Last Updated on July 9, 2024 by Hannah Stephenson
One of the best things about Cape Town is that it’s got natural beauty in spades, which means you don’t need a ton of money to have a good time.
There are plenty of free things to do in Cape Town, from sunset hikes to lazy beach days. If you’re on a tight budget (and let’s be honest, who isn’t these days?) then rest assured that you can still have a whale of a time in the Mother City.
I’ve tried to keep these activities as truly free as possible. I’m talking about activities that don’t require any entrance fees or special equipment, or require you to spend money as you go (i.e. shopping).
Let’s dive in!
1) Go to the beach
Cape Town is renowned for its beautiful beaches, and you can enjoy the vast majority of them for free! With white sand, deep blue water, and mountain views, Cape Town’s beaches really are exquisite. In fact, only Oudekraal Beach has an entry fee, since it’s in a nature reserve.
The Clifton Beaches are some of the most popular in town, and with good reason. Camps Bay Beach is similarly beautiful, but it can get very busy. Or if you’re looking for something quieter, Glen Beach is ideally located between the two.
And if you enjoy hidden beaches, Beta Beach is real gem. It is a tidal beach, though, so make sure you check the tide forecast before you go.
2) Hike Table Mountain
Table Mountain is probably Cape Town’s most iconic tourist attraction, and the great news is it doesn’t cost anything to get up there. You can hike for free!
There are three different free routes up Table Mountain: Platteklip Gorge, Kasteelspoort, and India Venster. (Skeleton Gorge is great, but you have to pay to enter Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens to get to the trailhead.)
Platteklip Gorge is the most popular trail, but I don’t think it has the best views. India Venster is stunning and perfect if you want a challenge, but it’s famously difficult.
My personal favourite is Kasteelspoort. It’s a stunning route and is very do-able for anyone who has a decent level of fitness. Don’t get me wrong, it’s still a workout, but I would say that this route is achievable for most people.
Kasteelspoort is way less crowded than Platteklip Gorge and the views are a lot better. You climb up the side of Table Mountain and get views of Camps Bay, Clifton, and Lion’s Head as you go, which is just gorgeous. It’s 4.7 kilometres (2.9 miles) out-and-back with an elevation gain of around 575 metres (1,889 ft). I’d say you’ll probably need about 2.5 hours to complete it, although it depends on your pace.
3) Wander around the V&A Waterfront
You can easily spend a ton of money at the V&A Waterfront, but there are also plenty of free things to do here. You don’t need to spend any money to enjoy the area.
The Waterfront is a gorgeous area with great views and some adorable resident seals. You can often spot them swimming in the harbour, but you’re pretty much guaranteed to see them chilling out on the pontoon next to the Aquarium Bootleggers café.
Around the harbour, you’ll also see lots of buskers showing off their talents. It’s nice to walk around, soak in the atmosphere, and watch the performers do their thing.
You can also go and snap a photo in the giant yellow frame outside the Den Anker restaurant, which gives you a perfect view of Table Mountain in the background.
4) Hike Lion’s Head
Lion’s Head is another iconic part of Cape Town’s beautiful skyline, and it’s a nice, straightforward hike. It loops around the mountain as you climb up, so you get 360 degree views of the city.
You’ll find the trailhead in Tamboerskloof, along Signal Hill Road. There’s a small parking lot right opposite the mountain, and trails leading left and right. The right hand trail is the one that will take you to the summit, whereas the left will take you along the quicker and easier Lions’ Head Loop instead.
You don’t need to be a pro-hiker to complete this trail – I’m certainly not! It’s not too strenuous but still offers a decent workout.
For a full guide to climbing Lion’s Head, check out this post!
5) Swim at Saunders Rockpool
Saunders Rock Beach in Sea Point is home to an awesome, man-made rock pool. The water is really cold, so it’s a hotspot for Wim Hof enthusiasts.
I don’t think I’ve ever stayed in for anywhere close to 20 minutes, but it’s a nice spot to come and swim or enjoy a beach picnic. It’s also generally easier to get to than Clifton as there’s less traffic.
And while Saunders doesn’t quite have the stunning beauty of the Clifton Beaches, it’s the place to be at sunset!
6) Hang out in Green Point Park
Green Point Park is a very pretty park with a dog park, kids play area, and golf course. It’s located in – you guessed it – Green Point, and it’s the perfect place for a picnic, run, or sunbathing session.
It’s open from 7 am until 9 pm daily, and you can enter either along Helen Suzman Boulevard in Green Point or opposite the lighthouse on the promenade.
7) Take a free walking tour of Bo Kaap
Bo Kaap is an iconic and colourful working class neighbourhood in Cape Town.
It was originally built for tradesmen and liberated slaves and is still very much a working class neighbourhood. Having said that, gentrification is a big threat nowadays.
The area is most famous for its brightly painted houses. There are several theories as to why this came about. My guide said that the most likely reason is it helped customers to find businesses, but no-one knows for sure.
Free walking tours of Bo Kaap depart from Church Square daily at 2 pm and 4:20 pm. We really enjoyed the tour that we did, and afterwards we hung around the area and continued to explore by ourselves.
As is always the case with free tours, it’s customary to tip your guide at the end, but this is totally voluntary. The guideline is R50-R100, but I didn’t feel pressured into tipping. And I was happy to do it, because the tour was so great! My former housemate, Marianne, now regularly guides these tours so if she’s your guide, please give her my love (and tip her handsomely, she’s the best!)
8) Watch the sunset at Kloof Corner
The Kloof Corner hike is a 1.9-kilometre (1.2-mile) out-and-back trail to the BEST viewpoint in Cape Town. In my opinion, watching the sunset here is one of the most spectacular experiences that the city has to offer.
The trailhead is a green gate marked “Kloof Corner” and there’s plenty of free parking nearby. It takes about 20 minutes to get to the top, and I recommend heading up an hour or so before sunset so that you get plenty of time to enjoy the beautiful views.
9) Walk on the prom
There’s nothing like a walk on the Sea Point promenade to enjoy the positive energy and natural beauty of Cape Town.
The prom starts in Mouille Point and stretches all the way to Saunders Rockpool, which is at the other end of Sea Point. You get to walk right next to the ocean and feel the cool breeze on your face, and it’s a very safe place to walk. There are always tons of people around during the day and I often take a sunset stroll.
10) Enjoy First Thursday
First Thursday in Cape Town has been a popular monthly event since its inception in 2012. It’s a monthly event designed to celebrate art and culture. As its name suggests, it takes place on the First Thursday of every month.
On First Thursday, galleries stay open late and put on special exhibitions, many of which are free to go and check out. Some even offer a complimentary glass of wine!
Of course, the bars soon caught onto this and so now First Thursday also means there’s a big party in town. Obviously, you’ll have to pay for your own drinks if you head out to party, but checking out the galleries is totally free. Some of the best ones to check out are:
- Youngblood
- The Cape Gallery
- 99 Loop Gallery
11) Have a picnic on Signal Hill
Signal Hill is a very popular sunset spot, but it’s an excellent place to have a picnic at any time of day. You get fantastic views of the city, which always makes your food taste ten times better.
In fact, Signal Hill picnics are so common that there’s actually a cover on the ground to sit on.
You can drive or take an Uber up Signal Hill. There’s free parking, but do be aware that it gets VERY busy if you go at sunset. Arrive early!
12) Browse at the Oranjezicht Market
A trip to the Oranjezicht Market is an absolute must while you’re in Cape Town. It’s a lovely farmer’s market where you can find delicious food from local restaurants and craft goods. Plus, there are two bars so you can also enjoy wine, cocktails, and craft beer.
All in all, it’s a vibe.
Obviously, the goal of the market is to get you to spend money, but it costs nothing to go and look around!
It’s located at the V&A Waterfront, and it’s open every Saturday from 8:15 am until 2 pm, or Sunday from 9 am. There’s also a night market on Wednesdays during the summer, which is from 5 pm until 9 pm.
Check out my full guide to the Oranjezicht Market here
13) Enjoy live music at Mojo Market
Mojo Market in Sea Point is a permanent indoor food market that’s open daily. There are some great food stalls here, like the House of Nasi Goreng and Rib Republic. They also have live music every single night.
That’s right – you’ll find local live bands playing at Mojo Market 365 days a year! It costs nothing to watch them, although admittedly it does take superhuman strength to resist all of the food and drink on offer here.
It’s open until midnight, but the music normally starts around 9 pm. It’s definitely one of the best free things to do at night!
14) Take Photos in Colourful De Waterkant
Bo Kaap is a really cool area to check out, thanks to its bright houses and history, but far fewer tourists make their way over to Dewaterkant. But you should, because it’s just a few minutes’ walk away!
Like Bo Kaap, De Waterkant is home to colourful houses, but they’re pastel-coloured and double storied. De Waterkant is a much wealthier neighbourhood and it’s a bit of a hub for the LGBTQ+ community. It’s also very safe with lots of security around, so it’s a better place for a photoshoot.
15) Swim at the Randy Warthog Rooftop
The Randy Warthog Bar and Grill is part of the never@home hostel in Green Point, but it’s not just for guests! The bar is open to the public, which is great news because it has a rooftop pool.
It’s small, but perfect for cooling off on a hot day. Plus, you don’t have to pay to use the pool, although you do need to buy a drink at the bar – but you’d probably do that anyway, right?
I still count this as a free thing to do because lots of hotel bar pools in Cape Town are only for guest use, require a day pass, or have a minimum spend in place. At Randy Warthog, it’s free as long as you have one drink!
16) Check out the Street Art in Woodstock
Woodstock was once a grimy industrial hub. Now, it has transformed into an artsy neighbourhood that the city’s hipsters flock towards.
And naturally, street art has played a big role in creating Woodstock’s reputation as one of the city’s coolest and edgiest neighbourhoods. You can find a ton of street art in the area between Albert Road and Victoria Road, so I think that’s a good place to start.
Murals here are centred around endangered animals, community, and human rights. Each piece of artwork really does tell a story and make you think about serious issues. Although they’re beautiful, these murals are about so much more than looking good on the ‘Gram.
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