Steam Train to Elgin Railway Market

Recommended by 94% of travelers

Badge of Excellence

Cape Town, South Africa

Great choice

5+ bookings last month.

10 hours (approx.)
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English

Why travelers loved this

4.7

· Rina_D ·

Jan 2026

It was fabulous, service excellent. Super organized, friendly and let us feel special. Train was super clean

· Wanda_H ·

Oct 2025

From beginning to end, everything was so very well organized. The staff members were accommodating, helpful, and conversational. The train ride itself was very clean, comfortable, and in a nice extensive ride, whereby I was able to appreciate various sceneries, as well as artistry and much more. It was well worth the money. The only complaint I have is I was not able to experience the steam train ride.

Overview

Take in beautiful views of the countryside and Table Mountain on a train ride from Cape Town to Elgin Railway Market. Escape the bustling city and reserve your ticket on the steam train ahead of time for peace of mind. Spend your time on the ride doing whatever you like.

Visit Elgin Railway Market from Cape Town on a comfortable train ride
Enjoy views of Table Mountain and from Sir Lowry's Pass in the morning and evening
Take panoramic photos of False Bay, Cape Town and Table Mountain
Try a variety of foods and see local crafts at the Elgin Railway Market

What's Included

Rail Ticket (return trip)
Restroom on board
All Fees and Taxes

Food, Drinks, and Coffee (available onboard at extra cost)
Transfers to/from Departure Point

Meeting and Pickup

Meeting point

Ceres Rail Company
Dockrail Rd, Foreshore, Cape Town, 8001, South Africa
The rail platform running alongside Dockrail Road is the meeting point.

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

Operating hours
.8:00 am

Itinerary

Table Mountain (Pass By)

Sir Lowry's Pass (Pass By)

Elgin Railway Market

2 hours • Admission Ticket Free

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Not wheelchair accessible
Stroller accessible
Service animals allowed

Near public transportation
Infants must sit on laps
Most travelers can participate
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 340 travelers

Supplied by

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

Traveler Photos

Gallery picture 1 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 2 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 3 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 4 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 5 (from a traveler's review)

Featured review

Ryan_R

We had a Great Time on the Steam Train!! What an amazing experience! My Son of 9yrs old thoroughly enjoyed the experience and he loves Trains!! Staff was very helpful and friendly! Would definitely recommend this experience to friends & family. Thank you to Ceres Rail Company for a Great Time and lots of memories!!

Reviews

4.7

based on 607 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

We perform checks on reviews

Magnificent vistas awe inspiring beauty

Barry_B, Feb 2026

Our experience was superb. The staff were courteous and very pleasant. The only drawback was this was not a steam train, but rather three diesel locomotives.

Fantastic

Rina_D, Jan 2026

It was fabulous, service excellent. Super organized, friendly and let us feel special. Train was super clean

A lot more enjoyable than...

Stephen_C, Nov 2025

A lot more enjoyable than expected. Very friendly, helpful and professional staff. Well stocked bar and food.

Train to Elgin Market

Christopher_V, Nov 2025

We joined the train in Cape Town and were allocated to our seats for the day. It was all aboard at 8 am and we commenced on our way towards Elgin. We had a friendly coach manager giving hints and tips as well as a chance to learn about him. We also had a waiter who brought a variety of food and drinks for the passengers. The market is a must see place particularly for wine and foodies. Great way to spend a day.

Great fun day

Francesca_M, Nov 2025

Great day out. Easy to chat with my friends and spend quality time as the scenery changes. The staff are approachable and kept us informed

Spectacular Experience

Wanda_H, Oct 2025

The Steam Train to Elgin...

Gary_K, Oct 2025

The Steam Train to Elgin Railway Market is a delightful escape into nostalgia. The scenic ride sets the tone, and the market itself bursts with local flavor—artisanal food, crafts, and live music in a beautifully restored space. A charming, well-paced outing that blends heritage and fun.

An Enjoyable Day

Nancy_A, Oct 2025

We were a bit disappointed because they did not have the steam locomotive in service. It has been taken offline for extensive repairs, so the train was pulled by 3 diesel locomotives. We had nice weather so it was a good trip. We were able to keep the train windows open and take photographs along the 3 hour ride (each way). Nice views of the mountains, Cape Town and the bay. Even though we had confirmed tickets in the Viator app, when we got to the rail company check in, they did not have our reservation on their list. They did add us because they had room. Additional information that was not provided by the Viator app: 1) the check in time for the ride is between 7 AM and 7:45 AM, NOT 8 AM; 2) there are several classes of service/cars, from economy to first class. It appears you have to contact the rail company directly for those selections.

Highly recommend. A...

K_D, Sep 2025

Highly recommend. A beautiful scenic train journey to a lovely market. One of the highlights of my stay in Capetown. The train staff made me feel very welcome and as a solo traveller regularly checked on me and made me feel at ease. A great day out.

Great experience on the Elgin Train

Ryan_R, Jun 2025

Absolutely awesome, just...

Charyn_M, Apr 2025

Absolutely awesome, just upsetting to have paid for lounge seating but was placed in day seating which was still lovely just not what we paid for

Absolutely fabulous!

Michelle_M, Apr 2025

This is an wonderful nostalgic adventure. Time to relax, spend time with friends, enjoy the scenery and everything that was on offer onboard. A must do for anyone in Cape Town

I didn't see the seats...

Katrina_C, Mar 2025

I didn't see the seats that I thought I had booked!! They were swivel chairs! Only saw bench type seating. Otherwise the trip was great

Disappointed

Russell_A, Feb 2025

Booked via third party and did not get the seat location I was expecting (my fault). Train developed an issue and was delayed for some time on route to Elgin. Return trip was more the modern locomotive pulling than the actual steam train. Bar and food points were slow to serve (perhaps due to system but also staff) with long queues. Barman used his fingers to offer lemon slices for drinks. Ethan (train crew member carriage 5) was polite and witty in the beginning of the trip. Lost steam (excuse the pun) for the return trip. Knowledge of external surroundings would be a bonus to past on to passengers.

Fun train ride to the...

Dan_W, Feb 2025

Fun train ride to the Elgin Market. Passed through some really nice areas along the way with stunning views, like Strand. The crew provided superb service and made us feel very welcoming. Would definitely consider doing this again. Highly recommend this to anyone who wants spend a day on a train and visit a lovely market for drinks, food, and shopping.

Steam Train Cape Town To Elgin

William_H, Jan 2025

It’s a full day trip and if you like trains that’s great,for young families with children it can be a bit dull after a while.

Wonderful and exciting experience.

Danielle, Jan 2025

It was a wonderful experience. It is surely something I would recommend others to do atleast once. The staff was very friendly and helpful, and the market was fun and entertaining. It is a whole day trip, which can get long for smaller children, but other than that is was a wonderful and exciting experience!

Great trip with superb...

Christopher_O, Feb 2024

Great trip with superb views especially when climbing the mountain pass. Lovely market at the far end with an excellent choice of food and other items. Staff on the train were courteous, knowledgeable and helpful throughout.

Nice experience

Gail_L, Jan 2024

It was a nice experience to travel a bit back in time. I luckily read reviews about possible delays and was expecting it. We were at the station at 7:30am and only arrived back in town around 6pm. Which is a very long day and brace yourself for no fans or air-conditioning at the market itself. The staff is lovely on the train and so was the people at the market, the market has a lot of food stalls and amazing Variety to chose from, well priced too. But nothing much in terms of activities once you are at the market. Lovely experience but check the weather before otherwise you going to be sweating bullets in the heat.

Fantastic rail journey

angela_d, Feb 2023

A trip that will stay close to my heart. Wonderful vibe, great staff and would highly recommend. It’s a trip that takes you away from the worries of the world. The views are stunning and it’s an adventure that every member of the family will enjoy. If you visit Cape Town it’s a trip that is highly recommended.

Steam Train is a must do while in Capetown

Dean_I, Feb 2023

The steam train trip from Capetown to Elgin was a truly wonderful day trip. My wife and I met a family from Capetown on the train that consisted of three generations. They were a delight to talk with and shared a lot about their lives in South Africa and we look foward to them coming to visit with us in Washington State. The scenery on the trip was beautiful especially the part going over Sir Lowery Pass. Lunch in Elgin was great. We shared wood fired pizza and local beer. Would definitely say this is a must do while in Capetown.

Top of the Top 😎

Sabine_B, Jan 2026

Great ride up and a nice long march on the table 😅✌️ Super trip ☺️ unfortunately the restaurante in the middle of me gets a bad rating/service very unfriendly! Can highly recommend the trip ✌️

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