The perfect 48 hours in Riebeek Kasteel
An easy two-day plan for a first visit: wine, olives, art, a walk and good food, without rushing.
Two days is enough to fall for Riebeek Kasteel. Here is a plan that leaves room for long lunches and an afternoon by the pool.
Day one, morning: start in the village. Have coffee and breakfast at one of the cafés around Fontein Street, then wander through the galleries and the shops in Short Street. Pop into Het Vlock Casteel on Kerk Street for an olive tasting: table olives, tapenades and oils from the valley.
Day one, afternoon: drive a few minutes out of the village to a wine estate. Kloovenburg combines wine and olives and has walking trails; Pulpit Rock sits right at the foot of the Kasteelberg. Book your tasting ahead on busy weekends. Head back for a swim and a rest.
Day one, evening: sundowners on the long veranda of the Royal Hotel, then dinner in the village. Choose between French, Mediterranean, a Latin grill or something new; it is all within walking distance.
Day two, morning: walk one of the Kloovenburg trails before it gets warm, or drive over to Riebeek West to see the house where Jan Smuts spent his early childhood. Day two, afternoon: one more tasting, perhaps Allesverloren with its reds and port, then a late lunch before you leave.
Where to sleep: choose a stay in the village itself, so you can leave the car parked in the evenings. Most hosts in the valley check guests in mid-afternoon, which fits neatly after a long lunch on a farm.
