Cape Point Funicular Ticket: Flying Dutchman One-Way Up

Three Minutes Up a Mountain: Cape Point's Funicular Through the Fynbos

You board at the lower car park station and ride through Cape Point's fynbos in three minutes to reach the upper lighthouse. The funicular carries 40 passengers per car and departs every three minutes, so you skip the uphill walk even during busy hours. At the top, panoramic views of where two oceans meet wait, and you can spend as long as you want before deciding how to descend. Your one-way ticket is valid for the date printed on it.

Step-by-step itinerary

Visit Cape Point and funicular ride

• Arrive at Cape Point car park
• Take Flying Dutchman funicular up
• Enjoy panoramic views at lighthouse

The experience

The car pulls into the Cape Point car park and you step out into wind and scrub. Ahead, the landscape tilts upward: dense fynbos, that low, tough vegetation that clings to the Cape's slopes, stretches between you and the lighthouse perched at the top. The old path switchbacks up there, and on a hot day it's a slog. But then you see it: the lower station of the Flying Dutchman funicular, sleek and purposeful, waiting to haul you up instead. Every three minutes a car leaves, carrying forty passengers at a time up the incline. You're not walking today.

The funicular is the only one of its kind in Africa, and it earned its name from the local legend of the Flying Dutchman ghost ship: the phantom vessel that's said to haunt these waters where the Atlantic and Indian oceans meet. It's the kind of detail that sticks with you once you know it, and your guide or the station staff will probably mention it. The ride itself takes just a few minutes. You climb through the fynbos, watching the car park shrink below and the ocean open up wider as you rise. The gradient is steep enough that you feel the work the funicular is doing, but you're sitting down, so the only effort is standing still.

At the top, the old lighthouse waits, and so do the views: the kind that make you understand why this point matters, why ships have wrecked here, why people keep coming back. The funicular can move 450 people per hour up to the upper station, which means even during peak times you're not stuck in a queue at the car park. One-way tickets are straightforward: you ride up, and you decide how to come down. Walk the path if you want, or catch the funicular again on the return leg. Families with strollers, older travelers, anyone who'd rather not spend an hour on a steep climb. This is what the funicular was built for.

What’s included

• One-way ticket on the Flying Dutchman funicular from the lower car park station to the upper lighthouse station.
• access to panoramic views 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

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 reach the Cape Point lighthouse and views without the uphill walk. The three-minute ride means you spend your time at the top, not climbing to get there, which matters most when the wind is strong or the heat is on.

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 Flying Dutchman funicular run?

A car departs from the lower station every three minutes throughout operating hours.

How long is the ride up to the lighthouse?

The journey takes approximately three minutes from the lower car park station to the upper station at the lighthouse.

Can I bring a stroller or pram on the funicular?

Yes, infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller. Infants may also sit on an adult's lap.

Is the funicular wheelchair accessible?

Yes, the funicular is wheelchair accessible.

How many people fit in each car?

Each car comfortably accommodates 40 passengers.

What is the capacity per hour?

The funicular can transport up to 450 people per hour to the upper lighthouse.

Are service animals allowed?

Yes, service animals are allowed on the funicular.

Do I need to be fit to ride the funicular?

The funicular is suitable for all physical fitness levels, as it does the climbing for you.