Noordhoek Beach. Photo courtesy Damien du Toit

You don’t have to keep up with the Joneses to enjoy life in the Mother City.

From free lunchtime concerts and gourmet food tasting to admiring public art and strolls through your neighbourhood, living it up for mahala (free) is possible.

Try these top free activities in Cape Town:

Free entertainment

From musical concerts and live sport at the V&A Waterfront Amphitheatre to live performances at Company’s Garden and the Artscape Theatre, you get the best entertainment in the city for less.

Free food

Tantalising food markets have been popping up all over the Peninsula, and sampling their delicious treats is gratis!

Visit the City Bowl Market on Hope in the City Centre, Neighbourgoods Market in Woodstock or the Bay Harbour Market in Hout Bay for a taste of the good stuff.

Free education

Get a cost-saving education with the free talks, exhibitions and tours available in the Mother City.

From free entry to the Iziko Museums on selected days throughout the year to free bi-monthly visits to the South African Astronomical Observatory and viewings of superb art exhibitions at the Rust en Vreugd and Freeworld Design Centre in the City Centre, you’ll broaden your intellectual horizons.

Free walks

Looking good is totally affordable with a variety of scenic walking routes in Cape Town. Whether you’re admiring the street art and design in the inner city, taking long romantic walks along our gorgeous beachfronts or leisurely strolling through Newlands Forest, you’re sure to get a good workout.

Free suntans

Looking a bit pale after winter but can’t afford a session at a tanning salon? Do it the natural way by relaxing on our sandy shores.

From Noordhoek to Camps Bay and Muizenberg to Gordon’s Bay, getting that sun-kissed look won’t bankrupt you.