Summer is almost here! One of the biggest draws for a holiday in South Africa are the best beaches in Cape Town. While the water is usually various degrees of freezing cold (depending on whether you dare to tip your toes in on the Atlantic or the False Bay side with the Indian ocean) the views are always worth a trip.
Whether you like to get your tan on and chill for hours, have a picnic with friends, need some mellow water for your kids or surf those freezing waves – there is a beach in Cape Town for every taste and occasion.
You will find the most popular Cape Town beaches and how to get there in this post. And you will be happy to hear that going to the beach in Cape Town is one of the best things to do for free in South Africa!
The best beaches in Cape Town
CAMPS BAY Beach
Probably one of the most famous beaches in Cape Town is Camps Bay beach. It is big, there are palm trees and Instagram-worthy spots with views over the 12 Apostles and Lion’s Head and it has the oh so popular Victoria Road with busy bars and restaurants (which I personally think are overrated but if you are here you might as well tick a drink at Caprice off your bucket list!).
I do like the views on Camps Bay beach especially early in the morning. Mind you, if the wind is pumping in Camps Bay a beach day can turn into a very sandy affair. Also, the waves can get quite rough – I recommend you only swim here if you are very comfortable in the ocean. For a calmer dip head a little further down where you will find the lovely Camps Bay tidal pool. The water is still freezing but you won’t have to battle with swell or waves so it makes for a great place for swimming.
Blue Flag Beach (read here what that means)
Facilities: Toilet facilities, lifeguards on duty and plenty of cafes and shops right across the street. You can also rent sun loungers and umbrellas.
Getting there: While there is street parking right on the Camps Bay promenade, chances are if you don’t come early in the morning you won’t find any. Parking in the side streets behind is a possibility but also limited. I would recommend taking an Uber and leaving your car at home. Alternatively, you can take the MyCiti bus to Camps Bay as there is a bus stop on Victoria Road (Camps Bay stop) and by the tidal pool (Whale Rock stop).
Another option is to book yourself into one of the chic Cape Town beach hotels, the Table Bay hotel or the POD so you can walk to the beach.
Clifton Beaches
The Clifton Beaches 1 – 4 are close to Camps Bay but offer much better protection from the wind as they are sheltered little bays. Back in the day, one differentiated them by the people who went to each: Clifton 4th beach was for the young and beautiful, one was called the ‘gay’ beach, one was for families… I honestly don’t know if these characteristics still apply, I found them silly, to begin with.
What you should know is that Clifton Fourth Beach has its own parking lot and is easiest to get to. This makes it very popular with the photo teams in Cape Town because the other Clifton beaches have a lot more steps.
Mind you, this also means the beach gets a lot more crowded especially during the early morning and late afternoon when the light is best.
I personally like Clifton 1st beach best as it is quiet and I don’t mind the steps leading down to it.
Clifton 4th is a Blue Flag Beach
Facilities: You will find toilets on Clifton 4th & 1st beach as well as lifeguards on duty, a snack kiosk and vendors renting loungers & umbrellas on Clifton 4th. There are usually vendors selling water and ice-lollies on all the beaches.
Getting there: Only Clifton 4th beach has a proper parking lot but it is tiny. If you are going to any of the other Clifton beaches, you can park on the roadside if you get lucky. Again, I recommend taking an Uber or the MyCiti bus which stops at Clifton th, Clifton rd, Clifton nd, Clifton st (yes, those are the names of the bus stops!).
You will see signs for each Clifton beach on Victoria Road and then you just need to follow the steps. Don’t be surprised if you are looking into someone’s living room on the way – this is prime property in Cape Town!
If you are going to the 4th beach, head down The Ridge and you will see the steps to the beach behind the parking.
Technically you could walk from 1st to 4th beach and back as they are only divided by some big boulders but it will depend on the tide on how wet you might get.
LLANDUDNO BEACH
Llandudno close to Hout Bay was named after its North Wales’ counterpart and has grown into a popular residential area. There are no shops and not much to do but Llandudno beach is a real beauty.
Llandudno beach is vast and wild and a favorite for the local surf community. The lifeguard club is known for its Baywatch vibes and epic parties, making this a Cape Town beach that brings together cool families and surfers of all ages.
From here you can also access Sandy Bay, which is popular if you are looking for a nudist beach in Cape Town.
Blue Flag Beach
Facilities: In summer there are lifeguards on duty.
Getting there: Take Victoria Road/ M6 towards Hout Bay and turn right on the Llandudno turnoff. Follow the road all the way down to the beach. As this is a residential area, parking is limited. You can take the MyCiti bus to the Llandudno stop, however, this will leave you on Victoria Road and it is quite a walk down to the beach.
Blouberg Beach & Big Bay
Up north, you will find Blouberg Beach followed by Big Bay. They are both stunning and thanks to a decent breeze, absolute kitesurfer heaven. While this part of town is mainly residential and not very exciting, many people will stay here for a long holiday only to be able to kite every day.
For everyone else, these beaches are so special thanks to their postcard-perfect views of Table Mountain. There is simply no better spot to get a full mountain view with the ocean in front of it anywhere else in town. Definitely stay for sunset to see how the lights in town come on and add some sparkle at the foot of Table Mountain.
Facilities: There are various access points for both beaches. Head to Eden on the Bay, a shopping center between the two beaches and stop at Blue Peter for a sundowner.
Getting there: Head north on the R27 – from here there are various access points to the beaches with parking lots. Otherwise, you can take the MyCiti bus to Big Bay. From here you can access both beaches. Alternatively, there are plenty of bus stops along Blouberg Beach as well as parking facilities.
BOULDERS Beach & WINDMILL BEACH
Boulders Beach in Simonstown is probably the most famous beach in South Africa. Here you can find the local African penguins and go for a swim with them. The beach itself is rather tiny but the funny (yet stinky) Happy Feet make up for it. You can read all about a trip to the penguins here:
Alternatively, head to adjacent and free Windmill Beach. It is beautiful and usually deserted but you might still get some stray penguins joining you for a swim.
Facilities: Boulders Beach has a snack shop at the Visitors Center as well as toilet facilities. Depending on the season the opening times vary but on average, the gate is open from 8 am to 6.30 pm and entrance fee for visitors is ZAR 160.
While there is a gate at Windmill beach I have yet to see it locked so I assume it is open 24/7. There is a toilet building on the way to the beach but I can’t attest to its cleanliness.
Getting there: Various tours offer trips to see the penguins at Boulders Beach, leaving from Cape Town. Alternatively, take your own car to Simon’s Town. From Main Road head down Bellevue Road to the parking lot of Boulders Beach. To go to Windmill beach either leave your car parked on a busy day or drive into Links Cres for a closer spot.
KRAAL BAAI
My absolute favorite beach is Kraal Baai or Kraal Bay in the Westcoast National Park. Pack a picnic and go for a day trip – it is well worth it. Not only is the drive amazing and the beach stunning but thanks to it being a lagoon this is the only beach where you will find warm-ish water temperatures.
While no palm trees are fringing the water, Kraalbaai is still the epitome of a picture-perfect beach and thanks to the warm shallow water perfect for little kids too. And since you are driving through a national park to get there you might see ostriches, bookies, and tortoises on the way – if you see a car stopping in the middle of nowhere chances are someone rescued a tortoise from the middle of the road.
Facilities: I think there is one dubious-looking toilet by the beach but personally I would rather go for a swim. No shops or vendors are around, but you can spend the night on one of the lagoon’s houseboats.
Getting there: Take the R27 up to the West Coast National Park and take the turn-off following the signs on your left. If you wanted to see some more animals on the way, stop for an early morning game drive at Buffelsfontein.
Gates are open from 7 am to 7 pm during the spring and summer months. The entrance fee for visitors is ZAR 96 (more during flower season in August and September).
Beta Beach
If you are looking for a little insider beach in Cape Town, Beta Beach is it. I only learned about it last year but was immediately smitten. Mind you, depending on the tide Beta Beach is small or tiny, severely restricting the space where you can put your towel down.
That said, Beta Beach is very sheltered which makes it the perfect little beach for a dip. And if you wanted to take pictures, you have a picturesque rock in the middle of the bay and an awesome view of Lion’s Head.
Wear your nicest cozzie (South African short term for a costume which means swimming costume!) because unlike Clifton 4th, Beta Beach is the beach for the really cool kids.
Facilities: No facilities and as far as I know not even the ice-lolly vendors come here. Bring everything you need and be prepared to pee in the ocean if you have to.
Getting there: Follow the map above down Beta Road- there is no proper parking so you will need to make due finding a spot in a residential area. As it isn’t too far from town, I recommend taking the MyCiti bus to the Barley Bay or Bakoven stop or using Uber.
Muizenberg
Muizenberg is one of the most famous and popular beaches in Cape Town and for good reason. The colorful Victorian huts attract Instagrammers and real photo teams, there are a few cafes right by the beach, and best of all – the waves are some of the finest. Muizenberg is the beach for surfers in Cape Town and offers a wave for each level.
You will also find a lot of surf shops and schools right by the beach. Mind you, it pays a price for its popularity and warm-ish water and that is that it is always crowded here.
Blue Flag Beach
Facilities: Toilets & lifeguards on duty. There are various shops and restaurants in the vicinity.
Getting there: There are a few parking lots along the beach but they fill up quickly even early in the morning as many surfers come here before work.
Noordhoek
One of the dreamiest beaches in Cape Town is Noordhoek beach. Over 8km of white powdery sand, the wreck of the Kakapo, and turquoise waves. Thinking of Noordhoek always makes me think of the closing scenes of Shakespeare in Love.
Fortunately or unfortunately, the wind is always pumping in Noordhoek so the beach doesn’t invite for a leisurely dip – usually. Mind you, the local surf community doesn’t mind.
If you are not one for catching waves, this is the perfect stretch of sand if you like long walks on the beach and if you rather catch a ride various horse trips will take you along the beach.
Afterward, don’t forget to book yourself into the Foodbarn, one of my all-time favorite restaurants in Cape Town.
Facilities: You are on your own!
Getting there: Drive either via Chapman’s Peak or if closed via Ou Kaapse Weg (unless you are coming from False Bay). From Chapman’s Peak, you can already see the beach when you are nearing Noordhoek but do check before you leave to make sure Chappi’s is open.
There are a few parking lots along Noordhoek beach and I have marked the first one closest to Chappi’s on the map above.
St. James
So technically I wouldn’t usually call St. James a beach but the little coastal town in False Bay has not one but two tidal pools which to me are worth mentioning.
One of the tidal pools also comes with some colorful huts like you will find in Muizenberg that make for a nice picture backdrop. The other tidal pool a little closer to Kalk Bay is right opposite Dalebrooks Cafe, a place where you get weird looks if you don’t wear a towel poncho or bring your own coffee mug. Mind you, they also make great coffee and croissants for the perfect picnic by the tidal pool.
There is a small sandy area though not noteworthy as the real attraction is clearly the pool. There are a few ways in and out and the water is crystal clear. A word of warning though: if you are posing on the side for that oh so Instagrammy shot, be careful that the waves won’t sweep you off or alternatively mess up your hair.
Facilities: None. I guess you could use the cafe to change or simply get one of those towel hoodies!
Getting there: Unless you are staying in Kalk Bay or St. James you will need to take your car. From the Main Road, you will cross through the tunnel underneath the train track to get to either pool.
4 comments
Boulders beach will always have a special place in my heart. I mean where in the world are you allowed to get so close to wild penguins? Let’s not even talk about the incredibly beautiful beach and secret beaches if you climb just a bit.
Very much agreed though I am really keen to compare it to the penguins in Betty’s Bay now which is apparently even less crowded and more authentic!
The pictures ???? absolutely gorgeous! Definitely saving this for when I eventually go to Cape Town, great. Post!
Ah thanks so much! Let me know when you are heading over here and need more tips 🙂