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Guide · 2-day plan
Hop-on hop-off Cape Town itinerary: a 2-day plan by bus
This hop-on hop-off Cape Town itinerary spreads the three routes over two days: the city, the mountain and the Atlantic first, then the gardens, the wine valley and Hout Bay.
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Editorial team, capetownbustour.comUpdated October 26, 20266 minutes to read42 sources
Quick answer
- 01Day 1
- Red route: Waterfront, cableway, Camps Bay, Sea Point.1
- 03Ticket
- This site's bus ticket is listed as valid 2 days.
Why 2 days suits the bus
The network is built for more than one day. The operator gives the Red route about 90 minutes without getting off, the Blue route about 140 minutes and the wine bus about 30 minutes; add the time it suggests at each stop and one day cannot hold them all.8 The ticket booked on this site is listed as valid 2 days, which fits this plan.
Remember that tickets count calendar days, not 24 hours.9 Start on the morning of day one and use both days fully. This hop-on hop-off Cape Town itinerary keeps the mountain and the Atlantic for the first day and the valleys behind Table Mountain for the second, with one evening outing on top.
Hop-on hop-off Cape Town in 2 days also gives you a weather spare. If cloud covers Table Mountain on day one, swap the days: ride the Blue route first and keep the cableway for the second morning. The plan below works in either order.
Day 1
City, mountain and the Atlantic
Day 1 morning: the Waterfront and the mountain
Start at stop 1 outside the Two Oceans Aquarium, where the ticket office opens at 8 am.14 On the 2026/2027 timetable the first Red bus leaves at 8:00 from 24 September to 31 March and at 8:30 the rest of the year, reaching the cableway at 8:50 or 9:20.6 Ride straight there and make the most of a clear morning.
Stop 7 is the lower cable station, and the operator suggests 2 hours.10 The cable car is not in the plain bus ticket; buy the Cableway's own ticket, 475 rand return online for an adult, or book the bus and cable car combo.15 The Cableway warns that it cannot guarantee to be open in bad weather, and a clear morning is one to use.16
Back on the bus, ride on to Camps Bay, stop 8. The operator suggests 1 hour there for the beach and lunch.11 It is the natural lunch stop of the day, with the Twelve Apostles behind the beach and plenty of choice along the strip.411
At a glance
Two days on the buses
| Time | Day 1 | Day 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Early | Red route to the cableway | Blue route to Kirstenbosch |
| Late morning | Table Mountain | Kirstenbosch garden |
| Lunch | Camps Bay | Groot Constantia |
| Afternoon | Sea Point, Green Point | Hout Bay harbour |
| Evening | Sunset bus or cruise | Waterfront |
Stops and routes from the operator's route pages; times on the day vary with the season.123
The plan
Day 1, day 2 and the evening
Mountain and sea
Gardens and wine
Signal Hillwe recommend reviewing the timetable and route map to help plan your journey and make the most of your ticket validity period.
Day 1 afternoon: the Atlantic and the city
After lunch follow the Atlantic home. Stop 10 sits on the Sea Point beachfront near St John's Road, and from there you can walk the promenade to the Winchester Hotel stop and pick up the next bus.12 Stop 12, just north of the Mouille Point lighthouse, is next to the Urban Park.25
If you still have energy, stay on to the Waterfront and change to the city side of the loop. Stop 2 at the Clock Tower is the gateway to Zeitz MOCAA and the Robben Island ferry, and stop 5 on Long Street is where the free walking tours start, near Greenmarket Square.1826 The operator suggests 1 hour at each.1826
End the day on the water or on Signal Hill. The harbour cruise lasts about 30 minutes from the jetty outside the Aquarium, with Cape fur seals and views of Table Mountain.5 The sunset bus leaves stop 1 between 16:45 and 18:00 depending on the season, and its only stop is Signal Hill.134
Map
Where the three bus routes stop
First the whole network from the V&A Waterfront to Hout Bay, then the city and Atlantic stops of the Red route, then the wine valley and harbour stops behind Table Mountain.
1Two Oceans Aquarium3CTICC4Greenmarket Square5Table Mountain cableway6Camps Bay7Sea Point8Green Point lighthouse9Mount Nelson Hotel10Signal Hill11Kirstenbosch12Constantia Nek13Groot Constantia15Hout Bay bird park16Mariner's Wharf
1Two Oceans Aquarium2Clock Tower3CTICC4Greenmarket Square5Table Mountain cableway6Camps Bay7Sea Point8Green Point lighthouse9Mount Nelson Hotel10Signal Hill
11Kirstenbosch12Constantia Nek13Groot Constantia14Beau Constantia15Hout Bay bird park16Mariner's Wharf
- 1Two Oceans Aquarium
Stop 1 and the main ticket office; the harbour and canal cruises leave from here.14
In Google Maps ↗ - 2Clock Tower
Stop 2, for Zeitz MOCAA and the Robben Island gateway.18
In Google Maps ↗ - 3CTICC
Stop 3 on the Red route, by the convention centre.1
In Google Maps ↗ - 4Greenmarket Square
A short walk from stop 5, the downtown office where the walking tours start.26
In Google Maps ↗ - 5Table Mountain cableway
Stop 7, at the lower cable station; the operator suggests 2 hours.10
In Google Maps ↗ - 6Camps Bay
Stop 8, the beach strip, served by the Red and Blue routes.112
In Google Maps ↗ - 7Sea Point
Stop 10 on the beachfront, near St John's Road.12
In Google Maps ↗ - 8Green Point lighthouse
Stop 12, just north of the lighthouse, by the Urban Park.25
In Google Maps ↗ - 9Mount Nelson Hotel
Stop 15 on the Blue route, in Orange Street.27
In Google Maps ↗ - 10Signal Hill
The only stop of the Sunset Bus; not on the daytime routes.4
In Google Maps ↗ - 11Kirstenbosch
Stop 20 on the Blue route; the operator suggests 1 to 2 hours.17
In Google Maps ↗ - 12Constantia Nek
Stop 21, where you change from the Blue route to the wine bus.28
In Google Maps ↗ - 13Groot Constantia
On the wine bus route, granted to Simon van der Stel in 1685.329
In Google Maps ↗ - 14Beau Constantia
The third stop of the wine bus; booking required.330
In Google Maps ↗ - 15Hout Bay bird park
Stop 22, World of Birds and Monkey Jungle in Hout Bay.31
In Google Maps ↗ - 16Mariner's Wharf
Stop 24 at the Hout Bay harbour, for Seal Island boat trips.19
In Google Maps ↗
Checklist
For both days
01
Pack
- Sun cream and a hat for the open deck
- A warm layer for the Atlantic wind
- Water and a picnic for Kirstenbosch
02
Check
- Closure days on the timetable
- First and last buses each day
- Cableway ticket or the combo
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How to spend 2 days in Cape Town
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Day 2 morning: Kirstenbosch
Day two starts on the Blue route. On the 2026/2027 timetable the first Blue bus leaves the Aquarium at 8:00 from 12 December to 3 January and at 9:00 otherwise, reaching Kirstenbosch at 8:48 or 9:48.7 The bus passes the Foreshore, Long Street and the Mount Nelson Hotel on the way.2
Kirstenbosch is stop 20. The operator gives its gates as open from 8 am to 5 pm and suggests 1 to 2 hours there.17 SANBI describes the garden as one of the great botanic gardens of the world, against the eastern slopes of Table Mountain.32 Wear comfortable shoes and leave time to wander: the garden is large, and the bus will not wait.
Kirstenbosch is also the place for a picnic if you brought one; its policy is picnic in, litter out.33 Bring water and sun cream, and keep an eye on the time: the change for the wine bus is at the next stop, and the valley afternoon goes quickly.
Day 2 afternoon: Constantia and Hout Bay
At stop 21, Constantia Nek, change from the Blue route to the purple wine bus.28 Its 3 stops are Constantia Nek, Groot Constantia and Beau Constantia.3 Groot Constantia, established in 1685, describes itself as South Africa's first wine farm, and its tasting is 5 wines of your choice with a souvenir glass.3435
Check the estate's hours: the cellars and Manor House open from 10:00 to 17:00, with the last tasting ticket at 16:00.20 Wine tastings are only for guests aged 18 and over. Leave in good time to ride the wine bus back to Constantia Nek and rejoin the Blue route.
The Blue route carries on to Hout Bay. Stop 24 is Mariner's Wharf and the harbour, with boat trips to Seal Island and the Hout Bay Market close by; the operator suggests 1 hour.19 From there the bus climbs back over to Camps Bay and follows the Atlantic to the Waterfront, a fine way to end the 2 days.
Where to join the bus each morning
You do not have to start at the Waterfront. The operator lets you hop on at any official stop, and recommends its offices at the V&A Waterfront and 81 Long Street for tickets and information.36 If your hotel is in Sea Point or near Long Street, join the Red route there on day one and ride the loop from that point.
On day two the Blue route is the one to catch, and its stops in town are fewer. It leaves from stop 1 at the Aquarium and calls at the Foreshore, Long Street and the Mount Nelson Hotel before heading for Kirstenbosch.2 Every bus is red, so read the route sign on the front before you board.37
Plan the ride back as carefully as the ride out. Note the last bus at the stop where you will be in the late afternoon, and use the operator's live tracker to see where it is.38 After dark, the City recommends accredited transport such as e-hailing or a taxi rather than a walk back to the hotel.39
Adjusting the plan
Watch for closure days. The buses run 363 days a year in Cape Town and stop for the Cycle Race and the Cape Town Marathon.40 On the timetable that means 14 March 2027 and 23 May 2027, and on 1 January 2027 stops 8 and 9 are not served.41 Pick your two days around them.
In winter the evenings shorten and the sunset bus runs only on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, at 16:45.2342 Put your sunset evening on one of those days, and use the live bus tracker to avoid long waits at quieter stops on the Blue route.38
With children, slow down. Children up to 3 ride free and ages 4 to 17 pay the child rate, and the commentary has a kids' channel.2122 Drop a stop rather than rushing; a plan for 2 days that keeps everyone happy beats one that ticks off every sight.
Your days in town
Let the red buses show you the city.
Three routes, commentary in 15 languages, and free cancellation up to 24 hours before.
You ask,we answer.
Is 2 days enough for the hop-on hop-off bus?
Yes, for all three routes. The operator gives the loops about 90, 140 and 30 minutes before stops, and this site's ticket is listed as valid 2 days.8
Which route should I ride first?
The Red route. It covers the cableway, Camps Bay and Sea Point.1
Does a 2-day ticket run for two full 24-hour periods?
No, for calendar days. Tickets count calendar days, not 24-hour periods.9
Where should I start each day?
Stop 1 at the Waterfront. The ticket office there opens daily from 8 am to 6 pm.14
Can I fit in Table Mountain?
Yes, on day one. The Red route stops at the lower cable station; the operator suggests 2 hours.10
How do I get to the wine estates?
Day two, via Constantia Nek. Change from the Blue route to the purple wine bus at stop 21.28
Sources
Where the information comes from
- 1City Sightseeing South Africa (operator of the Cape Town hop-on hop-off buses)Red Cape Town City Tour to Table Mountain↩
- 2City Sightseeing South Africa (operator of the Cape Town hop-on hop-off buses)Blue Mini Peninsula Tour↩
- 3City Sightseeing South Africa (operator of the Cape Town hop-on hop-off buses)Purple Constantia Valley Wine Tour↩
- 4City Sightseeing South Africa (operator of the Cape Town hop-on hop-off buses)Sunset Bus Experience↩
- 5City Sightseeing South Africa (operator of the Cape Town hop-on hop-off buses)Harbour and Canal Cruise Combo↩
- 6City Sightseeing South Africa (operator of the Cape Town hop-on hop-off buses)Cape Town timetable 2026/2027 (PDF)↩
- 7City Sightseeing South Africa (operator of the Cape Town hop-on hop-off buses)Cape Town timetable 2026/2027 (PDF)↩
- 8City Sightseeing South Africa (operator of the Cape Town hop-on hop-off buses)Frequently Asked Questions Cape Town↩
- 9City Sightseeing South Africa (operator of the Cape Town hop-on hop-off buses)Frequently Asked Questions Cape Town↩
- 10City Sightseeing South Africa (operator of the Cape Town hop-on hop-off buses)Red Cape Town City Tour to Table Mountain↩
- 11City Sightseeing South Africa (operator of the Cape Town hop-on hop-off buses)Red Cape Town City Tour to Table Mountain↩
- 12City Sightseeing South Africa (operator of the Cape Town hop-on hop-off buses)Red Cape Town City Tour to Table Mountain↩
- 13City Sightseeing South Africa (operator of the Cape Town hop-on hop-off buses)Sunset Bus Experience↩
- 14City Sightseeing South Africa (operator of the Cape Town hop-on hop-off buses)Red Cape Town City Tour to Table Mountain↩
- 15Table Mountain Aerial Cableway (official site)Ticket prices↩
- 16Table Mountain Aerial Cableway (official site data)Visitor questions, tips and facts↩
- 17City Sightseeing South Africa (operator of the Cape Town hop-on hop-off buses)Blue Mini Peninsula Tour↩
- 18City Sightseeing South Africa (operator of the Cape Town hop-on hop-off buses)Red Cape Town City Tour to Table Mountain↩
- 19City Sightseeing South Africa (operator of the Cape Town hop-on hop-off buses)Blue Mini Peninsula Tour↩
- 20Groot Constantia (official estate site)Opening times↩
- 21City Sightseeing South Africa (operator of the Cape Town hop-on hop-off buses)Frequently Asked Questions Cape Town↩
- 22City Sightseeing South Africa (operator of the Cape Town hop-on hop-off buses)Frequently Asked Questions Cape Town↩
- 23City Sightseeing South Africa (operator of the Cape Town hop-on hop-off buses)Sunset Bus Experience↩
- 24City Sightseeing South Africa (operator of the Cape Town hop-on hop-off buses)Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tours↩
- 25City Sightseeing South Africa (operator of the Cape Town hop-on hop-off buses)Red Cape Town City Tour to Table Mountain↩
- 26City Sightseeing South Africa (operator of the Cape Town hop-on hop-off buses)Red Cape Town City Tour to Table Mountain↩
- 27City Sightseeing South Africa (operator of the Cape Town hop-on hop-off buses)Blue Mini Peninsula Tour↩
- 28City Sightseeing South Africa (operator of the Cape Town hop-on hop-off buses)Blue Mini Peninsula Tour↩
- 29Iziko Museums of South AfricaGroot Constantia↩
- 30City Sightseeing South Africa (operator of the Cape Town hop-on hop-off buses)Purple Constantia Valley Wine Tour↩
- 31City Sightseeing South Africa (operator of the Cape Town hop-on hop-off buses)Blue Mini Peninsula Tour↩
- 32South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI)Kirstenbosch↩
- 33South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI)Kirstenbosch visitor information↩
- 34Groot Constantia (official estate site)Our legacy↩
- 35Groot Constantia (official estate site)Experience Groot Constantia↩
- 36City Sightseeing South Africa (operator of the Cape Town hop-on hop-off buses)Frequently Asked Questions Cape Town↩
- 37City Sightseeing South Africa (operator of the Cape Town hop-on hop-off buses)Frequently Asked Questions Cape Town↩
- 38City Sightseeing South Africa (operator of the Cape Town hop-on hop-off buses)Frequently Asked Questions Cape Town↩
- 39City of Cape TownGeneral safety tips for visitors↩
- 40City Sightseeing South Africa (operator of the Cape Town hop-on hop-off buses)About City Sightseeing↩
- 41City Sightseeing South Africa (operator of the Cape Town hop-on hop-off buses)Cape Town timetable 2026/2027 (PDF)↩
- 42City Sightseeing South Africa (operator of the Cape Town hop-on hop-off buses)Cape Town timetable 2026/2027 (PDF)↩
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