Hop on Hop off Bus Tours in Cape Town

The South African capital’s picturesque location nestled in between the dramatic mountains and jagged coast has caused Cape Town to be named the best city in the world for several years running.

Alongside its natural beauty, the “mother city” is home to an abundance of historical and cultural landmarks, showcasing its origins as a port in the 18th century.

Hop-on Hop-off bus tours in Cape Town are the perfect way to see more of the plethora of museums, beaches and botanical gardens that line the city.

Here's all you need to know about hop-on hop-off bus tours, one of the best options for sightseeing tours in Cape Town.

What are the best hop-on hop-off Cape Town bus tours? What are their prices?

City Sightseeing

City Sightseeing is renowned across the globe for providing hop-on hop-off bus tours in many tourist hotspots. The Cape Town route takes you on a scenic loop around the city, stopping at several iconic landmarks along the way.

Route

Starting at the Cape Town Two Oceans Aquarium, your bus will travel to the Clocktower Precinct at the V&A Waterfront, where you can stroll along the pier or take a ferry to Robben Island.

From here, it continues on to the Cape Town International Convention Center and the City Sightseeing Downtown Tour office, where you can begin a free walking tour.

Stay on the Cape Town hop-on hop-off bus to access the Table Mountain Cableway or depart at the Camps Bay Strip to soak up the sun on this golden stretch.

Continuing on, the City Sightseeing bus makes stops at several hotels, such as the President Hotel and the Winchester Hotel.

Finally, see the iconic red and white stripes of Green Point Lighthouse at the final bus stop of the tour, before beginning the loop again.

Timetable

The City Sightseeing hop-on hop-off bus in Cape Town runs every 20 minutes between 8:00 AM and 5:15 PM.

However, the second half of the route — from Table Mountain to the aquarium — continues operating until 7:05 PM. The full loop takes just over 1.5 hours.

Tickets

By purchasing your hop-on hop-off bus tickets in Cape Town online in advance, you’ll benefit from a reduced fare.

1-day ticket

Adults will pay ZAR259 (US$14) for a 1-day ticket aboard the City Sightseeing bus. Children between the ages of 4 and 17 cost ZAR150 (US$8,) while children under 3 travel free.

Tickets are valid for 1 full calendar day, which means you should utilize your pass by joining a hop-on hop-off bus tour early in the day.

2-day ticket

If you have longer to spare in Cape Town, consider purchasing a 2-day pass. The price is ZAR359 (US$20) per adult and ZAR250 (US$14) per child, and tickets are valid for 2 calendar days.

Franschhoek Wine Tram

If you want to discover Cape Town’s rolling vineyards and luxurious wine estates, hop onto the Franschhoek Wine Tram. You can choose between 10 different routes, enabling you to explore a range of picturesque valleys just outside of the city.

Route

Each of the 10 routes transports you on a different tour around the pristine vineyards of Cape Town, making eight or nine stops en route.

If you love to visit boutique wine estates, surrounded by towering mountain tops and extraordinary scenery, you should choose the blue or green line, both of which stop at the same destinations.

These lines stop at Atlas Swift, Pigcasso, Mont Rochelle, La Bri, Holden Manz, Grande Provence, Rickety Bridge and Franschhoek Cellar.

The purple and orange lines are better suited to wine connoisseurs who can pick out the subtleties between tipples. These lines stop at Boschendal, Solms Delta, Plaisir, Vrede en Lust, Noble Hill, Babylonstoren, Anura and Bacco.

You can also choose to hop on the pink, yellow, navy, grey, red or burgundy lines. Some of the highlights from these bus routes include Leopard’s Leap, Chamonix and Lynx.

Timetable

Each of the different Franschhoek Wine Tram lines has a separate timetable, however, they generally run once an hour from around 10 AM to 3 PM, with a collection service 1 hour after the final loop.

Tickets

You must select which route you’d like to travel on before booking your hop-on hop-off bus in Cape Town. Each line costs the same and all are valid for 1 calendar day.

1-day tickets

Adults will pay ZAR280 (US$15) each on any of the 10 lines Franzschhoek Wine Trams operates. Children under 18 cost ZAR90 (US$5) each.

How does it work?

You can join a hop-on hop-off bus tour in Cape Town at any of the stops en route. When you see a sight that interests you, alight the bus and explore the attractions in the surrounding area.

When you’re ready to move on, simply hop back on the bus and continue on your journey. Generally, you’ll have unlimited use of this hop-on hop-off service on the date of your booking.

City Sightseeing hop-on hop-off buses in Cape Town also include audio commentary in 15 languages, as well as free walking tours through the city.

This tour provider allows you to use each of the three routes it operates throughout Cape Town freely.

Are hop-on hop-off bus tours included in any city passes?

City Sightseeing hop-on hop-off bus tours in Cape Town are included in the City Pass, which enables tourists to see a wide range of the capital's best attractions for one all-inclusive price.

You can gain admission to over 80 of the city's best attractions, tours and experiences, and prices start at ZAR1,195 (US$69) per day.

Travel tips

• Hop on to the first sightseeing bus of the day to make the most of your pass and see plenty of attractions.
• Research the wine estates you'd like to visit before choosing a route on the Franschhoek Wine Tram.
• Consider a Cape Town City Pass for a budget-friendly way to see more attractions while in the city.