A Guide to All Cape Town Beaches in the City Area

This article brings you the best Cape Town beaches, from trendy Camps Bay to luxurious Clifton 4th beach. If you want to surf the waves, check out Muizenberg. For peace, family, and tranquillity, head to Llandudno beach, which offers golden sands and clear waters. The 6 best Cape Town beaches, in our view, include 1) Llandudno beach, 2) Clifton 4th beach, 3) Muizenberg beach, 4) Camps Bay beach, 5) Silwerstroomrand beach, and 6) Mnandi beach.

These beaches are all Blue Flag beaches in Cape Town, which means they have been officially checked and approved for being clean, safe, and eco-friendly. Also, all beaches mentioned are geographically located within Cape Town’s borders. Beaches like Bikini Beach and Grotto Beach are excluded. Let’s go!

1. Llandudno Beach

With no city noise, Llandudno is where locals relax and unwind. Therefore, this Cape Town beach has the potential to also make you feel like a local.

It’s one of the active beaches in Cape Town, as you can see family events, children playing, as well as people playing with their dogs. The beach is surrounded by mountains and boulders, making it a perfect background for an island photo.

The weather conditions at Llandudno are excellent for surfing and welcome surfers of all levels. So, this could be a great chance to learn surfing, as there are lessons available to join. Don’t worry if you don’t have a surfboard, they are commonly rented on the island.

If you’re with a group of friends, you can enjoy a friendly picnic while soaking up the beach atmosphere. You guys can get more active by playing beach volleyball to create a memorable time. Furthermore, you can take a hike along the trails surrounding the beach.

In the evening, it’s a great place to relax and unwind on the sandy shores. The soothing wave sounds and ocean breeze will set a memorable evening for you. Hopefully, if you’re there around June to November, you will have the opportunity to see whales. Wow, what an experience.

What Makes Llandudno Beach Unique:

• Families, kids, and dog walkers add a warm community feel.
• Surrounded by mountains and boulders—perfect for photos.
• Ideal surfing conditions with lessons and rentals available.
• Enjoy a picnic or beach volleyball with friends.
• Hiking trails nearby for more exploration.
• Calm wave sounds and ocean breeze to unwind.
• Visit between June and November for a chance to spot whales.

2. Clifton 4th beach

Surrounded by granite boulders and the Atlantic Ocean lie Clifton’s four beaches. These Cape Town beaches are quieter than Camps Bay but exceptionally more beautiful. Unlike the rest, Clifton Beach comprises four beaches you can explore.

Clifton First Beach is the go-to destination if you want to unwind without disturbance. This Cape Town beach is so quiet that only a few hawkers go there, so it’s a great place to rest. However, ensure you come with food in case you get hungry.

Note: Clifton Beach has no restaurants or shops nearby, so you might want to come prepared.

Immediately after you arrive at the Clifton Second Beach, you may see a crowd playing volleyball, which means you have arrived at a more lively beach. This beach is also the longest among the four other beaches. A unique experience you can have here is seeing the popular Lion’s Head mountain.

Clifton Third Beach is no more special than the rest, only that it is a spot popularly known for the LGBTQ+ community.

If you like crowds, then Clifton Fourth Beach is your go-to destination. This beach is close to Camps Bay, and because of its visitors, there is a parking lot nearby. This beach is also the Blue Flag beach among the rest, so there’s also the advantage of high environmental and sustainability standards.

Now, which beach is best for you? Well, apart from what I said earlier, I would advise you to explore all and choose the best to come back to often.

Lastly, the popular activity at Clifton Beach is kayaking, which leaves from the Clifton Fourth Beach and lets you experience amazing views while steering through the sea.

What Makes Clifton Beach Unique:

• Clifton Beach has four beaches, each offering a different atmosphere for various preferences.
• The first beach is quiet and peaceful with minimal hawkers, making it ideal for a relaxing escape.
• The second beach is lively with volleyball games and scenic views of Lion’s Head.
• The third beach is a popular spot for the LGBTQ+ community.
• The fourth beach is closest to Camps Bay and has parking, along with Blue Flag certification for high environmental standards..
• Kayaking is a must-try activity at Clifton 4th Beach.

3. Muizenberg Cape Town

Harsh waves make experienced divers motivated, but casual visitors would prefer something calm. If that’s you, then Muizenberg Beach is the perfect escape destination. Unlike the other Cape Town beaches, it is known for having multicolored beach huts on fine white sand, which makes it a good location for conceptual photographers. At Muizenberg Beach, you can rent sunbeds and umbrellas. This feature makes the beach an active one, as visitors have no excuse not to immerse themselves in the beach experience.

Talking about an active beach! The warm water and less heavy currents make the beach a good place to swim. Also, there are no heavy rocks nearby, so you shouldn’t be worried about hitting one. However, an amateur surfer may come out of nowhere and hit you. So when swimming, you need to keep an eye out, as there are a lot of newbies at Muizenberg Beach. If you prefer not to swim, you can enjoy the beach with activities such as scuba diving, parasailing, water skiing, and snorkeling.

Immediately after you’re out of the water, keep an eye out for bluebottles. These are small jellyfish-like creatures that reside at the water’s edge and could sting you with their tentacles. After you safely escape the bluebottles, there are interesting on-beach activities you can participate in. These activities include volleyball and rock climbing, as there are steep cliffs surrounding the area. This is the kind of memorable experience you can have at Muizenberg Beach.

What Makes Muizenberg Beach Unique

• The multicolored beach huts on white sand make it a perfect location for photographers and creatives.
• You can rent sunbeds and umbrellas, making it easy to relax and spend the whole day at the beach.
• The warm, calm water is great for swimming, and you don’t have to worry about hitting any rocks.
• The beach is popular with beginner surfers, so you’ll often see many people learning to surf, which creates a lively atmosphere.
• There are fun water activities like parasailing, snorkeling, water skiing, and scuba diving for adventure seekers.
• The cliffs surrounding the beach offer the chance to enjoy rock climbing.
• Beach volleyball and other beach games add to the fun and energetic vibe.

4. Camps Bay Beach

Beach activities can lead to hunger, and Camps Bay Beach is the best at solving this issue. This Cape Town beach houses many vibrant restaurants along the beachfront. Since the restaurants are close to the beach, prepare to taste shellfish and fresh fish caught on that day. They also have cafe spots that give you the experience of enjoying a coffee while having a look at the beautiful beach scene. Among the kinds of coffees offered are plant-based coffee.

Camps Bay has two tidal pools that you can visit for a swim and relaxation. The tidal pools are also not far but just a 5-minute walk to the south of Camps Bay Beach. The beach also has lifeguards protecting the area, but only during the summer months.

What Makes Camps Bay Beach Unique:

• Camps Bay offers vibrant beachfront restaurants with fresh shellfish and fish.
• The beach has two tidal pools just a 5-minute walk away, perfect for swimming and relaxation.
• Lifeguards are available during the summer months, providing added safety.

5. Silwerstroomrand beach

Silwerstroomrand is a peaceful Cape Town beach with vast sandy shores and gentle waves. It is a great go-to destination for swimming. Its calm waters make it safe for beginners and children alike. Nearby, you can also find tidal pools with warmer water to swim in. If you have a fishing permit, there’s more you can do in the water. You can choose to fish offshore or on-shore while cruising on a boat. Among the marvelous catches you can get is the Hottentot Fish, which is mostly found in the area around January to February.

At the seashore, there are picnic and braai areas to enjoy family time or a group get-together. Other amenities include parking, lifeguards, toilets, disability access, and water sports.

Furthermore, the beachfront stretches 3km, making it great for romantic or unwinding walks.

What Makes Silwerstroomrand Unique:

• The beach has calm waters, making it safe for beginners and children.
• Nearby tidal pools offer warmer water for swimming.
• If you have a fishing permit, you can fish off-shore or on-shore
• The Hottentot Fish can be caught in the area, particularly from January to February.
• The beach has picnic and braai areas for family or group gatherings.
• It offers amenities like parking, lifeguards, toilets, disability access, and water sports.
• The 3km beachfront is ideal for romantic or relaxing walks.

6. Mnandi Beach

Mnandi Beach is another wide stretch of coastline perfect for fun and immersing in the ocean breezes. It is a go-to destination for any group of people. Whether it’s family or a group of friends, there are interesting activities to partake in, such as immersive strolls, picnicking, and swimming.

This Blue Flag beach boasts several amenities, including restrooms, lifeguards, a playground, and showers. There are also fire pits in the area, so you can come prepared for a barbecue. Talking about food, you can find restaurants nearby that serve dishes catering to a wide range of tastes. Among the interesting meals are fresh seafood and local & international dishes.

Note that this beach does not permit surfing, dogs, or camping, and there are no facilities for disabled visitors. Nevertheless, Mnandi means “pleasant” in the Xhosa language, and this beach lives up to its moniker. You will definitely have a pleasant time.

What Makes Mnandi Beach Unique:

• The beach is perfect for families and groups of friends with activities like strolls, picnicking, and swimming.
• The beach has amenities such as restrooms, lifeguards, a playground, and showers.
• Fire pits are available for barbecues.
• There are restaurants nearby serving a variety of dishes, including fresh seafood and local and international cuisines.

Final Thoughts

Cape Town beaches are blessed spots that will offer you a memorable experience. Whether you’re a swimmer, a surfer, a photographer, or someone looking for a quiet place to unwind, you will definitely find a suitable beach.

Remember, these beaches are Blue Flag beaches so you will need to respect the beach rules, keep the environment clean, and stay safe in and around the water.