Photo: Danie van der Merwe from Cape Town, South Africa · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons
The flat-topped mountain overlooking Cape Town and Table Bay is one of the most distinctive city backdrops in the world, framed by the Atlantic on one side and the Cape Peninsula on the other.
85Flight Routes
OverheadClosest Pass
🏔️ MountainType
Routes that pass it85
CPT → PLZ
Both Sides
PLZ → CPT
Both Sides
CPT → SIN
Both Sides
SIN → CPT
Both Sides
CPT → GRU
Both Sides
GRU → CPT
Both Sides
CPT → LAX
Both Sides
LAX → CPT
Both Sides
CPT → SFO
Both Sides
SFO → CPT
Both Sides
CPT → DUR
Both Sides
DUR → CPT
Both Sides
ATL → CPT
Both Sides
CPT → ATL
Both Sides
CPT → EZE
Both Sides
EZE → CPT
Both Sides
CPT → IAD
Both Sides
CPT → PER
Both Sides
IAD → CPT
Both Sides
PER → CPT
Both Sides
CPT → EWR
Left
CPT → HLE
Left
CPT → JFK
Left
CPT → MQP
Left
CPT → NLP
Left
EWR → CPT
Right
HLE → CPT
Right
JFK → CPT
Right
MQP → CPT
Right
NLP → CPT
Right
CPT → GCJ
Left
CPT → HLA
Left
CPT → JNB
Left
GCJ → CPT
Right
HLA → CPT
Right
JNB → CPT
Right
CPT → ZNZ
Left
ZNZ → CPT
Right
CPT → DOH
Left
CPT → DXB
Left
CPT → NBO
Left
CPT → WIL
Left
DOH → CPT
Right
DXB → CPT
Right
NBO → CPT
Right
WIL → CPT
Right
ADD → CPT
Right
CPT → ADD
Left
CPT → LVI
Left
CPT → VFA
Left
LVI → CPT
Right
VFA → CPT
Right
CDG → CPT
Right
CPT → CDG
Left
CPT → HNL
Right
CPT → LAD
Left
CPT → LCY
Left
CPT → LGW
Left
CPT → LHR
Left
CPT → MUB
Left
CPT → WVB
Left
HNL → CPT
Left
LAD → CPT
Right
LCY → CPT
Right
LGW → CPT
Right
LHR → CPT
Right
MUB → CPT
Right
NBJ → CPT
Right
WVB → CPT
Right
AMS → CPT
Right
CPT → AMS
Left
CPT → FRA
Left
CPT → IST
Left
CPT → MXP
Left
CPT → SAW
Left
CPT → WAW
Left
CPT → WDH
Left
CPT → ZRH
Left
FRA → CPT
Right
IST → CPT
Right
MXP → CPT
Right
SAW → CPT
Right
WAW → CPT
Right
WDH → CPT
Right
ZRH → CPT
Right
Tip: Visibility depends on cloud cover, time of day, and how close the flight path comes. Sit on the listed side for the best chance of a view. Morning and evening flights often offer the best lighting.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you see Table Mountain from a plane?
Yes — 85 flight routes pass within 80 km of Table Mountain. The closest routes include Cape Town to Port Elizabeth, Port Elizabeth to Cape Town, Cape Town to Singapore. The landmark is visible from both sides, passing directly overhead.
Which side of the plane is best for viewing Table Mountain?
The best side varies by route. For the most common routes near Table Mountain: on a Cape Town to Port Elizabeth flight, visible from both sides; on a Port Elizabeth to Cape Town flight, visible from both sides; on a Cape Town to Singapore flight, visible from both sides.