Last Updated on February 4, 2026 by Hannah Stephenson
For a while now I’ve been wanting to check out the Galileo Open Air Cinema in Cape Town, so imagine my delight when they reached out to collaborate and offered me complimentary tickets! But in spite of that, I’m still very much here to deliver an honest review, so let me help you to decide whether it’s worth attending a screening while you’re in the city.
The Galileo runs open air movie nights at several different locations in and around Cape Town during the summer months (more on that to come). Their best-known event is at Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden, and that’s the one that I attended. Here’s the rundown of the evening and all the need-to-know details!
- What is the Galileo Open Air Cinema?
- When Is It On?
- How Does It Work?
- How Much Do Tickets Cost?
- My Experience at the Galileo
- Do I Need to Buy a Separate Ticket for Kirstenbosch Gardens?
- How Can I Book Tickets for the Galileo?
- What Kind of Movies Do the Galileo Show?
- Would I Recommend the Galileo Open Air Cinema?
What is the Galileo Open Air Cinema?
The Galileo is a movie night event that runs all throughout the summer in Cape Town. In fact, among locals, it’s a classic summer thing to do!
They screen movies at several different locations in and around the city. Kirstenbosch is the most iconic, but you can also attend cinemas at Century City, Battery Park at the V&A Waterfront, and several different wineries in Stellenbosch and Franschhoek.
For a full list of venues, click here!
When Is It On?
The Galileo usually runs events between October to May. During the peak summer months, there are movie screenings from Wednesday to Saturday each week, although this tapers down from Thursday to Saturday during May.
Exact open and start times do vary from venue to venue. When I went in January, the doors opened at 6 and the movie started at 8, but this does change with sunset times and certain dates, so be sure to double check before you go.
How Does It Work?
The Galileo screens different movies at various venues all throughout the summer, so you pick your location and movie, then buy the tickets that you want. They gifted me the “warm and comfy” tickets, which included backrests and blankets, or you can go for cheaper tickets and then rent extras on arrival.
You’re allowed to take a picnic with you. We were also allowed to bring wine since we went to Kirstenbosch, but BYOB isn’t allowed at other venues. There are also food and drink vendors on site, so you can always grab some food once you get there. We brought nibbles and then got two pizzas from the Butler’s stand so that we had some hot food to enjoy.
Doors usually open around 2 hours before the movie starts so that you have time to chat and enjoy your food beforehand. The food and bar stalls then close up once the showing begins, so make sure to get your orders in before!
How Much Do Tickets Cost?
I’ll list the ticket prices below and then go into a bit more detail afterwards.
- R155 for a standard ticket
- R170 for a comfy ticket (backrest only)
- R180 for a warm and comfy ticket (backrest and blankets)
- R155 for pensioner or student specials
I recommend opting for the warm and comfy ticket option, because that includes a backrest and blanket. You’ll definitely want both of these, especially later on in the evening when it gets chilly!
However, if you do go for a standard or a comfy ticket, both backrests and blankets are available on the night for R25 and R15 respectively. But as I say, you kinda do need both, so I think it’s best to just book it all at once.
And if you want to go all out, the Galileo also offers VIP tickets from R300 and up. And if you plan on coming a few times throughout the summer season, you can book a warm and comfy pass for R900, which grants you entry to five movies.
My Experience at the Galileo
‘Almost Famous’ started at 8 pm, so we arrived at around 6:30 pm so that we would have time to settle in and enjoy our picnic first. On the way into the garden, we picked up our backrests and blankets, and the staff showed us how to pop up the chairs properly.
I’m glad we arrived nice and early, as we were able to snag a great spot close to the front. We had an hour and a half to enjoy our wine and picnic, and we also grabbed some pizza from the Butler’s stall.
The Galileo were also kind enough to send me over a cute tote bag full of popcorn and sweets, which was so kind of them! I mean, no movie is complete without the proper snacks, right?
In the leadup to the movie, some film trivia questions popped up on the screen which were fun to try and answer, although I didn’t get many of them correct! We got a quick warning just before the film started so that we had time to grab any last food or drink, and use the loo. Then, it was time to lock in and enjoy.
I have to say, ‘Almost Famous’ is a great film, so if you haven’t seen it, definitely add it to your list! I’m actually not someone who goes to the cinema very often, but snuggling under a blanket and watching a movie outdoors is the perfect way to spend a wholesome summer evening in Cape Town.
Then, when the film was over, we dropped our backrests and blankets back at the entrance and called an Uber home. I thought it might take a while to get a ride since Kirstenbosch is a little out of town, but it only took about 10 mins, so there’s no need to worry about that!
Do I Need to Buy a Separate Ticket for Kirstenbosch Gardens?
Nope, admission is included in your ticket fee, so you only pay once! You can’t go strolling around the gardens like you can during the day, though, so it’s worth coming back another time to explore them properly.
How Can I Book Tickets for the Galileo?
Via their website! Your tickets will then be issued digitally via Webtickets, and you can just show them on your phone when you arrive at the movie. It’s all super easy!
What Kind of Movies Do the Galileo Show?
All kinds! There are a lot of chick flicks, classics, and family favourites. As I mentioned, we saw ‘Almost Famous’ but some other movies showing this summer include ‘The Notebook’, ‘Notting Hill’, ‘Dirty Dancing’, ‘John Wick’, ‘The Hangover’ and ‘Rocky Horror’ – to name just a few!
Would I Recommend the Galileo Open Air Cinema?
Yes, absolutely! It’s a fun and affordable way to spend an evening in Cape Town, whether you’re on a date, with friends, or even flying solo. I can’t wait to go back!
Check dates and book your tickets for the Galileo Open Air Cinema here!
Thanks so much for reading this blog post. I hope that you do decide to see a movie at the Galileo, and that you have a great time like I did! For more reviews of Cape Town experiences, feel free to check out the following: