Getting Around The City Centre: MyCiti Bus Guide

Getting around Cape Town doesn’t have to mean renting a car or calling an Uber. The city’s MyCiTi bus service is one of the easiest, safest, and most affordable ways to explore, whether you’re commuting to work, heading to the beach, or sightseeing around the City Centre.

Clean, reliable, and air-conditioned, MyCiTi buses connect most of Cape Town’s major attractions and suburbs, including the airport, Table View, Sea Point, the Waterfront, and Hout Bay.

How the MyCiTi Bus Works

The MyCiTi bus operates on a tap-in, tap-out system. To use it, you’ll need a MyCiTi card, which you can buy at any of the main terminals around the city including the large one on Adderley Street, right across from Cape Town Station.

Once you have your card, you’ll need to load money (called myconnect credit) onto it before you can travel. You can top up:

• At MyCiTi kiosks and vending machines,
• At selected ATMs and retailers,
• You can use the MyCiTi App to locate all participating top-up points.

💡 Tip: The MyCiTi App is free to download and helps you check routes, schedules, fares, and balance on your card all in one place.

How to Board the Bus

When you arrive at a station or stop:

1. Tap your MyCiTi card at the reader to enter the terminal.
2. Wait on the platform for your bus — electronic boards display route numbers and arrival times.
3. Tap your card again on the bus when you exit at your destination.

Fares are automatically calculated based on the distance travelled, so make sure you always tap off before leaving — otherwise, you’ll be charged a penalty fare.

Why Use MyCiTi?

The MyCiTi network is designed to make public transport in Cape Town easy for both locals and visitors.

• Safe & Secure: CCTV cameras, station attendants, and clear signage keep the system running smoothly.
• Affordable: You pay only for the distance you travel, often less than half the cost of driving or using ride-hailing services.
• Eco-friendly: Using public transport helps reduce congestion and carbon emissions across the city.
• Convenient Routes: The system links major destinations  including the Airport (A01 route), V&A Waterfront, Civic Centre, Gardens, and Table View.

Final Tip

If you’re exploring Cape Town without a car, start with the MyCiTi. It’s efficient, budget-friendly, and gives you a glimpse of local life that you won’t get from the back seat of an Uber. Once you’ve mastered the routes, you’ll find that MyCiTi connects almost everywhere you want to go — from the airport to Table Mountain, all for a fraction of the price of a tourist bus.

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