutique hotels, guest houses, self catering apartments (Jan Katz, Ikati) for you to stay. Book early as it a very popular little town. Uber is in town if you need to travel further.

Walk about what you will see: