Some of the best South African wines are produced in the vineyard-dotted Winelands district, which sits just beyond the Cape Town city limits.
Popular Cape Town wine tasting tours whisk visitors from the bustling center to the lush grape growing region to sample the local product.
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Many of these excursions are pricey adventures, but budget travelers can rest assured that there are affordable Wine Tasting Cape Town Tours, too!
Finding Cheap Wine Tasting Cape Town Tours
On our trip, we were eager to visit nearby Cape Town wineries. However, pinpointing an affordable way to visit the wine estates in Cape Town was proving more difficult than we expected.
First, we contemplated creating our own DIY Cape Town day trip using public transportation. However, our diligent research yielded zero results for a bus route leading directly to a winery (or better yet, wineries).
The local commuter train makes stop in the popular wine regions of Stellenbosch and Paarl, but we couldn’t get a sense of whether the wineries were actually walkable from the stations.
We found numerous advertised wine tasting tours – complete with gourmet picnic lunches and other luxury bells and whistles – but they simply didn’t jive with our Budget Cape Town Trip.
Affordable South African Wine Tours from Cape Town
Determined to find an inexpensive route, we eventually discovered a a few affordable options. In the end, we found that the most cost-effective way was to ride the Hop On Hop Off Bus!
Now, we are sharing the details of our experience. Plus, we’re revealing a few of the other top picks for budget wine tours that we came across in our research.
Hop On Hop Off Cape Town Tour Bus
Okay, we rarely use these big, red, double-decker, open-top, Hop On Hop Off tourist-toting buses.
We generally prefer to walk or use public transport. However, we discovered that the City Sightseeing Tour Bus is a viable option for cheap Cape Town vineyard tours.
It offers a Constantia Wine Route where no public buses go. Although more expensive, a one-day ticket includes unlimited rides for the day and the chance to visit some of the best wineries in Cape Town!
How To Use the Sightseeing Bus to Get To Wineries
The Cape Town Tour Bus offers multiple looping routes through the city. However, the Hop On Hop Off Cape Town Wine Route does not commence in the city center; you need to switch buses. Don’t worry; it’s easy…even after some wine!
Start by boarding a bus for the Mini Peninsula Tour, which is the Blue Line Route that makes a stop in Constantia. At the Constantia stop, connect to a smaller bus for the Wine Tour, or Purple Line Route.
This route makes stops at the entrance to three wineries: Groot Constantia Wine Estate, Constantia Glen and Beau Constantia. We can’t imagine there are any easier or more relaxed self-guided wine tasting tours in Cape Town!
Book Tickets for the Cape Town Tour Bus
Our Hop On Hop Off Constantia Wine Tasting Experience
The affordable Constantia wine tour route offers visitors a change to see some of the best wine estates in Cape Town.
Just bear in mind that the bus ticket only provides transit. You need to pay for your own tastings at each winery – and it’s essential to keep an eye on the time.
It’s best to purchase tickets in advance online and use the voucher to board the bus. If it’s a nice day, the prime seats are on the upper deck.
All seats have outlets where complimentary headphones can be plugged in for the prerecorded tour commentary.
You start on the Blue Line Bus, which takes passengers from the city, around the university, into Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens and on to Constantia.
On our trip, the bus times aligned perfectly – as we arrived in Constantia, the Purple Route Bus was waiting for us.
Stop 1: Groot Constantia Wine Estate
Founded in 1685, Groot Constantia is the oldest producing winery in South Africa. Their Cape Town wines have been favored by aristocracy around the world.
The enormous estate encompasses 420 acres, which is inclusive of 220 acres of vineyards, the wine cellar, two restaurants, and a museum.
You can explore for free, but there are small fees for the museum and cellar. Tastings are offered at a reasonable price and you can choose from 5 wines.
Groot Constantia is somewhat of a tourist attraction all on its own. In our opinion, it is the overall best wine tasting Cape Town experiences.
Stop 2: Constantia Glen
This 60-acre boutique winery sits atop a hill overlooking a stunningly scenic landscape. A variety of tastings are offered – including an affordable 4-wine sampling of their flagship wines.
The tastings can be be paired with food at the on-site restaurant. The classic Flammkuchen flatbread is a top choice!
Note: On our Cape Town Tourist Bus Wine Tour, the second stop was at Eagle’s Nest, which no longer welcomes visitors to the estate. However, Constantia Glen is just around the corner.
Stop 3: Beau Constantia Winery
This modern, trendy tasting room is a sleek, glass two-story building. The ample outdoor space provides views over the vineyard out to False Bay.
The contemporary menu features shared tapas – but bookings are essential. Without a reservation, visitors can enjoy self-service at the bar.
They offer a selection of wine flights to sample. A visit to the winery wouldn’t be complete without a trip to the ‘Loo with a View,’ which gets our vote for ‘Best Bathroom View Ever’!
Tourist Bus Constantia Wine Route Cost and Tips
The Red Bus Cape Town – or the “Ho-Ho-Wine-O” as we affectionately called it – is an extremely affordable way to access the legendary South African vineyards.
A one-day ticket on the bus costs less than $20; together the wine tastings will add around another $25 to the cost of the trip.
Totaling a mere fraction of the cost for Cape Town private tours to wineries, it’s an excellent budget option to taste wine in South Africa.
We thoroughly enjoyed visiting these three wineries – each with their own distinct ambiance – on our own. The tastings were well-priced – costing less than $10 at each estate.
Top Travel Tip: The two-day ticket for the Hop On Hop Off Bus offers an exceptional value for money. In addition to being able to explore the sights on the Red Line, it includes a complimentary cruise, sunset bus tour and the free Cape Town Walking Tour!
More Cape Town Wine Tours
While we had a blast on our bus route to the wineries, there are some well-priced Wine Tasting Cape Town Day Tours.
We are highlighting a few of the top options, including incredibly affordable half-day wine tours from Cape Town and full day wine adventures.
Cape Town Wine Tram
Travel by coach to the scenic Franschhoek Wine Valley, then hop aboard a tram that stops at multiple wine estates.
The tram and buses make stops every hour, which is helpful for planning the trip. Much like the wine bus, you choose which wineries to visit and pay for their own tastings.
With the Wine Tram-Cape Town transport included in the cost and the opportunity to discover the vineyards on a full day tour, we think it ranks as one of the top affordable Cape Town wine tours.
The similar Vine Hopper bus in Stellenbosch is another fun and inexpensive way to visit wineries. The one caveat, however, is that you need to get to Stellenbosch first!
Organized, Affordable Wine Tasting South Africa Tour
On this Winelands Full-Day Tour and Tasting, guides lead the way to top wine estates in Paarl, Stellenbosch and Franschhoek. Wine and cheese tastings are included in the bargain price!
Stellenbosch Winelands Half-Day Tour
Those short on time can join a fun-filled, all-inclusive (yet still fairly affordable) half-day tour of Stellenbosch.
The 5-hour trip includes two vineyards – with an included cellar tour at one Stellenbosch Wine Estate and local food and wine pairings.
Full-Day Package-Deal Cape Tour with Wine Tasting
Those who want to sample regional wine and tour top South Africa sights can join a whirlwind adventure on this full day tour.
Highlights are the Chapman’s Peak Drive to Cape Point, a stop to see the penguins at Boulders Beach and an included wine tasting in Constantia Valley!
Budget Travel Tips for Cape Town
Cape Town, South Africa can be an affordable trip or a luxury vacation. Those intent on keeping their budget in check can use our additional tips for visiting Cape Town on a budget.
- Use our Self-Guided Cape Town Walking Tour to see the top sights
- Visit the Best Cape Town Beaches
- Spend a Day in Beautiful Hout Bay
- Take a DIY Trip to See the Penguins in Simon’s Town
- Explore Magical Table Mountain
Need more budget ideas? Use our 3-Day Itinerary which features top free things to do in Cape Town!
Start planning your trip to South Africa! Search for the lowest airfares, the best accommodations and fun things to do…then start packing! Want additional advice? Head over to our Travel Planning Page and for country-specific information, take a look at our Travel Guides Page!
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