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Hop on hop off Cape Town blue route: the Camps Bay stop
Light on the beach
Twelve months of sun and shade
Choose a month to compare sunset, day length and the usual cold at Cape Town.
Sunset
Jun
Mid-June has 9.9 hours of sun.17
Jul
The average daily low in July is 6.9 °C.17
Dec
Mid-December has 14.4 hours of sun.17
Sunset is worked out for the 15th of each month on South Africa time. Day length is for Cape Town; temperatures come from the NOAA station at Cape Town International Airport, 17 km away, an inland airport, 1971 to 2020 and 1991 to 2020.
Camps Bay is the seafront pause on the coastal side of the loop. This page covers where the bus stops, what the beachfront gives you, and when the light is worth waiting for.
Editorial team, capetownhoponhopoff.click · Updated November 7, 2026 · A 6 min read
Main facts
- The stopStop 8 is on Beach Road, opposite the Bay Hotel.1
- The beachCamps Bay has lifeguards in summer, limited parking and partial disability access.2
- EatingSidewalk restaurants and cafes face the sand across the road.3
- SunsetThe sunset bus passes Camps Bay after leaving the V&A Waterfront.4
- BookingThis site's ticket is listed from $32.
Where the blue route meets the beach
If you searched for the hop on hop off Cape Town blue route, the first thing to know is how the colours work. The operator confirms that every bus is red, and a digital sign at the front and at the door shows whether the bus is running the Red, Blue or Purple route.5 So you will not spot a blue bus at the roadside. You read the sign instead, which is a small habit worth building before your first morning.
The blue loop is described in the operator's timetable as a circular tour around the back of Table Mountain.6 The operator's help centre puts its length at about 140 minutes, while the red loop takes about 90 minutes.7 Camps Bay sits on the Atlantic side, where the two lines share the same seafront stops, and you can reach the beach from either.1
Your ticket matters here. The operator says every ticket covers the Red City Tour, the Blue Mini Peninsula Tour and the Purple Constantia Valley Wine Tour.8 You are free to ride the red line to Camps Bay in the morning and swap to the blue line in Cape Town in the afternoon without paying twice. The ticket for this site is listed from $32 and carries a rating of 4.7 from 4,231 reviews.
Three buses that pass the beach
Red loop, blue loop and sunset ride side by side
| Bus | Length | Gets you off at the beach | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red City Tour | About 90 minutes7 | Yes, at stop 81 | Stops at the cableway station18 |
| Blue Mini Peninsula Tour | About 140 minutes7 | Yes, on the shared coast stops1 | Circular tour behind the mountain6 |
| Sunset bus | About 3 hours19 | No, Signal Hill only20 | Not hop-on hop-off19 |
Lengths are the operator's figures, and the listing may state them differently.
Getting off at the Camps Bay stop
In the 2026/2027 timetable, stop 8 is on Beach Road opposite the Bay Hotel.1 The stops that follow it up the coast are in Sea Point, at Queens Road and Alexander Road, then at Beach Road and St John's Road, then on Beach Road opposite the hotel, and finally on Beach Road next to the lighthouse.1 That string of seafront stops makes the coast easy to dip into, and the next stop is never far from the last.
Operator guidance adds that between stops 8 and 12 you pass many small coves as well as the famed Camps Bay beach.14 The same article places a tidal pool and braai area at Maiden's Cove and the Camps Bay pool near stop 8, and a further tidal pool at Saunders Rock near stop 9.15 If you only want the sea air, an hour here and a hop to the next cove is a gentle way to use a day ticket.
Be aware of closures. The timetable says that on 1 January 2027 stops 8 and 9 have no service on the Red and Blue routes, and that races such as the Cycle Tour on 14 March 2027 and the Marathon on 23 May 2027 disturb the routes.16 If your trip lands on one of those dates, plan the coast around the sunset bus or a taxi, and check the operator's live bus tracker before you walk to the stop.10
What the beach gives you
The City of Cape Town describes Camps Bay Beach as lying on the Atlantic coastline and as well known for its white sand and blue, tranquil water.22 Table Mountain and the Twelve Apostles tower above it, and the beach photographs well from the sand and from the top deck alike.23 The beach is also well sheltered when the southerly winds blow in the summer months.23
The practical side is plainly listed. Lifeguards are on duty throughout the summer months, parking is limited and the beach has partial disability access.2 Limited parking is a good argument for arriving by bus, because a hop-on hop-off ticket removes the search for a space on a sunny afternoon.
One rule affects anyone traveling with a pet. No dogs are allowed on the beach between 09:00 and 18:00 from November until March.21 Outside those hours, the City's page says dogs may run free, but they stay out of the tidal pool and the Blue Flag areas. Check the sign at the beach before you let a dog off the lead.21
Match your day
Which Camps Bay plan fits you?
Pick the line that sounds like you and read the answer beside it
If I want a beach break between sights
Hop off at stop 8
If I want lunch with a sea view
Eat across the road
The City lists many sidewalk restaurants and cafes there.3
If I want the sunset and no driving
Take the sunset bus
If I want to swim safely in summer
Choose a lifeguarded spell
Lifeguards are on duty throughout the summer months.2
If I travel with a dog
Come outside the dog ban
No dogs between 09:00 and 18:00 from November until March.21
Lunch, sundowners and the blue bus tour in Cape Town
Across the road from the sand, the City lists many sidewalk restaurants and cafes where beachgoers can eat and watch the sunset with a drink.3 That makes Camps Bay the natural lunch stop on a day with a blue bus tour in Cape Town. You step off, cross the road and sit down within minutes.
The operator's Discovery Pass lists a free burger and chips at a Hard Rock Cafe in Camps Bay, valid between 12H00 and 16H00.9 That pass is a separate product from this site's ticket. Treat it as an example of the lunch window the area works to, not as something your bus ticket includes. If you are on a plain day ticket, you simply pay at the table.
The evening is a different ride. The sunset bus starts at Stop 1 at the V&A Waterfront, passes Sea Point and Camps Bay, then climbs to Signal Hill.24,4,20 It is not a hop-on hop-off service. You cannot get off at the beach and rejoin later.19 If you want the sunset from the sand itself, stay on the regular line and walk back to the stop before the last bus.
Price the day
What the bus options cost your group
Type your party size and compare the tickets side by side
3 options compared
What the bus options cost your group
Type your party size and compare the tickets side by side
- Day ticketCruise option · for each guest from $32
≈
View - Cable car comboBus plus mountain · for each guest from $61
≈
View - Sunset busEvening ride · for each guest from $17
≈
View
Converted at the ECB reference rate, from-prices as listed by GetYourGuide. The precise amount is shown when you book.
A Camps Bay afternoon
From the stop to the sunset
Stop 8
Step off the bus
The stop is on Beach Road opposite the Bay Hotel.1
On the sand
Walk the front
The beach has lifeguards in summer and limited parking.2
12H00-16H00
Lunch window
The operator's pass lists its Camps Bay burger offer between 12H00 and 16H00.9
Late afternoon
Check the next bus
The tracker or the QR code at the stop shows when it arrives.10
As early as 16h45
Sunset bus departs
It leaves the V&A Waterfront as early as 16h45 and passes Camps Bay.11,4
After sunset
Ride back
The bus leaves Signal Hill just after sunset and returns through the city.12,13
Light and weather through the year
Camps Bay is a west-facing beach, and the daylight table decides how your evening works. At mid-December the sun is above the horizon for 14.4 hrs, and at mid-June for 9.9 hrs.17,17 That is a long summer evening against a short winter one, and it moves the sunset bus departure through the year too.
The sunset bus leaves as early as 16h45 and as late as 18h00 depending on the time of year, and the confirmation tells you the time.11 From 4 May to 23 September it runs on Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday.25 In summer the beach stays busy deep into the evening; in winter you may prefer to take the sunset from the bus.
The nearest NOAA climate station is at Cape Town International Airport, which is inland. Its figures describe the city and not the seafront wind. The average daily high is 27.7 °C in January and 18.5 °C in July.17,17 Bring a layer even in summer, as the open top deck turns breezy when the bus moves.
Video
Camps Bay, Cape Town: the beachfront from the air
Strolling The World on YouTube · Nothing is fetched until you hit play.
Camps Bay Beach, on the Atlantic coastline, is well known for its pristine white sand and blue tranquil waters.
Before you step off
What to check and bring
Check first4
Bring along4
- Sun protection for the front
- A layer for the open top deck
- Water for the walk along the sand
- A plan for the dog rule if you travel with a pet21
A short plan for the stop
Treat Camps Bay as a half-day stop at most. The red loop takes about 90 minutes without getting off.7 A long beach break turns the day into a beach day with a bus ride.7 If you want a sample, get off, walk the front, take a coffee and board the next bus. The operator says riders can hop on at any official stop, which keeps that flexible.26
Use the tracker rather than guessing. The operator offers a live bus tracker, and you can also scan the QR code at the stop.10 Buses run from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM in the listing, with earlier and later runs in summer, and leave every 15 or 30 minutes depending on the season. That means a 30 minute wait is realistic in the cooler months.
If you plan to come back for the sunset, remember that the Signal Hill stop is the only place the sunset bus lets passengers off, and that traffic there can be heavy.20,27 Pack a jacket, a picnic if you like and a camera. The operator encourages passengers to bring their own picnic, snacks, drinks and camera.28
FAQ
Questions answered quickly.
Which stop is Camps Bay on the hop-on hop-off bus?
It is on Beach Road, opposite the Bay Hotel, in the 2026/2027 timetable.1
Are the blue route buses blue?
A digital sign at the front and at the entrance shows whether the route is Red, Blue or Purple.5
How long is the blue loop?
That is the operator's help-centre figure for the Blue Mini Peninsula Tour, against about 90 minutes for the Red City Tour.7
Can dogs go on Camps Bay Beach?
No dogs are allowed between 09:00 and 18:00 from November until March.21
Are there lifeguards at Camps Bay?
Lifeguards are on duty throughout the summer months, and parking is limited.2
Does the sunset bus let you off at the beach?
Signal Hill is the main and only disembarkation stop of the sunset bus.20
Can I use one ticket on both lines?
Every ticket includes the Red, Blue and Purple routes.8
What does this site's ticket cost?
The listing is rated 4.7 from 4,231 reviews.
Sources
- City Sightseeing South Africa (operator official site) · Cape Town timetable 2026/2027 (PDF) ↩
- City of Cape Town (official site) · Camps Bay Beach ↩
- City of Cape Town (official site) · Camps Bay Beach ↩
- City Sightseeing South Africa (operator official site) · Sunset Bus Experience ↩
- City Sightseeing South Africa (operator official site) · FAQ Help Centre, Cape Town ↩
- City Sightseeing South Africa (operator official site) · Cape Town timetable 2026/2027 (PDF) ↩
- City Sightseeing South Africa (operator official site) · FAQ Help Centre, Cape Town ↩
- City Sightseeing South Africa (operator official site) · Cape Town Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour ↩
- City Sightseeing South Africa (operator official site) · Blue Route Discovery Pass ↩
- City Sightseeing South Africa (operator official site) · FAQ Help Centre, Cape Town ↩
- City Sightseeing South Africa (operator official site) · Sunset Bus Experience ↩
- City Sightseeing South Africa (operator official site) · Sunset Bus Experience ↩
- City Sightseeing South Africa (operator official site) · Sunset Bus Experience ↩
- City Sightseeing South Africa (operator official site) · Family planning article ↩
- City Sightseeing South Africa (operator official site) · Family planning article ↩
- City Sightseeing South Africa (operator official site) · Cape Town timetable 2026/2027 (PDF) ↩
- NOAA · Global Summary of the Month, Station Cape Town International Airport (NOAA GHCN SFM00068816), 1971 to 2020 + 1991 - 2020 ↩
- City Sightseeing South Africa (operator official site) · Cape Town Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour ↩
- City Sightseeing South Africa (operator official site) · Sunset Bus Experience ↩
- City Sightseeing South Africa (operator official site) · Sunset Bus Experience ↩
- City of Cape Town (official site) · Camps Bay Beach ↩
- City of Cape Town (official site) · Camps Bay Beach ↩
- City of Cape Town (official site) · Camps Bay Beach ↩
- City Sightseeing South Africa (operator official site) · Sunset Bus Experience ↩
- City Sightseeing South Africa (operator official site) · Sunset Bus Experience ↩
- City Sightseeing South Africa (operator official site) · FAQ Help Centre, Cape Town ↩
- City Sightseeing South Africa (operator official site) · Sunset Bus Experience ↩
- City Sightseeing South Africa (operator official site) · Sunset Bus Experience ↩
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