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Weather forecast for the week? Sunny skies and high temperatures.
So here's some good news: the City of Cape Town is extending weekday hours at 31 outdoor community swimming pools, bringing back midweek dips from Wednesday (28 January 2026) through to the end of the season in early April 2026.
Cape Town’s public pools are a joy, providing residents (and tourists) with easy access to a refreshing swim across the city. There are 36 public pools across Cape Town, with entry costing as little as R9 for a full day of splish-splashing. What’s not to love?
After the peak festive season – when the pools are usually crowded – the City’s outdoor community swimming pools generally switch to weekend-only hours from Monday, 19 January. Once schools reopen, demand drops, and keeping staff and lifeguards on-site when it’s quiet isn’t financially practical.
But Cape communities have long pushed for at least some weekday access, especially for residents who rely on local pools as an affordable way to stay active and cool off. So kudos to the City for listening. It will now be testing whether that demand is strong enough to justify opening in the week.
“This pilot is made possible by the extensive repairs and upgrades to pools in recent years, which means many more pools can open for extended periods,” said Mayoral Committee Member for Community Services and Health, Councillor Francine Higham. “The usage results of this pilot will inform what happens in years to come, and whether it is feasible to operate these facilities seven days a week throughout the summer months.”
What that means for us is that if there isn't enough use, this weekday access will likely be a one-off. The upshot? Get out there and have a midweek swim when the pools are open!
Which pools will be open when?
You can find the full list – along with useful information like address and opening hours – of Cape Town’s public pools here. From 28 January to 22 March 2026, outdoor community pools will operate on a Wednesday-to-Sunday schedule, with Mondays and Tuesdays closed. The City says those two days will be reserved for essential maintenance and staff recovery after the busiest part of the season.
Then, for the March/April school holidays, outdoor pools will move back to daily operations from 23 March to 6 April, before the season ends. The final closure date is Tuesday 7 April 2026.
And there’s more good news
Recognising the importance of public pools for communities where few households are lucky enough to own their own swimming pools, the city is investing heavily in upgrades and infrastructure. Six community pools – Manenberg, Langa, Lenteguer, Goodwood, Bellville South, and Delft – will close to the public from early February 2026 for major repairs to prepare them for the 2026/27 summer season.
“Our swimming pools are more than recreational spaces – they are safe, inclusive places that support physical health, mental wellbeing and social connection,” says Higham. “For young people, pools provide positive, supervised spaces during the summer months, and for older residents, they offer accessible opportunities to stay active and connected.”
The City says it has invested around R113.5 million in upgrades and maintenance over the past three financial years, slowly increasing the number of operational facilities. This summer, 36 of the City’s 37 pools are open, compared to 26 in the 2022/23 season. Nice!
Indoor pools are open daily
And don’t forget. Even when outdoor pools are closed on Mondays and Tuesdays (or affected by repair works), the City’s indoor year-round options include Retreat, Blue Downs, Long Street, and Strand, as well as the Sea Point swimming pool.
Want to swim for free, any day of the year? Head for a tidal pool near Cape Town!
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