Beaches · Cape Town · South Africa
The best beaches in and near Cape Town
Where to swim and spend a beach day, and when the water is warm.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Hilton1949, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
The best-known beach is Clifton 4th Beach (About 10 minutes by car from the City Bowl).
Key facts
- Beaches in this guide
- 6
- Warmest sea
- 15°C (59°F)
The beaches
About 10 minutes by car from the City Bowl · Sunbathing out of the wind
1.Clifton 4th Beach
Four sheltered coves below granite boulders, reached by long staircases from Victoria Road; 4th Beach is the most popular with families and has calm, very cold water.
About 15 minutes by car from the City Bowl · Sunsets and people-watching
2.Camps Bay Beach
Wide white sand with the Twelve Apostles behind and restaurants across the road; lifeguards patrol in summer, but the water is cold and waves can be strong.
About 45 minutes by car · Families and penguins
3.Boulders Beach
Small coves among granite boulders where African penguins share the sand with swimmers; the water is calm and warmer than on the Atlantic side.
About 30 minutes by car or Southern Line train · Learning to surf
4.Muizenberg Beach
Long, gently shelving beach with bathing huts, surf schools and shark spotters; good for beginner surfing.
About 25 minutes by car · Sunsets and surf
5.Llandudno Beach
A small, scenic cove between Camps Bay and Hout Bay with granite boulders and good surf; limited parking fills quickly on summer weekends.
About 25 minutes by car · Table Mountain views and kitesurfing
6.Bloubergstrand
Long beach north of the city with the classic postcard view of Table Mountain across the bay; popular with kitesurfers when the southeaster blows.
Sea temperature by month
| Month | Sea | Air high |
|---|---|---|
| January | 15°C (59°F) | 26°C (79°F) |
| February | 15°C (59°F) | 27°C (81°F) |
| March | 15°C (59°F) | 25°C (77°F) |
| April | 15°C (59°F) | 23°C (73°F) |
| May | 14°C (57°F) | 20°C (68°F) |
| June | 14°C (57°F) | 18°C (64°F) |
| July | 13°C (55°F) | 18°C (64°F) |
| August | 13°C (55°F) | 18°C (64°F) |
| September | 13°C (55°F) | 19°C (66°F) |
| October | 14°C (57°F) | 21°C (70°F) |
| November | 14°C (57°F) | 24°C (75°F) |
| December | 15°C (59°F) | 25°C (77°F) |
Staying near the beach
$$$$ · Best for luxury, couples and beach
Camps Bay
Camps Bay is a wide white-sand beach backed by the Twelve Apostles ridge, about 15 minutes' drive from the city. Victoria Road facing the sand is lined with restaurants and cocktail terraces that fill at sunset. Hotels and villas here are among the most expensive in Cape Town, and the Atlantic water is cold even in summer.
- Good
- Beach on the doorstep; Sunset views; Many restaurants within walking distance
- Watch out
- Expensive; Heavy weekend traffic in summer; Cold sea water
- Nearby
- Clifton beaches, Lion's Head, Bakoven, Twelve Apostles
Getting to the beaches
- Bus — MyCiTi buses run on dedicated lanes between the airport, Civic Centre, the V&A Waterfront, Sea Point, Camps Bay and Hout Bay.
- Car — A hire car makes Chapman's Peak, Cape Point, Boulders Beach and the winelands easy.
- Train — Metrorail's Southern Line runs from the city along False Bay through Muizenberg and Kalk Bay to Simon's Town, a scenic coastal ride.
Beach-weather months
Days of 24°C (75°F) or more with no more than nine rainy days come in November–March. The busiest of those is January, so book early.
Beach safety
Opportunistic theft is the main risk for visitors: keep phones and bags out of sight, use ride-hailing after dark, and never leave valuables in parked cars. Hike in groups on well-used trails, and swim only where lifeguards or shark spotters are on duty. Swim at lifeguarded beaches where possible and follow local flag warnings.
Questions travellers ask
+Does Cape Town have beaches?
Yes: Clifton 4th Beach, Camps Bay Beach, Boulders Beach, Muizenberg Beach, Llandudno Beach and Bloubergstrand.
+What is the best beach near Cape Town?
Clifton 4th Beach: Four sheltered coves below granite boulders, reached by long staircases from Victoria Road; 4th Beach is the most popular with families and has calm, very cold water.