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Cape Point and the Cape Peninsula: the Chapman's Peak loop

Summary

The Chapman's Peak loop to Cape Point crosses a 9km toll road with 114 curves, and a light vehicle pays R68.00 on the schedule dated 1 July 2024.

The road at a glance

It closes in high winds and heavy rain⁵
A Day Pass gives the first 3km free²²
Buses go from Hout Bay to Noordhoek only⁸

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 Cape Peninsula loop with Chapman's Peak Drive, Hout Bay, Noordhoek, Kommetjie, Fish Hoek, Simon's Town and Boulders Beach

The drive is a 9km route with 114 curves.
Google Maps
Hout Bay has one of the most active fishing harbours in South Africa.
Google Maps
Horse-riding on Noordhoek Beach is one of the most popular activities there.
Google Maps
The Atlantic route follows the coast through Kommetjie on its way to the reserve.
Google Maps
The False Bay route follows the M3 to Claremont, then Muizenberg, Fish Hoek and Simon's Town.
Google Maps
Simon's Town is 35 km from Cape Town.
Google Maps
The Boulders colony is estimated at 2,000 to 3,000 birds.
Google Maps

The classic way to Cape Point leaves Cape Town on the Atlantic coast, crosses Chapman's Peak and returns along False Bay. Here is the loop in order, with tolls, closures and stops.

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

Overview

The driveChapman's Peak Drive is a 9km toll road with 114 curves.¹^,²
TollA light vehicle pays R68.00 on the schedule dated 1 July 2024.³^,⁴
ClosuresThe road closes in high winds, heavy rain, for maintenance or rockfall clearing.⁵
DistanceCape Point is 60 km from Cape Town and Simon's Town is 35 km.⁶^,⁷
DirectionTour buses may only use the drive from Hout Bay to Noordhoek.⁸

The loop in one line: Atlantic out, False Bay home

The Cape Peninsula route splits by coast. You can drive down the Atlantic side and come back on the False Bay side. The Cape Point operator describes the Atlantic way from Cape Town through Sea Point, Camps Bay, Llandudno and Hout Bay, then Chapman's Peak Drive to Noordhoek.⁹ The False Bay way follows the M3 to Claremont, then Muizenberg, Fish Hoek and Simon's Town.¹⁰

Cape Town Tourism's penguin page gives a matching leg for reaching Boulders Beach: start at Camps Bay, pass through Hout Bay, cross Chapman's Peak Drive and carry on beyond Noordhoek and Kommetjie.¹¹ Wesgro puts Cape Point just 60 km from Cape Town, a distance you can feel on the day.⁶ The tour this site sells uses both halves of the peninsula, with Hout Bay, Chapman's Peak, the reserve, Boulders, Simon's Town and Muizenberg all on its stop list.

That structure is useful for planning. A day tour does the whole loop in one direction and returns you to your hotel, while a self-drive day lets you choose either coast twice. Whichever you pick, put the Atlantic coast in the morning when you are fresh and have the most patience for photo stops, and keep the False Bay road for the end of the day, when a harbour lunch and a penguin colony are easier to enjoy.

Paying for the road

Chapman's Peak toll at a glance

Vehicle or pass	What it costs	Where it applies
Light vehicle	R68.00 once-off³	Each direction²⁰
Motorcycle	R45.00 once-off²¹	Each direction²⁰
Day Pass	Free use of the first 3km²²	From the Hout Bay side, daylight only²²
Tour bus	Class-based tariff	One direction, Hout Bay to Noordhoek⁸

The schedule dated 1 July 2024 notes annual inflationary increases, so these are the operator's published figures and not a quote for today.⁴

Hout Bay and the climb to Chapman's Peak

The drive begins at the fishing harbour of Hout Bay, climbs steeply to Chapman's Point and drops to Noordhoek.¹³ The operator describes the road as 9km long with 114 curves, hugging the rocky coastline with views in both directions.¹ It skirts Chapman's Peak, a 593m peak at the southern end of the Constantia Berg.¹⁴

Hout Bay is worth a few minutes on its own. The operator's area page counts its fishing harbour among the most active in South Africa and credits the town with some 40 restaurants, plus antique and art shops, weekend markets and places to stay.¹⁵^,¹⁶ The tour's description adds the seals at Hout Bay Harbour to its stops, and the record lists an optional stop at Hout Bay Boatyard of 50 minutes.

There are numerous places to pull over and look at the view along the drive, and there are three major picnic areas with more than 60 picnic tables and benches.¹⁷^,¹⁸ If you are driving yourself, use the lay-bys for photographs rather than stopping on the bend. The listing gives its Chapman's Peak Drive stop 20 minutes.

Lengths and distances

Roads and distances on the loop, in kilometers

Boyes Drive7
Chapman's Peak9
Simon's Town35
Cape Point60

Boyes Drive is 7km and Chapman's Peak Drive 9km long, while Simon's Town and Cape Point are 35 km and 60 km from Cape Town.¹⁹^,¹^,⁷^,⁶

Toll, day pass and when the road shuts

Chapman's Peak Drive is operated as a toll road.² The standard schedule on the operator's site runs from 1 July 2024 and notes annual inflationary increases, so treat any figure as a starting point and check the current tariff before you drive.⁴ On that schedule a light vehicle pays R68.00 once-off and a motorcycle R45.00, and the tariff applies in each direction.³^,²¹^,²⁰

A Day Pass from the Hout Bay side gives free use of the first 3km of the drive, in daylight hours only.²² That suits a short out-and-back for the views without paying for the full crossing. If you are going on to Cape Point, though, you will want the whole road, and the toll is part of the day's cost along with the reserve gate.

The road is also closed from time to time for safety. The operator says this is typically in high winds, heavy or continuous rain, for maintenance or to clear rocks from the catch fences.⁵ On a day with a strong forecast, have the False Bay road ready as the plan B, and look at the road status on the operator's site before you leave the city, because a closed boom costs far more time than a toll.

Match your day

Which way round fits you?

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

If I want the famous cliff road
Cross Chapman's Peak
The 9km drive has 114 curves and numerous places to pull over.¹^,¹⁷
If I want to avoid a toll
Take the False Bay road
The False Bay route follows the M3 to Claremont, Muizenberg and Fish Hoek.¹⁰
If The forecast shows strong wind
Plan the bay road
The drive closes in high winds or heavy rain.⁵
If I want penguins on the way home
Finish on False Bay
The Simon's Town road passes Boulders Beach on the way to Cape Point.²³
If I want only a taste of the road
Use the Day Pass
It gives free use of the first 3km from the Hout Bay side.²²

Ways around the loop

Direction and toll on each loop

Both coasts

Atlantic out, bay home

The classic circuit

OutHout Bay, Chapman's Peak, Noordhoek⁹
BackFish Hoek and Simon's Town¹⁰
TollChapman's Peak Drive²

See the day tour

Toll twice

Atlantic both ways

Same road twice

RouteHout Bay, Chapman's Peak, Noordhoek⁹
TollApplies in each direction²⁰
SkipsFish Hoek and Simon's Town¹⁰

See the day tour

No toll

False Bay both ways

Along the M3 and coast

RouteM3, Muizenberg, Fish Hoek¹⁰
ReachesSimon's Town, 35 km out⁷
SkipsHout Bay and Noordhoek⁹

See the day tour

Noordhoek, Kommetjie and the road to the reserve gate

Noordhoek sits at the southern end of the drive and is 25 minutes south of Cape Town, according to the operator.³⁷ Riding horses on Noordhoek Beach ranks among the town's favorite pastimes, and the operator notes that vineyards and vegetable farming are coming back to the valley.³⁰^,³⁸ It is a natural place for a coffee before the long, quiet stretch toward the reserve, and from here Hout Bay to Cape Point is one continuous coastal run.

After Noordhoek the Atlantic road continues past Kommetjie and the Cape Point operator lists the coast road through Kommetjie, Soetwater, Witsand, Misty Cliffs and Scarborough.³¹ The route then runs inland for a few kilometres, and the park entrance is on the right.³⁹ Allow for slow traffic through the villages, and for the reserve's own speed limit of 60 km/h once you are inside the gate.⁴⁰

From the gate to the car park at Cape Point takes 10 to 15 minutes by the operator's figure.¹² Add the time for the ticket queue, the gate hours that follow the daylight and the walk from the car park, and an early start from Cape Town makes the loop comfortable. The tour's listing gives 30 minutes at the Cape of Good Hope and 45 minutes at the new lighthouse.

Price the loop

What the peninsula day costs your group

Type your party size and compare four ways to do the loop

Choose from 4 options

What the peninsula day costs your group

Type your party size and compare four ways to do the loop

2 people

Full-day group tourOur own pick · per individual from $44
≈
View
Half-day group tourShorter loop · per individual from $40
≈
View
Day tour with pickupHout Bay 1 hour · per individual from $51
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View
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.

The day in order

From Hout Bay to Muizenberg, stop by stop

Hout Bay
Harbour and seals
The listing names the seals at Hout Bay Harbour and an optional boatyard stop of 50 minutes.
20 minutes
Chapman's Peak Drive
The record gives the toll road stop 20 minutes of photo and scenic time.
30 minutes
Cape of Good Hope
The record lists 30 minutes at the Cape of Good Hope, 10 to 15 minutes' drive inside the gate.¹²
45 minutes
New lighthouse
The new Cape Point lighthouse stop is listed at 45 minutes.
1 hour
Boulders colony
The Boulders penguin colony is listed at 1 hour, then Simon's Town takes 75 minutes.
25 minutes
Muizenberg Beach
The way back includes Muizenberg Beach for 25 minutes and a look at the shark spotters.

Back along False Bay: Fish Hoek, Simon's Town and Muizenberg

Coming home on the False Bay side, the route passes Fish Hoek and reaches Simon's Town, which Cape Town Tourism places 35 km from Cape Town.¹⁰^,⁷ Its guide to the town lists a free naval museum and a bronze statue of the dog Just Nuisance on Jubilee Square, and the tour's record gives Simon's Town 75 minutes for lunch and a walk.⁴¹^,⁴²

The Boulders penguin colony is close to Simon's Town, and the tour's record gives it 1 hour. Cape Town Tourism describes the Simon's Town to Cape Point road as passing the penguins at Boulders Beach before the quiet, untouched coastline to the promontory.²³ That makes the False Bay road a good place to be flexible, since there is more to see than a single stop can hold.

Farther along, Boyes Drive is a 7km drive from Lakeside, Muizenberg and St James through to Kalk Bay, and the False Bay Shark Spotters are based there.¹⁹^,⁴³ In the whale season the train from Muizenberg to Simon's Town can give a close view of whales, which is a useful backup if you prefer the rails to the road.⁴⁴ The tour's description puts a stop at Muizenberg Beach for the shark spotters on the way back, and the record gives it 25 minutes.

Video

Driving Chapman's Peak Drive in South Africa

Alt Living with Steve and Naz on YouTube · Your tap on play is what loads the video.

Initially constructed during the First World War, this 9km route with its 114 curves skirts Chapman's Peak.

Chapman's Peak Drive (the toll road operator's own site, chapmanspeakdrive.co.za)¹

Before you set out

Checklist for the peninsula loop

Check first4

Whether the toll road is open in today's wind and rain⁵
The current tariff on the operator's site⁴
Direction rules for buses and long vehicles⁸
Gate hours for the reserve follow daylight³⁴

On the road4

Use lay-bys for photographs¹⁷
Cyclists under 12 need an adult³⁵
No walking between Lookout Point and Noordhoek Corner³⁶
Picnic at one of the three major areas¹⁸

Walkers, cyclists and big vehicles on the drive

Chapman's Peak Drive has rules for each kind of user. Buses and other long vehicles may use the road in a single direction only, from Hout Bay toward Noordhoek.⁸ The tour listing describes an air-conditioned vehicle and does not say which vehicle class it is, so a guest who cares about the direction should ask the operator.

Cyclists under the age of 12 must be accompanied by an adult.³⁵ Pedestrians may never walk the stretch between Lookout Point and Noordhoek Corner.³⁶ Any animal on the road must be on a leash, so a walker should read the full terms of entry on the operator's site before setting out.⁴⁵

For a traveller without a car, the loop works as a tour, a private driver or a rental. The operator also notes that the drive saves a commuter up to 20 minutes in peak traffic.⁴⁶ That is a local fact, but it hints at the road's role: it is a working link between Cape Town and the South Peninsula as well as a viewpoint, so expect local traffic around the morning and evening peaks.

How the road came to be

Chapman's Peak is named after John Chapman, the mate of the English ship Consent.⁴⁷ The road that now carries his name opened to traffic on Saturday 6 May 1922, linking Hout Bay and Noordhoek.⁴⁸ It took seven years to complete.⁴⁹

Construction from the Hout Bay end used convict labour supplied by the Union Government.⁵⁰ The operator's history page says the route along the vertical sea cliffs was chosen over the route across the low saddle between the peaks.⁵¹ Surveyors had to work on all fours on the perpendicular terrain.⁵²

That history is worth carrying in your head when you drive it. The road was cut into cliffs and ravines that the operator describes as steep, rotten and unstable.⁵³ On a clear day the view repays the effort, and on a closed day the story at least puts the boom in context. The 1922 opening date, the seven years of building and the convict labour all sit in the records on the operator's site.⁴⁸^,⁴⁹^,⁵⁰

FAQ

Quick questions get quick answers.

How long is Chapman's Peak Drive?

9km with 114 curves.

The route runs between Hout Bay and Noordhoek and skirts a 593m peak.¹^,¹⁴

How much is the Chapman's Peak toll?

R68.00 for a light vehicle.

That is the once-off tariff on the schedule dated 1 July 2024, applied in each direction, with annual increases.³^,²⁰^,⁴

Is there a free way to try the drive?

Yes, a Day Pass.

From the Hout Bay side it gives free use of the first 3km, in daylight hours only.²²

When is Chapman's Peak Drive closed?

In high winds or heavy rain.

It also closes for maintenance and to clear rocks from the catch fences.⁵

Can tour buses drive it both ways?

No, only Hout Bay to Noordhoek.

Tour buses and long vehicles may only travel in one direction.⁸

How far is Cape Point from Cape Town?

Just 60 km.

Cape Point is just 60 km from Cape Town, and Simon's Town is 35 km.⁶^,⁷

Is it a good idea to do the loop in one day?

Yes, as a full day.

The site's tour lists Hout Bay, Chapman's Peak, the reserve, Boulders, Simon's Town and Muizenberg across a 10-hour day.

What can you see at Hout Bay?

Seals and a working harbour.

The tour's description lists the seals at Hout Bay Harbour, and the area has one of the most active fishing harbours in the country.¹⁵

Sources

Chapman's Peak Drive (the toll road operator's own site, chapmanspeakdrive.co.za) · Chapman's Peak Drive ↩
Chapman's Peak Drive (the toll road operator's own site, chapmanspeakdrive.co.za) · Chapman's Peak Drive ↩
Chapman's Peak Drive (the toll road operator's own site, chapmanspeakdrive.co.za) · Standard Tariffs ↩
Chapman's Peak Drive (the toll road operator's own site, chapmanspeakdrive.co.za) · Standard Tariffs ↩
Chapman's Peak Drive (the toll road operator's own site, chapmanspeakdrive.co.za) · Terms of entry ↩
Wesgro (Western Cape tourism, trade and investment promotion agency) · Cape Point ↩
Cape Town Tourism (the city of Cape Town's official Regional Tourism Organisation, capetown.travel) · Your Neighbourhood Guide to Simon's Town ↩
Chapman's Peak Drive (the toll road operator's own site, chapmanspeakdrive.co.za) · Chapman's Peak Drive ↩
Cape Point (concession operator of the Cape Point facilities, capepoint.co.za) · Visitor's Info ↩
Cape Point (concession operator of the Cape Point facilities, capepoint.co.za) · Visitor's Info ↩
Cape Town Tourism (the city of Cape Town's official Regional Tourism Organisation, capetown.travel) · Meet The Penguins At Boulders Beach ↩
Cape Point (concession operator of the Cape Point facilities, capepoint.co.za) · Visitor's Info ↩
Chapman's Peak Drive (the toll road operator's own site, chapmanspeakdrive.co.za) · Chapman's Peak Drive ↩
Chapman's Peak Drive (the toll road operator's own site, chapmanspeakdrive.co.za) · Chapman's Peak Drive ↩
Chapman's Peak Drive (the toll road operator's own site, chapmanspeakdrive.co.za) · Surrounding Areas: Hout Bay ↩
Chapman's Peak Drive (the toll road operator's own site, chapmanspeakdrive.co.za) · Surrounding Areas: Hout Bay ↩
Chapman's Peak Drive (the toll road operator's own site, chapmanspeakdrive.co.za) · Chapman's Peak Drive ↩
Chapman's Peak Drive (the toll road operator's own site, chapmanspeakdrive.co.za) · Chapman's Peak Drive ↩
Cape Town Tourism (the city of Cape Town's official Regional Tourism Organisation, capetown.travel) · Your Guide to the Best Scenic Drives in Cape Town ↩
Chapman's Peak Drive (the toll road operator's own site, chapmanspeakdrive.co.za) · Standard Tariffs ↩
Chapman's Peak Drive (the toll road operator's own site, chapmanspeakdrive.co.za) · Standard Tariffs ↩
Chapman's Peak Drive (the toll road operator's own site, chapmanspeakdrive.co.za) · Chapman's Peak Drive ↩
Cape Town Tourism (the city of Cape Town's official Regional Tourism Organisation, capetown.travel) · Your Guide to the Best Scenic Drives in Cape Town ↩
Cape Town Big 6 (official collective of the Cape Town attractions, ctbig6.co.za) · Things to do at Cape Point
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
Cape Point (concession operator of the Cape Point facilities, capepoint.co.za) · About
Cape Point (concession operator of the Cape Point facilities, capepoint.co.za) · Best short walks and hikes around Cape Point
Cape Point (concession operator of the Cape Point facilities, capepoint.co.za) · Visitors Info
Cape Point (concession operator of the Cape Point facilities, capepoint.co.za) · Visitors Info
Chapman's Peak Drive (the toll road operator's own site, chapmanspeakdrive.co.za) · Surrounding Areas: Noordhoek ↩
Cape Point (concession operator of the Cape Point facilities, capepoint.co.za) · Visitors Info ↩
Cape Town Tourism (the city of Cape Town's official Regional Tourism Organisation, capetown.travel) · Meet The Penguins At Boulders Beach
South African Tourism (southafrica.net) · Table Mountain Marine Protected Area: where mighty currents mingle
Cape Point (concession operator of the Cape Point facilities, capepoint.co.za) · Visitor's Info ↩
Chapman's Peak Drive (the toll road operator's own site, chapmanspeakdrive.co.za) · Terms of entry ↩
Chapman's Peak Drive (the toll road operator's own site, chapmanspeakdrive.co.za) · Terms of entry ↩
Chapman's Peak Drive (the toll road operator's own site, chapmanspeakdrive.co.za) · Surrounding Areas: Noordhoek ↩
Chapman's Peak Drive (the toll road operator's own site, chapmanspeakdrive.co.za) · Surrounding Areas: Noordhoek ↩
Cape Point (concession operator of the Cape Point facilities, capepoint.co.za) · Visitors Info ↩
Cape Point (concession operator of the Cape Point facilities, capepoint.co.za) · Visitor's Info ↩
Cape Town Tourism (the city of Cape Town's official Regional Tourism Organisation, capetown.travel) · Your Neighbourhood Guide to Simon's Town ↩
Cape Town Tourism (the city of Cape Town's official Regional Tourism Organisation, capetown.travel) · Your Neighbourhood Guide to Simon's Town ↩
Cape Town Tourism (the city of Cape Town's official Regional Tourism Organisation, capetown.travel) · Your Guide to the Best Scenic Drives in Cape Town ↩
Cape Town Tourism (the city of Cape Town's official Regional Tourism Organisation, capetown.travel) · Whale Watching in Cape Town ↩
Chapman's Peak Drive (the toll road operator's own site, chapmanspeakdrive.co.za) · Terms of entry ↩
Chapman's Peak Drive (the toll road operator's own site, chapmanspeakdrive.co.za) · Chapman's Peak Drive ↩
Chapman's Peak Drive (the toll road operator's own site, chapmanspeakdrive.co.za) · History of Chapman's Peak Drive ↩
Chapman's Peak Drive (the toll road operator's own site, chapmanspeakdrive.co.za) · History of Chapman's Peak Drive ↩
Chapman's Peak Drive (the toll road operator's own site, chapmanspeakdrive.co.za) · History of Chapman's Peak Drive ↩
Chapman's Peak Drive (the toll road operator's own site, chapmanspeakdrive.co.za) · History of Chapman's Peak Drive ↩
Chapman's Peak Drive (the toll road operator's own site, chapmanspeakdrive.co.za) · History of Chapman's Peak Drive ↩
Chapman's Peak Drive (the toll road operator's own site, chapmanspeakdrive.co.za) · History of Chapman's Peak Drive ↩
Chapman's Peak Drive (the toll road operator's own site, chapmanspeakdrive.co.za) · History of Chapman's Peak Drive ↩

Next read

Cape Point and the Cape Peninsula: the Chapman's Peak loop

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

The loop in one line: Atlantic out, False Bay home

Chapman's Peak toll at a glance

Hout Bay and the climb to Chapman's Peak

Roads and distances on the loop, in kilometers

Toll, day pass and when the road shuts

Which way round fits you?

Direction and toll on each loop

Atlantic out, bay home

Atlantic both ways

False Bay both ways

Noordhoek, Kommetjie and the road to the reserve gate

What the peninsula day costs your group

What the peninsula day costs your group

From Hout Bay to Muizenberg, stop by stop

Harbour and seals

Chapman's Peak Drive

Cape of Good Hope

New lighthouse

Boulders colony

Muizenberg Beach

Back along False Bay: Fish Hoek, Simon's Town and Muizenberg

Driving Chapman's Peak Drive in South Africa

Checklist for the peninsula loop

Check first4

On the road4

Walkers, cyclists and big vehicles on the drive

How the road came to be

Quick questions get quick answers.

More to read before you go

Keep a seat for the Cape.