Last verified: 20 March 2026.
Cableway rates are currently shown as valid 1 July 2025 to 30 June 2026. Table Mountain National Park conservation fees for paid TMNP sections are currently shown as valid 1 November 2025 to 31 October 2026.
Table Mountain Entrance Fee 2026
Planning a visit to Table Mountain? The short answer is simple: Table Mountain is free for the standard hike, but the Table Mountain Aerial Cableway is paid. For most visitors, the main cost is the cableway ticket. Current official cableway prices valid from 1 July 2025 to 30 June 2026 are R450 per adult return online and R225 per child return online. Ticket office rates are higher at R490 per adult return and R250 per child return. Children under 4 travel free.
If you are visiting Cape Town and want the easiest way to experience the mountain, the cableway is the paid option most people use. If you are hiking up instead, you generally avoid the cableway cost. This page covers both so you can budget properly before you go.
Table Mountain Ticket Prices at a Glance
Official cableway rates are currently valid from 1 July 2025 to 30 June 2026. Buying online is cheaper than buying at the ticket office.
| Ticket type | Online return | Ticket office return | One way |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adult | R450 | R490 | R295 |
| Child (4–17) | R225 | R250 | R160 |
| SA senior citizen (60+) | R130 | R130 | R70 |
| Student (valid student card, ticket office) | — | R300 | R180 |
| Child under 4 | Free | Free | Free |
A family of 4 with 2 adults and 2 children pays R1,350 online return or R1,480 at the ticket office based on current official rates.
Is Table Mountain Free to Hike?
For the main Table Mountain summit experience, hiking is the free option. The paid cost most visitors mean when they search for the “Table Mountain entrance fee” is the cableway ticket. That is why this page should answer both the hiking question and the cableway price question clearly.
That said, not every part of Table Mountain National Park works the same way. Separate SANParks conservation fees apply at paid access areas such as Boulders Beach, Cape Point and Tokai Picnic & Braai Area. Those are different from the Table Mountain cableway ticket.
What Is Included in the Ticket Price?
A standard cableway ticket covers your trip up and down the mountain if you buy a return ticket. Once at the top, visitors can enjoy viewpoints, walking paths and free guided walks that run hourly from 09:00 to 15:00, weather permitting.
A one-way ticket is useful if you want to hike one way and ride the other way. This is a popular option for visitors who want the hiking experience without doing a full return hike.
Discounts and Specials
Table Mountain has a few useful discount categories. South African senior citizens qualify for R130 return or R70 one-way. Students with a valid local or international student card can get a R300 return ticket at the ticket office. Children under 4 travel free.
The official site also still lists a Birthday Special for South Africans. The long-running published terms say you can redeem a free birthday ticket during your birthday month at the ticket office or visitor information centre with valid SA ID, a driver’s licence or a birth certificate. Because specials can change, it is best to double-check the current terms before you go.
Temporary local campaigns such as Local is Lekker also run from time to time, but they are limited-time offers and should not be treated as the standard year-round price.
Opening Hours and Best Time to Visit
Operating hours change by season and weather. For example, from 2 February to 31 March the first car goes up at 08h00, last car up is 19h00, and last car down is 20h00. In winter (May to August) the first car is 08h30, last car up is 17h00, and last car down is 18h00. In the peak period from 1 December to 1 February, the first car goes up at 08h00, last car up is 20h00, and last car down is 21h00.
The cableway is weather permitting, and closures can happen quickly if conditions turn bad. Even if you book online, you may still need to queue on busy days, especially in peak season.
How to Book Table Mountain Tickets
The best value is usually to buy online before you arrive. TMAC says online tickets are cheaper, and tickets are sold through recognised partners such as Webtickets, Cape Town Tourism and City Sightseeing South Africa.
Cableway tickets are generally valid for 7 days from the chosen date, which gives visitors useful flexibility if Cape Town weather changes.
Important Things to Know Before You Go
The biggest mistake visitors make is confusing the Table Mountain cableway ticket with SANParks conservation feeselsewhere in Table Mountain National Park. The cableway is independently operated and sets its own prices. SANParks fees apply at park gates and paid sections such as Cape Point and Boulders.
If you have a Wild Card, it can cover qualifying SANParks conservation-fee entry at Table Mountain National Park gates, but it does not pay for the Table Mountain cableway ticket.
TMAC also encourages visitors to use Park and Ride. There is free Lower Tafelberg Road parking and a free shuttleto the Lower Station.
Is the Table Mountain Cableway Worth the Price?
For many visitors, yes. Table Mountain is one of Cape Town’s headline attractions, and the cableway gives quick access to panoramic views without the physical effort of a full hike. The online ticket is the better-value option, especially if you want a return ride and do not want to rely entirely on hiking.
For budget travellers, hiking is the obvious cheaper option. For families, older visitors, short-stay tourists and anyone trying to fit Table Mountain into a single day in Cape Town, the cableway is usually the more practical choice. This is exactly why the page should answer the “free hike vs paid cableway” question right near the top.
FAQs About Table Mountain Entrance Fees
How much is the Table Mountain entrance fee in 2026?
For most visitors, this means the cableway ticket. Current official prices are R450 adult return online and R225 child return online. Ticket office return prices are R490 adult and R250 child.
Is Table Mountain free to hike?
Yes, the standard hike is the free option. The paid cost is the cableway if you choose to ride up or down.
What age is free on Table Mountain cableway?
Children under 4 years old travel free.
Can I buy Table Mountain tickets at the gate?
Yes, but the ticket office price is higher than the online price. Buying online is usually better value.
Does Wild Card include the Table Mountain cableway?
No. The Wild Card applies to qualifying SANParks conservation-fee entry, not to the independently operated Table Mountain cableway.
What are Table Mountain operating hours?
Hours vary by season and weather. In peak summer, the last car down can be as late as 21h00, while winter hours are shorter. Always check the official daily status before visiting.
Are there senior or student discounts at Table Mountain?
Yes. SA seniors pay R130 return, and students with a valid student card can get a R300 return ticket at the ticket office.
Final Planning Tip
If you want the cheapest option, hike. If you want the easiest and fastest way to the top, book the cableway online in advance. Either way, always check the weather and same-day operating status before leaving for the mountain.