Cape Town beaches

This Cape Town beaches guide can be used to decide which beach to visit.
Cape Town has great beaches and is one of the best destinations in the world to enjoy the sun, sand and sea.

South Africa was the first country outside Europe to have had beaches awarded the international recognised blue flag status.
This gives visitors the knowledge that these beaches safe and clean and adhere to international safety and other tourist standards.

The following beaches have been awarded this prestigious status:

  • Clifton 4th Beach
  • Camps Bay Beach
  • Muizenberg Beach
  • Strandfontein Beach
  • Mnandi Beach
  • Bikini Beach in Gordon's Bay

The only thing that you must now do, is to decide which one you want to visit.
Having said that, it is not that easy a choice as there are so many great beaches. The following factors should play a role to influence your decision:

1. The wind - Summer is our beach season, but it is also the windy season in Cape town.The prevailing wind is the south Easter, also named the "Cape doctor" as it blows away the pollution.

2. The position of the beach relative to mountains - the Table Mountain range in the southern peninsula and the Hottentot Holland Mountain range in the northern peninsula.This is important as these mountains shelter some beaches from certain winds.

3. The proximity of a cosy restaurant or bar always soothes away the worry of what to do when you're hot and bothered, or whether the wind is gusting.

4. Are there rock pools to keep the children busy, or do you want a flat sandy beach to play volleyball or tennis?

Bloubergstrand Beach, Cape townMuizenberg Beach, Cape Town
Bloubergstrand Beach Muizenberg Beach


Broadly speaking,we divide the beaches into those to the west of Table Mountain, the Western Seaboard and those East of Table mountain, The Eastern Seaboard.

The Western seaboard

These are the beaches bordering the Atlantic Ocean and ocean temperatures range from 10 - 14 degrees C.

The culture of these beaches is also rather up market and fashionable.
This is where you will find the trendy coffee shops, restaurants and bars.

The following beaches form part of the Western Seaboard:

1. Table Bay Beaches

Table Mountain is best filmed from these beaches and they are great for wind- and kite surfing.

  • Big Bay
  • Blouberg
  • Table View
  • Dolphin
  • Milnerton

2. Atlantic Seaboard Beaches

This stretch of the Peninsula is also known as Cape Town's Riviera.
It's a great drive along Victoria road which hugs the mountain for most of the way.

3. South Atlantic Beaches

Beaches are rugged and unspoilt and usually quieter than the Atlantic Seaboard beaches.
  • Noordhoek
  • Long Beach
  • Witsands
  • Misty Cliffs
  • Scarborough
  • Diaz
  • Buffelsbaai
  • Platboomskuit
  • Smitswinkelbaai


Camps Bay Beach, Cape townHout Bay Beach, Cape Town
Camps Bay Hout Bay Beach


The Eastern Seaboard

These are the beaches bordering the False Bay and they are more family orientated beaches.
The water is warmer than at the Atlantic beaches (usually 3-4 degrees warmer) and are great swimming beaches.
Many are manned by lifeguards so that swimming water sports are relatively safe.

False Bay Beaches

  • Boulders
  • Fish Hoek
  • Glencairn
  • St James
  • Muizenberg
  • Macasser
  • Monwabisis
  • Mnandi
  • Strandfontein
  • Strand
  • Gordon's Bay
  • Bikini
  • Kogelbay
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