A view of Table Mountain from the deck of the MSC Opera

Beaches in Cape Town

view from Saunders Rocks

The Western Cape is famous for it wide, white sandy beaches. Clifton, Llandudno and Camps Bay are sheltered from the South-East wind (the prevailing summer wind) and are perfect for soaking up the sun. Dolphin Beach in Tableview is jam-packed with Kite-surfers in summer, while Sunset Beach is windsurfer territory. Penguins have made Boulders Beach at Simonstown and Betty's Bay their homes. Surfers enjoy Long Beach, Muizenberg, Jeffrey's Bay and just about everywhere. The cold Atlantic Ocean sweeps the west coast, while the warmer Indian Ocean skirts the Western Cape's southern beaches. As you travel east from Cape Point, the sea temperature gradually warms up. You'll notice not just beach, but many Cape Town apartments have been built specifically to gain views of the sea.

Cape Town boasts 40 surf-breaks within an hour's drive. Muizenberg is great for beginners, Glen Beach & Llandudno are popular, experienced surfers go to Outer Kom, and lunatics go to Dungeons in Hout Bay. Further up the Garden route is the famous Jeffrey's Bay with its perfect waves. Popular spots for kite-surfing are Langebaan (an hour's drive from Cape Town up the west coast), Melkbos and Dolphin Beach.

Cold-water Atlantic beaches
Melkbos / Melkbosstrand

 

Bloubergstrand

Postcard-perfect view of Table Mountain. Island which you can walk to at low tide.

Table View

 

Dolphin beach

 

Sunset Beach

 

Milnerton

A lagoon mouth, lighthouse and lots of white sand.

Sea Point 

 

Saunders' Rocks

 

Clifton 1

Sheltered from the south-easter.

Clifton 2

Sheltered from the south-easter.

Clifton 3

Sheltered from the south-easter.

Clifton 4

Sheltered from the south-easter.

Maiden's Cove

Sheltered from the south-easter.

Glen Beach

Sheltered from the south-easter.Great for surfing.

Camps Bay

Sheltered from the south-easter.

Bakoven

Sheltered from the south-easter.

Llandudno

Sheltered from the south-easter.

Sandy Bay

Sheltered from the south-easter. For nude sunbathing. People have been attacked on the trail there, don't go alone.

Hout Bay

 

Noordhoek Beach

Perfect for horseback riding.

Long Beach, Kommetjie

 

The Kom, Kommetjie

 

Witsand

 

Scarborough

 

Misty Cliffs

 

Soetwater, Slangkop

 

Witsands

 

Scarborough

 

Olifantsbospunt, Cape Point

 

Diaz Beach, Cape Point / Maclear's Beach.

 

 

False Bay beaches (about 5° warmer water than the west coast)
Buffels Bay, Cape Point

 

Bordjiesdrift, Cape Point

 

Smitswinkel Bay

 

Millers Point, Simon’s Town

 

Frank’s Beach, Simon’s Town

 

Windmill Beach, Simon’s Town

 

Foxy Beach, Simon’s Town

 

Boulders Beach, Simon’s Town

Penguin sanctuary.

Seaforth Beach, Simon’s Town

 

Long Beach, Simon’s Town

 

Glencairn Beach

 

Fish Hoek Main Beach

 

Clovelly Corner

 

Kalk Bay Beach

 

Danger Beach, St James

Has a tidal pool.

Muizenberg  Beach

 

Monwabisi

Monwabisi beach is near Khayelitsha. "Monwabisi" is an isiXhosa word meaning "bringing joy". It has the biggest man-made swimming-pool in the southern hemisphere. The beach is known to be a dangerous bathing area. On New Years' Day and Boxing Day it is not uncommon for there to be 30,000 people on the beach.

Strand 

 

Bikini beach (Gordons Bay)