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Best Beaches in Cape Town
Cape Town has two very different coastlines: the cold, dramatic Atlantic side and the warmer, gentler False Bay side. Which beach suits you depends on which one you pick.
Updated 8 August 2026 · Part of the Do guide
Two coasts, two experiences
Cape Town sits where two bodies of water meet: the cold Atlantic Ocean along the western Atlantic Seaboard, and the noticeably warmer False Bay along the eastern side of the peninsula. As a rule of thumb, if you actually want to swim rather than just sunbathe, head to the False Bay side.
Atlantic side
- Camps Bay — the postcard beach, lively, restaurant strip nearby, cold water. See our Atlantic Seaboard guide.
- Clifton (1st–4th) — four sheltered coves, calmer and quieter than Camps Bay, still cold water.
- Llandudno — a smaller, more low-key beach tucked below expensive cliffside homes, popular with a slightly older, quieter crowd and known for good sunsets.
- Bloubergstrand — north of the city, famous for its postcard view of Table Mountain across the bay, and a hotspot for kitesurfing thanks to reliable wind.
False Bay side
- Muizenberg — Cape Town's surfing hub, with colourful Victorian bathing huts, warmer water, and gentle waves that make it the best spot in the city to learn to surf.
- Fish Hoek — a calm, family-friendly beach with warm, sheltered water and minimal surf, good for young children.
- Boulders Beach — technically a beach, but visited primarily for its penguin colony.
Choosing a beach
| Priority | Best pick |
|---|---|
| Iconic views & nightlife nearby | Camps Bay |
| Quiet, sheltered coves | Clifton |
| Learning to surf | Muizenberg |
| Swimming with young kids | Fish Hoek |
| Photography / sunset | Llandudno or Bloubergstrand |
Local tip: Whale watching season (roughly June–November) is a good reason to head to the False Bay beaches even outside of swimming weather — Southern Right whales are sometimes visible from the shore.