Coast ride
The train
Southern Line
- ReachesSimon's Town
- Hours, per guide4am to 7pm
- Last stretchOn foot or by ride
Group price calculator
Train to Boulders Beach: the rail route and its alternatives
Answer in brief
The train to Boulders Beach runs from Cape Town along False Bay to Simon's Town, and the penguin gate is a separate walk or ride from there.
Train essentials
Compare all 4 options
What a pickup day costs for your party
Pick the party size and see the from price of each tour that stops at Boulders.
- Our pickup day10 hours · per visitor from $51
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View - Penguins and Cape Point8 hours · per visitor from $37
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View - Half day, Cape Point5 hours · per visitor from $40
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View - Penguin half day5 hours · per visitor from $37
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View
All amounts are from-prices on GetYourGuide, converted at the ECB reference rate. Exact prices are shown at booking.
The railway runs along False Bay to Simon's Town, but Boulders is not a station. Here is what the official sources say about the line, the last stretch, and the other ways to reach the colony.
Editorial team, bouldersbeachpenguins.click · Updated November 7, 2026 · Allow 7 min
The essentials
- The lineA railway service runs from Cape Town along the False Bay coastline to Simon's Town.1
- Stops on the wayCape Town Tourism names Muizenberg and Kalk Bay as stops on the coast ride.2
- Service hoursCape Town Tourism says trains operate from 4am to 7pm.3
- Not at the doorBoulders sits in a residential area, so the station is not the gate.4
- Live informationThe City runs a 24/7 toll-free line on 0800 65 64 63 for Metrorail information.5
How the rail route reaches Simon's Town
The railway is the scenic way to go from Cape Town to Boulders Beach, and the park itself lists it. South African National Parks says a railway service runs from Cape Town along the False Bay coastline to Simon's Town.1 Cape Town Tourism describes the Southern Line as a train ride that departs from Cape Town Station and follows the False Bay coast, stopping at Muizenberg and Kalk Bay.2 Its travel guide adds Fish Hoek to the list of places the line serves.6
The same guide gives a reminder of how close the rails run to the water: the line ends at Simon's Town, if sand has not covered the tracks.7 That is a travel-guide aside rather than a timetable note, but it is a good picture of the ride. The ride follows the bay, and it ends in a town that Cape Town Tourism places 35km outside Cape Town.8
Boulders is the part people forget. The colony is not a railway station, and a train ticket takes you to Simon's Town, not to the penguin gate. The final stretch is a separate step on foot, by taxi or by ride-hailing app, so a train day needs a little more planning than a tour that drops you at the entrance.
Four ways side by side
Rail, road, taxi and tour compared
| Way | Reaches | What the sources say | Watch for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Train | Simon's Town | A railway runs along False Bay to the town1 | Trains run 4am to 7pm per the guide3 |
| Own car | The Boulders gate | The town is 35km outside the city8 | Parking is limited in summer9 |
| Taxi or app | The street to the gate | Apps are often more convenient than metered taxis10 | Minibus taxis are cash only11 |
| Pickup tour | Hotel pickup | Hotel pickup from 7:00 to 8:00 within 10 km | Lunch is not included |
The sources give no fare or journey time for the rail leg, so the table lists none; check current fares and the timetable before you travel.5
Hours, delays and how to check the service
Cape Town Tourism's travel guide says Metrorail trains operate from 4am to 7pm.3 That window matters for a penguin day in two ways. You need to be back at a station before the last service, and you need to leave time for the walk or ride between the gate and the platform. A late lunch in Simon's Town can turn into a missed train if you are not watching the clock.
Neither source gives a journey time or a timetable, so read the current timetable before you commit to a plan. The City of Cape Town publishes a 24/7 toll-free Transport Information Centre line, 0800 65 64 63, for current Metrorail information.5 Phone it, or ask your hotel to, on the morning you travel, because services can change and a printed guide cannot know.
If the line is not running on the day you choose, the plan does not collapse, it changes. The road along the bay reaches the same town, taxis and ride-hailing cover the same ground, and a pickup tour does not depend on the rails at all. A good train plan always carries a second option for the return, even if you never use it.
Time at the colony
Minutes at Boulders on four penguin days
- Cape Point half day25
- Our pickup day60
- Full day, 8 hours60
- Penguin half day120
Minutes at the penguin stop as each listing record lists it, not the whole trip.
From Simon's Town station to the penguin gate
The park describes Boulders as set in the midst of a residential area, one of the few sites where the endangered bird can be observed at close range.4 That points to a last stretch through streets with houses, not a car-free promenade. Check the route on a map before you set off, decide whether you want to walk it, and have the address of the gate saved on your phone in case a signal drops.
If you prefer a ride, Cape Town Tourism says ride-sharing apps like Uber are often more convenient than metered taxis.10 For minibus taxis it gives prices of R10 to R50 depending on destination and says they take cash only.11 Those figures describe the city's minibus taxis in general, not a fare to Boulders, so treat them as a sense of scale, not a quote for this trip.
At the gate the rules are the same whichever way you arrive. The Boulders gate is cash-free and accepts only debit and credit cards, so carry a card even if you spent your cash on the train.12 The gate keeps seasonal hours, with entry from 08:00 and exit at 17:00 from April to September, which sets the latest sensible time to arrive on a winter afternoon.13
A short chooser
Which way to Boulders suits you
Say what matters most about the day and see which route the facts support.
If I want the coast ride and have time
The train
A railway runs along False Bay to Simon's Town and stops at Muizenberg and Kalk Bay.1,2
If I want to link several stops my way
A hire car
Parking is limited in summer, so start early.9
If I do not want to plan the last stretch
A pickup tour
Our day picks up between 7:00 and 8:00 in the city.
If I only want the penguins
A penguin half day
One half-day listing gives the colony 2 hours in 5.
If I plan to arrive after dark
Not the train
Cape Town Tourism says trains operate from 4am to 7pm.3
Three ways to arrive
Train, car or a day tour
Own pace
Your own car
Self-drive
- Distance35km from the city
- ParkingLimited in summer
- GateCard only
No planning
Our pickup day
Penguins and Cape Point
- Fromfrom $52
- Whole day10 hours
- CancelFree to 24 hours
Driving yourself instead
A car removes the last-stretch problem, but it adds a parking one. The park says parking at Boulders is limited, so arrive early in the peak summer months.9 The town is 35km outside Cape Town according to Cape Town Tourism, so the drive is a morning job rather than a quick hop.8 If you hire a car for the day, add the cost of fuel and a possible parking hunt to the budget.
The gate fee is the same however you arrive. The park lists R245 for an international adult for the season that ended on 31 October 2026 (check the current table), with child and local rates below that, and our page on the entry fee goes through each row.15 Each person in the car pays their own rate at the gate, so a full car of adults adds up at the window, while the fuel and the parking search come on top.
A driver also has to think about the day as a loop. You arrive, park, walk the boardwalks, and then decide whether to continue to Simon's Town for lunch or onward towards the reserve. Because the gate closes at fixed hours, the order matters, and a late start in winter can cut the penguin visit shorter than you planned.
A train day on the Southern Line
From Cape Town Station to the colony
Morning
Check the service
The City runs a 24/7 line on 0800 65 64 63 for Metrorail information.5
Departure
Board at Cape Town Station
Cape Town Tourism describes the ride as leaving from Cape Town Station.2
Along the coast
Muizenberg and Kalk Bay
The Southern Line follows the False Bay coast with Muizenberg and Kalk Bay named.2
End of the line
Simon's Town
The railway runs on to Simon's Town, 35km outside Cape Town.1,8
Last stretch
Walk or ride to the gate
Boulders is in a residential area, so this leg is by street.4
Before dark
Be back for the last train
Cape Town Tourism says trains operate from 4am to 7pm.3
A pickup tour as the no-planning option
The day this site sells takes the transfer problem away. Its record lists a hotel pickup for guests within 10 km of the middle of Cape Town in a window from 7:00 to 8:00, and a stop of 1 hour at the Boulders Penguin Colony inside a day of 8 to 10 hours. The listing starts from $52, rated 4.6 from 4,137 reviews, with free cancellation up to 24 hours before. Lunch is not included and is bought at Simon's Town.
A shorter day exists for penguin-first travellers. One half-day listing runs 5 hours from $37 and gives the colony 2 hours. Another half day pairs Boulders at 25 minutes with Cape Point and runs 5 hours from $40. Cape Town Tourism also describes a hop-on tour that leaves the V&A Waterfront, runs along the Atlantic Seaboard and stops at Boulders Beach before the Cape Point reserve.16
The trade is time on the sand against effort. A train day can give you as long at the colony as you choose, within the gate hours, while a tour fixes the stop to the clock. The chart below shows the minutes each listing records at Boulders, which is the number that decides whether a tour feels generous or rushed.
Video
The coastal train from Cape Town to Simon's Town
BL Images on YouTube · Playback files load only once you tap play.
A railway service runs from Cape Town along the False Bay coastline to Simon's Town.
Before you set out
A checklist for the train route
The rail leg3
The last stretch3
Choosing between rail, road and tour
The best way to get to Boulders Beach from Cape Town depends on what you value. Pick the train if you enjoy the coast ride, have a flexible day and are happy to solve the last stretch yourself. It is the option the park itself lists, and it keeps the bay outside the window.1 Pick a car if you want to link Boulders with other stops on your own schedule and are happy to arrive early for a parking space.9
Pick a pickup tour if the day is short, if you are travelling with people who would rather not navigate, or if you want the penguins and Cape Point in one go. The record for our day lists Boulders at 1 hour, the Cape of Good Hope at 1 hour and the New Cape Point Lighthouse at 1 hour, with the van ride between them. Decide what matters most, then use the calculator to price it for your party.
Whatever you choose, do the small things the same way. Carry a card for the gate, check the hours for the month you travel, and look at the tide, because the park says beach space at Boulders depends on it and advises coming at low tide.12,13,14 The best plan is the one with a backup return built in, so that a delayed train or a full car park costs you minutes and not the whole afternoon at the water.
FAQ
Quick questions get quick answers.
Is there a train to the Boulders penguin colony?
Which stations does the Southern Line pass?
What hours do the trains run?
4am to 7pm, per the guide.
Cape Town Tourism says Metrorail trains operate from 4am to 7pm, so check the current timetable.3
Who can I call about train services?
The City's 24/7 line.
The City of Cape Town gives a toll-free Transport Information Centre number, 0800 65 64 63.5
How far is Simon's Town from Cape Town?
About 35km.
Cape Town Tourism places the town 35km outside Cape Town, on the False Bay side of the peninsula.8
Is it easy to park at Boulders?
Parking is limited.
The park says parking at Boulders is limited, so it asks visitors to arrive early in the peak summer months.9
Do I need cash at the gate?
No, bring a card.
The Cape Point and Boulders gates are cash-free and accept only debit and credit cards, so bring one.12
Can a tour pick me up at my hotel?
Yes, within 10 km of the centre.
Our day lists a pickup for hotels within 10 km of the centre, in a window from 7:00 to 8:00.
Sources
- South African National Parks (sanparks.org) · How To Get There, Table Mountain National Park ↩
- Cape Town Tourism (the city regional tourism organisation) · Getting Around Cape Town: Here's Your Complete Transport Guide ↩
- Cape Town Tourism (the city regional tourism organisation) · Travelling Around Cape Town ↩
- South African National Parks (sanparks.org) · Boulders Penguin Colony brochure ↩
- City of Cape Town (capetown.gov.za) · Metrorail ↩
- Cape Town Tourism (the city regional tourism organisation) · Travelling Around Cape Town ↩
- Cape Town Tourism (the city regional tourism organisation) · Getting Around Cape Town: Here's Your Complete Transport Guide ↩
- Cape Town Tourism (the city regional tourism organisation) · Fun Things to do in Simon's Town ↩
- South African National Parks (sanparks.org) · Boulders Penguin Colony ↩
- Cape Town Tourism (the city regional tourism organisation) · Getting Around Cape Town: Here's Your Complete Transport Guide ↩
- Cape Town Tourism (the city regional tourism organisation) · Travelling Around Cape Town ↩
- South African National Parks (sanparks.org) · Rates & Entry Fees, Table Mountain National Park ↩
- South African National Parks (sanparks.org) · Entrance Gates, Table Mountain National Park ↩
- South African National Parks (sanparks.org) · Boulders Penguin Colony ↩
- South African National Parks (sanparks.org) · Rates & Entry Fees, Table Mountain National Park ↩
- Cape Town Tourism (the city regional tourism organisation) · How to Spend a Day at Cape Point ↩
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