Akademie St Hotel, Franschhoek

GPS co-ordinates

Latitude 33.54 44.60 South - Longitude 19.70 24.66 East

Directions from Cape Town International Airport

(about a 55 minute drive)

Go directly out of the airport to the N2 and follow the directions to Somerset West along the N2. Turn to the left when the sign says Stellenbosch (Baden Powell Drive – R310 – exit 33). From here on out start counting traffic lights (including a streetlight at a pedestrian crossing). This road goes past Spier and you will travel quite a way. When you came to a traffic light (traffic light 2) at a T- Junction turn right (you are then almost in Stellenbosch). Continue along this road until the 10th streetlight. This 10th streetlight is past the industrial/commercial area of Stellenbosch just when you are coming into the countryside again on the right hand side. Look for a sign to the right saying Franschhoek, Ida’s Valley. This sign is on the right hand side about 30 metres before the turn off and is obscured by leaves. The actual turn is at this traffic light.Turn right. Go over the pass and past Boschendal until you reach a T-junction. Turn right and about 15 km later you will find yourself in Franschhoek. Drive through Franschhoek until the end of town – the monument in front of you. Turn left. The second road is Akademie Street - turn left (You cannot go right). Come to reception at Twyfeling, under the big oak trees (you will see the Akademie Street Boutique Hotel and Guest House sign outside Twyfeling).

To find Akademie Street Guesthouses once in Franschhoek

Drive through Franschhoek to the end of the town - the monument is in front of you. Turn left. The second road is Akademie Street, turn left ( you cannot go right). Come to Twyfelling at the big oak trees on the right. You will see the Akademie Street Guesthouses sign.

If you get lost, please phone us on 082 517-0405 or 082 655 5308

There are many activities and things to do in Franschhoek from hiking to sitting at the side walk cafes and watching the world go by. A list follows of some of the more obvious things to do.

Visit a wine farm: Franschhoek has some of the most stunning scenery in the wine world and some of the Cape’s best wines. The wineries range from very large to small family-run farms. They are all a few minutes’ drive from Akademie Street Boutique Hotel and Guest House. You can also visit several of them by bicycle or on horseback. You can also book the Franschhoek Wine Tram info@winetram.co.za. Of course the best way is to hire a car or let us organise transport or specialised tours for you. Generally it is more fun and cheaper to self-drive but if you wish to be picked up from somewhere or taken on day trips we can organise this for you.
Hire bicycles and explore: Franschhoek has stunning scenery and a host of mountain bike and hiking trails or else get taken on mountain paths or wine tasting with a guide: Franschhoek Cycles info@franschhoekcycles.co.za
Hike around the village outskirts or in the nature reserve high in the mountains overlooking Franschhoek or behind the gorges in the Berg River Dam or on the trail around the La Motte farm. One can walk around Babylonstoren's beautiful new formal produce garden planted with typical and old Cape plants
Go for a guided walk with a historian or a geologist: Izak Rust – icrust@iafrica.com or Siegfried Schäfer siegfried.schafer@gmail.com
Visit the valley museums and galleries:
Grande Provence – The gallery
Roubaix House gallery – ceramics by David Walters and his daughter Sarah Walters
Glen Carlou Fine Art Gallery – The Hess Collection
IS Art Gallery – at Le Quartier Français
La Motte Gallery – From the Rupert collection, especially works of Pierneef
Ebony – in Franschhoek Square
Motor Museum on L'Omarins - One of the largest collections of exotic and vintage cars in the Southern Hemisphere
Huguenot Museum - reflecting the history of the early Huguenot settlers
Visit museums and monuments in nearby towns (30 – 45 minutes drive):
Afrikaans Language Monument – on the slopes of Paarl Mountain with its unusual rocks and a nature reserve
Wellington Museum – small interesting Egyptian section
Stellenbosch Museum – four houses from the earliest house in Stellenbosch to one from the Victorian era
Rupert Museum – the art collection bequeathed to Stellenbosch by Anton and Huberte Rupert Sasol Art Museum – Stellenbosch
Stellenbosch Botanical Garden – very small garden with an interesting plant collection
Vergelegen – a beautiful old Cape Dutch Manor house, garden and wine farm in Somerset West
Visit the chocolate factory: Tours can be booked before hand huguenot@wol.co.za
Visit a Farmer's market: Every Saturday morning at Oude Libertas in Stellenbosch or the local small market at the Dutch Reform Church or Blauuwklippen wine estate on a Sunday
Shop at the village’s antique, craft and diamond shops:
For top of the range diamonds and Tanzanite speak to Tracey’s Diamonds
For lovely custom-made jewellery using various gems d Toit Classique
For gems and sterling silver Penchant Design
Sit at the side walk cafes and watch the world go by

From the second we arrived at Akedemie we were treated impeccably. Declan cannot be praised enough for his contribution to our stay here; from making bookings to asking the chefs for the recipe for their stunning roasted tomatoes, nothing was too much trouble. The room was enormous and exceptionally comfortable, the complimentary mini bar a nice touch (they even provided a few more gins when we ran out!), breakfast was fresh and absolutely delicious, and overall our stay was peaceful and completely relaxing. The main road with an array of beautiful restaurants is just a minute's walk away - make sure you get a booking at Foliage, which was by far the most beautiful meal we had here. All the little touches and unrivalled attention to detail (right down to the sun cream provided by the pool) made this a very special few nights of our holiday. I wish we could have stayed longer!

Everything was supberb. The attention to detail was outstanding. A fridge full of lovely drinks, snacks and fruit. Plenty of coffee and choice of teas. Capsule coffee machine. Travel adapters on electric sockets. Bathroom crammed with goodies, wonderful toiletries, cotton buds, cotton wool, bath salts, slippers, bath robes, huge fluffy towels. Huge bed with wonderful pillows. Everything immaculately clean. The ladies were lovely, free laundry and they even took our underwear to wash by hand even though I hadn't left it for them to do. Came back crystal white and smelling wonderful. Lovely squashy sofa outside for an evening aperitif. Plunge pool was cold but refreshing. Even sun tan lotion supplied. Breakfast was superb. A huge fruit plate of practically every fruit imaginable. Presented in a beautiful way. Home made muesli with greek yoghurt and stewed fruits. Full cooked breakfast, toast and selection of jams. Service was so friendly. I could have spent the whole holiday here but we only had two nights. I can't rate it highly enough. Did I mention I loved it?