The Cape Wheel – Is It Worth It?

Last Updated on September 5, 2024 by Hannah Stephenson

You’ve heard of the London Eye, but now it’s time for… the Cape Wheel! 

Okay, so the Cape Wheel is nowhere near as big as the London Eye, but the views are pretty sweet and taking a ride is a quick and fun thing to do. Plus, it’s super easy and it doesn’t tend to get very busy, so you don’t have to wait in line for ages. 

But is it worth it, or is this a Cape Town activity to skip?

Where is the Cape Wheel?

The Cape Wheel is at the V&A Waterfront, out the front of the Victoria Wharf Mall. It’s pretty hard to miss! 

There’s plenty of parking nearby, and it’s within walking distance of other attractions like the Oranjezicht Market, the Aquarium, and many affordable restaurants.

How tall is the Cape Wheel?

The Cape Wheel is 40 metres (131 feet) tall, and has 30 different pods. So it’s not as big as some world-famous ferris wheels, but it’s definitely tall enough to offer some wonderful views. 

What do you see from the Cape Wheel?

Lots! You get a birds-eye view of the Waterfront, with Table Mountain towering over it all in the background. I also loved the views of Green Point stadium, and being able to look out over the ocean. In fact, we saw tons of seals swimming around, which was really cool! 

How long does the ride last?

Only about 12 minutes, so it’s not super long. We got to go around four times during that time, so we felt like we saw quite a lot, but it did go by pretty quickly. 

How much does it cost?

It costs R250 for foreigners if you pay on the day, and R175 for locals. I actually got my South African friends to buy my ticket for me so I paid the local rate!

However, foreigners can also save money by purchasing tickets through Get Your Guide. It only costs R235, and you can also reserve them and pay later if you like. 

Do I need to book tickets in advance?

No, we went during the summer and didn’t have to queue up! Buying your tickets on the day is fine, but as mentioned, you can save a little bit of money by purchasing them in advance through Get Your Guide.

Tickets aren’t timed, so you can redeem them at any point on your chosen date, and you only need to book the day before.

What’s the best time to go?

I went on the Cape Wheel at sunset and absolutely loved it! We bought our tickets from the kiosk on the day, went for drinks at the Waterfront, and then came back at sunset.

The Cape Wheel is open from 10 am until 10 pm every day during the summer, which is from September to April. Then, the open times during winter are:

• 11 am – 9 pm from Monday to Thursday 
• 10 am – 10 pm on Fridays and Saturdays 
• 10 am – 9 pm on Sundays 

Is it wheelchair friendly?

Yes, the Cape Wheel has two wheelchair friendly cabins. Only push wheelchairs are permitted though, as electronic wheelchairs are too big to fit into the pods. 

How many people can fit into a pod?

Officially, eight. The Cape Wheel doesn’t tend to get super busy, so usually it’s just you and your group in a pod, unless you have more than eight people. I do think that eight people in a pod would be a pretty tight squeeze, though.

Is it worth it?

I really enjoyed the experience and I did think that it was worth it, especially because we got such an amazing sunset. I would go again!

However, the ride is quite short and there are so many stunning viewpoints in Cape Town that I wouldn’t say it’s a must-do. Kloof Corner is at sunset is WAY better – and it’s free!

Basically, go on the Cape Wheel if you have time, but don’t sweat it too much.

Click here to book tickets for the Cape Wheel at a discounted rate! 

Thanks for reading my guide to the Cape Wheel! If you’d like to read more reviews of Cape Town activities, check out the following:

• Franschhoek Wine Tram Explorer – HONEST Review
• Paragliding in Cape Town – Is It Worth It?
• Seal Snorkelling in Cape Town: What You Need to Know