Camps Bay and Clifton Beaches

The Atlantic seaboard beaches are what most people picture when they think of Cape Town, and Camps Bay and Clifton are the stars. Camps Bay, about fifteen minutes from the city centre over Kloof Nek or along the coast from Sea Point, is a long crescent of fine white sand backed by palm trees, a lawned strip and a row of restaurants and bars on Victoria Road, with the sheer buttresses of the Twelve Apostles, the western face of the Table Mountain range, rising behind. It is lively, sociable and very beautiful, with lifeguards in season, a tidal pool at the southern end and a Blue Flag for water quality and facilities, confirmed again for the 2026-27 season. Just to the north, Clifton is a different experience. Its four beaches, known simply as First, Second, Third and Fourth, are small coves separated by granite boulders and reached by long flights of steps down from Victoria Road, with no road access to the sand. They are sheltered from the south-easter, the strong summer wind that can sandblast Camps Bay, which makes Clifton the place to go on a windy day, and each beach has its own character: Fourth is the largest and most family-friendly, and also holds Blue Flag status, while the others tend to draw younger and more local crowds. What both have in common is the water, which comes straight from the cold Benguela current and is usually somewhere between bracing and freezing, even in midsummer. Most people swim in short bursts or not at all, and that is part of the ritual. Above all, these are sunset beaches: the sun drops into the Atlantic directly in front of you, and on a clear evening the light on the Twelve Apostles is unforgettable. Both beaches are free; you pay only for parking, umbrellas or a drink.

Practical tips: parking is the main headache. In summer, especially on weekends and in December and January, the roads behind Camps Bay and the bays above Clifton fill early, so arrive in the morning or use a ride-hailing app. At Clifton, remember that you have to carry everything down the steps and back up again. Swim only where lifeguards are on duty and between the flags, as rip currents are common on the Atlantic coast. The sun is fierce, so bring a hat and high-factor sunscreen, and keep valuables out of sight on the sand. Vendors sell drinks and snacks on the beaches; restaurants on Camps Bay's Victoria Road strip range from casual to expensive.

Around the beaches: walk along the rocks to Glen Beach, a small surf spot between Camps Bay and Clifton, or continue south along Victoria Road to Bakoven and Llandudno, a beautiful cove with surfers and big boulders. The Twelve Apostles hotel and the coastal road to Hout Bay are a few minutes beyond. Lion's Head rises directly behind Clifton and Camps Bay, and a sunrise hike followed by a morning on the beach makes a perfect day.

Who it suits: everyone, in the right conditions. Families do best at Clifton Fourth and the Camps Bay tidal pool; couples should come for sunset; groups of friends love the buzz of Camps Bay. On a strong south-easter, skip Camps Bay and head to Clifton, or to the False Bay beaches, where the water is warmer.