As one of three capital cities, Cape Town is a hub of historical, cultural and natural attractions – and you won’t have to be a big spender with these six ways to enjoy the city on the cheap.
Hike Table Mountain
Not all of Table Mountain National Park is free to experience, but the signature attraction — Table Mountain — is free, as long as you’re willing to skip the cable car and hoof it up the mountainside. Plan on about three hours round trip for the hike, with a little extra time for photo ops and “ooh-ing” and “ahh-ing” once you reach the top, as the views are impeccable.
Wander the Sea Point Promenade
The Promenade of Cape Town’s Sea Point is a favourite hangout for locals and visitors alike, whether you head to the shore to join the joggers or set out for an afternoon of beach-combing and people-watching in one of Cape Town’s most affluent areas. A number of free parks also line the strip, offering a chance for you to unleash your inner child by the sea.
Explore the Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens
The peak of Table Mountain can look intimidating from the ground floor, but if you’re not feeling up to the challenge, you can still enjoy the beauty of this natural wonder with a trip to the Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens. Pack a picnic and spend the afternoon unwinding in the beauty of the blooms and shrubs that keep this garden lush, all under the shadow of Table Mountain and Devil’s Peak.
Browse the wares of Greenmarket Square
Cape Town’s second oldest public site has been many things over the centuries: a slave market, a farmer’s market, and even the main source of the city’s water supply in the 1700s. Today, though, Greenmarket Square is Cape Town’s favourite flea market, where untold treasures await shoppers who aren’t afraid to spend hours wandering through stalls and digging through goods to find the perfect souvenir. The market is held Monday through Saturday.
Sip and savor at Groot Constantia
Wine lovers can set their taste buds on local varietals at Groot Constantia, South Africa’s oldest wine estate in the Cape Town suburb of Constantia. Tours of the historic manor house, fittingly decorated with period furniture and art, are less than $5 and offer a look at how South Africans lived in centuries past. Cellar tours and wine tastings are another huge draw at Groot Constantia, as are the two onsite restaurants.
See how diamonds are cut
When The Diamond Works says they’re offering a “Sparkling Tour,” they mean it. The experience starts off with a complimentary glass of sparkling wine, followed by a tour into how these sparkling little gems are cut into the exquisite diamonds we lust after in jewelry cases around the world. The tour — and even the bubbly — are free and make for an affordable excursion, as long as you don’t end up buying some custom diamond jewelry while you’re there…
(Main image: Free HDR & Photomanipulations – www.freestock.ca)
