A luxurious lounge with glass doors opens to a lush garden, outdoor seating, and mountain views in the distance. The space features modern decor, striped pillows, and natural light filling the room.

Travel

A perfect day in Franschhoek

Got 24 hours in Franschhoek? This is how to spend one perfect day in this picture-perfect pocket of South Africa’s winelands.

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Words by Dulcie Barnes

21st April 2026

3-minute read

So you’ve spent a perfect 48 hours in Cape Town, and now you’re wondering what the winelands have in store. Enter: Franschhoek. You don’t need to spend long in this picture-perfect pocket of South Africa to get a taste of what it’s all about (spoiler alert: it involves a lot of wining and dining). Let’s get into it.

MORNING

Wake up at Leeu Estates

There’s one lieu you need to know in Franschhoek, and that’s Leeu. There’s the House on the high street and the Estates on the outskirts (but still mere minutes away from the tiny town). The latter is where you want to be, if you ask us. It’s 24 rooms and suites spaciously scattered around a picture-perfect estate – most with their own private pool. Hop out of bed and hitch a buggy ride from an ever-so-smiley hotel employee to The Dining Room, where a table on the ever-so-sunny terrace awaits for breakfast.

A spacious, warmly lit bedroom with exposed wooden ceiling beams, a large bed with a decorative headboard, matching nightstands, lamps, a bench, woven stools, and a seating area near arched windows with patterned curtains.

A person in a white robe walks down a sunlit corridor with stone and glass walls, heading toward a lush garden and a blue swimming pool visible through large windows.

Book a tailored spa treatment

Winelands and wellness don’t have to be mutually exclusive. It can’t hurt to flush out the toxins before you, well, gulp them back down, right? Whether you’ve just landed in the country and need the ‘jetlag recovery’ ceremony or just arrived in the region and want to immerse yourself with the ‘vinotherapy celebration’ journey, any day that starts this way is a good one. From mountain views to lily ponds, every room sets the tone for deep relaxation from the get-go. Post-treatment, relax by the infinity pool with your book.

AFTERNOON

Lunch with a view at La Petite Colombe

You’ll want to enter into your afternoon activities with a full stomach – trust us. And luckily, La Petite Colombe – a fine-dining spot that’s the little sister to Constantia’s award-winning and world-renowned restaurant, La Colombe – lives at Leeu. It’s the kind of place that has a helipad (and one that gets good use). True story: Tom Cruise once flew in and out via helicopter for dinner here, so you’re in good company. Snap a table by the window for vineyard views and settle in for a theatrical and immersive dining experience.

A bronze sculpture of a crouching human figure with a large, reddish stone obscuring its head is displayed on a brick platform outside La Colombe restaurant, surrounded by greenery and modern architecture.

Aerial view of a vineyard estate with neat rows of grapevines, manicured lawns, white buildings, and mountains in the background under a partly cloudy sky.

Embark on a wine estates tour

Start your tour on home turf at The Wine Studio, where Leeu Estates guests get a complimentary tasting per stay. From there, those seeking some family-friendly fun should hop on and off the Franschhoek Wine Tram – just pick a line with the estates you want to visit most on it, then the rest is thought-out for you (helpful after a glass or two). If the tram’s not a novelty for you, or for a more private experience, simply get a car between stops. Beyond Leeu, our favourite wineries include Babylonstoren, Boschendal, and Delaire Graff.

EVENING

Golden hour in the gardens

As the sun sets (and the wine wears off), there’s one place you want to be: Leeu Estate’s picture-perfect gardens. Whether it’s a riverside walk or birdwatching, the flora and fauna here (and it’s here in abundance) look their best drenched in a golden glow. And if you’re planning to pop the all-important question, opt for an early evening picnic on the manicured lawns. We can vouch for how perfect this is because we saw it happen. Leeu Estates can organise all these activities for you – you just have to ask.

Two lounge chairs with red cushions face a small fire pit on a patio, surrounded by greenery and vineyards, with mountains in the background; a table holds two glasses of red wine and snacks.

A warmly lit restaurant dining table set for four, with wooden chairs and a white tablecloth, sits near large windows overlooking a patio and lush greenery outside.

Chef’s tasting menu at Protégé

You’re never at a loss for top-tier tasting menus in this part of the world. So, buckle up (or maybe unbuckle your belt, actually) – we’re indulging in another one. This time, we’re foraying into Franschhoek, where our top pick is Protégé, located at Le Quartier Français. For the best experience, we recommend ordering the ‘chef’s favourites’ menu and sitting at the bar (unless you’re a big group, of course). Look out for the ‘childhood memories’ dessert at the very end – this is fine dining at its most fun. Just how we like it.

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