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Sunset bus tour Cape Town: the evening service explained
Hop-on hop-off bus tour of Cape Town with an optional cruise
★ 4.8 · 4,231 guest ratings
Light for the evening ride
Twelve months of sunset and night
Choose a month to compare sunset, day length and the cold, then plan the evening ride.
Sunset
Jan
The average daily low in January is 15.7 °C.13
Jun
Mid-June has 9.9 hours of sun.13
Dec
Mid-December has 14.4 hours of sun.13
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.
The regular buses run in daylight, and one evening ride exists beside them. This page sorts what runs after the afternoon, when it leaves and how to stay safe once the light fades.
Editorial team, capetownhoponhopoff.click · Updated November 7, 2026 · A 6 min read
Main facts
- The serviceThe evening ride is the sunset bus, and it is not a hop-on hop-off service.1
- The routeIt runs from the V&A Waterfront to Signal Hill and back through the city.2,3,4
- The timeIt leaves as early as 16h45 and as late as 18h00.5
- After darkThe City advises against walking in deserted or dark areas.6
- BookingThis site's ticket is listed from $32.
Is there a night bus in Cape Town
People who search for a night bus usually want a hop-on hop-off ride after dark. The listing for this site records that buses run from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, with earlier and later runs in summer, and depart every 15 or 30 minutes depending on the season. Neither that listing nor the operator's pages describe a night hop-on service.
What the operator does run in the evening is the sunset bus. It lasts approximately 3 hours, and the operator is plain that it is not a hop-on hop-off service.1 You board, ride to the hill, step off for the view and ride back, with no option to leave the bus earlier.
Treat the sunset bus as the answer to every evening bus question on this site. If you are asking about a sunset bus tour in Cape Town, a red bus sunset tour in Cape Town or a night tour, the ride described below is the one product that matches.
Three evenings
Sunset ride, own sundowner or concert
| Plan | Time | How you get home | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sunset bus | 16h45 to 18h00 departure5 | The bus returns you through the city4 | R265 adult10 |
| Camps Bay sundowner | Whenever you choose | Your own taxi or e-hailing14 | A meal |
| Kirstenbosch concert | 5:15 pm to 7:00 pm15 | Last bus left at 16:2016 | Entry plus ticket |
Prices are the operator's own and may change.
How the sunset ride runs
The bus travels from the V&A Waterfront along the Atlantic Seaboard, passing Sea Point and Camps Bay.2 It then climbs to Signal Hill, which the operator calls the tour's main and only disembarkation stop.3 The ride starts from Stop 1 at the V&A Waterfront only, and you cannot board at a Camps Bay stop.7
The departure time is set by the season. The operator says it is as early as 16h45 and as late as 18h00, depending on the time of the year, with the exact time confirmed on the booking confirmation.5 From 4 May to 23 September it operates on Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday.9
The listed prices are R265 for an adult and R165 for a child.10 A cancellation fee of R20 per ticket is charged.11 Premium tickets, valid for 2 consecutive days, include the sunset bus and a cruise.12 The listing for a stand-alone sunset ride shows a from price of $17 with 69 reviews averaging 4.2.
Light through the year
The date matters because the sun sets at very different times through the year. At mid-December the sun is above the horizon for 14.4 hrs, and at mid-June for 9.9 hrs.13,13 At mid-March the figure is 12.4 hrs, and at mid-September it is 11.8 hrs.13,13 The sunset bus follows that swing in its departure time.
The figures come from the NOAA station at Cape Town International Airport, which is inland, and they describe the city's daylight and not a seafront forecast. Winter has the shortest days, and it is also the season when the bus runs on Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday only.9 Check the day before you plan a dinner around the ride.
A short winter day also changes the temperature plan. The average daily low is 6.9 °C in July, against 15.7 °C in January.13,13 An open top deck after sunset feels colder than the station average suggests, and a jacket is wise in every season.
Match your evening
Which evening plan suits you?
Pick the line that sounds like you and read the answer
If I want the view without driving
Take the sunset bus
If I want to eat at the beach
Book a Camps Bay table
Sidewalk restaurants face the sand.17
If I want music outdoors
Check the concert season
Concerts run from 5:15 pm to 7:00 pm.15
If I travel in winter
Check the day of the week
From 4 May to 23 September it runs Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday.9
If I walk alone at night
Use official transport
The City advises accredited transport.14
What the City advises after dark
The City of Cape Town gives visitors plain advice. Do not walk in deserted or dark areas, stay in a group, and keep to lit paths and roadways.6 For night time it adds that you should avoid walking or driving down dark alleyways or deserted roads.20 A guided ride is one way to cover the hours after sunset without choosing a route yourself.
For getting home, the City recommends accredited public transport such as e-hailing services, taxis, cabs or buses, and says to use an official taxi service and not take lifts with strangers.14,21 Plan the ride home before you leave the hotel, and do not leave it for the moment the bus drops you off.
Keep your possessions on you and in sight at all times, and avoid carrying large sums of money or counting it in the open.22,19 The City also suggests trying not to explore the city alone at night.23 These are the City's own words, and they apply to the whole evening and not only to the bus.
Price the evening
What the options cost your group
Type your party size and compare the tickets side by side
3 options compared
What the options cost your group
Type your party size and compare the tickets side by side
- Day ticketCruise option · for each guest from $32
≈
View - Sunset busEvening ride · for each guest from $17
≈
View - Cable car comboBus plus mountain · for each guest from $61
≈
View
Converted at the ECB reference rate, from-prices as listed by GetYourGuide. The precise amount is shown when you book.
An evening on the bus
From the Waterfront to the hill and back
Stop 1
Board at the Waterfront
The ride starts from the V&A Waterfront only.7
As early as 16h45
Departure
The time depends on the season.5
Along the coast
Sea Point and Camps Bay
The bus passes both on the Atlantic Seaboard.2
Signal Hill
Step off for the view
It is the only disembarkation stop.3
Just after sunset
Back on board
The bus leaves Signal Hill just after sunset.8
Late evening
Return through the city
After sunset the bus returns through the city.4
Dates when the ride changes
The 2026/2027 timetable says the Sunset Bus will depart to Blouberg on 19 December 2026 to 3 January 2027 and on 14 March 2027, and not up Signal Hill.24 If your stay falls inside those dates, check what the ride offers before you pay.
The timetable also lists closures. On 1 January 2027 stops 8 and 9 on the Red and Blue routes have no service, and the Cycle Tour on 14 March 2027 and the Marathon on 23 May 2027 are listed too.25 Event days change the traffic on the coast road in the evening, and slack in your plans is wise.
On the hill, the operator warns that traffic on Signal Hill can be heavy.26 The bus leaves Signal Hill just after sunset, and passengers must be back on board.8 Bring a picnic, snacks, drinks and a camera, as the operator encourages.18 Treat the hill as a viewpoint for the sunset and the lights, and keep your group together on the walk back to the bus.
Video
Signal Hill sunset tour in Cape Town
Go DeepSoul on YouTube · Nothing is fetched until you hit play.
Do not walk in deserted or dark areas. Stay in a group and on lit paths/roadways.
Before the ride
What to check and carry
Sunset ride or your own sundowner
If you prefer a table to a bus seat, Camps Bay has many sidewalk restaurants and cafes across the road from the beach, and the City mentions sundowners.17 The cost is a meal, and the way home is yours to plan using the City's transport advice.14
If you prefer a concert, Kirstenbosch runs its Summer Sunset Concerts from 22 November 2026 to 28 March 2027, from 5:15 pm to 7:00 pm.15 The last hop-on hop-off bus from the garden leaves at 16:20, and you will need your own transport back.16
The sunset ride suits visitors who want the view without driving. This site's day ticket is from $32, and the Premium option adds the sunset bus.12 Compare the three choices in the table, and pick the one that gets you home by the route you trust.
Planning a day around the evening ride
A good evening starts with a daytime plan. The listing for this site shows its ticket as valid for 2 days, with free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. That gives you one daytime loop and a second day that can end at the hill, if you buy a ticket type that includes the sunset bus.12
On board, the operator offers audio commentary in 15 languages and a dedicated kids' audio channel, and headphones are provided free of charge.27,28 Families can bring children to an evening ride with some entertainment in their own language. The sunset ride is also listed with a child price of R165.10
Book with the refund rules in mind. Online vouchers are valid for 14 days from the travel date, and a refund carries a R20 fee when requested at least 24 hours before the planned tour.29 For the sunset bus, the operator states a cancellation fee of R20 per ticket cancelled.11
FAQ
Questions answered quickly.
Is there a night hop-on hop-off bus in Cape Town?
The evening product is the sunset bus, which is not a hop-on hop-off service.1
Where does the sunset bus start?
It starts from the V&A Waterfront only.7
What time does the sunset bus leave?
The time depends on the time of year and is confirmed on the booking.5
How long is the sunset ride?
It is valid for the evening of the tour only.1
Which days does it run in winter?
From 4 May to 23 September it runs Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday.9
Can I get off at Camps Bay?
Signal Hill is the only disembarkation stop.3
How much does the sunset bus cost?
Children pay R165.10
Is it safe to walk in the city after dark?
Avoid deserted or dark areas and stay in a group.6
Sources
- 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) · Sunset Bus Experience ↩
- City Sightseeing South Africa (operator official site) · Sunset Bus Experience ↩
- City of Cape Town (official site) · General safety tips for visitors ↩
- 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) · 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 ↩
- NOAA · Global Summary of the Month, Station Cape Town International Airport (NOAA GHCN SFM00068816), 1971 to 2020 + 1991 - 2020 ↩
- City of Cape Town (official site) · General safety tips for visitors ↩
- SANBI Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden (official site) · Kirstenbosch Summer Sunset Concerts 2026 ↩
- SANBI Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden (official site) · Information ↩
- City of Cape Town (official site) · Camps Bay Beach ↩
- City Sightseeing South Africa (operator official site) · Sunset Bus Experience ↩
- City of Cape Town (official site) · General safety tips for visitors ↩
- City of Cape Town (official site) · Safety at night and on the streets ↩
- City of Cape Town (official site) · Safety at night and on the streets ↩
- City of Cape Town (official site) · General safety tips for visitors ↩
- City of Cape Town (official site) · Safety at night and on the streets ↩
- City Sightseeing South Africa (operator official site) · Cape Town timetable 2026/2027 (PDF) ↩
- City Sightseeing South Africa (operator official site) · Cape Town timetable 2026/2027 (PDF) ↩
- City Sightseeing South Africa (operator official site) · Sunset Bus Experience ↩
- City Sightseeing South Africa (operator official site) · Cape Town Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour ↩
- City Sightseeing South Africa (operator official site) · FAQ Help Centre, Cape Town ↩
- City Sightseeing South Africa (operator official site) · FAQ Help Centre, Cape Town ↩
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