Free things to do in Cape Town on your Birthday
Whether you’re a born-and-bred Capetonian or merely visiting, get ready to celebrate your birthday in true Cape Town style, with a splash of sass & thrill of course (this is the beautiful & bold Mother City after all). Beyond Cape Town’s unapologetic natural beauty, breathtaking coastlines, magnificent mountain ranges, exceptional food & wine, great people, vibrant energy, and bold lust for life, it is also home to several world-renowned landmarks, iconic not-to-be-missed attractions, exciting activities, thrilling adventures, and tons of bucket-list worthy experiences – many of which you can enjoy and experience for FREE on your birthday! How INCREDIBLE is that?!
With so many of the Mother City’s most sought-after attractions going the extra mile to ensure that your special day is one you definitely won’t forget by showering you with endless exciting complimentary experiences during your birthday month, we thought we’d follow in her footsteps and do exactly the same!
So, to ensure you don’t miss out on a single one of the Mother City’s incredible variety of amazing, and equally exhilarating, free birthday activities and experiences, we put together a list of all the free things to do in Cape Town on your birthday.
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What are you waiting for? Make the most of your birthday in Cape Town & enjoy every second of the best free birthday experiences and deals the Mother City has to offer!
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#Take an Aerial Cableway ride to the top of Table Mountain
Pop a bottle of Birthday Champers on the summit of Table Mountain!
“We love celebrating our local visitors’ birthdays with them by presenting each of them with a must-have gift: a free Cableway ticket” – Table Mountain
Whether you’re a local or tourist, a trip up the glorious tall-standing Table Mountain via their Aerial Cableway is an absolute MUST! Table Mountain is perhaps South Africa’s most iconic symbol & sought-after attraction, and, lucky for you, you get to experience this Cape Town bucket-list experience for FREE on your birthday / any day during your birthday month – how epic is that?! Of all the free things to do on your birthday in Cape Town, this is probably the most popular among locals. In fact, it is somewhat of a Capetonian tradition to visit Table Mountain on your birthday!
All South African residents, 4 years and older, can collect and redeem their FREE Cableway birthday ticket on any day during their birthday month. Simply show your South African ID (passport, driver’s license, and birth certificate also accepted) at the Table Mountain Aerial Cableway Ticket Office or Visitor Information Centre on any day within your birth month and enjoy a free trip up to the top of the mountain – its as easy as that!
**Be sure to pack a picnic basket and take in the spectacular sweeping views of the Atlantic Ocean, Lions Head, Signal Hill, magnificent Mother City & beyond!
**Important Note: This birthday deal is for South African citizens only. Remember too that children must ride with an adult when claiming their birthday tickets, and the free ticket is only valid for the person celebrating the birthday. You’ll find all the fine print over here.
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**Fine Print:
- You can collect & redeem your FREE BIRTHDAY Aerial Cableway Ticket on any day of your calendar month in which your birthday falls.
- For example, visitors born in October are able to collect and redeem their free birthday tickets on any day in October (even if it’s before their actual birthday).
- Regardless of when your actual birth date falls during your birthday month, you cannot redeem your free birthday ticket the following month. For example, someone born on 31 October cannot use their birthday ticket in November.
- Tickets are only available to South African citizens. You will have to present a valid South African identity document, driving licence or birth certificate on arrival at the Cableway.
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- Location: Tafelberg Road, Gardens, Table Mountain (Nature Reserve), Cape Town
- Contact details: Contact: 021 424 0015 | [email protected]
- Website: Visit the Table Mountain website for more information & everything you need to know.
- Offer Valid: Collect and redeem your free birthday cableway ticket on any day of the calendar month in which your birthday falls, even if it’s before your actual birthday.
- Good to Know: Check the weather forecast ahead of your visit as the Table Mountain Aerial Cableway’s operations are weather-dependent. For weather and operational status updates, please visit Table Mountain’s homepage , call 021 424 8181, send an email to [email protected] or follow Table Mountain on Facebook and Twitter. It can get pretty cold at the top of the mountain, so be sure to take a warm jacket with. If you’re driving there, arrive earlier as parking might be limited.
#Enjoy your day at the Two Ocean’s Aquarium
Celebrate your birthday with Cape Town’s coolest marine life locals! The Two Oceans Aquarium offers free birthday entry for kids and adults of ALL ages in your birthday month! YES! You read that right! You have your ENTIRE BIRTHDAY MONTH – AKA: 30 OR 31 DAYS (depending on the month) – to take advantage of this INCREDIBLE Two Oceans Aquarium special FREE birthday offer!
Simply present your valid South African identification, such as your ID or passport, driver’s license, or a copy of your birth certificate at the Two Ocean’s Aquarium’s onsite ticket office to collect your complimentary birthday ticket and embark on a fun-filled & thrilling day of admiring, discovering, and exploring all the incredible ocean wonders the Two Ocean’s Aquarium has to offer & then some!
The Two Oceans Aquarium is a wonderful place for families, individuals, young and old to enjoy. This child-friendly aquarium offers a world of opportunities to explore and discover what the warm Indian Ocean with its bright and colourful fish and corals has to offer. In contrast, the cold Atlantic with its silver shoaling fish, swaying kelp and sleek predators, is sure to mesmerise and leave visitors marvelling at a world unseen by many.
- Where: Two Oceans Aquarium, Dock Road, V&A Waterfront, Cape Town
- Who: Suitable for all ages – from the young to the young at heart!
- Cost: FREE! Gratis! For Mahala! Verniet!
- **Note: this offer is open to South African citizens only!
- **Click here for more information & everything you need to know!
#Get Your Heart Racing With The SKY-HI Ride at Hotel Sky
If you’re a die-hard adrenaline junky or avid thrill seeker, this is DEFINITELY the perfect birthday present for you!
There’s nothing like a free-fall to make you feel alive. This one is definitely not for the faint-hearted, but adrenaline junkies will love this free birthday special in Cape Town. Visit Hotel Sky for a gravity-defying experience.
Starting on the 28th floor of Hotel Sky, the exhilarating Sky-Hi ride catapults you 35 metres up in the air on a chair lift, reaching a speed of up to 100 km per hour. If that’s not thrilling enough, you descend from truly epic heights – the hotel’s 28th floor, or 146 metres above the Cape Town City Bowl, to be exact, giving you a pretty spectacular sweep-you-off-your-feet (quite literally) bird’s eye view of the entire Mother City – How incredible is that?!
If this bucket-list worthy adventure experience excites you & has you jumping at the bid to tick off your list, then step right up to claim your free birthday ticket for the only ride of its kind in Africa.
All you need to do to claim your free birthday SKI-HI ride is book via Webtickets using your ID number as verification. This excludes the video of the experience, which can be bought for R50. Please note that this ride is weather-dependent.
- Location: 28th Floor, Hotel Sky, Corner Lower Long & Walter Sisulu Avenue, Cape Town
- Offer Valid: Free on your birthday or for your birthday month | **Click here to book via Webtickets
- Contact details: 021 879 5040 | [email protected]
- Book: Click here to book via Webtickets
- Website: www.sky-hiride.capetown
- Good to Know: The recording costs R50 | R200 pp if it’s not your birthday
#Take a fun FREE Birthday ride on the famous Cape Wheel
Its time to go for a ride – a Cape Wheel ride that is! Taking a ride on the famous Cape Wheel at the V&A Waterfront is without a doubt a MUST-DO Cape Town activity. In addition to being a bucket-list worthy experience, it promises to be a fun-filled and super exciting experience that will be thoroughly enjoyed by absolutely EVERYONE – from the young right through to the young at heart – AND if it happens to be your birthday, you get to enjoy a FREE ride on this iconic Cape Town attraction!
Sign up on the Cape Wheel’s website for their Birthday Club and fill out the application form to receive your FREE birthday Cape Wheel voucher via email, which is valid for 30 days after. Bring a printout of the voucher and your ID along to the ticket booth and enjoy your FREE ride!
**Important Note: If you do not have the printed voucher, the FREE ride may only be redeemed on the exact day of your birthday, using your ID as proof.
**Happy Snappy will also give you a complimentary A3 sized birthday photo when you purchase a photo pack after your ride. You will also receive their monthly newsletter to let you know about any other special deals and events going on.
In addition to it being an epic experience, the Cape Wheel boasts spectacular panoramic views across Granger Bay on one side, Robben Island in the distance, views of the renowned Table Mountain on the other end, as well as sights of Signal Hill and the Cape Town stadium, all from 40 metres above the ground. That’s not all! Riders will have below them the sight of giant container ships coming and going, large cruise and charter boats heading in and out of the harbour, kayakers accompanied by schools of dolphins as well as the possibility of spotting occasional whales that visit the bay from time to time.
**BONUS: To add an extra special touch to your already exciting ride, you should definitely go on an unforgettable Cape Wheel sunset ride and watch the sun kiss Lion’s Head and Table Mountain good night. Not to mention enjoy stunning sunset views of the glorious Cape Town city skyline and beyond – Cape Town is known for its sensational sweep-you-off-your-feet sherbet-coloured sunsets after all!
- Location: The Cape Wheel (PTY) LTD, The Lawns, Breakwater Boulevard, V&A Waterfront, Cape Town
- Contact details: Tel: 087 470 0696 | Email: [email protected] | For group bookings: [email protected]
- Website: www.capewheel.co.za
#Celebrate African Art At Zeitz MOCAA
The Zeitz Museum Of Contemporary Art Africa is situated in the Silo District of the Waterfront and is one of the cultural highlights of the continent.
The Zeitz MOCAA (Museum of Contemporary Art Africa) houses an outstanding collection of art from across the continent. This architectural marvel is home to both permanent and temporary exhibitions celebrating contemporary creativity from Africa and its diaspora – in fact, it’s the world’s largest museum of contemporary art from Africa and its diaspora.
It is a must-visit for all head-over-heels art-lovers and during your birthday month you get FREE entry on any day during your birthday month, excluding Mondays (as the Zeitz MOCAA is only open from Tuesday – Sunday). If you would like to take a friend with you, they will also be granted free access, provided it’s a Wednesday.
This offer is open to all South Africans and citizens with any valid African passport. Simply show your ID or passport as proof of identification.
Forgot to go in your birthday month? African citizens (show your passport or South African ID) can access Zeitz MOCAA for free every Wednesday from 10am -1pm. Under-18s can enjoy free access every day of the week.
- Location: Zeitz MOCAA, Silo District, S Arm Road, V&A Waterfront
- Offer Valid: Any day of your birthday month from Tuesday – Sunday between 10h00–18h00
- Good to Know: Free access for South African ID and African passport holders on Wednesdays between 10h00–13h00 | Free access for under 18s (with proof of SA ID)
#Celebrate at The Galileo Open Air Cinema
Known as Cape Town’s first and finest outdoor movie experience, a visit to The Galileo Open Air Cinema should be on everyone’s Cape Town bucket-list. In Cape Town, the wildly popular Galileo Open Air Cinema is synonymous with summertime bliss, as it brings movie magic to majestic venues across Cape Town throughout the vibrant Mother City summer season.
This means that if your birthday falls between November to April – during The Galileo summer season when the open air cinema is in full swing – you can enjoy FREE entry by claiming the Galileo Birthday Special during your birthday week (which starts on a Monday and ends on a Sunday)!
During your Birthday Week, simply arrive at the door with your ID and receive a *FREE entry, a backrest, and a blanket! It’s as easy as that!
Even if a show is sold out The Galileo Open Air Cinema will always make provision to honour the birthday person. However, anyone accompanying the birthday person – AKA your Birthday entourage – must pre-book tickets to avoid disappointment. No sales will be allowed at the door if a show is sold out. Also remember that the Birthday Special does not apply to Special Screenings such as Halloween, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Valentine’s Day, and Easter.
**For more information on The Galileo Open Air Cinema’s terms & conditions regarding movie screening times, ticket sales, weather, availability, and restrictions – visit their website.
- Locations: All partner venues
- Contact details: 071 471 8728 | [email protected] | [email protected] | Movie Line-up & Ticket Bookings
- Offer Valid: Week of your birthday | Standard tickets prices start at R140
- Good to Know: Doors open from 6pm on weekdays and 5pm on Saturdays | Screenings only start after sunset but be sure to arrive earlier to claim a good spot and snacks beforehand.
- **Visit the Galileo Open Air Cinema’s website to stay up to date on all upcoming movies, schedules, venues, updates, exciting announcements, or to book your tickets.
- **Click here for everything you need to know about the Galileo Birthday Special.
#Hop on-board the City Sightseeing Red Bus
Be a tourist in your home town on your special day and have a hop-on-hop-off red bus adventure exploring all the beauty Cape Town has to offer.
By becoming members of the City Sightseeing Kids’ Club kids between the ages of 5 – 15 years old will get to discover, experience, and explore the vibrant and exciting Mother City for FREE on their birthday with their free one-day classic bus ticket (ONLY valid for kids aged 5 – 15 years old). What’s more, the birthday boy or girl can also bring along one friend for free on the day (also aged between 5 – 15 years) to make their day of birthday exploration extra special! That’s not all! To top it off, kids who hop on board will also receive a fun activity pack!
**IMPORTANT NOTE: Registrations need to be made a minimum of two weeks before the kid’s birthday in order to qualify for the free vouchers / tickets which will be sent to you via email. The free vouchers are valid for four weeks – one week before their birthday / date of birth and three weeks after their birthday. At least one adult (with a full-price ticket) must accompany the children. **Both the birthday boy or girl and their friend must be under 15 years of age to qualify for this epic free birthday City Sightseeing Red Bus adventure!
**Click here to sign up for the City Sightseeing Kids Club & find out everything you need to know.
- Location: Ticket Office, Dock Rd, Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, Cape Town
- Contact details: 021 511 6000 | [email protected]
- Who: Children aged between 5 – 15 years | At least one adult (with a full-price ticket) must accompany the children
- Tip: If it is granny’s treat and they are pensioners, remember pensioners receive a discount on all 1-day tickets too!
- Website: www.citysightseeing.co.za/en/cape-town
- **Click here to sign up for the City Sightseeing Kids Club & find out everything you need to know.
#Zip Along The Sea Point Promenade with UpCycles
Celebrate your birthday in style & enjoy the sweet side of life with a scenic ride along the famous Sea Point Promenade (or at any one of these locations) with UpCycles! There is no better or more exciting & fun way to discover and explore the city of Cape Town than on a bicycle, trust us! And, lucky for you, you get to enjoy this amazing adventure experience for free on your birthday!
That’s right! For one hour on your birthday you can enjoy an exhilarating bike ride free of charge, complimentary of UpCycles! All you need to do is to arrive on your actual birthday and bring your proof of identification / a valid South African ID along to UpCycles to claim your gift & get pedalling. Simple as that!
We recommend going for a sunset ride to experience the promenade and glorious city of Cape Town at its best. The Mother City is famous for her spectacular sherbet-coloured sunsets after all! However, irrespective of what time of day you choose to enjoy your complimentary birthday UpCycles bike ride, it promises to be an unforgettable experience!
- Locations: Sea Point Promenade | Silo District, V&A Waterfront | Bay Hotel, Camps Bay
- Contact: 074 100 9161 | 076 135 2223 | [email protected]
- Offer Valid: Only on your birthday
- Bring: A valid South African ID / Proof of identification
- Good to Know: Wear comfortable plants, the last thing you want is to rip your pants and show your birthday suit to innocent bystanders
- Website: www.upcycles.co.za
- **Visit the UpCycles website for more information & everything you need to know
