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The Mother City's public swimming pools are ready to make a splash during the September school holidays, allowing visitors to stay active, cool off and enjoy the warmer weather.
If you're planning to use a public swimming pool near you, it will be open from 10:00 to 17:00 daily during the peak school holiday period.
The City also confirmed five swimming pools will remain closed during the September school holidays as essential maintenance and improvement work is carried out:
- Westridge Swimming Pool
- Bellville Central Swimming Pool
- Mnandi Swimming Pool
- Athlone Swimming Pool
- Vulindela Swimming Pool (closed for the entire summer, pending redesign and development)
Maintenance work at Westridge, Bellville Central, Mnandi and Athlone swimming pools forms part of the City's ongoing efforts to ensure safe, functional and well-maintained facilities for residents. The reopening of these four pools will follow a phased-in approach and once the maintenance is completed the facilities will be subject to quality assessments and safety checks, the City’s Recreation and Parks Department detailed in a statement.
The reopening dates are set to be announced once confirmed.
Entry fees for public pools
- Sea Point Pavilion: R39 adults, R23 children
- Bellville: R40 adults, R23 children.
- Long Street Indoor Pool: R40 adults, R23 children.
- Strand Indoor Pool: R39 adults, R22 children.
- Blue Downs Indoor Pool: R20 adults, R4 children.
- Retreat Indoor Pool: R20 adults, R4 children.
- All Community Outdoor pools: R9 adults, R3 children
Includes Athlone, Atlantis, Bonteheuwel, Browns’ Farm, Eastridge, Elsies River, Emthonjeni, Goodwood, Hanover Park, Lentegeur, Manenberg, Parow North, Parow Valley, Ravensmead, Ruyterwacht, Vulindlela, Westridge, Wynberg, Newlands, Mnandi and Muizenberg.
*Children = 16 years or younger. Children two years or under enter for free | Pensioners enter for free at all public pools.
Planning a pool visit? Don’t forget…
- You can check exact opening times and entry fees on the City of Cape Town’s swimming pools website.
- Sea Point swimming pool is now cashless, accepting card payments only.
- No alcohol is allowed at any pool. Like, ever. Don’t even try.
- No glass containers, tents or pets allowed
- An adult must accompany children under the age of seven
Want to swim for free? Head for a tidal pool near Cape Town!
Reduced schedule kicks in after the holidays
Following the school holidays, public swimming pools will operate on a reduced schedule until 1 December 2026. Pools will be open from 13:00 to 17:00 from Wednesdays to Fridays, and from 10:00 to 17:00 on Saturdays and Sundays.
The City’s Recreation and Parks Department is also preparing for the busy festive season, with the appointment of seasonal lifeguards currently underway. This forms part of the City’s preparations to ensure adequate and effective supervision at swimming pools across the metro during the peak summer period.
"The City continues to invest in our swimming pool infrastructure to ensure these facilities are safe, well-maintained and able to serve communities for years to come. This includes significant investment in upgrades, repairs and maintenance, with major works completed in the last financial year or underway at several facilities," added the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Community Services and Health, Councillor Francine Higham.
"Most of our swimming pools will be open every day during the school holidays, giving families and young people an opportunity to get active and enjoy the warmer weather. We want everyone to have a safe and enjoyable visit, so please listen to our lifeguards, follow the pool rules and make sure children are supervised at all times."
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