Ways to do Table Mountain
You do not need a tour to visit the mountain. You can buy a cableway ticket and go up by yourself, or walk. A tour adds a guide, transport or a bundle of sights, and it costs more. Which option fits depends on how much time you have, how fit you are and whether you want to see more than the summit.
The examples below come from single operators. They show what one product costs, not a market range. A published price is not a checkout price for every date, and it does not show free places on your day. Prices are in rand and apply in 2026.
Table Mountain tour options compared
Single examples, 2026. Entry fees can be separate.
| Option | Length | Included | Adult price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cableway ticket, self-guided | Ride under 5 minutes | Return or one-way trip, free summit walk of 30 minutes | R475 return online, R530 at the ticket office |
| Guided Platteklip Gorge hike (Take Back Our Mountains) | 2 to 3 hours up | Guide, entry or tickets and transport | R3,500 for one person, R3,000 each for two |
| Cape Point day bus tour (City Sightseeing) | Day trip | Cape Point entry; Boulders Beach entry and lunch are not included | R475 online (children 2 to 11: R425), January 2026 listing |
| Robben Island ferry tour | About 3.5 to 4 hours | Ferry, bus ride on the island and the prison visit | R600 for non-South Africans (under 18: R310) |
| Hop-on hop-off bus | – | Stop at the cableway's lower station | – |
The guided hike is a mountain guide service, not a cable car product. The listing covers a climb of about 700 m on Platteklip Gorge and says that guide, entry or tickets and transport are included.
Our picks: tours compared
A cable car ticket, a guided hike and a full day with Table Mountain and Cape Point.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Guided summit hike up Table Mountain
A local guide, safety briefing, first-aid kit and a small group, on a route you choose with the guide. Cable car extra; pickup, food and drinks are not included.
Check availability →
Table Mountain cable car ticket
A cable car ticket with Table Mountain entry. Hotel pickup, meals and drinks are not included.
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Table Mountain, penguins and Cape Point in a day
Hotel pickup, an accredited guide and driver, Chapman's Peak toll and water. Cable car, Cape Point and Boulders Beach entries are extra.
Check availability →Table Mountain tours and Cape Town day trips
Cableway combinations, guided hikes, Cape Peninsula day trips and Robben Island, with live prices and availability.
Which option suits which day
Match the tour to the weather and your time.
A clear, calm morning
Go up on the cableway first, and book the rest of the day around it. The status can change, so keep a second day free.
Cableway tickets →You want to climb
Platteklip Gorge is a steep stone staircase of roughly 3 km. Estimates run from 1 to 3 hours uphill. A guide sets the route and the pace. The price in the example above is per person for two.
Hiking guide →A cloudy or windy day
Keep the mountain for another day and use the time for a peninsula trip. Cape Point, Boulders Beach and Kirstenbosch do not depend on the cableway.
Cape Point →History in the morning
Ferries to Robben Island leave from the Nelson Mandela Gateway at the V&A Waterfront. From September to April there are four departures a day at 09:00, 11:00, 13:00 and 15:00. From May to August there are three, at 09:00, 11:00 and 13:00. All depend on weather and demand.
Robben Island →What to check before you book
Prices look alike, products do not.
Entry fees
Cableway tickets, national park fees and Kirstenbosch entry are separate products with their own prices. A tour either includes them or it does not, so read the list. Cape Point entry is part of the bus tour above, but Boulders Beach is not.
Park fees →Group prices
The R3,500 and R3,000 figures belong to a specific guided hike. One is for a single person, the other is per person for two. Do not compare them with prices from other guides.
Robben Island tickets
The ferry is a separate booking with the island operator. Arrive at least 30 minutes before departure. Boarding closes 10 minutes before. If the operator cancels a tour, refunds go back against your ticket and ID.
Weather terms
Conditions can cancel the cableway, the ferry and boat trips. Read the cancellation terms before you pay, and ask what happens if the cableway is closed on your date.
Weather guide →Safety on guided hikes
A guide does not make a hike risk free. Carry water, a warm layer and a charged phone, and keep to the group.
Safety advice →Plan the rest of your trip
Where the tours fit.
Table Mountain tours: frequently asked questions
Do I need a tour for Table Mountain?
No. You can buy a cableway ticket or walk up on your own. A tour makes sense if you want a guide on a hike, transport to the peninsula or several sights in one day.
How much does a guided Table Mountain hike cost?
One operator lists R3,500 for one person and R3,000 per person for two, for a Platteklip Gorge climb of 2 to 3 hours with guide, entry or tickets and transport. Other guides charge different prices.
Does the cableway offer a guided tour?
The operator offers a free guided walk of 30 minutes on the summit, every hour from 09:00 to 15:00. You need a cableway ticket to reach it.
Is Cape Point entry included in a day tour?
In the bus tour above it is, while Boulders Beach and lunch are not. Other tours may differ, so read what is included.
Should I book tours in advance?
Published offer pages do not show free places for your date. For Robben Island, the operator recommends booking early. For everything else, check availability before you plan around it.