Locate your stop

Cape Point trails: the short walks at the Cape

Summary

The main Cape Point trails are the Lighthouse Keeper's Trail at about 2 km and 1 hour return, and the Cape of Good Hope trail at about 3.5 km and 2 to 3 hours return.

The two main walks

  • The Keeper's Trail leads to the new lighthouse13
  • The Good Hope trail follows a marked boardwalk19
  • Dias Beach lies down a steep wooden staircase3

See all 16 stops

Cape Point, the reserve and the peninsula, pin by pin

Select a route, then tap a marker or stop to see its note and open Google Maps.

Map of the tip of the Cape Peninsula with the Cape of Good Hope sign, Dias Beach, the funicular station and the Cape Point lighthouse

  1. The walk from the main parking area to the Cape of Good Hope sign is 3.5 km.

    Google Maps

  2. The beach lies down a steep wooden staircase.

    Google Maps

  3. The funicular ride takes 3 minutes from the lower station.

    Google Maps

  4. The Lighthouse Keeper's Trail begins behind the upper funicular station and leads to the new lighthouse.

    Google Maps

© OpenStreetMap contributors · map data

A guide to the walks at Cape Point, from the lighthouse path to the Cape of Good Hope boardwalk, Dias Beach and the shipwreck route, with lengths, times and path rules.

Editorial team, capepointtour.top · Updated November 7, 2026 · Allow 6 min

Overview

  • Lighthouse pathThe Lighthouse Keeper's Trail is about 2 km, 1 hour return and easy.1
  • Cape of Good HopeThe Cape of Good Hope trail is about 3.5 km, 2 to 3 hours return, and easy.2
  • Dias BeachIt lies down a steep wooden staircase, and swimming is discouraged.3,4
  • Shipwreck routeThe Kleinkommetjie Ridge route to the Phyllisia wreck is 1.5 hours each way.5
  • Gate timesFrom October to March the gate is open 6:00am to 6:00pm.6

Walks you can fit around a day tour or a drive

Cape Point walks suit a short stop, and the reserve lends itself to them, and the operator's visitor page also speaks of a wide variety of scenic and overnight trails through fynbos and along sandy beaches, so a hiker with spare days has more to choose from.7 Cape Town Tourism names the Cape of Good Hope Trail, the Lighthouse Keeper's Trail and the Shipwreck Trail as the walks to try.8 This page sorts those into the ones that fit around a single visit.

The reserve covers approximately 7,750 hectares, and its coastline is 40 km long.9,10 If you are on a guided day, remember that the stops are timed. The listing gives the Cape of Good Hope 30 minutes and the new Cape Point lighthouse 45 minutes, and a guest who wants more than a photograph at either has to choose carefully.

The listing also gives guests a choice at the lighthouse: buy a ticket for the funicular, or take a 15-minute walk up. The funicular ride is 3 minutes, so the walk suits anybody with spare minutes and good shoes.11 Everything below assumes you have the time of a short visit and want to use it well.

Walk by walk

The short walks at Cape Point side by side

WalkLength and timeStarts atGood to know
Lighthouse Keeper's TrailAbout 2 km, 1 hour return1Behind the upper funicular station13Rated easy1
Cape of Good Hope trailAbout 3.5 km, 2 to 3 hours return2Main parking area18Marked boardwalk19
Phyllisia route1.5 hours each way5Olifantsbos area20Lower trail 20 minutes longer21
Dias Beach stairsShort, steep descent3Above the beach3Swimming discouraged4
Bay walksShort and gentle22Buffels Bay and Bordjiesrif22Designated braai areas23

Lengths and times are the operator's own and apply to walkers on the signed routes.

The Lighthouse Keeper's Trail

The Lighthouse Keeper's Trail begins just behind the upper funicular station and leads to the new lighthouse.13 The operator rates it about 2 km, 1 hour return, and easy.1 It is the walk that most closely matches a normal sightseeing visit, because it starts where the funicular or the walk up from the car park ends.

The new lighthouse is built closer to the sea, and the original one was ineffective in mist.14,15 The old lighthouse is now a central monitoring point for all the lighthouses in South Africa.16 The path between them is a good place for photographs of the cliffs, with the old light above you and the sea far below.

Plan around the weather and the clock. The funicular and the gate follow set hours, and a walk of an hour return adds up when it follows a queue for the ticket office. Keep the Lighthouse Keeper's Trail for a clear spell, because a path with fog on the headland rewards you with a grey wall rather than a view, and the operator itself says the Point was a menace to ships in fog.17

Minutes on the headland

Funicular, walk-up and the tour's stops, in minutes

  • Funicular ride3
  • Walk up15
  • Good Hope stop30
  • Lighthouse stop45

The funicular ride is 3 minutes and the optional walk up 15 minutes, while the tour record gives the Cape of Good Hope 30 minutes and the new lighthouse 45 minutes.11

The Cape of Good Hope trail and its sign

The Cape of Good Hope trail is about 3.5 km, 2 to 3 hours return, and easy, according to the operator.2 It follows a marked boardwalk to the Cape of Good Hope sign on the rocky shoreline.19 Another official collective gives the walk from the main parking area to the sign as 3.5 km.18 Set aside a good part of the day if you want to walk it unhurried and take photographs.

The end of the trail is described as the most southern point of the Cape Peninsula, and the Cape of Good Hope as the most southwesterly point of the African continent.24,25 It is not the southernmost tip of Africa, which lies far to the east, so a photograph at the sign makes a better souvenir of the peninsula than of the continent.26

A more modest way to see the cape is to take the Cape of Good Hope stop on a day tour, where the listing gives it 30 minutes. That is enough for the sign and the immediate shoreline, but not for the whole trail. Anyone who wants the full boardwalk should arrive early or plan a separate visit.

Match your visit

Which walk suits your day?

Choose the line that sounds like your plan and read the answer beside it

  • If I have about an hour

    Lighthouse Keeper's Trail

    It is about 2 km, 1 hour return, and easy.1

  • If I want the famous sign

    Cape of Good Hope trail

    It follows a marked boardwalk to the sign on the shoreline.19

  • If I want wrecks and quiet

    The Phyllisia route

    It takes 1.5 hours each way from the Olifantsbos area.5

  • If I want a quiet beach seat

    Dias Beach

    It lies down a steep wooden staircase and swimming is discouraged.3,4

  • If I travel with children

    Bay walks at Buffels Bay

    Bordjiesrif and Buffels Bay have tidal pools and picnic sites.22

Pick your walk

Walks by effort and reward

Easy

Lighthouse path

From the upper station

  • LengthAbout 2 km1
  • Time1 hour return1
  • Ends atThe new lighthouse13
See the day tour

Easy

Good Hope boardwalk

To the sign

  • LengthAbout 3.5 km2
  • Time2 to 3 hours return2
  • Ends atThe rocky shoreline sign19
See the day tour

Longer

Phyllisia wreck route

Kleinkommetjie Ridge

  • Time1.5 hours each way5
  • Lower trailAbout 20 minutes longer21
  • Starts atOlifantsbos area20
See the day tour

Dias Beach and its wooden staircase

Dias Beach at Cape Point sits at the bottom of a steep wooden staircase, so the first thing to know is that the way back is uphill.3 Cape Town Tourism says swimming there is discouraged because the currents can be quite dangerous.4 Some searches spell it Diaz Beach, while the Cape Point pages write Dias Beach. It is a quiet beach to sit on and look at the water, and it is not a beach to plan a swim at.

Baboons are known to visit Dias Beach, so belongings should be watched.43 Take a small bag and zip it, carry water for the climb back, and leave lunches in the car. The wildlife page of this site gives the full baboon rules for the reserve.

The beach is a good short objective on a day with an hour to spare. It adds a different view of the coastline from the lighthouse side, and the staircase is a clear, signed route, which makes it easier than guessing at a path in the fynbos.

Price the day

What a day at the Cape costs your group

Type your party size and compare four ways to reach the trails

Choose from 4 options

What a day at the Cape costs your group

Type your party size and compare four ways to reach the trails

2 people
  1. Full-day group tourOur own pick · per individual from $44

    ≈

    View
  2. 8-hour group tourCliff path hike · per individual from $30

    ≈

    View
  3. Small group, 10 maxQuieter van · per individual from $116

    ≈

    View
  4. Private day tourYour own party · starts at $151

    ≈

    View

Starting prices on GetYourGuide, exchanged at the ECB reference rate. The booking page gives the exact price.

A morning on foot

From the gate to the boardwalk and back

  1. Gate opens

    Early start

    The gate typically opens at sunrise, and from October to March it is open 6:00am to 6:00pm.12,6

  2. Car park

    Funicular or walk

    The funicular ride takes 3 minutes, and the listing also offers a 15-minute walk up.11

  3. Upper station

    Keeper's Trail

    The Lighthouse Keeper's Trail is about 2 km, 1 hour return, and easy.1

  4. Cape of Good Hope

    Boardwalk trail

    The trail is about 3.5 km, 2 to 3 hours return, to the sign.2

  5. Dias Beach

    Stairs and a pause

    The beach lies down a steep wooden staircase, and swimming is discouraged.3,4

  6. Before closing

    Drive out

    Vehicles leaving after closing time are fined.12

Olifantsbos and the shipwreck route

The reserve's own visitor page describes a shipwreck trail that passes some of the 26 wrecks on record around Cape Point.44 From Olifantsbos Point, on the Atlantic side of the peninsula, visitors look toward where the Lusitania hit Bellows Rock in 1911.27 A stone cairn in the fynbos shows the way down to the beach.20

For a longer walk, the operator describes the Kleinkommetjie Ridge route to the remains of the steam trawler Phyllisia. It puts the walk at 1.5 hours in each direction.5 The lower hiking trail takes about 20 minutes longer.21 That makes it a long outing, so it suits a self-drive visit better than a guided day.

The Cape Point operator says the Cape coast is strewn with the remains of many wrecks, and some can still be seen around Cape Point.45 The wrecks are a good reason to walk slowly, since the shore is as interesting as the view out to sea.

Video

Cape Point lighthouse and the Lighthouse Keeper's Trail

Inspired Living with Joao de Gois on YouTube · Your tap on play is what loads the video.

Hike along a wide variety of scenic and overnight trails through natural fynbos and along sandy beaches.
Cape Point (concession operator of the Cape Point facilities, capepoint.co.za)7

Before you walk

Trail checklist for the Cape

Check first4

  • Gate hours: 6:00am to 6:00pm from October to March6
  • Trail conditions before setting out37
  • Phone signal can be patchy38
  • Return transport arranged in advance

Wear and carry4

  • Decent shoes for boardwalk and fynbos39
  • Sun protection, water and a jacket40
  • Water for the climb back from Dias Beach3
  • Binoculars for birds and whales

On the path4

  • Stay on the designated boardwalks41
  • Leave shells and stones where they lie42
  • Keep belongings close at Dias Beach43
  • Braais only in designated areas23

Buffels Bay, Bordjiesrif and the False Bay walks

On the False Bay side, Bordjiesrif and Buffels Bay have tidal pools, swimming spots, picnic sites and walks.22 Cape Town Tourism recommends them for a more family-friendly beach experience than Dias Beach, and mentions the odd ostrich ambling past.46 Fires are limited to designated braai areas, among them those beaches.23

The easy walks around the bays suit a rest day or a late afternoon. They keep you close to the car, to toilets and to the picnic lawns, and they leave the long boardwalk for another day.

The site tour does not list these bays among its stops, so they belong to a self-drive visit or a private day with a flexible route. Cape Town Tourism's day guide advises comfortable walking shoes, sun protection, water and a jacket, which is the right kit for any of the False Bay paths.40

Path rules, gate hours and what to wear

Cape Town Tourism asks walkers to wear decent shoes, follow trail signs and tread lightly, because fynbos is fragile.39 The operator asks visitors to stick to the designated boardwalks, because walking off-trail causes severe soil erosion.41 Visitors are also asked not to collect shells or stones.42

Check trail conditions before setting out, and expect patchy phone reception.37,38 The gate typically opens at sunrise and shuts at sunset, with fines for vehicles that leave late.12 From October to March the gate is open 6:00am to 6:00pm, and from April to September 7:00am to 5:00pm.6,47

A last point is the path itself. The Cape of Good Hope trail follows a boardwalk, the Lighthouse Keeper's Trail is rated easy, and the staircase to Dias Beach is steep.19,1,3 None of them needs equipment, but each rewards a hat, water and a layer for the wind, and the walk back is where you will be glad of them.

FAQ

Quick questions get quick answers.

How long is the Lighthouse Keeper's Trail?
About 2 km, 1 hour return.

It starts just behind the upper funicular station, leads to the new lighthouse and is rated easy.1,13

How long is the Cape of Good Hope trail?
About 3.5 km, 2 to 3 hours return.

The operator rates it easy and says it follows a marked boardwalk to the sign.2,19

Can you swim at Dias Beach?
It is discouraged.

The currents can be quite dangerous, and the beach lies down a steep wooden staircase.4,3

How far is the walk to the Phyllisia wreck?
1.5 hours each way.

That is the Kleinkommetjie Ridge route, and the lower trail takes about 20 minutes longer.5,21

Is the walk up to the lighthouse hard?
The listing says 15 minutes.

The site's tour listing offers a 15-minute walk up as the choice to the funicular ticket.

What are the gate hours?
6:00am to 6:00pm in summer.

From October to March the gate is open 6:00am to 6:00pm and from April to September 7:00am to 5:00pm.6,47

Where can you picnic with a braai?
Only in designated areas.

Fires are limited to designated braai areas, among them Buffels Bay and Bordjiesrif.23

What should you wear on the trails?
Decent shoes and a jacket.

Cape Town Tourism advises comfortable walking shoes, sun protection, water and a jacket.40

Sources

  1. Cape Point (concession operator of the Cape Point facilities, capepoint.co.za) · Best short walks and hikes around Cape Point ↩
  2. Cape Point (concession operator of the Cape Point facilities, capepoint.co.za) · Best short walks and hikes around Cape Point ↩
  3. Cape Town Tourism (the city of Cape Town's official Regional Tourism Organisation, capetown.travel) · Here's What Not to Miss On Your Next Cape Point Visit ↩
  4. Cape Town Tourism (the city of Cape Town's official Regional Tourism Organisation, capetown.travel) · Here's What Not to Miss On Your Next Cape Point Visit ↩
  5. Cape Point (concession operator of the Cape Point facilities, capepoint.co.za) · Visitors Info ↩
  6. Cape Point (concession operator of the Cape Point facilities, capepoint.co.za) · Visitor's Info ↩
  7. Cape Point (concession operator of the Cape Point facilities, capepoint.co.za) · Visitors Info ↩
  8. Cape Town Tourism (the city of Cape Town's official Regional Tourism Organisation, capetown.travel) · Here's What Not to Miss On Your Next Cape Point Visit ↩
  9. Cape Town Tourism (the city of Cape Town's official Regional Tourism Organisation, capetown.travel) · How to Spend a Day at Cape Point ↩
  10. South African Tourism (southafrica.net) · Paradise for nature lovers: Cape Point Nature Reserve ↩
  11. Cape Point (concession operator of the Cape Point facilities, capepoint.co.za) · About ↩
  12. Cape Point (concession operator of the Cape Point facilities, capepoint.co.za) · Visitor's Info ↩
  13. Cape Point (concession operator of the Cape Point facilities, capepoint.co.za) · Best short walks and hikes around Cape Point ↩
  14. Cape Town Big 6 (official collective of the Cape Town attractions, ctbig6.co.za) · Things to do at Cape Point ↩
  15. Cape Point (concession operator of the Cape Point facilities, capepoint.co.za) · About ↩
  16. Cape Point (concession operator of the Cape Point facilities, capepoint.co.za) · About ↩
  17. Cape Point (concession operator of the Cape Point facilities, capepoint.co.za) · About ↩
  18. Cape Town Big 6 (official collective of the Cape Town attractions, ctbig6.co.za) · Things to do at Cape Point ↩
  19. Cape Point (concession operator of the Cape Point facilities, capepoint.co.za) · Best short walks and hikes around Cape Point ↩
  20. Cape Point (concession operator of the Cape Point facilities, capepoint.co.za) · Visitors Info ↩
  21. Cape Point (concession operator of the Cape Point facilities, capepoint.co.za) · Visitors Info ↩
  22. Cape Point (concession operator of the Cape Point facilities, capepoint.co.za) · Visitors Info ↩
  23. Cape Town Tourism (the city of Cape Town's official Regional Tourism Organisation, capetown.travel) · How to Spend a Day at Cape Point ↩
  24. Cape Point (concession operator of the Cape Point facilities, capepoint.co.za) · Best short walks and hikes around Cape Point ↩
  25. Cape Town Big 6 (official collective of the Cape Town attractions, ctbig6.co.za) · Things to do at Cape Point ↩
  26. South African Tourism (southafrica.net) · Paradise for nature lovers: Cape Point Nature Reserve ↩
  27. Cape Point (concession operator of the Cape Point facilities, capepoint.co.za) · Visitors Info ↩
  28. Chapman's Peak Drive (the toll road operator's own site, chapmanspeakdrive.co.za) · Chapman's Peak Drive
  29. Chapman's Peak Drive (the toll road operator's own site, chapmanspeakdrive.co.za) · Surrounding Areas: Hout Bay
  30. Chapman's Peak Drive (the toll road operator's own site, chapmanspeakdrive.co.za) · Surrounding Areas: Noordhoek
  31. Cape Point (concession operator of the Cape Point facilities, capepoint.co.za) · Visitors Info
  32. Cape Point (concession operator of the Cape Point facilities, capepoint.co.za) · Visitor's Info
  33. Cape Town Tourism (the city of Cape Town's official Regional Tourism Organisation, capetown.travel) · Your Neighbourhood Guide to Simon's Town
  34. Cape Town Tourism (the city of Cape Town's official Regional Tourism Organisation, capetown.travel) · Meet The Penguins At Boulders Beach
  35. Wesgro (Western Cape tourism, trade and investment promotion agency) · Cape Point
  36. South African Tourism (southafrica.net) · Table Mountain Marine Protected Area: where mighty currents mingle
  37. Cape Town Tourism (the city of Cape Town's official Regional Tourism Organisation, capetown.travel) · How to Spend a Day at Cape Point ↩
  38. Cape Town Tourism (the city of Cape Town's official Regional Tourism Organisation, capetown.travel) · How to Spend a Day at Cape Point ↩
  39. Cape Town Tourism (the city of Cape Town's official Regional Tourism Organisation, capetown.travel) · Here's What Not to Miss On Your Next Cape Point Visit ↩
  40. Cape Town Tourism (the city of Cape Town's official Regional Tourism Organisation, capetown.travel) · How to Spend a Day at Cape Point ↩
  41. Cape Point (concession operator of the Cape Point facilities, capepoint.co.za) · Is Cape Point where the two oceans meet? ↩
  42. Cape Town Tourism (the city of Cape Town's official Regional Tourism Organisation, capetown.travel) · Here's What Not to Miss On Your Next Cape Point Visit ↩
  43. Cape Town Tourism (the city of Cape Town's official Regional Tourism Organisation, capetown.travel) · Here's What Not to Miss On Your Next Cape Point Visit ↩
  44. Cape Point (concession operator of the Cape Point facilities, capepoint.co.za) · Visitors Info ↩
  45. Cape Point (concession operator of the Cape Point facilities, capepoint.co.za) · Visitors Info ↩
  46. Cape Town Tourism (the city of Cape Town's official Regional Tourism Organisation, capetown.travel) · Here's What Not to Miss On Your Next Cape Point Visit ↩
  47. Cape Point (concession operator of the Cape Point facilities, capepoint.co.za) · Visitor's Info ↩

Next read

More to read before you go

GuideCape of Good Hope or Cape PointGuideEntrance fee and what it coversGuideLighthouse and funicularGuideThe day trip from Cape Town

Before you leave

Keep a seat for the Cape.

Free cancellation holds up to 24 hours before the trip, and the booking panel shows open dates and today's price for the full day from Cape Town.

See what's open