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Hop-on hop-off Cape Town prices and tickets explained
Hop-on hop-off Cape Town prices start low and climb with each extra you add. Here is what the bus ticket covers, what the combos add, and how to pay as little as possible.
Check availabilityfrom $32 · cancel at no cost
Editorial team, capetownbustour.comUpdated October 26, 20266 minutes to read35 sources
What the basic bus ticket gets you
Start with what you actually need. The ticket booked on this site starts from $32 and averages 4.78 from 4,231 reviews. It gives unlimited hop-on hop-off rides on several routes, free Wi-Fi and earphones on board, a free walking tour in the city centre, a route map and booklet, and discounted entry at selected attractions. An optional harbour cruise and sunset bus come with the options that include them.
The operator's own ticket includes all three routes and a guided walking tour.3 That matters when you compare hop-on hop-off Cape Town prices: a cheaper deal that leaves out the Blue route or the wine bus is not cheaper if Kirstenbosch or Hout Bay is on your list. Commentary in 15 languages with a kids' channel is part of every ride.4
Two things are never in the price. Standard bus tickets do not include entry to attractions, and food and drinks are extra.2 Budget separately for the cableway, Kirstenbosch or a tasting at Groot Constantia, and for lunch at Camps Bay or the Waterfront. A ticket that looks expensive may be fair value if it already includes the entry you were going to pay anyway. Ask at the ticket office which attractions give a discount with the bus ticket before you pay at the gate.
Validity: calendar days, not hours
Read the validity rule on hop-on hop-off Cape Town tickets before you plan your days. On the operator's own ticket list the Classic ticket runs 1 day, the Premium 2 consecutive days with the Sunset bus tour and a cruise, and the Deluxe 3 consecutive days with the Sunset bus tour and 2 cruises.5 Every ticket counts calendar days, not 24-hour periods.5 Start on the morning of day one, not after lunch, or you lose half a day.
The GetYourGuide listing for this site's ticket gives it as valid 2 days. Check the option you pick at checkout: the figure shown first is a starting price, and the options with a cruise or the sunset bus cost more. If you want the evening ride to Signal Hill and a boat trip as well, the longer tickets bundle them; if you only want the buses, a short ticket used fully is the better buy.
Plan around the closure days too. The buses run 363 days a year in Cape Town and stop on the days of the Cycle Race and the Cape Town Marathon.6 On the 2026/2027 timetable that means the Cycle Tour on 14 March 2027 and the marathon on 23 May 2027.7 A ticket bought for one of those dates gives you nothing to ride.
Track record
How many travellers reviewed each ticket
reviews
Price list
Bus tickets and combos side by side
| Ticket | From | Validity | Adds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bus ticket | from $32 | 2 days | Optional cruise, sunset |
| Bus & cable car | from $61 | 14 days | Cableway return |
| Bus & Groot Constantia | from $33 | 1 day | Tasting of 5 wines |
| Sunset bus | from $17 | One evening | Signal Hill, own picnic |
| City Pass | from $121 | 1 to 5 days | 80+ attractions |
Starting prices of the GetYourGuide listings, not exact quotes; the final price shows at checkout.
Three ways to buy
The plain ticket, the mountain combo or a pass
Most reviewed
Mountain day
Busy itineraryDecision helper
Which ticket fits your trip
Pick by the one thing you most want to add
The bus ticket
All routes and a walking tour, from $32.3
Bus and cable car
The cableway can wait up to 14 days for clear weather.
Bus and Groot Constantia
Entry and 5 wines for guests aged 18 and over.
A City Pass
Over 80 attractions plus the bus.
The sunset bus
3 hours to Signal Hill, from $17.
Premium Ticket: 2 consecutive days (includes Sunset bus Tour & a Cruise); Deluxe Ticket: 3 consecutive days (includes Sunset bus Tour & 2 Cruises)
Combos that add the mountain, a cruise or wine
One combo adds the Table Mountain Aerial Cableway. It starts from $61, averages 4.64 from 3,465 reviews, and pairs a 1-day bus ticket on all 3 routes with a cableway return. Its ticket is valid for 14 days: the bus for one day, and the cable car within 14 days of first using the bus ticket, which lets a weather closure move to another day.
Compare that with the Cableway's own fares. An adult return costs 475 rand online and 530 rand at the ticket office.8 A child aged 4 to 17 pays 230 rand online.9 Our page on the bus and cable car combo shows the sums, and how to time the mountain around the wind and cloud.
Wine lovers can add Groot Constantia. That combo starts from $33 and includes the estate entry, a tasting of 5 wines and a crystal glass to keep, with the bus ticket valid on the day of first use. Tastings there are for guests aged 18 and over. The operator also sells a combo with a harbour or canal cruise.10
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.11
In Google Maps ↗ - 2Clock Tower
Stop 2, for Zeitz MOCAA and the Robben Island gateway.12
In Google Maps ↗ - 3CTICC
Stop 3 on the Red route, by the convention centre.13
In Google Maps ↗ - 4Greenmarket Square
A short walk from stop 5, the downtown office where the walking tours start.14
In Google Maps ↗ - 5Table Mountain cableway
Stop 7, at the lower cable station; the operator suggests 2 hours.15
In Google Maps ↗ - 6Camps Bay
Stop 8, the beach strip, served by the Red and Blue routes.1617
In Google Maps ↗ - 7Sea Point
Stop 10 on the beachfront, near St John's Road.18
In Google Maps ↗ - 8Green Point lighthouse
Stop 12, just north of the lighthouse, by the Urban Park.19
In Google Maps ↗ - 9Mount Nelson Hotel
Stop 15 on the Blue route, in Orange Street.20
In Google Maps ↗ - 10Signal Hill
The only stop of the Sunset Bus; not on the daytime routes.21
In Google Maps ↗ - 11Kirstenbosch
Stop 20 on the Blue route; the operator suggests 1 to 2 hours.22
In Google Maps ↗ - 12Constantia Nek
Stop 21, where you change from the Blue route to the wine bus.23
In Google Maps ↗ - 13Groot Constantia
On the wine bus route, granted to Simon van der Stel in 1685.2425
In Google Maps ↗ - 14Beau Constantia
The third stop of the wine bus; booking required.2426
In Google Maps ↗ - 15Hout Bay bird park
Stop 22, World of Birds and Monkey Jungle in Hout Bay.27
In Google Maps ↗ - 16Mariner's Wharf
Stop 24 at the Hout Bay harbour, for Seal Island boat trips.28
In Google Maps ↗
Checklist
Before you pay
01
Check
- Which calendar days the ticket covers
- Whether the option includes a cruise
- Entrance fees you will pay on top
02
Save
- Book online rather than on the bus
- Child rate for ages 4 to 17
- Cableway tickets online, not at the office
Cost calculator
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Enter how many are travelling to compare totals.
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Total from$64
each from $32
Check availabilityfree cancellationTotals use each listing's starting price on GetYourGuide, converted at today's rate; the booking page shows what you pay.
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Is the Cape Town hop-on hop-off bus worth it? A full day tested
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The sunset bus and the city passes
The evening ride to Signal Hill is sold on its own as well. It starts from $17 and lasts 3 hours, averaging 4.28 from 69 reviews. You bring your own picnic; food is not included. It suits a first evening in town, before you buy a day ticket, and gives you a view over the routes you will ride later.
City passes bundle the bus with many attractions. The Cape Town City Pass starts from $121 and covers over 80 attractions and the hop-on hop-off bus for 1, 2, 3 or 5 consecutive days, from its first use. A premium version with a bus tour starts from $232 and adds one premium experience.
A pass pays only if you will really use several of its entries each day. Count the attractions you plan to visit, add their entry prices, and compare that with the pass. For a day on the bus with one stop at the cableway, the combo is simpler; for a week of museums, the aquarium and boat trips, a pass may come out ahead. Remember that a pass, like the bus ticket, runs on consecutive days from its first use, so a rest day in the middle costs you a day of the pass.
Where to buy hop-on hop-off tickets
You can buy in three places. The operator sells online, at its ticket offices at the V&A Waterfront outside the Aquarium and at 81 Long Street, and on board from the driver, where card payment is preferred.29 It also says you save when you book online in advance.30 That answers the common question of where to buy hop-on hop-off tickets: online first, the office second, the driver last.
Booking ahead through GetYourGuide brings its own terms. This site's ticket can be cancelled free of charge up to 24 hours before, and you can reserve now and pay later. The Cableway warns that it cannot guarantee to be open in bad weather, and a booking you can still cancel the day before is worth more than a small discount on the day.31
Whatever you buy, keep the voucher on your phone and the paper map in your bag. The ticket offices at the Waterfront and Long Street are also where you ask about routes, and the operator recommends them as the places to start.32 The Waterfront office opens daily from 8 am to 6 pm.11
Children, families and access
Families pay less. Children up to 3 ride free with an adult, and children aged 4 to 17 pay the child rate.1 The kids' channel on the commentary keeps younger riders busy between stops.4 The GetYourGuide listing describes the service as family-friendly and stroller accessible.
The listing marks the ticket as wheelchair accessible. The Cableway has a wheelchair route map, ramps and elevators at the lower station and paved paths at the top.33 SANBI says most parts of Kirstenbosch from the main entrance can be reached by wheelchair.34 Ask at the ticket office about the stops you plan to use before you start. It is worth asking the staff on board, whom the listing includes, to help at the steps when you get on and off.
One last saving: buy any Cableway ticket online rather than at the window, where an adult return costs 530 rand against 475 rand online.8 A ticket bought online stays valid for 7 days, so one cloudy morning does not cost you the ride.35
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.
How much is the hop-on hop-off bus in Cape Town?
From $32. That is the starting price of this site's ticket; options with a cruise or sunset bus cost more.
Can I pay on board instead?
Yes, from the driver. The operator sells on board and prefers card payment; online is cheaper.2930
Where are the ticket offices?
Waterfront and Long Street. Outside the Aquarium at the V&A Waterfront and at 81 Long Street.29
Is a 1-day ticket valid for 24 hours?
No, for the calendar day. Tickets count calendar days, not 24-hour periods.5
Do children pay?
From age 4. Children up to 3 ride free with an adult; 4 to 17 pay the child rate.1
Are entrance fees included?
No. Standard bus tickets do not include entry to attractions.2
How much is the bus with the cable car?
From $61. The combo pairs a 1-day bus ticket with a Table Mountain cableway return.
Can I cancel my bus ticket?
Up to 24 hours before. The ticket on this site has free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance.
Sources
Where the information comes from
- 1City Sightseeing South Africa (operator of the Cape Town hop-on hop-off buses)Frequently Asked Questions Cape Town↩
- 2City Sightseeing South Africa (operator of the Cape Town hop-on hop-off buses)Frequently Asked Questions Cape Town↩
- 3City Sightseeing South Africa (operator of the Cape Town hop-on hop-off buses)Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tours↩
- 4City Sightseeing South Africa (operator of the Cape Town hop-on hop-off buses)Frequently Asked Questions Cape Town↩
- 5City Sightseeing South Africa (operator of the Cape Town hop-on hop-off buses)Frequently Asked Questions Cape Town↩
- 6City Sightseeing South Africa (operator of the Cape Town hop-on hop-off buses)About City Sightseeing↩
- 7City Sightseeing South Africa (operator of the Cape Town hop-on hop-off buses)Cape Town timetable 2026/2027 (PDF)↩
- 8Table Mountain Aerial Cableway (official site)Ticket prices↩
- 9Table Mountain Aerial Cableway (official site)Ticket prices↩
- 10City Sightseeing South Africa (operator of the Cape Town hop-on hop-off buses)Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tours↩
- 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)Red Cape Town City Tour to Table Mountain↩
- 14City Sightseeing South Africa (operator of the Cape Town hop-on hop-off buses)Red Cape Town City Tour to Table Mountain↩
- 15City Sightseeing South Africa (operator of the Cape Town hop-on hop-off buses)Red Cape Town City Tour to Table Mountain↩
- 16City Sightseeing South Africa (operator of the Cape Town hop-on hop-off buses)Red Cape Town City Tour to Table Mountain↩
- 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)Red Cape Town City Tour to Table Mountain↩
- 20City Sightseeing South Africa (operator of the Cape Town hop-on hop-off buses)Blue Mini Peninsula Tour↩
- 21City Sightseeing South Africa (operator of the Cape Town hop-on hop-off buses)Sunset Bus Experience↩
- 22City Sightseeing South Africa (operator of the Cape Town hop-on hop-off buses)Blue Mini Peninsula Tour↩
- 23City Sightseeing South Africa (operator of the Cape Town hop-on hop-off buses)Blue Mini Peninsula Tour↩
- 24City Sightseeing South Africa (operator of the Cape Town hop-on hop-off buses)Purple Constantia Valley Wine Tour↩
- 25Iziko Museums of South AfricaGroot Constantia↩
- 26City Sightseeing South Africa (operator of the Cape Town hop-on hop-off buses)Purple Constantia Valley Wine Tour↩
- 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↩
- 29City Sightseeing South Africa (operator of the Cape Town hop-on hop-off buses)Frequently Asked Questions Cape Town↩
- 30City Sightseeing South Africa (operator of the Cape Town hop-on hop-off buses)Frequently Asked Questions Cape Town↩
- 31Table Mountain Aerial Cableway (official site data)Visitor questions, tips and facts↩
- 32City Sightseeing South Africa (operator of the Cape Town hop-on hop-off buses)Frequently Asked Questions Cape Town↩
- 33Table Mountain Aerial Cableway (official site data)Visitor questions, tips and facts↩
- 34South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI)Kirstenbosch visitor information↩
- 35Table Mountain Aerial Cableway (official site data)Visitor questions, tips and facts↩
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