Cape Point Funicular Return Ticket & Lighthouse Views

Skip the uphill walk at Cape Point. Take the funicular instead

You ride the Flying Dutchman funicular up 300 meters through fynbos to the Cape Point lighthouse, skip the uphill walk from the car park, and return on the same ticket whenever you're ready. The three-minute journey runs every three minutes and holds forty passengers per car, so you're not stuck waiting even when the point is crowded. Wheelchair accessible and suitable for all fitness levels, it's the practical way to reach the views without the climb.

Step-by-step itinerary

Visit Cape Point lighthouse via funicular

• Arrive at Cape Point car park
• Board Flying Dutchman funicular
• Travel uphill through dense fynbos
• Reach upper lighthouse station
• Enjoy panoramic views at lighthouse
• Return via funicular to car park

The experience

What if you could get to the Cape Point lighthouse without the steep climb from the car park? That's the whole point of the Flying Dutchman funicular. The line runs every three minutes, takes forty passengers per car, and moves you up through dense fynbos in about three minutes flat. It's the only commercial funicular of its type in Africa, and it's named after the local legend of the ghost ship, which is the kind of detail that sticks with you once you're standing at the top looking out over the point where two oceans meet.

The lower station sits right at the Cape Point car park, so there's no hunting around or extra walking before you board. You step in, the doors close, and the incline does the work. Forty people per car means even during peak times (and this place gets busy) you're not waiting long. The funicular can move 450 people up to the lighthouse per hour, which sounds like a lot until you're actually there and realize how many visitors come through. The upper station puts you steps away from the old lighthouse and the panoramic views that make the trip worth taking in the first place. No scrambling up a path in the heat, no second-guessing your knees on the way down.

The ticket is a return journey, so you ride up, spend as long as you want at the top, and come back down when you're ready. Wheelchair users can board without issue, and if you're traveling with small children or infants, they're welcome too. Just keep them on your lap during the ride. Service animals come along as well. The whole thing is straightforward: you buy the ticket, you get on, you go up, you look around, you come back down. No surprises, no hidden logistics.

What’s included

• One return ticket on the Flying Dutchman funicular.
• access to the upper lighthouse station and panoramic viewpoint at Cape Point.

Before you book

Days and timesThursday to SaturdayDeparts at 09:00Last departure this season: 31 Oct

Book up toStart time

AgesAdult (17 and older) · Child (6 to 16 years) · Under 6: can't be booked

GroupUp to 10

Audio guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleStroller-friendlyPets welcomeInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Flying Dutchman Funicular

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to see the Cape Point lighthouse and views without walking uphill from the car park: the three-minute ride and frequent departures mean you spend your time at the top, not waiting or climbing.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (6 to 16 years). Children under 6 can't be included in the booking.

How often does the funicular run?

Every three minutes from the lower station at the Cape Point car park.

How long is the ride up?

About three minutes to reach the upper lighthouse station.

Can I use the ticket to go up and down, or is it one way only?

The ticket is a return journey. You ride up, spend as long as you want at the top, and come back down whenever you're ready.

Is the funicular wheelchair accessible?

Yes, it is wheelchair accessible.

How many people fit in each car?

Each car comfortably accommodates 40 passengers.

Are service animals allowed?

Yes, service animals are allowed on the funicular.

What's at the top?

The old Cape Point lighthouse and panoramic views of the point where two oceans meet.