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Can you buy hop on hop off tickets on the bus? Yes, and more
Hop-on hop-off bus tour of Cape Town with an optional cruise
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Book your placeA plain guide for a first-time rider: where tickets are sold, what one covers, how long it is valid, where to board, how often buses come and what to do if your plans change.
Editorial team, capetownhoponhopoff.click · Updated November 7, 2026 · A 7 min read
Main facts
- On the busYes, you can buy from the driver, with card payment preferred.1
- Cheaper onlineThe operator says its own site has the best price, and you board with a barcode.2
- Where to boardAt any official stop, with the Aquarium and 81 Long Street as the main hubs.3
- How long it lastsA Classic ticket is valid for 1 calendar day, not 24 hours.4
- Not includedCableway admission is extra, and so are attraction entries.5,6
The short version: buy a ticket, find a stop, hop on
How the hop on hop off bus works in Cape Town is simpler than it looks from the outside. You buy a ticket, walk to any official stop on a route, and board the next red bus that shows the colour you want. You then get off wherever you like, explore, and board a later bus with the same ticket. The operator describes it as open-top double-decker red buses that stop at over 30 places across Cape Town.7
Three routes make up the network, called Red, Blue and Purple, and every ticket type covers all of them.8 The red line runs the city and the coast, the blue line goes round the back of Table Mountain, and the purple line is a short wine hop from Constantia Nek. The operator gives their lengths as about 90, 140 and 30 minutes without getting off.8
The practical consequence is that nothing is fixed. You can ride the whole red line without leaving your seat to learn the geography, or hop off at the first stop that looks good. Most of this guide is about the small decisions that make the day smoother: where to buy, what the ticket does and does not cover, and when the buses start and stop.
The ticket levels
What each ticket gives you
| Ticket | Days | Extras | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Classic | 1 day4 | Three routes, a walking tour | Operator |
| Premium | 2 consecutive days4 | Sunset bus and a cruise | Operator |
| Deluxe | 3 consecutive days4 | Sunset bus and 2 cruises | Operator |
| This site's listing | Valid 2 days | Free cancellation, pay later | GetYourGuide |
| Bus and cable car | Valid 14 days | Cable car return trip | GetYourGuide |
The operator's levels are valid by calendar day, while the listing states its own validity, so read the confirmation.4
Can you buy tickets on the bus, and where else
You can, and how to buy hop on hop off tickets has more than one answer. The operator says tickets are sold online on its own website, at its ticket offices and on board from the driver, and that card payment is preferred on the bus.1 The two offices are at the V&A Waterfront, outside the Two Oceans Aquarium on the walkway to the Clock Tower, and at 81 Long Street in the city centre, at the Long Street bus stop.13,14
Buying early is cheaper, according to the operator. It says you save when you book tickets online in advance, that the best price is always on its own site and that you board with a barcode instead of queuing.15,2 It lists the standard one-day bus tour at R375 for an adult and R225 for a child.16 On the bus, ask the driver what the fare is, since the pages we read do not give an on-board price.
The ticket this site sells is the GetYourGuide listing for the same bus, priced from $32, with free cancellation up to 24 hours before for a full refund and a pay-later option. Buying it in advance means you can walk straight to a stop, show the voucher and board. If your plans change, the free cancellation window gives you room, and the operator's own refund terms are described below.
How long a ticket lasts
Days of riding on each ticket level
- Classic1 day
- Premium2 consecutive days
- Deluxe3 consecutive days
The operator's three levels, valid by calendar day and not by 24 hours.4
What the ticket covers and how long it lasts
The operator's one-day bus ticket gives unlimited travel on all three routes plus a guided walking tour, and its Bus and Boat Combo adds a choice of a harbour cruise or a canal cruise.18 The operator offers 2 cruises at the V&A Waterfront, each about 30 minutes.19 A bus ticket is valid for one calendar day during operating hours, which means a ticket bought at noon still ends at the end of that day.11
The operator's ticket list has three levels. The Classic ticket runs 1 day, the Premium 2 consecutive days with the Sunset bus tour and a cruise, and the Deluxe 3 consecutive days with the Sunset bus tour and 2 cruises, all valid by calendar day and not by 24 hours.4 The GetYourGuide record for the listing on this site shows the ticket as valid for 2 days, so check which one you are buying.
Entries are separate. Standard bus tickets do not include attraction entries, and the bus ticket does not include Table Mountain cableway admission.6,5 Children up to age 3 ride free with an adult, children aged 4 to 17 pay the child rate, and adults pay the standard fare.20 Add the cost of anything you plan to enter to your budget, because the bus only gets you to the door.
Choose your ticket route
How should you buy for your day
Pick the answer that matches how you plan.
If I plan ahead and want the best price
Buy online
The operator says the best price is always on its own site.2
If I am already at the Waterfront
Use the Aquarium office
The kiosk is outside the Two Oceans Aquarium.13
If I am in the city centre
Use 81 Long Street
The office is at the Long Street bus stop.14
If I decided at the last minute
Pay the driver by card
On board payment is accepted, with card preferred.1
If I want to see the mountain too
Look at the combo
A bus and cable car ticket is valid for 14 days, from $61.
Where to buy
Online, at an office or on the bus
Help in person
A ticket office
Two in the city
Book this ticket
Last minute
On the bus
From the driver
Book this ticketWhere to catch the bus and how to read the signs
The operator says you can hop on at any official stop, and that the main terminals at the V&A Waterfront and 81 Long Street are recommended for ticketing and information.3 If you are staying in Sea Point or Green Point, a stop on the Atlantic front may be closer to you than either office, so look at the route pages before you set off.
One thing confuses new riders. All the buses are red, including the ones on the blue route. A digital destination sign at the front and at the entrance shows Red, Blue or Purple, so read it before you board.9 At stops that serve more than one line, such as the Aquarium and Long Street, several buses may arrive in a row, and the sign is the only reliable way to tell them apart.
To find the bus, use the live tracker or scan the QR code at the stop.22 The timetable gives the tracker's address as www.nextredbus.co.za.25 The ticket offices are open daily, with the one at the Aquarium open from 8.00am to 6pm and the downtown office open from 8.00am to 5.45pm.17,26 Those hours are worth knowing if you plan to buy in person rather than online, since the first bus leaves at 08H00 or 08H30 in the timetable.27,28
Price your options
Compare four bus tickets by party size
Choose how many are riding and compare the from prices.
4 options compared
Compare four bus tickets by party size
Choose how many are riding and compare the from prices.
- Hop-on hop-off busThis site's ticket · for each guest from $32
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View - Bus plus cable carValid 14 days · for each guest from $61
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View - Sunset busSignal Hill picnic · for each guest from $17
≈
View - Bus with wine tastingGroot Constantia · for each guest from $33
≈
View
Converted at the ECB reference rate, from-prices as listed by GetYourGuide. The precise amount is shown when you book.
A first-timer's day
From the ticket to the last bus
Night before
Buy online
The operator says the best price is on its own site, with a barcode to board.2
Morning
Pick a stop
Board at any official stop; the Aquarium and Long Street are the hubs.3
At the stop
Check the sign
The digital sign shows Red, Blue or Purple.9
On board
Plug in the audio
Commentary comes in 15 languages with free headphones.10
Midday
Hop off for lunch
Get off where you like and catch a later bus with the same ticket.11
Late afternoon
Know the last bus
The last red bus leaves the Aquarium at 16H45 or 17H15.12
How often the buses come, and when the day starts and ends
The GetYourGuide record says buses run from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, earlier and later in the summer, and that they depart every 15 or 30 minutes depending on the season. The operator says bus frequency varies with the season and the time of day.29 The timetable is more exact: on the red line the first bus leaves the Aquarium at 08H00 or 08H30, depending on the column.27,28
The last bus matters more than the first. The 2026/2027 timetable shows the last red departure from the Aquarium at 16H45 or 17H15, depending on the column.12 If you plan to stay for a late lunch at the coast, check when the final bus passes your stop before you sit down, and keep the last bus time in your phone notes.
The buses do not run every day of the year. The operator says they run 363 days a year in Cape Town and are closed for the Cycle Race and the Cape Town Marathon.30 The timetable lists 1 January 2027 as a day with no service at stops 8 and 9 on the red and blue routes, 14 March 2027 for the Cycle Tour and 23 May 2027 for the Marathon.21
Video
Cape Town hop on hop off: what you need to know in under five minutes
The BOLD Traveller on YouTube · Nothing is fetched until you hit play.
The best price is always on this site, and you board with a barcode instead of queuing.
On the bus: commentary, languages and the open top
The commentary is audio through headphones, and it is offered in 15 languages: English, Afrikaans, Zulu, Arabic, Dutch, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Mandarin, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Swedish and Turkish, plus a kids' channel, with headphones provided free of charge.10 The GetYourGuide record lists the same 15 languages as audio guides. Bring your own headphones if you prefer them.
The buses are open-top double-deckers, so the weather matters.7 South African Tourism notes that the Western Cape has winter rainfall, so the cooler months can be wet on the top deck.31 The same source calls Cape Town well known for its lovely weather and beaches, and says holidaymakers flock there in the summer months.23 Pack a layer and sun protection either way.
The ride itself is the easy part. You sit, listen and look, and you get off when something appeals. The red line takes about 90 minutes without getting off, so a first ride from end to end is a good way to decide which stops to return to.8 You could do that on a first morning and then choose your stops for the afternoon.
Changing buses, cruises and plans
The blue and purple lines connect at stop 21, Constantia Nek, which the operator calls the interchange where you change from the blue to the purple wine tour.32 The two cruises at the V&A Waterfront leave from the jetty by the Aquarium and the canal cruise connects at the Convention Centre stop, so a boat can be a pleasant break between two bus rides.17,33
If your plans change, the operator says online vouchers are valid for 14 days from the travel date, and that refunds with a fee of R20 can be requested at least 24 hours before the planned tour.34 The listing on this site has its own rule, free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. Which rule applies depends on where you booked, so read the confirmation you received.
For anything else, the operator's support line is 021 511 6000, open Monday to Sunday, 08h00 to 17h00.24,35 Save the number before you set out, along with the tracker address. A phone call is the quickest way to find out whether a stop is closed or a bus is running late, and the staff at the two ticket offices can also help.
FAQ
Questions answered quickly.
Can you buy hop on hop off tickets on the bus?
Where can I buy tickets in the city?
How long is a ticket valid?
By calendar day, not 24 hours.
The Classic ticket runs 1 day, the Premium 2 consecutive days and the Deluxe 3.4
Does the ticket include Table Mountain?
No, cableway tickets are separate.
The Red route stops at the lower station, but admission is bought separately.5
How do I tell which line a bus is on?
Read the digital sign.
All the buses are red, and the sign at the front and the entrance shows Red, Blue or Purple.9
Do children need a ticket?
Children up to 3 ride free.
Ages 4 to 17 pay the child rate, and adults the standard fare.20
How do I follow the bus live?
Use the tracker or the QR code.
The operator's live tracker and the QR code at the stop show arrivals.22
What if I need to cancel?
It depends where you booked.
The listing on this site allows free cancellation up to 24 hours before, and the operator charges R20 on refunds.34
Sources
- City Sightseeing South Africa (operator official site) · Frequently asked questions, Cape Town ↩
- City Sightseeing South Africa (operator official site) · Ticket offices in Cape Town ↩
- City Sightseeing South Africa (operator official site) · Frequently asked questions, Cape Town ↩
- City Sightseeing South Africa (operator official site) · Frequently asked questions, Cape Town ↩
- City Sightseeing South Africa (operator official site) · Cape Town Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour ↩
- City Sightseeing South Africa (operator official site) · Frequently asked questions, Cape Town ↩
- City Sightseeing South Africa (operator official site) · Frequently asked questions, Cape Town ↩
- City Sightseeing South Africa (operator official site) · Frequently asked questions, Cape Town ↩
- City Sightseeing South Africa (operator official site) · Frequently asked questions, Cape Town ↩
- City Sightseeing South Africa (operator official site) · Frequently asked questions, Cape Town ↩
- City Sightseeing South Africa (operator official site) · Cape Town Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour ↩
- City Sightseeing South Africa (Cape Town 2026/2027 timetable PDF) · Cape Town 2026/2027 timetable, Red City Tour ↩
- City Sightseeing South Africa (operator official site) · Ticket offices in Cape Town ↩
- City Sightseeing South Africa (operator official site) · Ticket offices in Cape Town ↩
- City Sightseeing South Africa (operator official site) · Frequently asked questions, Cape Town ↩
- City Sightseeing South Africa (operator official site) · Cape Town Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour ↩
- City Sightseeing South Africa (operator official site) · Red Cape Town City Tour to Table Mountain ↩
- City Sightseeing South Africa (operator official site) · Cape Town Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour ↩
- City Sightseeing South Africa (operator official site) · About City Sightseeing ↩
- City Sightseeing South Africa (operator official site) · Frequently asked questions, Cape Town ↩
- City Sightseeing South Africa (Cape Town 2026/2027 timetable PDF) · Cape Town 2026/2027 timetable, closures ↩
- City Sightseeing South Africa (operator official site) · Frequently asked questions, Cape Town ↩
- South African Tourism (southafrica.net) · The best time to visit South Africa ↩
- City Sightseeing South Africa (operator official site) · Contact us ↩
- City Sightseeing South Africa (Cape Town 2026/2027 timetable PDF) · Cape Town 2026/2027 timetable, live tracking ↩
- City Sightseeing South Africa (operator official site) · Red Cape Town City Tour to Table Mountain ↩
- City Sightseeing South Africa (Cape Town 2026/2027 timetable PDF) · Cape Town 2026/2027 timetable, Red City Tour ↩
- City Sightseeing South Africa (Cape Town 2026/2027 timetable PDF) · Cape Town 2026/2027 timetable, Red City Tour ↩
- City Sightseeing South Africa (operator official site) · Frequently asked questions, Cape Town ↩
- City Sightseeing South Africa (operator official site) · About City Sightseeing ↩
- South African Tourism (southafrica.net) · The best time to visit South Africa ↩
- City Sightseeing South Africa (operator official site) · Blue Mini Peninsula Tour ↩
- City Sightseeing South Africa (operator official site) · Red Cape Town City Tour to Table Mountain ↩
- City Sightseeing South Africa (operator official site) · Frequently asked questions, Cape Town ↩
- City Sightseeing South Africa (operator official site) · Contact us ↩
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