Steam train Cape Town: Seven hours past Table Mountain

The steam train leaves Cape Town with Table Mountain already behind you

You board a steam train in Cape Town, ride past Table Mountain and over Sir Lowry's Pass to Elgin Railway Market, spend time at the market among local food and craft vendors, then return on the same train: all in one day. Return ticket, on-board restrooms, and a bar are included. The journey is seven hours total, and you set your own pace while you're on board.

Step-by-step itinerary

Steam train journey to Elgin Market

• Depart Cape Town by steam train
• View Table Mountain in morning light
• Pass Sir Lowry's Pass summit
• Enjoy panoramic views of False Bay
• Arrive at Elgin Railway Market
• Explore local food and crafts
• Return to Cape Town by train
• View Table Mountain in evening light

The experience

Seven hours on the rails, and the train does most of the work for you. You board in Cape Town, and the steam locomotive pulls you out past Table Mountain National Park: the mountain sits in the morning light on one side, and you're watching it recede as the track climbs toward Sir Lowry's Pass. The pass itself rises 417 meters, and the train takes its time getting there, which means you get the view without rushing through it. False Bay opens up on the other side, and Cape Town shrinks into the distance behind you.

The car itself is the point. There's a bar if you want it, a seat if you want to read, and a window if you want to just sit with the sound of the engine and watch the country change. Some people move between cars. Some don't move at all. The rhythm of the rails does something. It's not the same as driving or flying. You're enclosed but moving, which is its own kind of peace. The journey to Elgin takes about three and a half hours, and the return takes the same, so you're not rushed through the scenery.

Elgin Railway Market is where the train stops, and it's set up inside a Steampunk Art-Deco building with local food stalls, craft vendors, and a bar. There are fires in winter and big fans in summer, so you're comfortable while you're there. It's not a quick stop. You have time to eat, walk around, pick up something made by someone local. Then the same train brings you back to Cape Town the way you came, and you see the whole route again in the other direction, which somehow looks different.

What’s included

• Your day includes the return rail ticket from Cape Town to Elgin and back, on-board restrooms, and access to the bar during the journey.
• You have time at Elgin Railway Market to purchase food and drinks from local vendors and browse craft stalls.
• The train departs Cape Town in the morning and returns in the evening.

Before you book

Days and timesMonday, Wednesday, Saturday and SundayDeparts at 08:00Last departure this season: 31 Oct

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

GroupUp to 340

Live 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 effortStroller-friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Cape Rail Company

Is this one for you?Right for travelers who want to slow down and see the Cape Town landscape without driving. The train handles the route, and the seven-hour round trip means you're not rushing the views or the market stop.

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Top questions

Can children come?

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

How long is the train ride?

Seven hours round trip: about three and a half hours each way, with time at Elgin Railway Market in between.

What's included in the ticket?

Return rail ticket, on-board restrooms, and access to the bar. Meals and drinks at the market are separate.

What will I see from the train?

Table Mountain National Park as you leave Cape Town, Sir Lowry's Pass at 417 meters elevation with views of False Bay, and the surrounding countryside on both legs of the journey.

Is there food on the train?

There's a bar on board. The main food options are at Elgin Railway Market, where you have time to eat between arrivals.

What's the Elgin Railway Market like?

A Steampunk Art-Deco building with local food vendors, craft stalls, and a bar. It's heated in winter and cooled in summer.

Can service animals travel on the train?

Yes, service animals are allowed on board.