A Week in Cape Town at R150 per Day

Your detailed daily plan for an unforgettable but affordable week in the Mother City

Whether you’re a local or a tourist holidaying in the Mother City, when the cash balance is looking low, working to a daily budget is your only saviour. The issue is, if you don’t have a clearly laid-out plan, you’ll find that the costs add up faster than you can press ‘proceed’ on the ATM. One slightly overpriced meal and you’ve already chewed through nine-tenths of your allocated lot for the day, which means the following day you’ll be eating only dry crackers.

So, we’ve made things really simple for you and created a detailed week’s itinerary of sorts that’ll help you enjoy an array of fun Cape Town activities and an assortment of great dishes for no more than R150 a day (and a little less in some cases). The plan includes plenty distinct, exciting to-dos and enjoyable meals, so you can keep your pocket full while stocking up the memory bank too (do note, this guide doesn’t include travel costs). Ultimately, a great budget getaway is just one read away.

A WEEK IN CAPE TOWN AT R150 PER DAY OR LESS

MONDAY
Activity 1:Start the week by heading to Cape Town’s pristine Camps Bay beach to spend a good portion of the day here while soaking up the sun and sea breeze (total: free)
Meal 1: Trundle across Camps Bay’s main road to collect a few picnic snacks, like breadsticks and basil pesto, fromthe suburb’s local Pick n Pay – we recommend you grab a tub of Marcel’s frozen yoghurt while you’re there (total: R50)
Activity 2: Around sunset, wind your way along the coastal Victoria Road and stop in at The Twelve Apostles Hotel and Spa to enjoy an Apple Cooler on the The Leopard Bar’s sea-facing balcony (total: R45)
Meal 2: Head to Observatory in the Southern Suburbs to cash in on the Entertainer app at The Wild Fig restaurant, if you have it! This nifty app offers you two mains for the price of one – although certain conditions do apply.
APPROXIMATE DAY TOTAL: R145

TUESDAY
Meal 1:Pop into the delightful Arnolds restaurant on Kloof Street in the suburb of Gardens to tuck into its popular Mike’s Free-range Breakfast, which includes two eggs, two strips of bacon, ostrich sausage, two slices of grilled tomato and toast (total: R35)
Activity 1/Meal 2: Make your way to The River Club, a down-to-earth golf course in Observatory, to make the most of its Tuesday beer, balls and burger special. The deal invites visitors to practise their swing at the venue’s impressive driving range (100 balls are included) and to then head to the on-site restaurant to grab a flame-grilled patty and a half-pint of brew (total: R95)
Activity 2: After your golfing adventure, and while you’re still in the Southern Suburbs, pay a visit to the grand Rhodes Memorial on the lower slopes of Devil’s Peak mountain and soak up the vast view of the city from here (total: free)
Activity 3: End off the day by testing your general knowledge at The Foreign Exchange bar’s incredibly fun trivia night, which kicks off at 7pm and challenges participants with five sets of 10 questions on different topics – we recommend arriving around 5pm for the pub’s daily happy hour (total: free for quiz; R20 for a craft beer during happy hour)
APPROXIMATE DAY TOTAL: R150 (with craft beer included)

WEDNESDAY
Activity 1:Spend the morning relaxing in the lush Company’s Garden, capitalising on the space’s free Wi-fi and learning about the greenway’s history as the city’s very first vegetable patch. Leave a little time to view the arts and crafts on show at the adjacent South African National Gallery (total: free for garden; R30 for entrance to the gallery)
Meal 1: Saunter into colourful Latin American cantina Orinoco anytime between 12pm and 3pm for its super cheap and super delicious quesadilla and burrito lunch special (total: R39)
Activity 2: Take a late afternoon stroll along the picturesque, beachside Sea Point and Mouille Point promenades (total: free)
Meal 2: When you reach Sotano in Mouille Point, grab a table and enjoy the Mediterranean restaurant’s famous 2-for-1 lamb burger and fries special (total: R45 for each person in a pair)
Activity 3: If you’re not too tired, catch a 8.15pm movie at The Labia Theatre, an old-school independent cinema in the centre of town (total: R40)
APPROXIMATE DAY TOTAL: R154 (make use of the left-over R5 from Monday)

THURSDAY
Activity 1:Take the Metrorail train from your nearest station to the charming coastal village of Simon’s Town (you’ll pass Muizenberg, Kalk Bay and Fish Hoek along the way) and spend a chunk of the day browsing the suburb’s quaint stores and walking its waterfront piers. We suggest you also swing by the South African Naval Museum, where you can see submarine models, navy guns, diving equipment and more (total: R19 for return train trip; free for museum and browsing)
Meal 1: On the way back, jump off at Kalk Bay and snack on authentic South African fish and slap chips from iconic waterside eatery Kalky’s (total: around R45)
Activity 2/Meal 2: Once back in Cape Town, pick up a few takeaway dishes from the very affordable Eastern Food Bazaar, which specialises in exotic Indian, Chinese and Arabic fare, and enjoy the bites while watching the sun sink over the city from Signal Hill (total: R45)
Activity 3: While away the evening listing to live music performed by up-and-coming local artists at vibey Kloof Street bar Jackal & Hide. The gig starts at 8:30pm, but if you arrive before 8pm, you can pick up a refreshing half-price cocktail (total: free for music; R25 for the half-price drink)
APPROXIMATE DAY TOTAL: R134

FRIDAY
Meal 1: Kick off a day in the Cape Winelands with a traditional cheese and scrambled egg roosterkoek (barbequed bread) at the laidback De Stomme Jonge eatery in Stellenbosch’s town centre (total: R25)
Activity 1: Spend a solid portion of the day sampling red and white wines at some of Stellenbosch’s breathtaking vino farms. We recommend doing tastings at Tokara (total: free)
Activity 2: Between samplings, pop into Avontuur Wine Estate (it’s home to champion race horses and award-winning vino) and embark on a self-guided tour through the farm’s vineyards and paddocks – an easy-to-use map can be collected from the tasting room to help you navigate your way around (total: R100).
Meal 2: On the return journey to Cape Town, stop in at the Mooiberge Farmstall and buy a fresh homemade pie for dinner (total: R12.50)
Activity 3: Spend the night shaking some tail feather at either The Waiting Room or Fiction night clubs on Long Street (total: around R40 for club entrance; prices increase after 11pm so arrive early)
*Tip: Buy a bottle of wine from one of the farms you visit in Stellenbosch to drink at a ‘pre-party’ prior to going clubbing – your tasting fee at this farm will then also be waived.
APPROXIMATE DAY TOTAL: R147.50

SATURDAY
Activity 1/Meal 1:Begin Saturday by browsing the many stalls at Hout Bay’s indoor Bay Harbour Market – a hotspot where creativity, culture and cuisine meets – and buy some brunch bites (like pancakes, sushi, sandwiches and more) while you’re there (total: free for market entry; R50 for food)
Activity 2: In the afternoon, try your hand at geocaching, an exciting outdoor activity that involved finding hidden treasures using GPS coordinates, in the pretty Hout Bay area (total: free)
Activity 3: Before day turns to night, swing by the Casablanca-themed Rick’s Café Américain in Gardens for happy hour and gulp back a well-priced 500-mL Jack Black lager (total: R26)
Activity 4/Meal 2: Go shopping for some boerewors, garlic bread and salad ingredients at your nearest supermarket and braai into the night at a friend’s house or at one of these top local barbeque spots (total: around R60)
APPROXIMATE DAY TOTAL: R136

SUNDAY
Activity 1:Head to the Mother City’s leafy Newlands Forest and join a bunch of families, couples and foreigners on a morning hike amidst the tall pines (total: free) 
Meal 1: Make Sunday lunch memorable with a traditional roast and some live tunes at Cape Town’s brew mecca, Beerhouse – the meat and trimmings are available from 12pm and the acoustic melodies start at 5pm (total: R85)
Activity 2: Wrap up the day with some good laughs at a hilarious 8:30pm stand-up comedy show at Obviouzly Armchair Backpackers and Pub in Observatory (total: R20 for entry)
Meal 2: While you’re enjoying some giggles at the Southern Suburbs backpackers, order a few chilli poppers or barbeque wings off the pub’s menu to keep that tummy satisfied (total: R30)
APPROXIMATE DAY TOTAL: R135

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