What to do on the red bus on a cold and rainy day in Cape Town

19 September 2018

Cape Town has been fortunate the past few months, with ample rainfall after the widespread draught the region has been experiencing. In fact, there have been so many rainy days that we’ve received a number of questions on social media asking if the red bus still operates during rainy weather.

The answer is yes, of course we do – every day is a perfect day to hop on the red bus! With our double-decker buses partly covered on the top level and completely covered and heated on the bottom level, you’ll be snug, warm and dry as you enjoy the beautiful drive through the Mother City.

Here are our top activities to enjoy with the red bus on a rainy day in Cape Town:

Enjoy lunch overlooking a moody ocean at Mariner’s Wharf

Wharfside Grill is a legendary seafood restaurant located at Mariner’s Wharf. While it is raining outside, enjoy the dramatic ocean views accompanied by some of the best fish and chips in Cape Town.

If you’re looking for a fun activity while there’s a break in rain, take a short walk down to the harbour and hop on a 40-minute cruise to see the nearby seal colony with Drumbeat Charters. Over weekends we also recommend a stop at the Hout Bay Harbour Market to browse artisanal crafts and tasty eats.

When you’re done exploring, simply hop back on the red bus at the Mariner’s Wharf stop and enjoy the picturesque coastal drive back to Cape Town.

Get lost in a magical underwater world at the Two Oceans Aquarium

See the creatures of the big blue sea while it’s cold and wet outside at the Two Oceans Aquarium. The aquarium is home to over 3 000 marine animals and seven large-scale exhibits, and you’ll be mesmerised by the colourful ocean displays.

See and interact with African penguins, or marvel at the size of the resident giant spider crabs – if you can tear your eyes away from the mesmerising Jelly Gallery or cold stares from the sharks in the Predator Exhibit.

The Two Oceans Aquarium is located right near the V&A Waterfront City Sightseeing ticket office. Simply hop on the red bus from here after your aquarium adventures.

Instead of whining about the weather, go wine tasting in Constantia!

When you buy an open-top red-bus ticket, you can hop on any of the City Sightseeing routes. This includes the City Tour to Table Mountain, the Mini Peninsula Tour and our Constantia Wine Bus.

While it may not be good for outdoor activities, a cold day is perfect for wine tasting. The Constantia Wine Bus stops at Groot Constantia, Beau Constantia, three exquisite wine estates. Why not make a day of it and hop off at all of them?

To catch the Constantia Wine Bus, hop on a Mini Peninsula Tour and hop off at Constantia Nek. The Constantia Wine Bus operates in a circular route from here.