A trip to Cape Town is never complete without at least a visit to one of the incredible beaches along the coast of the city. Even though the water is freezing cold a visit to the beach is always worth it because of the stunning views – especially around sunset. Whether you are looking for a place to chill, go surfing, tanning, or a child-friendly setting you will definitely find a beach in Cape Town that meets your needs. We have gathered this list of the 10 best beaches in Cape Town. Some of them you may already know of while others are less known among tourists. Even so, all the beaches are amazing and worth a visit when in Cape Town.
Boulders Beach
Boulders Beach is probably the best known of all the beaches in Cape Town, if not South Africa. And there is one specific reason for this – the penguins! Located in Simon’s Town you will find this famous beach where you might be able to swim with penguins. A visit to Boulders Beach is definitely one of the things you must do in Cape Town. But keep in mind that you must pay an entrance fee to enter the beach. It is also worth mentioning that the beach itself is rather tiny – so get there early for a good spot. With all that in mind, it is totally worth a visit.
Getting to Boulders Beach
As mentioned, Boulders Beach is located in Simon’s Town which is about an hour from Cape Town. If you are going by car, you must follow M3 toward Muizenberg. From there, you must drive along M4 till you reach Simon’s Town. Then you drive all the way through the town until you see a sign pointing towards Boulders Beach. We would highly recommend you drive a bit further down till you meet Bellevue Road. Turn left here and you will find a parking area at the end of the road. This is where the second entrance to Boulders Beach is located and where you will find the entrance to the actual beach.
Llandudno Beach
Llandudno Beach became one of our favorite beaches during our time in Cape Town. This beautiful beach is vast, wild, and a surfers’ paradise. Llandudno Beach is located a bit further than some of the other beaches mentioned in this post. This is why many locals love this beach – it is quieter and more peaceful than most of the others. Due to its location, it is also less crowded. Llandudno Beach is, therefore, perfect if you are looking for a chill day in stunning scenery.
Getting to Llandudno Beach
From Cape Town, you must take M6 towards Hout Bay. Before you reach Hout Bay, you will find a sign to Llandudno Beach on your right side. Turn right when you meet the sign and follow the road all the way down to a parking area by the beach. It is also possible to take the MyCiTi bus to the Llandudno stop. Keep in mind though, that you will be dropped off on M6. From there, it is quite a walk down to the beach.
Clifton Beaches
The Clifton Beaches are the most popular ones amongst both locals and tourists in Cape Town. And we must say that we liked these beaches as well. The Clifton Beaches consist of four beaches: Clifton 1st, Clifton 2nd, Clifton 3rd, and Clifton 4th. They are all sheltered in smaller bays, which means that they offer good protection from the wind. The one downside of these beaches is that they can be quite crowded – especially in the summer. However, it is often at Clifton 4th that you will find most people. This means that the further down the beach you walk, the fewer people you will probably encounter. But even with many people, this is a great place to spend a day tanning, swimming, and people-watching.
Getting to the Clifton Beaches
From Cape Town, you must drive along M6 to reach the Clifton Beaches. Clifton 4th has its own parking area, which is why it is the most visited of them. From the parking area of Clifton 4th, you can walk down to the beach. If you want to visit one of the other three beaches, we highly suggest parking along the road. Along M6 you will find signs showing the staircases down to each of the beaches and there are plenty of parking spaces to pick from. It is also possible to take the MyCiTi bus to one of the Clifton stops. From there you are able to see the signs and then walk down to the beaches.
Muizenberg Beach
The colorful houses at Muizenberg Beach are another one of those things that you simply cannot miss when in Cape Town. In addition to these huts, the beach itself is actually worth a visit – especially if you are looking for the perfect surfing conditions. The waves here are some of the finest! And you will find a wave for each surfing level. A bonus at Muizenberg Beach is that this is where you probably find the warmest water in Cape Town. But keep in mind, it is still chilly if you are expecting the water temperature from Southern Europe.
Getting to Muizenberg Beach
From Cape Town, you must follow M6 and M5 towards Muizenberg. When you reach the town, you will find several signs guiding you toward the beach. Along the beach, you will find plenty of parking spaces. Keep in mind though, that it can be very crowded and difficult to find a parking space on the weekends.
Link Beach
Another one of our favorite beaches in Cape Town is Link Beach. This beautiful beach can be found not long from Boulders Beach. This means that you might even get to see some stray penguins during your swim. It is one of the smaller beaches, which means that it can be a bit crowded in the summer months. But even so, we think that this beach is worth a visit. If you like snorkeling this is the perfect place for you. If you are lucky, you might spot sea urchins, fish, and stunning shells.
Getting to Link Beach
Driving to Link Beach is the same as driving to Boulders Beach. When you have parked at the end of Bellevue Road you will find a wooden gate adjacent to the parking area. Walk through this and follow the path till you reach Link Beach.
Camps Bay Beach
Camps Bay Beach is a popular one amongst locals. It is one of the biggest beaches in Cape Town. With its palm trees, sunbeds, and parasols it is the perfect place to spend a day chilling at the beach. The waves can be a bit rough, so this is not the most child-friendly beach in Cape Town. From the beach, you are rewarded with some stunning views of the Twelve Apostles, Table Mountain, and Lion’s Head.
Getting to Camps Bay Beach
From the city center of Cape Town, you must follow M62 towards Camps Bay. Once you reach the town you can see the beach. Parking at Camps Bay Beach can be limited, as it is street parking. Therefore, it is a good idea to get here early or take the bus. The MyCiTi bus stop is on the main road (Victoria Road), from which it is just a few steps to the beach.
St James Beach
This is another one of the small beaches in Cape Town. Located just a small drive from Muizenberg Beach is St James Beach. This beach also has some colorful beach huts, as well as a small sandy area. However, most people come for the tidal pool or colorful houses, as the beach area is rather small.
Getting to St James Beach
Getting to St James Beach is the same way as to Muizenberg Beach. Instead of turning off on the main road in Muizenberg, you must follow the road further along the coast until you reach St James. Here you will find plenty of street parking in proximity to the beach. Once you have parked your car you must cross through the tunnel underneath the train tracks to reach St James Beach.
Bloubergstrand Beach
Bloubergstrand Beach is most likely the longest of the beaches in Cape Town. This isn’t really a beach worth visiting for swimming as the winds tend to get rough. However, it is perfect for kite surfers. From Bloubergstrand Beach, you will also be rewarded with some magnificent views of Table Mountain.
Getting to Bloubergstrand Beach
From Cape Town city center you must follow R27 north till you reach an intersection with a sign pointing to ‘Dolphin Beach’. Here you must turn to the left and drive straight forward until you reach Bloubergstrand Beach on your right side. As the beach is so long it shouldn’t be a problem finding a parking space.
Beta Beach
Beta Beach is somewhat of a local hot spot as not many tourists know of this beach. The sand area of the beach is rather small but there is a grass area and several boulders for you to claim for the day. This small beach is very sheltered making it perfect for a more peaceful dip in the ocean.
Getting to Beta Beach
From the city center of Cape Town, you must follow M62 towards Camps Bay. From there, you have to drive along M6 till you reach Beta Road on your right hand. Follow this road down to the beach where you will find a small parking area.
Noordhoek Beach
One of the most stunning beaches in Cape Town is Noordhoek beach. With 8 kilometers of white sand and beautiful turquoise water, it is often very tempting to take a dip. Unfortunately, the winds are often rough in Noordhoek making the swimming conditions bad. Even so, it is still worth a visit to swing by Noordhoek beach – especially when you are driving Chapman’s Peak Drive.
Getting to Noordhoek beach
From Cape Town we highly recommend you drive via Chapman’s Peak to Noordhoek beach. Along the road, you will be rewarded with magnificent scenery and a beautiful view of the beach. Once you reach the beach you will find a few parking spaces. It is also possible to only watch from afar, by parking along the road on Chapman’s Peak.
