Cape Town has two distinct sets of beaches, determined by the two oceans that meet at Cape Point. On the Atlantic side — Camps Bay, Clifton, Llandudno, Sandy Bay, Hout Bay — the water is cold (the Benguela current keeps it around 12°C in summer), the setting is dramatic, and the sand is white. On the False Bay side — Muizenberg, Fish Hoek, Boulders Beach, Strand — the water is warmer (around 20°C in summer) and the beaches are more family-oriented.
Camps Bay is the most fashionable Atlantic beach, with a palm-lined promenade backed by restaurants. Clifton has four numbered coves sheltered from the south-easter wind — Clifton 4th is the most popular, Clifton 1st the most secluded. Boulders Beach near Simon's Town is warmer and has the added draw of the resident penguin colony.
For surfing, Muizenberg on False Bay is one of the best beginner breaks in the country and has a concentration of surf schools. Big Bay near Bloubergstrand is the main kitesurfing spot. Bloubergstrand is famous not for swimming but for the unobstructed view back across Table Bay to Table Mountain — the classic Cape Town postcard shot.
Browse individual beaches below.