Swim with Penguins & See the Coast When You Take the Cape Town Train

Want to adventure like a local? Hop on the commuter rail.

Every year , millions passel toCape Townto breakers Muizenberg ’s notable southeast swell , savour some of the world ’s greatest Chenin Blanc , and give a sojourn to the penguin at Boulders Beach . The best way to do so is by power train — more specifically , commuter train track . To sit from the City Bowl to theWinelandsor the Cape Peninsula is to experience a journeying as fascinating and majestic as any destinations . itinerary snake around Devil ’s Peak , and bid unobstructed views of the kloofs ( steep wooded valleys ) serrating the Cape Peninsula and postcard - perfect alter shacks along False Bay . In other words : This is n’t your average commute .

It ’s hard to think of a commuter train rail in romanticistic terms . For many , it ’s a distress shlepper from menage to the 9 - 5 , but this only is n’t the case in Cape Town . The Mother City is blessed with animpressive commuter track networkstretching from Somerset West , to Stellenbosch , to Simon ’s Town — and most point in between . To boot , Metrorail Western Cape ’s Southern Line is arguably one of the most beautiful gearing journeying in the world . So why are n’t more tourists talking about it ?

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South Africa ’s report for violent crime unfortunately precedes it , cowing visitant into overpriced hops - on - hop - off tourist buses and secret excursion . This repute , though , has been blown out of proportion . Cape Town ’s transit mesh is comprehensive and secure . MyCiti buses and the newest Metrorail trains are all equip with cameras . Those too frightened of being soak will , in fact , pluck themselves of the power to travel like a local and get to have it off Cape Town more well .

If you design to sit the string , just be certain to exercise the same caution you would in any major city , though at a fraction of the price . you could get from the metropolis to Simon ’s Town for 9 South African Reef ( ZAR)—about 50 American cents — for a one - agency train ticket . In contrast , the tripper would run around 380 ZAR via Uber .

How to ride the Cape Town commuter rail

Ready to razz the gearing ? First , some logistics . All Metrorail trains depart from Cape Town Station , aright in the heart of the City Bowl . Purchase a one way tag for 9 ZAR ( or less ) at the desk and you ’re on your way to most destination . Pro peak : If you ’re looking for a day of grand adventure on the Southern Line , Metrorail sells a tourist twenty-four hour period pass for 35 ZAR . With one of those , you’re able to go between any stop on the Southern Line — Woodstock , Observatory , Muizenberg , St. James , Kalk Bay , Fish Hoek , and Simon ’s Town are the big ones — as much as you ’d care for one flat fee . If you require to travel directly to Simon ’s Town , you might have to transfer at Fish Hoek — pending the dunes not spilling onto the racecourse . Another Bible to the impudent , check@MetrorailWCon Twitter for any armed service change . If you ’re unsure , Tweet at them directly and someone will commonly get back to you within an 60 minutes .

Begin at Cape Town Station

To get the full outcome of Metrorail Western Cape ’s Southern Line , here ’s a suggest itinerary . Start your twenty-four hour period by heading to Cape Town Station . On the agency there , you ’ll require to stop atXpressoby Greenmarket Square for a 12 ZAR forked espresso and to occupy up your water bottle — wiretap piss is safe to drink in Cape Town and most major cities in South Africa . Once you ’ve arrived at the station , get your Clarence Shepard Day Jr. pass at the ticket desk and take the next Southern Line wagon train to Fish Hoek / Simon ’s Town .

After about an hour and a one-half of Cape Town scenery , you ’ll be spellbound and at the last of the line in Simon ’s Town . If the dunes are traverse the tracks south of Fish Hoek , go to the minibus rank outside of Fish Hoek station and one of the gadget driver will take you the rest of the mode for about 15 ZAR .

Swim with penguins in Simon’s Town

nominate after the same Simon van der Stel that base South Africa ’s viticultural powerhouseStellenbosch , Simon ’s Town is the last crossroads beforeTable Mountain National Park’sCape of Good Hopesection . take the air past the Naval Base and the quaint main pull to get to Boulders Beach ( entrance fee 176 ZAR ) . Once you get past the visitor centerfield , the place is dead bulwark - to - rampart packed with penguin . Be certain to respect their habitat and give them place , but do n’t shy away from float alongside them . If you ’re lucky , you’re able to do cannonball off the boulders with them , too . If the entrance fee is too extortionate for your budget , nearby Seaforth Beach also has a small penguin sanctuary and it ’s free .

Munch fish and chips in Kalk Bay

Once you and the penguin have had your moment in the Lord’s Day , you ’ll want tograb lunch . head up back to the station and take the Cape Town - bound railroad train a few stops north to Kalk Bay — that ’s Afrikaans for “ lime true laurel , ” and if you take a spirit at the Caribbean blue green water , you ’ll see why . But equal beyond the colorful sea and you ’ll findKalky ’s , one of two leading fish and chips store in Cape Town ( the other is Hout Bay’sFish on the Rocks ) and by far the best of the brace . You might think it odd to partake here , given that there ’s no cod in this part of the South Atlantic , but Cape Town ’s hake and snoek fish giveLondona political campaign for its money . A plate of Pisces and potato chip should run about 90 ZAR , plus a few Ayn Rand surplus for tartar sauce ( or the peri peri and mango tree atchar for a local touch)—though you ’ll want to pair the intellectual nourishment and seaport view with an ice cold beer , too .

Find peace in St. James

You ’ve already gone swimming once today , but go again in passive St. James , place just one plosive north of Kalk Bay . The town is so minuscule that the cafe and public convenience computer memory are both turn up inside the power train station . However , the genuine collection here is the beach , which offer a total absence of tourer , one of the Southern Hemisphere ’s great popsicles , and a tidal kitty ( meaning it has breakwaters that protect the beach from rough surf ) . Grab a granadilla ( that ’s the South African condition for passion fruit ) and ointment popsicle fromFolk Cafefor 35 ZAR and bliss out on the beach . The mountainous coastal view is worthwhile , even if you ’ve had your filling of swimming .

People watch in Muizenberg

Every Cape Town guide book will narrate you to go to Muizenberg , South Africa ’s urban surfboarder paradise . locate one stop northwards from St. James , Muizenberg is indeed full of surfer , but the beach is extremely Laputan and the downtown area is a morsel thin . There ’s no need to float or search the town ; just plant your foot in the sand and people look out before sunset .

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Browse around in Woodstock

Now it ’s time to guide back to Cape Town . Take the train toward Cape Town from Muizenberg and treat yourself to one last escapade . Get off at Woodstock , Cape Town ’s post - industrial hippie - chic neighborhood full of thrift shop class and the famousOld Biscuit Mill . workshop likeCollectMeaStoryandSalt Circle Arcadeon Albert Road are full of curios you might only find in Cape Town . Once you ’ve had your filling of shopping , get on the train one last sentence to make your means back to your accommodation , if only to contrive tomorrow ’s commuter train rail adventure .

Train passing St. James, Cape Town, South Africa