Are you looking for the best beaches in Cape Town? Before my trip to the Western Cape, I had no idea what I was in store for, but the beaches honestly blew me away (especially coming from Europe, where most of the beaches are rocky).
If youʻre booking your trip to Cape Town last minute, we have you covered. Below are some of the top tours, and more!
🇿🇦 Top tours and activities in Cape Town:
- Wine tour from Cape Town (top-rated day trip option)
- Cape of Good Hope + penguins tour (I also loved this – many beaches!)
- Snorkeling with seals (such a unique tour option!)
🛌 Top hotels and places to stay:
- Central Beach Villas (where I stayed in Camps Bay; sea views)
- Urban Oasis Aparthotel (in CBD)
- Casa del Sonder (De Waterkant, great location)
🚗 Visiting Cape Town independently? Be sure to book your South Africa rental car ahead of time to ensure availability!
These Cape Town beaches were some of the best I visited on my trip, and all are easy to put on your itinerary! I put a map at the end of the guide so you can find them on your own.
Did I miss any of the top beaches in Cape Town? Let me know in the comments. Thanks!
In this post...
Best Beaches in Cape Town
1. Boulder’s Beach
Boulder’s Beach is perhaps one of the most famous beaches in Cape Town. Located near Simon’s Town along the Cape Peninsula, this beach is known for being safe and clean and is a popular spot with families.
The highlight of visiting Boulder’s Beach is its penguin colony. African penguins can be seen here in their thousands and there are several ways to see them, with the boardwalk offering some of the best views.
You’ll need to pay a conservation fee to enter, which is R190 ($10) for international citizens, with prices being lower for South African Citizens and SADC Nationals.
If you want to stay nearby, Tintswalo Boulders overlooks the beach, so you can spot penguins from your private balcony!
Please note that this is not a swimming beach, as it is protecting these beautiful animals. But there are plenty of beaches along this strip where you can swim and sunbathe!
2. Muizenberg Beach
Muizenberg Beach is another of the best beaches in Cape Town and is found between the areas of Fish Hoek and Muizenberg.
This popular sandy beach is known for its colorful beach huts, nearby water park, and tourist amenities, including restaurants (Tiger’s Milk Muizenberg is a great option).
Muizenberg Beach also boasts excellent surfing conditions and various surf schools, making it a great place to take lessons.
The waves here aren’t too challenging either, which attracts beginner and intermediate surfers from around the world.
Just bear in mind that sharks frequent this area, but there are shark spotters here throughout the day. Pay attention to the shark flag, which will show whether you can enter the water or not.
3. St James Beach
St James Beach is another fantastic option located near the coastal town of Fish Hoek. Like Muizenberg, it’s famous for its colorful beach huts.
As well as being beautiful, St James Beach boasts plenty of amenities, including toilets, a shower, and a changing room.
Folk Cafe is also found here and offers a lovely outdoor dining area and children’s playground.
Along this beach, you’ll find St James Tidal Pool too. The water here is relatively shallow, making it perfect for families, and you’ll be treated to striking coastal views.
There’s also a brilliant coastal walk running between the beaches of St James and Muizenberg, which takes around 20–25 minutes.
As you wander, you’ll get epic views of False Bay, and you’ll want to keep your eyes peeled for whales.
4. Llandudno Beach
Next up is Llandudno Beach, which is nestled between Hout Bay (a 10-minute drive) and Camps Bay (a 15-minute drive). This area is home to some of Cape Town’s most exclusive real estate and it’s not hard to see why!
With soft white sands, deep blue waters, and breathtaking surroundings, Llandudno Beach is a must-visit.
It’s also a popular spot with surfers and you’ll find vendors selling cold drinks here, as there aren’t many other amenities nearby.
Just be aware that Llandudno Beach can get windy, as it’s not very sheltered.
For those looking to stay nearby, I’d suggest The Marvel Beach House. Many of the suites offer sea views, and the property boasts an infinity pool, BBQ facilities, and a garden area.
5. Camps Bay Beach
If you’re looking for the best beaches in Cape Town, you need to check out Camps Bay Beach. As the name suggests, this beach is located in the Camps Bay area and offers a fantastic atmosphere, being dubbed the ‘party beach’.
Camps Bay Beach and its surrounding area are very lively, especially during the peak tourist season. This is actually where I stayed when I was there (Central Beach Villas).
Behind these sandy shores is Victoria Road, a bustling boulevard offering various bars, pubs, and restaurants, with Codfather Seafood & Sushi being a popular eatery.
As well as these nearby amenities, this blue-flag beach also offers one of the city’s best tidal pools. From this pool (as well as the beach), you’ll get epic vistas of the Twelve Apostles and Lions Head.
6. Bloubergstrand Beach
There are plenty of beaches in Cape Town, but Bloubergstrand Beach is one of my top picks. Located to the north of the city, this beach offers breathtaking views of Table Mountain and Robben Island on a clear day.
However, it’s not just the scenery that Bloubergstrand Beach has to offer.
Thanks to its location, the winds here can be pretty epic, making it a fantastic spot for windsurfing and kitesurfing. Aerial sports such as skydiving are also popular and great to watch.
After taking in some rays or enjoying more adventurous activities, you should grab something to eat.
There are various options, but Jerry’s Burger Bar offers outside dining with sea views, delicious burgers, and a daily happy hour!
7. Clifton Beaches
The Clifton Beaches is a collective term for four beaches found north of Camps Bay. These are known as Clifton 1st Beach, Clifton 2nd Beach, Clifton 3rd Beach, and Clifton 4th Beach, and each one has something to offer.
Located in the wealthy suburb of Clifton, these beaches are the perfect option if you’re after a lazy beach day. They’re less touristy than many other beaches in Cape Town and are more sheltered from the wind.
Clifton 1st is one of the quietest and is a dog-friendly beach, popular with families.
Just a short walk away from Clifton 4th Beach, you’ll come across Maiden’s Cove Tidal Pool. Here, there’s a handy braai area where you can enjoy a picnic or BBQ.
8. Fish Hoek Beach
Next up is Fish Hoek Beach, another of the best beaches in Cape Town. Not only is it an ideal spot for sunbathing and swimming, but surfers and kitesurfers also frequent these sandy shores.
Fish Hoek Beach is popular with nature lovers too, as you can spot southern right whales swimming close to the shore (between June and November) and head out on shark cage diving excursions.
Don’t worry; the beach itself has a shark net!
The area around Fish Hoek Beach makes a great base for your trip to Cape Town, with Abington Manor Fish Hoek Guesthouse being one of the top accommodation options!
There are plenty of eateries nearby too, including a fish and chips takeaway joint.
9. Strand Beach
Finally, we have Strand Beach, located in the coastal town of Strand. Although it’s a 40-minute drive from Cape Town, this beach is certainly worth a visit, as it offers jaw-dropping views across False Bay.
Strand Beach is especially popular with families thanks to its water park (Waterworld Strand) and surrounding amenities, including ice cream shops.
Not to mention, there’s the promenade, which is perfect for family walks while appreciating the relaxed vibe. As well as just relaxing, Strand Beach offers lots of sporting opportunities, including surfing and kitesurfing.
There are also some fantastic restaurants nearby, including De Brasserie, Ben’s on the Beach Grill, and The Belgian Waffle House and Coffee Shop.
Cape Town Beaches: On a Map!
Did I miss any of the best beaches in Cape Town? Please let me know your favorites and ones that are easy to access for travelers!
More Cape Town Travel Guides
- Snorkeling with seals in Cape Town
- What to do in Camps Bay
- Cafes in Cape Town
- Best Cape Town tidal pools
- Cape Malay cooking in Cape Town
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Megan is a travel blogger and writer with a background in digital marketing. Originally from Richmond, VA, she now splits her time between Frankfurt, Germany and Arctic Finland after also living in Norway, Armenia, and Kazakhstan. She has a passion for winter travel, as well as the Nordic countries, but you can also find her eating her way through Italy, perusing perfume stores in Paris, or taking road trips through the USA. Megan has written for or been featured by National Geographic, Forbes, Lonely Planet, the New York Times, and more. She co-authored Fodor’s Travel ‘Essential Norway’ and has visited 45 US states and 100+ countries.