Best Free Things to Do in Simon’s Town
Simon’s Town is one of Cape Town’s most interesting coastal destinations, combining False Bay scenery, beaches, naval history, historic architecture and mountain walks in one relatively compact town.
While some of the area’s best-known attractions charge entrance fees, you don’t need to spend much to experience Simon’s Town. There are beaches to explore, historic streets to walk, viewpoints to discover and even a naval museum that can be visited for free.
Whether you’re exploring Cape Town on a budget or simply looking for something different to do for the day, here are some of the best free things to do in Simon’s Town.
1. Walk Simon’s Town’s Historic Mile
One of the best ways to experience Simon’s Town costs nothing at all — explore it on foot.
The Simon’s Town Historical Society has documented a Historic Mile walking route beginning around Simon’s Town Station and continuing towards the East Dockyard. The complete walk can take up to two hours depending on how much time you spend exploring along the way.
The route provides an opportunity to appreciate the historic buildings and maritime character that distinguish Simon’s Town from many other Cape Peninsula destinations.
Take your time, look beyond the main road and enjoy the combination of historic architecture, mountain slopes and views towards False Bay.
Cost: Free
2. Visit the Just Nuisance Statue
You can hardly visit Simon’s Town without meeting its most famous dog.
The bronze statue of Just Nuisance stands in Jubilee Square and commemorates the Great Dane associated with the Royal Navy during the Second World War.
The statue has become one of Simon’s Town’s best-known landmarks and makes an easy stop while exploring the town centre.
Cape Town Tourism confirms that visiting the statue is free.
Cost: Free
3. Explore Jubilee Square and the Jetty
Don’t leave immediately after seeing Just Nuisance.
Spend some time exploring Jubilee Square, one of the central public spaces in Simon’s Town.
The square provides a good starting point for discovering the surrounding historic town and waterfront, while the nearby jetty offers views across the harbour and False Bay.
It’s an easy addition to a walking day in Simon’s Town and pairs naturally with the Historic Mile.
Cost: Free
4. Visit the South African Naval Museum
This is probably one of the best-value attractions in Simon’s Town — because admission is free.
The South African Naval Museum explores South Africa’s maritime and naval history through a collection of exhibits and historic artefacts.
Cape Town Tourism currently lists admission as free, although donations are welcomed.
For anyone interested in ships, maritime history or Simon’s Town’s long relationship with the navy, this should be high on the itinerary.
Cost: Free; donations welcomed
5. Hike to Admiral’s Waterfall
Simon’s Town isn’t only about the ocean.
Head towards Barnard Street and you can find the trail leading towards Admiral’s Waterfall.
Cape Town Tourism describes it as an approximately 3 km trail taking around 1.5 hours, with views across Simon’s Town harbour along the way. Access to the hike is listed as free.
It provides a completely different perspective of the town and is a great way to combine some exercise with False Bay scenery.
Cost: Free
6. Visit the Grave of Just Nuisance
If the statue in Jubilee Square leaves you wanting to learn more about Simon’s Town’s famous Great Dane, you can also visit his resting place above the town.
The route involves climbing from the Barnard Street area towards Red Hill, where elevated views over Simon’s Town and the naval dockyard add another reason to make the walk. Cape Town Tourism identifies the grave as another free attraction.
Combine it with Admiral’s Waterfall if you’re planning a morning of exploring on foot.
Cost: Free
7. Spend Time at Windmill Beach
You don’t have to pay for Boulders Beach to enjoy this beautiful stretch of the False Bay coastline.
Windmill Beach offers granite boulders, sheltered water and beautiful coastal scenery.
Cape Town Tourism specifically highlighted Windmill Beach in its 2026 guide to affordable Cape Town activities and lists the beach as free.
Pack something to eat, bring a towel and turn it into a simple Cape Town beach day without an attraction entrance fee.
Cost: Free
8. Explore Seaforth Beach
Seaforth provides another opportunity to enjoy the Simon’s Town coastline without building the day around expensive activities.
The sheltered beach sits along the False Bay coast close to some of Simon’s Town’s better-known attractions.
Even if swimming isn’t on the agenda, it’s worth stopping to enjoy the coastal setting and views across the bay.
Cost: Free
9. Discover Miller’s Point Tidal Pool
Travel a little further along the coastline and you’ll find another free outdoor experience.
Miller’s Point tidal pool offers a sheltered place to enjoy the coastal scenery, with natural pools, picnic areas and views across the rocky bay.
Cape Town Tourism lists the tidal pool as a free Simon’s Town attraction.
It makes a particularly good addition to a day focused on exploring the beaches and natural attractions around the southern Cape Peninsula.
Cost: Free
10. Walk the Simon’s Town Waterfront
Sometimes the simplest activities are among the best.
Take a slow walk through the waterfront area and enjoy the harbour, boats, mountain backdrop and False Bay views.
Simon’s Town’s combination of working naval town and coastal destination gives the waterfront a character very different from Cape Town’s larger tourist precincts.
Combine the waterfront with Jubilee Square and the Historic Mile and you can easily spend several hours exploring without paying an entrance fee.
Cost: Free
11. Explore Simon’s Town’s Historic Architecture
Simon’s Town’s history is visible throughout its streets.
Instead of rushing between individual attractions, spend some time looking at the historic buildings and streetscapes that developed around this important maritime settlement.
The Historical Society’s walking route is particularly useful for identifying significant buildings and understanding how the town developed.
It’s another reason why Simon’s Town works particularly well as a destination for travellers exploring Cape Town on a budget.
Cost: Free
12. Enjoy the Views Across False Bay
You don’t always need an official attraction to find one of the best experiences.
Simon’s Town sits between the mountain and False Bay, creating plenty of opportunities to simply stop and enjoy the scenery.
Walk through town, explore the coastline or head towards one of the elevated public walking routes for a different perspective over the harbour and bay.
On a clear day, the views alone make Simon’s Town worth visiting.
Cost: Free
A Free Day Out in Simon’s Town
One of the advantages of Simon’s Town is how easily several free experiences can be combined into one day.
Start with the Historic Mile, explore Jubilee Square, visit the Just Nuisance statue and spend some time at the South African Naval Museum.
From there, continue towards the coastline and choose between Seaforth Beach, Windmill Beach or Miller’s Point.
If you’d prefer something more active, make Admiral’s Waterfall part of the day instead.
You can experience the history, coastline and natural beauty of Simon’s Town without paying entrance fees at every stop.
Remember: Not Everything in Simon’s Town Is Free
It’s important that we make this distinction in the article.
Nearby Boulders Penguin Colony is a paid SANParks attraction, so I would not include Boulders in the list simply because visitors can walk through the surrounding area.
The article becomes more trustworthy if “free” genuinely means free, rather than “free until you reach the main attraction.”
Explore More of Cape Town for Less
Simon’s Town proves that some of Cape Town’s best experiences don’t require a big travel budget.
From historic streets and naval heritage to beaches, tidal pools, coastal views and mountain walks, there are plenty of ways to experience this corner of the Cape Peninsula without paying an entrance fee.
Use Simon’s Town as one stop on a bigger budget-friendly Cape Town adventure and discover just how much of the city can be explored for free.
