Attraction
Robben Island Museum
Ferries from the V&A Waterfront take visitors to Robben Island, the UNESCO-listed former prison where Nelson Mandela spent 18 of his 27 years in jail.
Table Mountain
Cape Town's flat-topped mountain rises above the city, reached by a cableway with rotating cars from Tafelberg Road or on foot via routes such as Platteklip Gorge.
At a glance
- Type
- Mountain, cableway and viewpoint
- Area
- Table Mountain National Park, Cape Town, South Africa
- Official site
- tablemountain.net
Good to know
- Aerial cableway with rotating cars
- Online tickets
- Fast Track timeslots
- Free shuttle from Lower Tafelberg Road parking
- Hiking trails
Why we recommend it
Table Mountain is the backdrop to almost every view of Cape Town, a sandstone massif whose highest point reaches about 1,085 metres. Its flat plateau is part of Table Mountain National Park, and on clear days it looks out over the City Bowl, Table Bay, Robben Island, Lion's Head and the long line of the Twelve Apostles running south above Camps Bay.
Most visitors ride the Table Mountain Aerial Cableway, which opened in 1929. The current cars carry 65 passengers each and their floors rotate through a full circle during the short trip, so everyone gets the panorama. The lower station sits on Tafelberg Road at roughly 300 metres, and the upper station is at about 1,067 metres on the western end of the plateau. From there, easy paths loop between lookout points, and there is a café and shop at the top.
Hikers have plenty of options. Platteklip Gorge, which starts from Tafelberg Road, is the most direct route, climbing roughly 600 metres in around two and a half hours. It faces north and has very little shade, so it is hard work on a hot day. Skeleton Gorge and Nursery Ravine climb from Kirstenbosch on the eastern side, and many walkers hike up and take the cableway down.
The weather decides everything here. Wind and the cloud known locally as the tablecloth can close the cableway at short notice, so check the live status on the website or app before setting off, and go up early on the first clear day of your trip rather than saving it for later. Standard tickets are valid for seven days and can be bought online or at the ticket office, while Fast Track tickets let you book a specific timeslot and avoid the longest queues. Student tickets are sold only at the lower station.
The cableway recommends parking at the free Lower Tafelberg Road parking area and taking its free shuttle to the lower station. MyCiTi buses 106 and 107 stop at the top of Kloof Nek Road, and taxis and ride-hailing drivers can drop you at the Lower Tafelberg bus stop. Take a warm layer even in summer, as it is often much cooler and windier at the top than in the city.
Table Mountain FAQs
Can the cableway close because of the weather?
Yes. It may close in wind or bad weather, and the website and app show its live status.
Do I need to book a timeslot?
Not with a standard ticket, which is valid for seven days. Fast Track tickets let you book a specific timeslot online.
How long is the cable car ride?
Only a few minutes, and the floor of the car rotates so every passenger gets the view.
Can I hike up Table Mountain instead?
Yes. Platteklip Gorge from Tafelberg Road is the most direct route and takes around two and a half hours up.
Where should I park?
The cableway recommends the free Lower Tafelberg Road parking area and its free shuttle to the lower station.
Can I get there by public transport?
MyCiTi routes 106 and 107 stop at the top of Kloof Nek Road, and you then use the Lower Tafelberg Road stop and the cableway shuttle.
Can students buy discounted tickets online?
No. Student tickets are sold only at the ticket office at the lower station.
What should I bring?
A warm layer, sun protection and water, as conditions at the top can be very different from the city.