Cape Town is one of those unique tourist destinations that offers a vibrant city life along with fascinating landscape and stunning nature, making it perfect to recharge your batteries from everyday life. With that in mind, what could better than just taking a day off from sightseeing to relax at one of the most beautiful beaches of the Mother City?
Camps Bay Beach
This popular beach is a wide strip of sand against the slopes of the 12 Apostles Mountains. With a view of the ocean that stretches off into the horizon, guaranteeing a phenomenal sunset either at the beach itself or at one of the cosmopolitan bars or restaurants along the promenade. It is also one of the best beaches in Cape Town to soak up the South African sun glistening from above, a real hotspot for sun tanners. For the active beach-goer, Camps Bay Beach is the perfect place to start a volleyball match or just simply an easy game of beach bats. Visit this magnificent beach on our Cape Town City Tour Half Day.
Clifton Beach
Clifton Beach lies between Sea Point and Camps Bay in an exclusive and luxurious neighbourhood. It offers four beaches, each semi-secluded from the next beach by big, smooth boulders. However, you can easily pass through the rock formations and explore the beaches to find the best spot to enjoy your day. If you’re more of a see and be seen kind of person and feel comfortable with a fairly big crowd of people sunbathing and splashing around in the water, then 4th Beach is the perfect spot for you. For everyone who is looking for a quieter place to lay down and relax, the other 3 beaches, 1st, 2nd and 3rd are great too. You can visit this beach on our Cape Town City Tour Half Day.
Bloubergstrand
Bloubergstrand is well known for its sensational view of Table Mountain, providing magnificent opportunities to capture the giant mountain wrapped in either splendid sunlight during dawn or warm, golden rays of sunlight during dusk. With no rocks to shield this beach, it’s a windy paradise for kite surfers and windsurfers, and even the youngsters are delighted as their coloured kites sail through the air. As soon as the wind subsides, bring out your beach accessories and enjoy a fabulous day as you feel the smooth white sand beneath your feet.
Muizenberg Beach
Have you always dreamt about riding the big waves like a Pro? Then Muizenberg will make your dream come true – just book a surf lesson at one of the chilled surf schools and start right away. You don’t have to be afraid; the gently breaking waves make it the perfect spot for beginners. Muizenberg Beach is also known for its colourful beach huts in a row on the sand a bit further down the beach. If the strong and dry south-easterly wind, locally known as the Cape Doctor, won’t allow you to stay at the beach for too long, just take a walk along the seafront to the charming neighbourhoods of St James and Kalk Bay.
St James Beach
St James Beach could be referred to as ‘little Muizenberg Beach’ with the same colourful huts along its sandy beach. It offers a more laid back beach experience without surfers roaming the water. Located on the east coast of the Cape Peninsula, the water at St James Beach is more enjoyable for swimmers as you can take a plunge into the warm waves of the Indian Ocean. Furthermore, the beach offers a man-made tidal pool which is great for families and to avoid the splashy waves.
Hout Bay
Between the cliffs of Chapman’s Peak and the charming Hout Bay Harbour, you’ll find the powdery white sands of Hout Bay Beach. Walking along the water and wading through the small waves bring about a real feeling of peace; feel the sand between your toes and the warm sunlight on your skin. Dogs play in the surf and children build sandcastles along the beach, while kite surfers and sailors enjoy the occasional windy days at this beach. The bay waters are calm, swimmers, as well as water sport enthusiasts, are more than welcome to get a refreshing cool down after a hot day. While enjoying a walk at the beach, you might come across some horses and riders as nearby stables offer beach rides to enjoy the beautiful scenery. Visit Hout Bay and its beach on both our Cape Point Full Day Tour and our Cape Point Tour with Hiking & Biking.
Noordhoek Beach
Situated in National park-protected wetlands, Noordhoek Beach is the most unspoilt and best-protected beach on the Atlantic Cape coast. The beach and vlei are nestled between Chapman’s Peak and the Kommetjie lighthouse. It’s not really a swimming beach due to the water temperature and strong currents but offers phenomenal sunset views. As there are a lot of beautiful trails through the wetlands and along the 8km long beach, Noordhoek is a very popular destination for horse riding in Cape Town. Furthermore, it is a stunning wild paradise where you can often spot wild peacocks, guinea fowl, Egyptian geese and meerkats.
Llandudno Beach
If you are looking for one of the best beaches around Cape Town, then don’t miss out on Llandudno Beach! Located on the base of the mountain between Hout Bay and Camps Bay, you’ll have a spectacular view of the Twelve Apostles, one of Cape Town’s famous landmarks. This beach offers very fine, white sand in stark contrast to the deep blue of the Atlantic Ocean. Just take a stroll along this beautiful beach or spread your blanket and relax while soaking in the South African sun. Some brave surfers will challenge the currents but for the less competitive a knee-deep dip into the ocean will be a welcoming cool down. Come packed and prepared as there are no refreshments sold at Llandudno Beach
Boulders Beach
Best known for its famous penguin colony, Boulders Beach offers wildlife spotting and a lazy day at the beach. Situated close to Simonstown and the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve it is home to the African penguin which has been residing along the African coast for some years now. Despite occurring in 27 other spots around Southern Africa and their large number at Boulder’s (around 3,000), the Jackass penguin is a very much endangered species. The area functions as a sanctuary for the penguins therefore when visiting Boulder’s Beach keep in mind, that you are visiting their natural habitat and treat it and them with respect. Visit Boulder’s Beach and the charming colony of penguins on three of our tours: Cape Point Tour Half Day, Cape Point Tour Full Day, Cape Point Tour with Hiking & Biking
Dias Beach
This beach doesn’t quite fit into the typical image of the white sandy beach with its rough cliffs enclosing it, yet it is a very magnificent and romantic one. In order to reach this wonderful spot at Cape Point you have to be relatively fit, as the hike down to the beach can take up to 20 minutes and double the time for the way up. Once you’re there the phenomenal view and feeling of remoteness will make up for all the exertion caused by the hike. The white sandy beach contrasts perfectly with the dark jagged rocks along its shore, framing the blue ocean. Although it is not a beach for swimmers, it offers great waves for surfers and body boarders.
