There’s a myth that Cape Town is an expensive city to enjoy. Sure, you can spend a fortune on tasting menus, wine farms and outings around the V&A Waterfront, but locals know a different truth: the real magic of the Mother City doesn’t have to come with a price tag.

We believe in smart travel. It’s about finding that sweet spot where quality meets value. And when you stay at one of our locations that puts you in the centre of the action, you don’t need a big budget to fill your days with unforgettable experiences.

Whether you’re travelling on a budget, resetting after the festive season, or simply love discovering free things to do in Cape Town, here are 10 local-approved ways to experience the best of the Mother City;

1. Sunrise at Lion’s Head

📍 Location: Signal Hill Road ✨ The Vibe: Active, awe-inspiring, iconic.

You haven’t really seen Cape Town until you’ve seen it from above. Hiking Lion’s Head at sunrise takes about 60 - 90 minutes and rewards you with a jaw-dropping 360-degree view of the city bowl, the Atlantic Seaboard, and Table Mountain. It’s completely free, wildly popular with locals, and one of those pinch-yourself moments that reminds you why Cape Town is so special.

Pro Tip: Go at sunrise to beat the heat (and the crowds). The light hitting the Twelve Apostles is unbeatable.

2. A Dip at Saunders Rock Tidal Pool

📍 Location: Sea Point (Beach Rd) ✨ The Vibe: Refreshing, social, icy.

Skip the crowded beaches and join the locals at Saunders Rock. It’s a wind-protected tidal pool nestled between the rocks at the end of Sea Point. It’s the unofficial meeting spot for morning cold dips and sunset swims.

Pro Tip: Bring a flask of coffee for the post-swim warm-up.

3. Stroll the Sea Point Promenade

📍 Location: Mouille Point to Sea Point ✨ The Vibe: Community, breezy, scenic.

This 11km stretch of coastline is the city’s front garden. It’s where Cape Town comes to breathe. You’ll find outdoor gyms, public art installations, and the best people-watching in the city. It costs nothing to walk, run, or just sit on a bench and watch the ocean.

4. Green Point Urban Park

📍 Location: Green Point ✨ The Vibe: Lush, family-friendly, educational.

Just a short stroll from our Neighbourgood properties in Green Point, this biodiversity garden is a miracle of urban planning. It’s free to enter and features fitness circuits, incredible indigenous plant gardens, and plenty of shaded lawns perfect for a picnic.

5. First Thursdays

📍 Location: City Centre (Bree & Loop Streets) ✨ The Vibe: Cultural, buzzy, nocturnal.

On the first Thursday night of every month, art galleries and cultural attractions in the CBD stay open late, free of charge. The streets become pedestrian-only zones filled with food trucks, musicians, and crowds soaking up the culture. It’s the ultimate free night out.

6. Spot the Squirrels in The Company’s Garden

📍 Location: City Centre (Queen Victoria St) ✨ The Vibe: Historic, peaceful, green.

The oldest garden in South Africa, right in the middle of the city. Walk down the avenue of oak trees, see the historic statues, spot the resident squirrels darting between the trees, or simply sit on the grass and read a book. It’s a quiet sanctuary in the middle of the CBD buzz.

7. Forest Bathing in Newlands Forest

📍 Location: Newlands (M3 Highway) ✨ The Vibe: Grounded, earthy, shaded.

For those staying near Neighbourgood Newlands, this is your backyard. Newlands Forest offers kilometres of shaded trails running along the eastern slopes of Table Mountain. It’s lush, green, and completely free to enter (though parking the car costs a few Rands, walking in is free).

8. Skate & Play at Battery Park

📍 Location: V&A Waterfront (Canal District) ✨ The Vibe: Urban, energetic, youthful.

This new urban park at the V&A Waterfront connects the city to the harbour. It features a high-quality skate park, basketball courts, and manicured lawns right on the canal edge. It’s a great spot to watch the skaters or challenge a friend to a game of hoops.

9. Zeitz MOCAA (Wednesdays)

📍 Location: Silo District, V&A Waterfront ✨ The Vibe: World-class, artistic, thought-provoking.

Okay, this one has a small condition. If you are a South African or African citizen, entry to the world-famous Zeitz MOCAA is free every Wednesday between 10 am and 1 pm. All you have to do is bring your ID. It’s the biggest contemporary art museum in Africa, and the architecture of the silo building alone is worth the visit.

10. Join the Neighbourgood Social Club

📍 Location: Right on your doorstep ✨ The Vibe: Connected, inclusive, effortless.

Why look for a crowd when you can join a built-in community? We host everything from sunset yoga sessions and guided group hikes to our legendary community braais. There is literally something for everyone. It’s the easiest (and free-est) way to find your pace, meet new faces, and feel like a local from day one.

Pro Tip: Check out/join our citywide groups on Whatsapp (where we post daily events that are happening) or if you’re staying or working at a Neighbourgood location, ask your Community Manager what’s on this week - you might just find your new best friend over a boerie roll.

Stay Smart. Play Hard.

Cape Town is a city that rewards those who get out and explore. By saving on entry fees, you have more freedom to splurge on the things that matter - like that extra cocktail at sunset or a longer stay at one of our locations in the city.

Ready to find your home away from home? Explore our stays here

10 Free Ways to Experience Cape Town Like a Local