By: Lia
Travel, , , , , , , , , ,

Outdoors in Cape Town – Things you can do for free

Cape Town has something for everyone; good food and wine, beautiful beaches, great shopping, museums and beautiful nature spots.  When the weather is good most Cape Townians head outdoors to experience the best the city has to offer without spending a penny.  Here’s some of the best outdoor activities for everyone in Cape Town that you can do for free!

Hike up Lion’s Head

This moderate hike up Cape Town’s iconic Lion’s Head Mountain is one of my favorite outdoor activities in the city.  Start your hike early to avoid the heat in summer, or do the full moon hike at night.  You’ll be rewarded with the best views of the bay, for free.  For more details and tips on the hike, read my full post here.

View from the top of Lion's Head. Robben Island spotted in the distance
View from the top of Lion’s Head. Robben Island spotted in the distance

Picnic on Signal Hill
If you’re not up for a hike, you can drive past Lion’s Head on to one of Cape Town’s other landmarks, Signal Hill.  This is the perfect spot for a picnic and to watch the sun go down over Table Bay.

Surfing in Muizenberg
If you’re looking to get acquainted with the ocean and catch come waves, head slightly out of the city to Muizenberg to catch the best ones.
Walk on the Sea Point Promenade
This is one of my favorite places in the city.  The promenade runs along Sea Point, stretching from Mouille Point to Bantry Bay.  You can take a leisurely stroll, jog the whole 11km, relax on one of the beaches or join a pop-up yoga class in the park.  The promenade is kid and pet friendly and there’s always a bunch of people.
Sea Point Promenade Park Cape Town
Sea Point Promenade Park Cape Town
Walk along the Promenade
Walk along the Promenade
Drive around the Atlantic Seaboard
The Atlantic Seaboard is a luxury strip of areas stretching along Cape Town’s coast starting from the V&A Waterfront crawling past Bantry Bay, Clifton, Camps Bay, Llundudno and al the way to Hout Bay.  The drive is beautiful and sometimes dramatic, on the edge of the mountain.  You can continue on past Hout Bay, over Chapman’s Peak on to Kommetjie, Simon’s Town and even Cape Point.  I love doing the drive on a Sunday and ending at Hout Bay’s Harbour Market for lunch.
Views from the Atlantic Seaboard Cape Town
Views from the Atlantic Seaboard Cape Town
The Drive to Chapman's Peak
The Drive to Chapman’s Peak

Visit the Company’s Garden
The Company’s Garden is a beautiful planned garden in the heart of the city.  It was created by the first settlers that arrived in Table Bay in the 1650s (the Dutch).  Today it is kept in spectacular condition with the most tame squirrels you’ve ever seen in your life (you can feed them!).  The gardens have a small restaurant and is next to the Iziko Museum and close to many great eateries.  A stroll through the gardens while glancing up at majestic Table Mountain will make you forget you’re in the city.

 

The Company's Garden with Table Mountain under a blanket of clouds
The Company’s Garden with Table Mountain under a blanket of clouds
Hit the Beach!
Cape Town has beautiful beaches all around.  The water is chilly though and it will take some courage to go for a swim.  The best thing to do is to lounge around on the white sand, catch a tan and have some ice cream.  Just relax and enjoy some of the best beaches in the world for free!  The options are endless but the most popular are Clifton and Camps Bay.  You can head out a bit further to Blouberg Beach of Melkbos Beach for beautiful views of Table Mountain.
Relaxing on the beach afterwards looking at the Twelve Apostles (mountain heads)
Relaxing on the beach afterwards looking at the Twelve Apostles (mountain heads)
Blouberg Beach Cape Town
Blouberg Beach Cape Town

*If you liked this post you can save it for later to read offline with the GPSMyCity app! You can download an interactive map of the places I mention in my post too 🙂 click here or on the banner in the side bar.

 

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Free things to do in Cape Town