Pool day passes in Cape Town

Cape Town has some of the best-positioned hotel pools in the world. The Atlantic Seaboard strip from Sea Point to Bantry Bay puts you within metres of the ocean, with Table Mountain rising directly behind. Six hotels open their pools to non-guests, spread across rooftop decks, infinity edges, and garden terraces.

Prices run from R300 (about $17) at the President Hotel's crescent infinity pool to R650 (about $36) on the Hyde's rooftop Skye Deck. Most passes include food and drink credit that brings the effective cost down considerably — the Glen's R350 pass bundles a Jacuzzi, sauna, and steam room on top of pool access.

Weekends fill fast. The President Hotel limits day passes to Monday–Thursday only, and December to February is peak season when popular spots book out a week ahead. Call the hotel directly — none of these options sell through third-party platforms. For more pool options across the country, the South Africa page has full coverage.

• The President Hotel — R300 / about $17. Iconic crescent infinity pool above the Atlantic Seaboard; weekdays only.
• Cloud Nine Boutique Hotel — R300 minimum spend / about $17. Rooftop plunge pool with Table Mountain views; no under-18s.
• The Glen Boutique Hotel — R350 / about $19. Best inclusions: pool, Jacuzzi, sauna, steam room, and restaurant access.
• Palm House — R500 / about $28. Quiet garden pool in the southern suburbs; mid-October to mid-April only.
• The Hyde Cape Town — R650 / about $36. Skye Deck rooftop with panoramic views of Table Mountain and the Atlantic.
• Cape Town Marriott Hotel Crystal Towers — R1,000 minimum for two / about $56. Business-district pool; better suited to corporate stays.

How much does a pool day pass in Cape Town cost?

Day passes range from R300 to R650 per person. The President Hotel and Cloud Nine both start at R300, though the President includes a towel and R200 food credit while Cloud Nine runs on a minimum bar spend. The Hyde is the priciest at R650, with R350 back in food credit offsetting a good portion of that. Crystal Towers prices at R1,000 minimum for two — worth noting before booking solo.

What's included in a Cape Town pool day pass?

Most passes cover pool access, a sun lounger, and some form of food or drink allowance. The Glen goes further, bundling in a Jacuzzi, sauna, steam room, and restaurant access for R350. It's the strongest inclusions package of any option on this page.

The President Hotel and the Hyde both include F&B credits (R200 and R350 respectively) that partially offset the entrance cost. Palm House includes R250 restaurant credit. Towels come standard at all three.

Cloud Nine and Crystal Towers work as minimum spends only, with no towel service at Cloud Nine.

The President Hotel

The crescent-shaped infinity pool at the President Hotel in Bantry Bay hangs directly above the Atlantic Seaboard, with an unbroken ocean view across the bay. The Pool Day Pass (R300 / about $17) covers pool access, a sun lounger, a towel, and R200 credit toward food and drinks from the poolside bar. Day visitors are accepted Monday to Thursday only, 10am to 7pm; weekends are for hotel guests. Kids are welcome. Advance booking is essential and no walk-ins are accepted.

Book direct: presidenthotel.co.za — or call 021 434 8111.

Cloud Nine Boutique Hotel

A rooftop plunge pool in the upper Gardens neighbourhood with a direct sightline to Table Mountain, Cloud Nine's setting punches above its size. Access works on a minimum spend of R300/pp toward the bar. Towels aren't provided, and no under-18s are allowed. Wednesday happy hour (3–7pm) brings R45 cocktails and 2-for-1 local beers and ciders. Advance booking required.

Book direct: hotelcloud9.com — or call 021 424 1133. [NEEDS DIRECT URL VERIFICATION]

The Glen Boutique Hotel

The pool terrace at the Glen Boutique Hotel in Sea Point comes with more inclusions than any other option at this price point. The Pool Day Pass (R350 / about $19) covers the pool, sun loungers, WiFi, an outdoor Jacuzzi, sauna, steam room, and access to the restaurant and champagne bar. It's the strongest value-for-money package in the city for day visitors. Book ahead as capacity is limited.

Book direct: glenhotel.co.za — or call 021 439 0086. [PRICE NEEDS VERIFICATION — also quoted as R225]

Palm House

Set in a garden terrace in Wynberg in the southern suburbs, the pool at Palm House runs at a quieter pace than the Atlantic Seaboard options — more residential, less crowded, and a good fit if you want to avoid the busier summer scenes in Sea Point. The Pool Day (R500 / about $28) includes a sun lounger and R250 restaurant credit toward light bites and refreshments, served 8am to 5pm. This is a seasonal offer available mid-October to mid-April only. Book through their website or call ahead.

Book direct: palmhouse.co.za — or call +27 21 745 5008.

The Hyde Cape Town

The Skye Deck at the Hyde Hotel sits on the roof in Sea Point with panoramic views of Table Mountain, Signal Hill, Lion's Head, and the Atlantic — among the best pool vantage points in the city. The Pool Day Pass (R650 / about $36) includes pool access and R350 credit toward food and drinks at the Jack @ Skye rooftop bar. Advance booking is required.

Book direct: thehydehotel.com — or call 021 434 0205.

Cape Town Marriott Hotel Crystal Towers

The Acara Pool Bar and Terrace at Crystal Towers is a standard outdoor pool in Cape Town's Century City business district. Access is via a minimum spend of R1,000 for two people (about $56 total) at the poolside bar. Better suited as a business-trip add-on than a dedicated pool day. Spaces are limited and advance booking is advised.

Book direct: marriott.com — or call 021 525 3888.

How to book a pool day pass in Cape Town

Call or email the hotel directly. None of the options on this page book through aggregator platforms. The President Hotel accepts reservations online and by phone, but no walk-ins under any circumstances. For most others, a phone call a day or two ahead is enough. Weekends and peak summer dates (December to February) fill quickly. If you're planning a weekend visit to the Glen or the Hyde, call midweek to lock in your spot.

Are Cape Town hotel pools open to non-guests?

Several are, but most of the city's well-known hotels keep pools for guests only. The hotels on this page have formal day-pass programmes. The President Hotel, the Glen, and the Hyde are the most consistently open to day visitors. Properties including the Silo and Ellerman House don't offer non-guest access. Always confirm availability by phone before arriving, particularly in peak summer months.

Frequently asked questions

Can kids use pool day passes in Cape Town?

Most options allow children. The President Hotel welcomes kids at their Bantry Bay infinity pool. Cloud Nine explicitly bars under-18s. For the Glen and Palm House, families are generally welcome — confirm when you book.

Is Cape Town a year-round pool destination?

Not quite. The prime pool season runs November to April when temperatures are warmest. Palm House only operates its day-pass programme from mid-October to mid-April. The rooftop pools at the Hyde and Cloud Nine run year-round, but winter months (June–August) can be cool and windy on the Atlantic Seaboard.

Do I need to bring my own towel?

Check before you go. The President Hotel, the Glen, and Palm House include towels with their passes. Cloud Nine does not provide towels, so bring your own. For the Hyde and Crystal Towers, confirm when booking as policies can change.

More pool day passes near Cape Town

The South Africa country page covers pool day access across the country. Franschhoek and Stellenbosch, both within an hour of Cape Town in the Winelands, have hotels that take day visitors — coverage for those cities is coming. If you're in South Africa for longer, Durban on the Indian Ocean coast has a warmer, more year-round pool climate worth exploring.