The Cape Town Atlantic seaboard is home to an array of natural splendour and beachy perfection. Here’s what to do if you’re on a budget.
Cape Town and the Atlantic Seaboard offer so many options
Not everything a tourist or local does in Cape Town has to be expensive. Be a tourist in your city by ticking off a few of these free and easy activities.
You can’t beat Saunders Beach
Rewind about five years ago and Saunders Rocky Beach was a quiet, unknown little spot where the occasional brave soul did a daily cold plunge. Now, in 2025, it’s THE place to be for a quick swim during lunch, after an early morning run or for a date and a glass of bubbly on a perfect Atlantic Seaboard evening.
Camps Bay plunge
If you enjoy outrageous traffic and being surrounded by tourists, head over to Camps Bay for a swim in the tidal pool or on the iconic beach itself. Glen Beach just alongside is a little quieter and more sheltered. Avoid Camps Bay on a Sunday afternoon if you don’t have the patience for these sorts of things. It’s worth doing once though.
Stroll on the Sea Point promenade
Get your steps in, eat an ice cream, hire a bicycle and take in the fresh breeze. Okay, hiring a bike and eating soft serve isn’t free but you’re welcome to just stroll and smell the sea air. It’s underrated.
Get onto the pipe track
Park your car at the top of Camps Bay, Therese Avenue specifically, and tackle the majestically picturesque Kasteelpoort hike. The views of Lion’s Head are unmatched.
Kirstenbosch Gardens into Skeleton Gorge
If you want to venture away from the seaboard and up the mountain, Skeleton Gorge is a great bet. It doesn’t get much more iconic than the Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens. Meet your mates at the tea room and explore the panoramic beauty that surrounds you. Explore everything that the gardens have to offer including all of the indigenous flora & fauna and then consider your next move on the mountain. You can also do this in reverse, starting on the seaboard side, peaking at Kasteelpoort and meandering down to the gardens via Nursery Ravine. Don’t get too distracted by the gorgeous views on your descent though because it’s steep and a little slippery.
Kirstenbosch isn’t technically on the seaboard, and it’s not free, but there are ways of traversing the mountain starting on the seaboard side of the world and descending into the gardens without paying. Don’t tell everyone though!
There are several other stunning hikes to tackle in the Mother City too.
What’s your favourite thing about Cape Town?
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