Sightseeing in Cape Town’s Red City Tour Bus
The Red City Tour in Cape Town offers tours of the city and significant tourist attractions all around the CBD in an open air bus.
Visitors to Cape Town can expect to learn all about the history of the city and do sightseeing at some of the most popular stops in Cape Town such as Greenmarket Square, The Waterfront and Camps Bay.
The bus trip is a favourite among those who want to understand the culture behind the cosmopolitan city and explore Cape Town while on a open air bus with Table Mountain as a backdrop.
How much does a ticket cost?
1-Day tickets cost R150/each or R130/each online.
Where can I buy a ticket?
The Tour Office is situated in Shop 1 outside the Two Ocean’s Aquarium. You can also buy your ticket on the bus with credit or debit card.
What time does the first tour bus start operating?
08:25 First bus departs from City Sightseeing Office directly to Cableway on Table Mountain.
09:00 First bus departs from City Sightseeing Office to begin with Red City Tour.
What time does the tour bus stop operating?
16:30 Last bus departs from City Sightseeing Office to start with final Red City Tour finishing at 18:35.
[17:15 during September and April finishing at 19:20.]
How many bus stops are there on the Red City Tour?
18 Bus Stops.
Where are the different bus stops?
- Two Ocean’s Aquarium
- The Clock Tower
- Cape Town International Convention Centre
- Cape Town Tourism
- St George’s Cathedral
- South African Museum
- Mount Nelson Hotel
- SA Jewish Museum
- District Six Museum
- The Castle of Good Hope
- Gold Museum
- Jewel Africa
- Table Mountain Cableway
- Camps Bay
- President Hotel
- Sea Point
- Winchester Mansions
- Green Point Light House
How often do the busses pass the bus stops?
Every 15 minutes.
Tell me about the commentary system on board the bus.
A set of earphones is included with your bus ticket, which can be plugged in at every seat. A multilingual commentary system tells the history and stories of the unique stops and everything in between.
How many languages are available?
16 Languages
English, Afrikaans, Arabic, French, German, Dutch, Italian, Japanese, Mandarin, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Swedish, Turkish, Zulu and a Kids Channel.
Are the buses wheelchair-friendly?
Yes. 10 new buses come with easy wheelchair access.
Do the buses have air-conditioning?
Yes. The lower level is fully air-conditioned whereas the top level is an open air experience.
Can I buy snacks on the bus?
No. But at most stops there are cafés, restaurants or kiosks nearby.
Are the buses Kids Friendly?
Yes. Kids receive an activity pack that can keep them busy for hours. Children also have their very own commentary channel with talks from Blatjan Baboob, Salty Seagull, Mandisa the Mongoose or Abie from the Cape.
What else should I know about the Red City Tour?
Apart from the fact that it’s awesome, City Sightseeing Cape Town’s Hop On Hop Off service also offers a Blue Mini Peninsula Tour with a Wine Bus Tour, Night Sunset Tours to Signal Hill and Canal Cruises from and to the Waterfront.
Content and Images | Ed Beukes