Cape Town on a budget

There is no denying that the Mother City is pretty hot on the tourism lists at the moment, and it is not difficult to work out why. Cape Town caters for you no matter what your reason for travelling. It is stunning to look at, has reams of history to get your inquisitive mind stuck into, and a plethora of bars, restaurants and clubs catering for everything between outright snobbery and erm... dirty places.

It does indeed have a justified reputation of being expensive (relatively for South Africans), but there are ways and means to do Cape Town on a budget, and here they are.

When should I come?
Firstly, travel at the right time. Between mid-December and mid-January, avoid Cape Town at all costs. Everything will be full, flights will be expensive, hotels will be at a premium, backpackers will be chockers and prices rise - it's just not good for scrimping and saving.

If you are heading in from Johannesburg, Durban or somewhere else far, it is cheaper to fly unless you can fill up a car with a few people to split the cost of petrol. You can also keep changing drivers to avoid having to stop overnight somewhere. Rule of thumb if flying: aim to depart on a Tuesday or Wednesday and stay over a Saturday night - do not fly on Friday or Sunday as tickets will be marked-up and more expensive.

Where should I stay?
People are moving to Cape Town at a rapid rate, so you probably have a friend that lives there now - blag your way in. If that doesn't work then stay central - in the city bowl, Long Street in particular where there are loads of backpacker establishments amongst a plethora of the city's bars and restaurants. Every taste is catered for, including those who seek out the bohemian aspects of hippy Cape Town. Backpackers seem to start at around R100 per night in Long Street; they go down to about R70 if you stay further out of the city bowl, but getting to and from them might start racking up bills, although Cape Town taxis are much cheaper than their Johannesburg equivalents.

Many attractions, great nightlife, Green Point Stadium and more are within walking distance of town.

Long Street in Cape Town. Photo by lh3.ggpht.com

How should I get around?
Cape Town Station is slap-bang in the centre of town, is within walking distance of Long Street (train and bus) and has connections to many destinations you might want to see: Newlands, Simonstown, Kalk Bay, Muizenberg, the winelands, Stellenbosch, Somerset West and so on. Fares are also fairly cheap: Cape Town to Simons Town and Muizenberg are R23.50 return, Newlands and Wynberg are both around R18 return. If you are journeying to a destination that's not on a train line then ask your backpackers' reception for a recommended taxi service.

Train approaching Glencairn. Photo by iguide.travel

What about the beaches?
Cape Town boasts serious beach splendour. As you go south from Sea Point you'll hit Bantry Bay first, then the stunning Clifton. Avoid the shops around Camps Bay if you are counting pennies - anything to eat or drink around there costs a fortune. Llundudno, Kommetjie, Noordhoek, Muizenberg - the list goes on and on. Boulders Beach (near Simonstown) is famous for the penguins that live there (the beach is free to sit on, but costs R35/adult and R10/child to see the penguins).

Muizenberg beach. Photo by capespirit.com.

What else can I do on the cheap?
The Sea Point Promenade is a stretch of coastline extending from Mouille Point all the way to Bantry Bay. Walks down here include the crisp smell of the south Atlantic, views of Blouberg, elegant ships waiting to enter Cape Town harbour, athletic Capetonians jogging up and down, and touch rugby and football games in progress.

(L) Sea Point Promenade. Photo by NeoGroup on flickr.
(R) St George's Mall. Photo by notesfromthecape.com.

St George's Mall is possibly the closest Cape Town can equate with Las Ramblas in Barcelona. A short walk up from Riebeek St up to St George's Cathedral on Wale St is a buzz of buskers, coffee shops, eateries, flea market stalls, and it is well policed.

Kalk Bay is a small village in False Bay, boasting arguably the best fish and chips on the planet. Walking from one side to the other, one passes bric-a-brac shops, book shops, the Kalk Bay theatre, the famous Brass Bell restaurant and the gorgeous ocean.

(L) Kalk Bay. Photo by ifijay on flickr
(R) Franschhoek. Photo by Wikimedia Common.

Catch a train out to Franschhoek which will lead you to some of the most gorgeous winelands and restaurants in the country (eight of South Africa's top 100 restaurants are located in this area). In the village itself you will find art galleries, antique stores, coffee shops and more in one of the most stunning parts of the world. Enjoy the food and wine culture brought here by the French Hugenots.

Lion's Head lies right behind Signal Hill and is climbable in an hour for the unfit and half an hour for the fit people (to whom I can't relate at all). Enjoy a breathtaking 360-degree view over Camps Bay, the rest of the Atlantic Seaboard, the city bowl and up towards Table Mountain.

View from Lions Head out towards Hout Bay. Image by Robert Shone.

And museums?
Iziko, is an organisation which runs a number of Cape Town's museums and allows visitors in for free on eight days throughout the year: Human Rights Day (21 March), Freedom Day (27 April), International Museum Day (18 May), Africa Day (25 May), Youth Day (16 June), National Women's Day (9 August), Heritage Day (24 September), National Aids Awareness Day (1 December).

Take advantage of these cost-cutting days to see some superb SA cultural and historical pieces in the South Africa Museum (natural history) and Planetarium, art collections in the SA National Gallery, and some social history in the Slave Lodge, Bo-Kaap museum and many more.

Where can I eat for cheap?
There are so many restaurants in Cape Town that if you dig around for long enough you will find one that suits your taste and budget. These are just a few recommendations in town which we came up with. If you have any other tips then please add them in the comments section below.

Legendary Rafiki's (13 Kloof Nek road, Tamboerskloof) is the Capetonian equivalent of Joburg's Cool Runnings. Burgers and pizzas here start at R39, and giant platters begin at R99.50.

Beleza on Kloof Nek (opposite Rafikis) and Arnold's on Kloof Street are popular for a cheap fry-up and breakfast - some meals cost under R20.

Beluga's doesn't have a reputation as a cheap place, but they do run their "Blue Platter" special there of 26 pieces of sushi for R99.

Royale is a Cape Town institution and we hear it makes the best burger in the city. Starting at around R50 they may not sound cost-effective, but the quality and size of the food you get for that means you are the one feeling better at the exchange of money.

Mr Pickwicks () boasts loads of great finger foods including a large dish of potato wedges with myriad sauces for only R19.

A trip to Cape Town is always worth it, no matter what you end up spending.

What other tips can you give travellers to Cape Town?