Cape Town: Hop-On Hop-Off Bus & Cape Wheel 360° Views

Two Routes, One Day: See Cape Town by Bus & Observation Wheel

You board either the red or blue hop-on hop-off bus at the V&A Waterfront and choose your own stops: downtown and Table Mountain on red, wine estates and Hout Bay on blue. Hop off to explore Camps Bay, Kirstenbosch, or Groot Constantia for as long as you want, then catch the next bus. At the end of the day, ride the Cape Wheel for 360° views of the city and mountains. Air-conditioned buses with free Wi-Fi keep you comfortable between stops, and you're back at the Waterfront whenever you decide you're done.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Cape Town by bus and wheel

• Catch bus at Two Oceans Aquarium
• Hop on at Silo District
• Stop at CTICC on Walter Sisulu Avenue
• Board at Long and Short Market Street
• Visit Table Mountain Cableway stop
• Hop on opposite The Bay Hotel, Camps Bay
• Stop at Queens and Alexander Road, Sea Point
• Stop at Beach and St Johns Road, Sea Point
• Board opposite Winchester Hotel, Sea Point
• Catch bus near Green Point Lighthouse
• Ride Cape Wheel at V&A Waterfront

The experience

You get two separate bus routes running all day: the red one loops through the city center and up toward Table Mountain, the blue one heads south to Kirstenbosch Gardens, Groot Constantia, and Hout Bay. Pick a stop, get off, spend as long as you want, then catch the next bus when you're ready. The whole thing is air-conditioned, which matters because Cape Town's sun doesn't mess around, and there's free Wi-Fi on board so you're not scrambling for directions between stops.

The red route hits Long Street and Short Market Street in the thick of the downtown action, then swings past the Lower Cableway Station if you want to ride up Table Mountain separately, and keeps going through Camps Bay where the beach is white and the promenade is lined with cafés. The blue route is quieter. It takes you through the Constantia wine valley, past Kirstenbosch if you're into gardens, and down to Hout Bay where you can walk around the harbor or pop into World of Birds. Both routes loop back to the V&A Waterfront, which is where the Cape Wheel sits.

The Cape Wheel is the other half of your ticket. It's a big white observation wheel right on The Lawns at the Waterfront. You can see it from most of the harbor. A full rotation takes you 360 degrees around, and on a clear day you're looking at Table Mountain, the city skyline, and the Atlantic all at once. It's not a long ride, maybe 15 minutes, but it's the kind of thing that makes the whole day feel less like you're ticking boxes and more like you actually got to know the place from two different angles.

The buses run all day on a 1-day pass, so if you want to hop off at Camps Bay for lunch and then catch a later bus to Hout Bay, that works. If you'd rather stay on one route and ride it end to end, that works too. Wheelchair-accessible buses, strollers welcome, and the whole setup is designed so you're not locked into a schedule. You move at your own pace and the city stays open to you.

What’s included

• 1-day hop-on hop-off bus pass covering two routes (red route through downtown and Table Mountain area, blue route to Kirstenbosch and Hout Bay).
• one ride on the Cape Wheel observation wheel at the V&A Waterfront.
• air-conditioned buses throughout the day.
• free onboard Wi-Fi.
• unlimited hop-on hop-off access at all marked stops.
• wheelchair-accessible transportation.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day

AgesAdult (18 and older) · Child (4 to 17 years) · Infant (under 4)

Audio guideEnglish, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese and Chinese

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

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by City Sightseeing South Africa

Is this one for you?Best for travelers who want to cover multiple neighborhoods and landmarks in one day without renting a car or booking separate tours: the two routes and flexible timing let you build your own itinerary, and the Cape Wheel ride gives you the overview you'd otherwise miss from street level.

Traveler reviews

4.88★★★★★★★★★★

8 verified traveler reviews

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 17 years); Infant (under 4).

Can I switch between the red and blue routes on the same day?

Yes. Both routes start and end at the V&A Waterfront, so you can hop off one route, wait for the other, and continue exploring a different part of the city.

How often do the buses run?

Buses run throughout the day on regular intervals, though exact frequency depends on the season. Check with the ticket office at the Waterfront when you arrive.

Is the Cape Wheel included in the ticket price?

Yes. Your combo ticket includes both the full-day hop-on hop-off bus pass and one ride on the Cape Wheel.

Can I take a pram or stroller on the bus?

Yes. Strollers and prams are welcome, and the buses are wheelchair accessible.

Where do I pick up my ticket?

The City Sightseeing ticket office is at the V&A Waterfront, near the Two Oceans Aquarium entrance. You can board the bus directly from there.

Do I need to book in advance?

You can book ahead online or purchase tickets at the Waterfront ticket office on the day. Advance booking is recommended during peak season.

Is there Wi-Fi on the buses?

Yes, free Wi-Fi is available on all buses so you can stay connected and share photos as you travel.

What if I want to visit Table Mountain? Is the cableway included?

The cableway is not included in this ticket. The red bus stops at the Lower Cableway Station, but you'd need to purchase a separate Table Mountain ticket if you want to ride up.