Pietermaritzburg to Cape Town by train
Cape Town lies 1,228 km (763 mi) south-west of Pietermaritzburg, in the same time zone. What the numbers say about getting there.
By rail the journey is about 17 h 39 min at the speeds typical of South Africa rail, over roughly 1,498 km (931 mi) of track; the operator’s timetable is the number that counts.
| Pietermaritzburg | Cape Town | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | South Africa | South Africa |
| Population | 839,327 | 4.8 million |
| Elevation | 636 m (2,087 ft) | 25 m (82 ft) |
| Time now | UTC+2 (Africa/Johannesburg) | UTC+2 (Africa/Johannesburg) |
| Stations on record | Pietermaritzburg railway station | none listed |
| Postal codes | 3200–3296 | 7100–8160 |
Where to book trains from Pietermaritzburg to Cape Town
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Staying in Cape Town
Our booking partner lists 6,750+ places to stay in Cape Town (statistics below are from the first 1,000). Of the 810 with a star rating, the largest group is 4-star (570), and 70 are five-star. Across 640 properties with at least 50 reviews, the average guest score is 9 out of 10. Guests have left 386,360 reviews in total.
Book a hotel in Cape Town
Live rooms and prices from our booking partner, booked and paid for here. Free cancellation is marked where it applies.
Common questions
How far is Cape Town from Pietermaritzburg?
1,228 km (763 mi) in a straight line, south-west of Pietermaritzburg; by road roughly 1,498 km (931 mi).
How long does it take to get from Pietermaritzburg to Cape Town by train?
About 17 h 39 min, estimated from distance and typical speeds. Timetables and traffic decide the real figure.
Is there a time difference between Pietermaritzburg and Cape Town?
No, both are on Africa/Johannesburg at the moment.
Where can I stay in Cape Town?
Our booking partner lists 6,750+ places to stay in Cape Town, bookable on this site.
Where these facts come from
- GeoNames (CC BY 4.0): population, elevation, time zone, postal codes
- Wikidata (CC0): area, sister cities, visitor numbers, heritage listings, stations and ports
- OurAirports (public domain): airports, runways
- Natural Earth (public domain): map outlines
Data compiled 14 September 2026. Hotel and hostel figures are from our booking partner’s catalogue on that date. Journey times on this page are estimates from distance, not timetables; check the operator before you rely on one.