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Guide · Evening ride
Sunset bus tour in Cape Town: up Signal Hill on the open top deck
The sunset bus tour in Cape Town is a single evening ride, not a loop: out along the Atlantic, up Signal Hill for the sunset and a picnic, and back through the lit-up city.
Check availabilityfrom $17 · cancel at no cost
Editorial team, capetownbustour.comUpdated October 26, 20266 minutes to read14 sources
What the evening ride is
The sunset bus is the one ride in the network that is not hop-on hop-off. It runs from the V&A Waterfront along the Atlantic Seaboard past Sea Point and Camps Bay, then climbs to Signal Hill, its main and only stop to get off, and comes back through the city after sunset.13 Passengers are encouraged to bring a picnic.1
The listing booked on this page lasts 3 hours, starts from $17 and averages 4.28 from 69 reviews. It leaves from the ticket office outside the Two Oceans Aquarium, and its single listed stop is Signal Hill for 105 minutes of picnic, free time and the sunset. The driver speaks English.
As a sunset bus tour in Cape Town it suits a first evening in the city. You see the coast you will ride in daylight later, and the view from Signal Hill gives you the layout of the city bowl, the mountain and the sea in one look. It is also a calm way to end a long day on the daytime routes.
The evening
From the Waterfront to Signal Hill and back
-
Departure
Stop 1
Between 16:45 and 18:00, by season.2
-
First hour
Atlantic Seaboard
Past Sea Point and Camps Bay towards the hill.1
-
On the hill
Picnic and sunset
105 minutes on Signal Hill.
-
After sunset
Back on board
The bus leaves the hill just after the sun goes down.4
-
Return
Through the city
Back to the Waterfront under the city lights.1
Departure times through the year
The bus leaves earlier in winter and later in summer to keep pace with the sun. The operator gives departures from 16:45 to 18:00 depending on the time of year, and only from stop 1 at the V&A Waterfront.2 Its 2026/2027 timetable puts the departure at 17:30 from 24 September to 31 October, at 18:00 from 1 November to 13 March, and at 17:00 in April.5
Winter is different. On the 2026/2027 timetable the sunset bus runs on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays only from 1 May to 22 September, leaving at 16:45.5 The operator's sunset page gives the same four days from 4 May to 23 September, so check the date if your evening falls at either end of that window.3 If you are in town for a few days in the cooler months, book the evening early and plan the daytime routes around it.
Over the holidays the route changes. From 19 December to 3 January the sunset bus goes to Blouberg instead of up Signal Hill, and in that period it is only sold with the 1-day Bus Premium Combo.6 Check the date before you book if Signal Hill itself is what you want.
Reviews
How travellers rate the sunset bus
of 5
Month by month
Sunset bus times, daylight and the weather
| Month | Daylight (h) | Darkness (h) | High / low | Wet days | Sunset bus leaves |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 14.2 | 9.8 | 28 / 16 °C | 2 | 18:00 |
| Feb | 13.3 | 10.7 | 28 / 16 °C | 1 | 18:00 |
| Mar | 12.4 | 11.6 | 27 / 14 °C | 2 | 18:00 / 17:30 |
| Apr | 11.3 | 12.7 | 25 / 12 °C | 5 | 17:00 |
| May | 10.4 | 13.6 | 22 / 10 °C | 6 | 16:45 |
| Jun | 9.9 | 14.1 | 19 / 8 °C | 7 | 16:45 |
| Jul | 10.1 | 13.9 | 19 / 7 °C | 7 | 16:45 |
| Aug | 10.8 | 13.2 | 19 / 8 °C | 6 | 16:45 |
| Sep | 11.8 | 12.2 | 20 / 9 °C | 3 | 16:45 / 17:30 |
| Oct | 12.9 | 11.1 | 23 / 11 °C | 3 | 17:30 |
| Nov | 13.9 | 10.1 | 25 / 13 °C | 2 | 18:00 |
| Dec | 14.4 | 9.6 | 27 / 15 °C | 2 | 18:00 |
Daylight is our own mid-month calculation; the highs, lows and rain days come from NOAA for 1971 to 2020.14 Season according to the operator's 2026/2027 timetable, Sunset Bus departures from stop 1.5
Three seasons
When the sunset bus leaves
Daily
Latest start
Fewer daysDecision helper
Is the sunset bus right for your evening?
A few questions settle it
Book a weekday early
In winter it runs only Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday.3
Expect Blouberg
From 19 December to 3 January it skips Signal Hill.6
Leave the wine at home
Alcoholic drinks are not allowed on the vehicle.
Leave a margin
Traffic on Signal Hill can delay the return.4
Not this ride
Its listing rules it out for wheelchair users.
Traffic on Signal Hill can be heavy. We may be delayed on departure, which will delay the return time
On Signal Hill: the picnic stop
The stop is the point of the trip. The listing gives you 105 minutes on Signal Hill for a picnic, free time and the sunset. Spread a blanket on the grass, unpack your food and watch the light change over the Atlantic. The operator's page promises views of Table Mountain, the city bowl, the coastline and the ocean from the hill.1
Food is up to you. The listing says to bring your own picnic, and the picnic basket and food are not included. Alcoholic drinks and smoking are not allowed on the vehicle, so plan what you carry on board. Pack something warm as well: after sunset the hilltop cools quickly and the ride back is on an open deck.
Be back on board on time. The bus leaves Signal Hill just after sunset, and the listing asks you to be back on board then for the return.4 Note where the bus parked when you get off; on a fine evening the hill is busy with traffic, and the operator warns of heavy traffic there.4
Checklist
Pack for the hill
01
Bring
- Your own picnic and soft drinks
- A warm layer for the ride home
- A blanket for the grass
02
Check
- Winter days: Tue, Thu, Fri and Sat
- Your season's departure time
- Where the bus parks on the hill
Cost calculator
The evening alone or with a day ticket
Enter your group size to compare the bookings.
People
Total from$34
each from $17
Check availabilityfree cancellationTotals use each listing's starting price on GetYourGuide, converted at today's rate; the booking page shows what you pay.
Video
The sunset bus up Signal Hill
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Traffic, delays and the ride back
Signal Hill is popular on fine evenings. The operator warns that traffic there can be heavy and may delay the departure and the return.4 The listing says to expect delays on beautiful evenings. Do not book a dinner table for the minute the tour is due back; give yourself a margin.
The way home is part of the show. After sunset the bus returns to the V&A Waterfront through the city, as the operator's page describes.1 Sit on the top deck if it is dry, wrap up, and watch the city bowl light up below the dark mass of the mountain.
Its listing scores the guide at 4.5, while the transport and the value each come out at 4.4. Its record is shorter than the daytime bus ticket's 4,231 reviews, which suits a smaller, single evening trip.
Getting the hop-on hop-off sunset bus with your ticket
You can buy the sunset bus on its own or as part of a bus ticket. The bus ticket booked on this site includes the sunset bus tour with the options that add it. On the operator's ticket list, the 2-day Premium ticket includes the hop-on hop-off sunset bus and a cruise, and the 3-day Deluxe includes it with 2 cruises.7
The operator's 1-day Premium Combo also includes the Sunset Bus Tour, together with both Waterfront cruises and the Historical Inner City and Bo-Kaap bus tour.8 If you were going to ride the buses for a day anyway, a ticket that bundles the evening is usually simpler than two separate bookings.
Bought alone, the evening ride starts from $17 with no charge for cancelling until 24 hours ahead. That makes it easy to hold a place for a clear evening and cancel if the forecast turns grey.
Fitting the evening into a bus day
The sunset bus starts where the daytime buses end their loops, which makes it easy to chain. Ride the Red route in the morning, get off at the cableway and Camps Bay, and be back at stop 1 at the Waterfront in time for the evening departure.92 Leave half an hour to buy picnic food at the Waterfront before you board.
On the Blue route day, keep an eye on the clock. The loop round the back of Table Mountain takes about 140 minutes without stops, and the operator suggests 1 to 2 hours at Kirstenbosch alone.1011 If you also want the sunset bus that evening, start the Blue route early and skip the last stop or two rather than racing back across town.
In winter the plan changes with the timetable. With departures at 16:45 on only four days of the week, choose the day of the sunset bus first and fit the daytime routes around it.53 No one can promise a clear sunset, and with no charge to cancel until 24 hours ahead, a booking made early lets the sky decide whether the evening goes ahead.
Safety and who the ride suits
The bus takes the worry out of getting to Signal Hill and back after dark. Official advice is cautious about the hill itself: the UK government reports violent attacks and muggings against hikers and tourists in Table Mountain National Park, including on Lion's Head and Signal Hill.12 It advises avoiding quieter parts of the park in the early mornings and evenings.12
On the tour you arrive and leave with a group and stay near the bus. Keep valuables out of sight, as the City of Cape Town advises for all visitors, and do not wander away from the busy viewpoint after dark.13 Our page on safety in Cape Town goes through the official advice in full.
The ride suits couples, families and anyone who wants a sunset without a hike or a drive. Wheelchair users should look elsewhere: the listing rules this ride out for them. Children enjoy the picnic and the open deck; bring a blanket for them for the ride home, when the air off the Atlantic turns cool.
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.
What time does the sunset bus leave?
Between 16:45 and 18:00. It depends on the season; from November to mid-March the 2026/2027 timetable says 18:00.25
Where does the sunset bus start?
At stop 1 only. It leaves from the V&A Waterfront stop outside the Two Oceans Aquarium.2
How long is the sunset bus tour?
About 3 hours. Including 105 minutes on Signal Hill for the picnic and the sunset.
Does the sunset bus run every day?
Not in winter. From 1 May to 22 September on the 2026/2027 timetable it runs on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.5
Can I bring food and drinks?
Food yes, alcohol no. Bring your own picnic; alcoholic drinks are not allowed on the vehicle.
Does it always go to Signal Hill?
Not over the holidays. From 19 December to 3 January it goes to Blouberg instead.6
How much is the sunset bus?
From $17. That is the listing's starting price, with free cancellation up to 24 hours before.
Sources
Where the information comes from
- 1City Sightseeing South Africa (operator of the Cape Town hop-on hop-off buses)Sunset Bus Experience↩
- 2City Sightseeing South Africa (operator of the Cape Town hop-on hop-off buses)Sunset Bus Experience↩
- 3City Sightseeing South Africa (operator of the Cape Town hop-on hop-off buses)Sunset Bus Experience↩
- 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)Cape Town timetable 2026/2027 (PDF)↩
- 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)Frequently Asked Questions Cape Town↩
- 8City Sightseeing South Africa (operator of the Cape Town hop-on hop-off buses)Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tours↩
- 9City Sightseeing South Africa (operator of the Cape Town hop-on hop-off buses)Red Cape Town City Tour to Table Mountain↩
- 10City Sightseeing South Africa (operator of the Cape Town hop-on hop-off buses)Frequently Asked Questions Cape Town↩
- 11City Sightseeing South Africa (operator of the Cape Town hop-on hop-off buses)Blue Mini Peninsula Tour↩
- 12UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development OfficeSouth Africa travel advice: safety and security↩
- 13City of Cape TownGeneral safety tips for visitors↩
- 14↩
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